Favorite Physical Media of 2020

[@jslane11]

This channel is easily one of my favorites on KZbin. I love what you do Heath! My favorite physical media releases this year are: The Office complete series on Blu-Ray (finally), the Bruce Lee box set from Criterion, and the Friday the 13th box set from Scream Factory. Friday the 13th is my favorite movie franchise so I absolutely love that box set lol. I’ve gotten my replacement discs for it as well so it’s perfect. My favorite game this year was definitely Doom Eternal.

[@RobotPorter]

Although it started in 2019, I still place Mill Creek's Ultraman releases as my top of 2020. The care, the commitment, the fact that you get great discs AND streaming versions. Nope, I haven't watched it all yet. But there's a special joy I get when watching this stuff that is unmatched by other (admittedly stellar) releases this year. And the joy will continue in 2021! Heck, I think I'm going to grab one of those boxes and watch more right now!

[@CinemaDaveMedia]

Hi Heath. You are so right that 2020 was one of the best (if not THE best) years for physical media. I added more to my physical media collection (films and TV shows mostly) than any other year. So many great picks in this video!! Thanks so much for your amazing perspectives and guidance on all the things (TV, film, books, records, CDs). Happy New Year and all my best to you, Bree and family.

[@Torofnorway]

Awsome T-shirt .Kinda funky.

[@LifeAfterMoviesWebShow]

Thank you so much for all your support on my Life After docs! have a fantastic New Year from across the pond!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Great work is easy to champion! Have a happy New Year!

[@ligeiaztomb2755]

My favorite was the Bruce Lee Box Set. That was PACKED great extras and interesting commentary.

[@Whisky_4_1]

honorable mentions back-in-print: Deepstar Six, Copland, Jackie Brown

[@mclovin7326]

More people need to see Cop Land

[@vuuk]

Thanks for all the videos in 2020. Happy New Year to all.

[@enriquecabada8841]

with the push to "streaming is the future " its up to us to support the smaller boutique labels like blue underground when they put out content because sometimes they have to buy rights from from larger studios support them so 2021 can be bigger!

[@sergetremblay4176]

Great retrospective of the year. You're excellent in transmitting your passion to your followers. That's why i listen to you. Thanx!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Thank you! My farewell to 2020 is still coming soon! Probably will post in the next 24 hours.

[@cultcrawford9824]

My favorite releases this year have to be the Warner Archive release of The Harvey Girls, and even greater was the complete Lynda Carter Wonder Woman series on Blu-Ray! really agree that we are living in a golden age, and I am so grateful that I started collecting in the middle of it (starting seriously collecting in 2018). As a young collector, your channel is so inspiring and informative. It's been so helpful on my collecting journey. You've made me spend a fortune on While Supplies Last Kino sale items alone, and I'm so glad. I hope you have a great 2021!

[@mjmolby]

I just got my copy of the complete gunsmoke in the mail yesterday. Its glorious. Definitely the biggest/heaviest thing in my collection

[@ObnoxiousandAnonymous]

Happy New Year, Heath. I love how your channel just took off this year. Couldn’t happen to a nicer couple.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Much appreciated, Cameron!

[@smurfsrblu1]

This is the most balanced and genuinely informed end of year list that I have seen. Too many places are either all boutique or all studio releases.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I take that as very high praise, and it lets me know that, to quote Elvis Costello, my aim is true! Thanks, Jetty, and Happy New Year!

[@777JonT]

Great video, Heath! I'm glad when 2020 started going downhill, companies like Blue Underground and Mill Creek had our backs. Really solid releases all year.

[@darrenblizzard3851]

No 4k or complete Flight of the Navigator set but if you want to complement that doco the closest you can get is the UK Second Sight collectors edition 1080p Blu ray set. Has a nice hard box, nice 100 page book and plenty of features plus a luscious 4k scan as the source. Looks as good as it's going to until we get an actual 4k disc. For me was the other way around. I have that Second Sight box set but did not know about this Life After the Navigator Blu ray doco so thanks for putting me onto that! Have ordered a nice version with slipcover to complement my Second Sight set. Great video and I agree 2021 will have a lot of work to do in terms of matching the quality and quantity of 2020s physical media output! PS: Thanks for putting me onto that The Big Goodbye book as well. Chinatown is my favorite neo noir and that looks like a great read! PPS: awesome to also see the love for Kenny Everitt! I grew up on that here in Australia as it aired regularly along with other staples The Goodies and Doctor Who (long before it was ruined by wokeness and virtue signaling rubbish). Even though that Everett set is an Aussie release I didn't even know about it.. I missed that one totally so will be immediately going off to JB Hi-fi to grab it! This is why I love this channel! Oh and I picked up those Warner Archive animated titles you mentioned as well (plus Josey and the Pussycats)...they are frikken awesome! Cheers!

[@claudioa76]

Awesome video! And greetings from Venezuela. Wish u a happy 2021! Stay safe and healthy.

[@LittleBruno933]

Awesome video Heath. You definitely went through many of my favourite releases but I had no idea about the Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Fleetwood Mac releases. I’m not sure if you’re a Prince fan but the Super Deluxe Edition of his Sign O’ The Times album is hands down my favourite music release of the year. It’s a holy grail for many fans. I recommend checking out an unboxing video for the CD and LP sets. Just absolutely stunning. Happy New Year to you and Bree. Can’t wait for more of your videos in 2021.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Bree likes Prince a lot more than I do, but I feel like I'd be way into him if I had more familiarity with his output. We will check out the new re-issue!

[@eiadtarabulsi]

I'm watching the video on the first official day of 2021. I found it to be very enjoyable because it offered a nice mixture of movies, TV shows, music, video games and books. Happy New Year my friend. May 2021 bring you good health, positive vibes and an even more successful channel. Thanks Heath for the continued hard work. Thanks for being an inspiration. Thanks for everything that you do. Keep up the hard work. God bless and stay safe!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

So kind! Thanks for the encouragement, amigo. Much appreciated, and Bree and I wish you a Happy New Year too!

[@eiadtarabulsi]

@@CerealAtMidnight Thanks!

[@shawntaylor7442]

Wanted to say thanks for all the vids this year. Been a super busy time for a fedex courier these last 8mos and your videos have been a welcome distraction. Have a Happy New year!

[@Creaturefeatures]

Tremendous 2020 picks! Your channel is such an inspiration to me and my small channel. I was so inspired by the positivity CAM brings to the table that I posted a video this week and plan on cranking up The Creature Columns in 2021. I truly appreciate your positive take and videos! Happy New Year!!!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Thank you! Glad you're back at it, and looking forward to the promise of 2021!

[@VanessaButtino]

First of all, your t-shirt is so rad! Second, where does one even START when it comes to choosing their favourite media releases of 2020? You did a terrific job - every single thing you featured in this video, I was like YUP, YUP, YUP, YUP. We were so incredibly blessed this year when it came to physical media releases.

[@ElliotCoen]

This is a great list, Heath! Happy new year :)

[@glyn420]

My favorites were the mall Rays release from arrow and bloody nose empty pockets from vinegar syndrome. Actually vs had a few amazing releases. Beast master, rad, the giallo volume 2 set. Thanks for all the great information throughout the years. Love physical media.

[@FilmCollectorArchive]

Heath...you’re awesome, buddy! It’s been a great year on the Cereal at Midnight channel. I look forward to getting to know you better in the coming years. Great retrospective...such a great year for physical media! :)

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Yes sir, David! And thanks for the kind words!

[@jtgamer-nintendo-xbox]

In one year I went from the back of the bed full of comic books to it almost a full shelf of epic collections of a five shelf bookshelf

[@martianwoodpecker]

No doubt part of the reason for declining dvd sales, especially for tv shows, is that most collectors already own most of what they want. The only tv show I've ever double dipped to upgrade is Cowboy Bebop.

[@Whisky_4_1]

i couldn't resist double dipping for Miami Vice and Airwolf

[@joshua2814]

In 2020, C@M has definitely pointed me to some new stuff and (especially on your Patreon feed) good deals. Thanks and all the best in the new year! I agree that it's a golden age as far as obscure things being out there (often in HD), but if you think of movie shopping as going to a brick-and-mortar store, looking at a variety of titles, paying cash, and going home with your movies, then it's the dark ages. I can't keep up with all the online stores (especially the boutiques); I don't use social media or phone apps; and I consider credit cards a last resort. It's becoming harder and harder to reconcile those feelings with movie collecting.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Good points! I don't envy your position. Buying movies only at brick and mortar stores is for sure a thing of the past, and almost no stores are carrying any of the dozens of releases each and every week from companies outside of Disney, Warner, Sony, and Universal. And all of those companies have started licensing out their titles to the boutique labels instead of putting them out themselves. It's been moving to an online-only model for years now, but I can see that 2020 was the year that basically killed many brick and mortar stores once and for all. I wish you luck and I hope you're able to find a way to continue your hobby and passion as the world moves more and more into the digital, online realm!

[@joshua2814]

Thanks. I am trying to carefully explore the online stores now, I just find it harder to keep track of how much I can spend (especially with pre-orders). That said, because of you, I now have bookmarked websites like Diabolik and Makeflix and took advantage of a couple Kino sales in 2020, so thanks again. There are still deals/finds to be made at places like Target or Barnes and Noble (during their Criterion sale) if you look hard/often enough.

[@blu-rayswithnathanjones]

This was a ton of fun Heath! 2020 was a great year for physical media and I'm happy to see a lot of what I loved in this video and a lot that I still want to look into (you helped in that regard). Happy New Year to you and Bree 🥂🎉

[@karac.a.]

Thank you for sharing your favorites with us Heath! Would love to know Brees favorites. Happy New Year! 🎆🎉

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Bree is more of a streamer, cooking enthusiast, and public radio fan, so she says her favorite things of the year were the new seasons of Somebody Feed Phil, Chef Show, new episodes of No Passport Required, Milk Street (the TV show and the podcast) and the Sporkful podcast. Music-wise, she also really likes the new Tori Amos Christmas EP.

[@karac.a.]

@@CerealAtMidnight Thank you for replying! It's funny how different y'all's favorites are 😁 I hope y'all had a Happy New Year!

[@thecolinwalton]

That Fleetwood Mac box set is great, with all of Bob Welch's Mac work! Ironically I had finished tracking down all of those cds a few months before it was announced, and some were out of print. If you're into the Peter Green Mac, since only his last album is in that set, you should get The Complete Blue Horizons Sessions box set.

[@gdmcbride14]

Happy New Year to you too from one of your incredibly happy patreon supporters, Keep on rockin' in the new year, to almost quote Neil Young.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Thank you for everything, Gary!

[@Mikehero69_]

Physical media still isn't dead yet. Long live it!

[@capmuggy]

Blue Underground is my new favorite cult label. Their vids just wow me over and over again

[@Lightraymuse]

I watched the Kenny Everett Video Show as a teenager. Great fun.

[@sausagefestcity5078]

I don't settle for dvd. I upgrade all the time when available. That Beastmaster! I'm jealous.

[@nigeljoycey5644]

The 4k release of Chernobyl was the best physical tv release of the year imo. For my top 4k movie would be the Director's Cut of Midsommar, Total Recall for best restored classic, looks really clean. Best boutique bluray probably the Arrow release of Tremors. For a book I'd go with Junji Ito's Remina (it's a manga but whetever haha). Everything Arrow, Criterion, Blue Underground, Studio Canal, Vinegar Syndrome, Shout Factory and Kino Lorber did was amazing. I just got the KL Mad Max 4k and it looks so good.

[@cincyfan987]

Friday the 13th collection by scream factory

[@dudemcmann6936]

Such an insane release. How many of us had crazy flashbacks to 1993 when we found out the Friday franchise switched companies and got bummed that we'd never see a complete box set in our lifetimes. Ha!

[@damianp564]

It's strange that such an awful year is tied up with one of the best for physical media. I received some fantastic Millcreek and Universal Horror blu-ray sets for Christmas. Started with Hammer set. A real treasure. Cheers to Cereal At Midnight for helping keep the flame alive and for making the year more bearable.

[@MYBLOODYSANITARIUM]

Heath, I was sure you would have Dawn Of The Dead limited edition from Second Sight in there did you just not pick it up? (I think it went out of print pretty quick) or did it slip your mind?

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I didn't pick it up and it didn't slip my mind. I'm waiting for an affordable one or two disc U.S. version. Until then, I'm happy with my old DVD copy, which, in all honesty, I rarely watch.

[@no_one_from_nowhere]

Dude if you don’t own Pete and Pete season one and two, you are truly missing out. It is an amazing show that truly holds up. Sadly it’s barely available and the third season has never been released

[@Ringmaster138]

Tom Petty's Wildflowers box set was incredible. Especially the demo disc. Check it out if you haven't yet. Highly recommended!

[@nickspann89]

I’m definitely checking out the Johnny Cash Mercury set.

[@rickrevolver5659]

For me it was a GREAT year for physical media ! 4K UHD Titles were Excellent ! I got.....Star Wars Original Trilogy, Spartacus, 4 Hitchcock Classics, Daughters of Darkness, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit ! Many Hammer Films from Shout Factory ! And Finally 2 weeks ago the Restored Curse of Frankenstein !! : ) You did Not show any these only Daughters of Darkness. I'm Surprised.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I prefer Mill Creek's Hammer release model (20 films for under 100 bucks) to Scream Factory's (one move for $25). You'll notice I don't talk about Shout/Scream Factory very often, and there's a reason for that. I also didn't buy The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Star Wars Original Trilogy, or Hitchcock on 4K. That stuff is well covered by guys like Jeff from Films At Home, and I'm WAY more interested in the more niche, cult, and offbeat films. I'm with you on Warner Archive's Curse of Frankenstein, though, and I'm very concerned about the future of that company/division. Warner has laid off just about everyone responsible for the coolest Warner Archive titles of the last several years.

[@enriquecabada8841]

I guess one of the side affects of new movies being delayed is studios rushing out some new physical media

[@Whisky_4_1]

Favorite tv on disc: Perry Mason season 1

[@jshain4117]

Do you think Dracula: Dead and Loving It will eventually get a bluray release since I believe it's the only Mel Brooks movie that doesn't have one? Or does the fact that it bombed at the box office and doesn't really have a cult following like some other movies hurt it's chances?

[@CerealAtMidnight]

If it does come to Blu-ray, I suspect it will come from Mill Creek Entertainment as part of their deal with Sony. They did release Wrongfully Accused late last year, so we know that Mill Creek Entertainment is interested in distributing those types of movies, though they did bundle it with another movie (Big Bully) on one disc. To your second point about the fact that it's a box office bomb and doesn't have a cult following: those are absolutely factors that could hold it up. Any home media release has to sell, first and foremost. Frankly, it would be bad business for anyone to distribute a movie that isn't going to make money. I think Dracula: Dead and Loving It would have decent sales if Mill Creek Entertainment released it, as the only people who even remember that movie are those of us who were there at the time it came out. Box office failures are forgotten after a few years. Long answer to a short question: it's a gamble, but I think it could get a release!

[@Whisky_4_1]

my faves this year: #1....

[@Whisky_4_1]

dawn of the dead 4k boxed set

[@Whisky_4_1]

Favorite Steelbook Artwork: District 9

[@kotobukiya70]

No love for the Friday the 13th box set?!? That set and the Beastmaster were hands down my favorite physical media releases of 2020!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

No, did you see my review of that set? I didn't have good things to say about it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip_Lo4R8pt11qMU It's literally one of the most unnecessary box sets in the history of home media. The Friday the 13th films have been released over and over and over and over in all formats. Probably the most released horror franchise of all time. 8 of the films (the ones Paramount owns) are available in a nice Blu-ray box set, loaded with special features, for around $15. That being said, these lists are super-personal, so I'm glad that you have it and enjoy it! No right or wrong, just preferences.

[@kotobukiya70]

@@CerealAtMidnight I guess you choose to give Maniac Cop and New York Ripper and Zombie passes for all of their releases. Talk about the most unnecessary releases of all time, they literally rereleased those movies in no time at all after first putting out Blu Ray versions “from 4K scans!” Why not just put them out in 4K to begin with? At least they didn’t do that with Friday the 13th. They just gave you an infinitely better set than the one before! It’s even better than the Halloween set, another film that is “unnecessarily” released over and over again. But as you say to each his own!

[@dudemcmann6936]

Bill Lustig is the owner of Blue Underground, so it's not super strange that some of his movies would get 4k releases. That said, that fact doesn't diminish their excitement in the least. I'm still holding out for 32K: Insane HD so I won't see any digital artifacts on my 5200" screen.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Yep, and Bill’s commitment to 4K for his catalog is so admirable. Watch this space...

[@dudemcmann6936]

@@CerealAtMidnight it's interesting thinking back to my college photography professor in the mid 90s talking about how digital will never become a valid replacement for real film because it'll never have the resolution of real film grain. I wonder what he's thinking now.

[@AquilaLorelei]

There's a book called "Slimed" about the history of that era of Nickelodeon--check it out! I own t but haven't *quite* gotten around to reading it yet lol!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Oh wow! I'm buying it right now. Thank you for putting it on my radar!

[@treytison1444]

Was waiting for Suspiria 4k but guess that was last year.

[@jeremiparadis7823]

What region is imprint?

[@CerealAtMidnight]

They're an Australian company but all Imprint titles to date have been region free.

[@strumdogg1]

Great Stuff, Heath! I definitely need to check out that Elvis in Nashville set. If you're looking for a great release of "Flight of the Navigator" I'd recommend the set from Second Sight Films in the UK. It's an amazing 4K remaster, loaded with special features, and some nice physical extras (reminiscent of Arrow's deluxe releases like Flash Gordon). It was limited so can be a bit pricey these days, but well worth it if you can track it down. Happy New Year!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I have the Second Sight Blu-ray, and I agree! I just hope Lisa is able to get her film bundled with Flight of the Navigator at some point, like she has with Flash Gordon at Arrow.

[@creepercreep6071]

Great choices but you missed out on the best release of the year in my opinion. The 4K set of Dawn of the Dead from Second Sight. You can still get it though.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Second Sight has just announced a four disc reissue for the spring. Hoping for a one or two disc version, which is what we’d be most interested in. Even better, a U.S. release that doesn’t have region locked Blu-rays!

[@creepercreep6071]

@@CerealAtMidnight This boxset is amazing though. A great display piece! It would go well with you other boxsets.

[@justinturley7071]

2020 was the year my collection got a big overhaul: I Dream of Jeannie Complete Series (Mill Creek Release) January 2, 2020 The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin WWE Home Video Columbo Complete Collection Incredible Hulk The Television Series Ultimate Collection 17 Episodes Batman 1966 Season 1 Season 2 of The Munsters Three's Company Complete Series 4 Movie Collection Peanuts: A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Snoopy Come Home, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown, and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back) Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Limited Edition 2006 DVD) 12.99 FYE Kino Lorber Studio Classics White Lighting MGM Double Feature 2 - DVD Set, Semi-Tough, and Gator Duel (1971) Steven Spielberg first movie, (he also directed the first Columbo Episode, the third pilot) The Car (1977) Halloween II (1981) Jaws (1975) Smokey and the Bandit (1977) Mad Max Tommorow Never Dies (007 1997) Action Double Feature, Demolition Man, and Over the Top 3 Film Tim Burton Collection, Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Great Escape (1963) First Blood (1982) Overboard (1987) Harvey (1950) Flash Gordan (1980) And Point Break (1991) I may have gotten more, but that is my collection for 2020, those are the ones that I can remember and love that I have them on physical media.

[@braininajar_collection]

Welp! I had to buy a bunch of these titles. My wallet won't speak to me now.

[@fitzi200]

I have the Imprint War If The Worlds

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Lucky dog! Most of us in America missed the first five releases from Imprint. By the time I found out about the birth of Imprint, they were sold out worldwide. Lucky for us they're coming back in print in February, albeit without the cool slipcases.

[@thomaswhite2700]

Dudes seeing a Bruce Lee shirt...will the criterion bruce lee collection be a part of this list?....

[@justinturley7071]

I wonder how good DVDs look on a 4k player?

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Pretty good. They get upscaled nicely, and newer encodes look much better on modern 4K equipment than they ever did on our old set ups. They’ll never compete with Blu-rays, but they get the job done. I watch lots of DVDs on my upscaling 4K player and shake my head when people say DVDs are “unwatchable.”

[@justinturley7071]

@@CerealAtMidnight Yeah. I do too. Thanks for the answer. And Dvds are 570i. So, watching them on a 480p dvd player, your basically watching them downscaled. Watching them upscaled is a better resolution.

[@tosenstardom2316]

Maniac Cop anyone ?

[@DeesNerds]

Oooh Johnny Cash...

[@ceeece]

I want to give a shout out to TREMORS by Arrow and the SIGN O' THE TIMES box set.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Tremors is excellent! My copy didn't show up in time for this list, but good lawd, there's so much in that box.

[@ceeece]

@@CerealAtMidnight Ah! That's why. I did see it in one of you other videos though. Yes, it is an amazing package. That Beastmaster looks insane!

[@ArabKatib]

Hello, You do know that many of the materials released in the US by major studios, and I wouldn't be exaggerating if I say more than 97%, are never released outside the US market? The things we see on KZbinrs' shelves are never available for us to purchase. Sometimes it is regional restrictions they say. :^) This makes us question the real viability or "potancial" of the home media market for those studios. It seems America, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Austuralia, and the the EU, cater to thier own markets. While China, Russia, the Middle East, and many parts of Africa, as well as Iran with many central Asian lands, resort to pirating.. no wonder..

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I think most companies outside of the U.S. do a better job of releasing many American film and TV projects on disc than the U.S. studios. I'm fortunate enough to cover releases from all over the globe, and the amount of titles coming from other nations dwarfs U.S. releases by quite a bit. Most of the best American TV and movie catalog titles came out of Australia in 2020. That being said, region free is the way to be! Then we can buy from anywhere and watch things on our own terms. Even globally, though, the audience for physical media is smaller than it's ever been.

[@ArabKatib]

@@CerealAtMidnight, I see, thanks for the insight. :^)