For fans of Stanley Kubrick and Stephen King, a highly coveted 4K Blu-ray collector`s edition of “The Shining” is now available for preorder at Walmart. This special release is part of “The Film Vault” series.
The Shining Special Edition Steelbook is priced at $100 and is set to release in the US on September 2. This limited edition comes with a steelbook case featuring new artwork, unique cigar box packaging, a double-sided poster, and a set of art cards. It`s truly designed as the ultimate collector`s item for this iconic horror film, so securing a copy quickly is advisable.
A more affordable option, The Shining Solus Steelbook Edition, priced at $65, also launches on the same day. This version, while lacking the additional extras, has already sold out multiple times, indicating high demand.
Both “The Shining” editions are part of “The Film Vault Wave 3,” a collaboration between Vice Press and Warner Bros. UK, featuring early 1980s horror films. Alongside “The Shining,” the 1982 supernatural horror film “Poltergeist” is also receiving special treatment. Walmart is currently accepting preorders for both Poltergeist`s Special Edition Steelbook and Poltergeist Solus Steelbook, which were available at the time of writing. All “The Film Vault” limited editions for “The Shining” and “Poltergeist” include region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs.
The Film Vault Wave 3 at Walmart:
- The Shining Special Edition Steelbook (4K) – $100
- The Shining Solus Steelbook (4K) – $65
- Poltergeist Special Edition Steelbook (4K) – $100
- Poltergeist Solus Steelbook (4K) – $65
The Shining: The Film Vault Special Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray)
This comprehensive edition includes:
- A Steelbook Case with exclusive artwork.
- A unique Cigar Box featuring new artwork and an Acetate O-Ring, which can be removed for a text-free display.
- A Numbered Holographic Sticker.
- A Double-sided Movie Poster, with one side showcasing new art by Matt Ferguson & Florey of Vice Press, and the other a retouched version of Saul Bass’ iconic 1980 theatrical poster.
- A set of Art Cards, including 5 character cards and 3 behind-the-scenes cards.
- The film on 4K Blu-ray and a separate Blu-ray disc with special features.
Previous “Film Vault” editions, including retailer-exclusive versions, have quickly sold out in the UK and at specialized Blu-ray stores months in advance. Given this history, it`s highly probable that Walmart will sell out of both “The Shining” editions before their official launch. If you missed previous opportunities for collector’s editions, now is the time to act swiftly. For instance, a “The Shining” Steelbook article I wrote last December saw the product sell out the very next day.
The Film Vault: The Shining Special Edition
“The Film Vault” series is known for its acetate O-rings that display the movie title and text, offering collectors the flexibility to showcase the cigar box packaging with or without text and logos. The new artwork by Matt Ferguson and Florey is stunning. The cigar box prominently features a silhouette of Jack Torrance with his axe overlooking the Overlook Hotel, while the back showcases Jack’s typewriter with a repeating sentence. The steelbook case’s artwork beautifully captures Jack navigating the hedge maze. This intricate artwork is also featured on one side of the double-sided movie poster, with the reverse side presenting a refined version of Saul Bass`s original 1980 theatrical poster. Additionally, the eight art cards highlight memorable film scenes and behind-the-scenes production photographs.
“The Film Vault” is a series of premium collectible editions of classic films from the Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures catalogs, launched in 2022 by Vice Press, a UK-based company specializing in licensed movie collectibles. All 4K Blu-rays released under “The Film Vault” are region-free. As a UK company, these limited-edition classics are not frequently found at US retailers, suggesting that “The Shining” release may be exclusive to Walmart in the US.
The Film Vault: The Shining Solus Steelbook Edition
As of this writing, The Shining Solus Steelbook Limited Edition is sold out. However, we highly recommend checking Walmart`s stock regularly, as it has been restocked at least once before. For example, it was unavailable on August 22 but became purchasable on August 23, just hours before this article was written.
The Solus Steelbook features artwork of the hedge maze landscape on its inside covers. Similar to the Special Edition, it includes an acetate O-ring with the title and text. However, note that the Special Edition’s O-ring is specifically for its cigar box, so the Solus Steelbook does not come with a second O-ring for the steelbook case itself.
Stanley Kubrick`s The Shining Compendium
For those deeply invested in “The Shining,” a $100 edition might seem appealing. As a passionate fan myself, I would unequivocally choose the recently released compendium about the film over a new 4K Blu-ray edition.
Stanley Kubrick`s The Shining is an impressive two-volume, 1,396-page box set that provides an extraordinarily comprehensive deep dive into the making of the film. This exquisitely designed slipcase collection, crafted by M/M Paris, was published by Taschen earlier this year.
Authored by J.W. Rinzler and edited by Pixar director Lee Unkrich, the compendium is the culmination of hundreds of hours of interviews and extensive investigative research. The first volume, which features an introduction by Steven Spielberg, meticulously details every stage of the film`s production. Upon receiving my copy, I was astonished by the depth of detail in this roughly 900-page hardcover. It’s hard to imagine a more thorough “making-of” book for a single film; its length rivals all three volumes of Rinzler`s excellent “The Making of Star Wars” series.
The box set also includes a magnificent scrapbook, brimming with a diverse collection of photographs, artwork, and documents related to “The Shining`s” production.
In short, this compendium stands as the finest collection of behind-the-scenes material—across any medium—I have ever encountered.
Stanley Kubrick`s The Shining is currently available on Amazon for $124. However, its long-term availability is uncertain, as the publisher`s print run size is unknown, and potential future printings are not guaranteed. The compendium initially sold out on Amazon when preorders launched last summer and remained out of stock until a few months ago.