Calling all devotees of Stanley Kubrick and the literary genius of Stephen King! Amazon is offering limited edition versions of the iconic film, The Shining, but act fast before they disappear. The online retail giant has just added The Film Vault’s Steelbook Special Edition and the Solus Steelbook Editions of the 1980 cinematic masterpiece to its catalog, available on stunning 4K Blu-ray.
The standard Steelbook Edition, complete with an acetate slipcover, is currently listed at $48.86. For those desiring the ultimate collector’s experience, the Steelbook Special Edition is priced at $87.07 and includes an array of enticing extras: a meticulously themed cigar box, two striking posters, five unique character cards, and three fascinating behind-the-scenes cards. With each Special Edition individually numbered up to 6,000 via a holographic sticker, scarcity is guaranteed, so immediate action is recommended!
These Film Vault editions of “The Shining,” crafted in the UK, feature region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs for wide compatibility. Despite being ordered through Amazon’s US platform, both editions are fulfilled by Amazon Global Store UK and include complimentary shipping to the United States. While delivery is estimated to take approximately two weeks, the advantage of free international shipping sweetens the deal.
Prior to their appearance on Amazon, these “Shining” Film Vault editions were exclusively available at Walmart in the US. Officially, this remains the case, as Amazon US isn’t directly listed as a vendor. However, Walmart’s earlier prices were higher: $65 for the Steelbook and $100 for the Special Edition, both of which sold out rapidly in August. Inventory shortages in early September led to order cancellations. The Special Edition did not return, and the standard Steelbook Edition quickly sold out again upon its brief restock last week (October 3). Resellers have now inflated the prices at Walmart.
“The Shining” headlines the third wave of The Film Vault, showcasing early ’80s horror, alongside the 1982 classic, “Poltergeist.” Similar to “The Shining,” “Poltergeist” enjoyed a Walmart US exclusivity, but both editions are currently unavailable there. Again, Amazon is offering the Poltergeist Special Edition Steelbook and Solus Steelbook for $87.68 and $46.79, respectively. Both ship from Amazon UK, inclusive of 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs. For comparison, Walmart’s prices were $100 for the Special Edition and $65 for the Solus Steelbook.
These Film Vault limited editions of “The Shining” and “Poltergeist” come complete with region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs. All four releases are the product of a creative partnership between Vice Press and Warner Bros. UK.
$87.07 (was $100) | Available Now
The Special Edition cigar box showcases a grand silhouette of Jack Torrance with the iconic fireman’s axe, watching over the ominous Overlook Hotel. Its back displays Jack’s typewriter and a familiar, unfinished page: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” repeated endlessly.
The art card envelope cleverly replicates the “All Work and No Play” page. The character cards capture memorable moments from the movie, while the behind-the-scenes cards feature production photos, including Kubrick on set.
The steelbook art extends to the new movie poster by Matt Ferguson & Florey of Vice Press, alongside a retouched version of Saul Bass’ original 1980 theatrical poster.
The acetate slipcover protects the cigar box of the Special Edition, letting you choose whether to display the artwork with or without text.
- Steelbook with exclusive artwork
- Cigar Box with new artwork and Acetate slipcover
- Remove slipcover for text-free display box
- 2 Posters
- New artwork by Matt Ferguson & Florey
- Retouched version of Saul Bass’ 1980 Theatrical Poster
- Art Cards
- 5 Character Cards
- 3 Behind-the-Scenes Cards
- “All Work and No Play” Envelope for Art Cards
- Numbered Holographic Sticker
- The Shining on 4K Blu-ray
- The Shining & Special Features on Blu-ray
$48.86 (was $65) | Available Now
The Solus Steelbook Edition features the acetate slipcover directly on the steelbook case, letting you display the artwork with or without the printed title and logos. The steelbook case is the same as the one in the Special Edition.
The artwork by Matt Ferguson & Florey of Vice Press features Jack Torrance in the hedge maze. The back recreates the bathroom door with Danny’s “Redrum” message. The interior artwork shows the maze on both sides.
- Steelbook with exclusive artwork
- Acetate sleeve
- Remove sleeve for text-free display case
- The Shining on 4K Blu-ray
- The Shining on Blu-ray
Originally released in 2019, The Shining’s 4K Blu-ray remains a top restoration, displayed in native 4K (2160p) with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.
The Shining Special Features
The 4K and Blu-ray editions offer great extras, including a commentary by Kubrick’s biographer John Baxter and Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown. Other features are on the standard Blu-ray disc.
- Audio Commentary: John Baxter & Garrett Brown
- The Making of The Shining (35 minutes)
- View from the Overlook: Crafting The Shining (26 minutes)
- The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (15 minutes)
- Wendy Carlos, Composer (7 minutes)
For the uninitiated, The Film Vault is a curated series of collectible releases of cinematic landmarks from Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures. Established in 2022 by Vice Press, a distinguished UK-based purveyor of licensed movie memorabilia and artwork, these region-free 4K Blu-rays offer US fans a rare opportunity to own these otherwise elusive editions of timeless classics.
The Shining & Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
Kubrick’s adaptation stems from Stephen King’s 1977 novel, which King famously disliked. This led to the 1997 ABC miniseries, a more faithful but less acclaimed adaptation. It’s still worth seeing. Shout Factory released the miniseries on Blu-ray in 2024.
In 2013, Scribner published “Doctor Sleep,” King’s sequel to “The Shining” featuring a grown-up Danny Torrance. Mike Flanagan directed the 2019 film adaptation. While both are compelling, they don’t quite reach the originals’ heights.
Both novels are available on Amazon. “The Shining” is $11.30 (was $20) in trade paperback, or $19.80 (was $45) in vintage hardcover. “Doctor Sleep” is $13.78 in hardcover and $10.49 in paperback.
Stanley Kubrick enthusiasts will be delighted to know that “Eyes Wide Shut”, Kubrick’s final cinematic endeavor, is joining The Criterion Collection on November 25.
$125 | 2-Book Hardcover Box Set (1,396 Pages)
If a $100 edition of The Shining catches your eye, chances are you (or someone you know) are a dedicated fan. As a massive fan myself, I would pick the film’s recently released compendium without a second thought.
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a two-volume, 1,396-page box set for an unparalleled look behind the scenes. This collection was designed by M/M Paris and published by Taschen earlier this year.
Written by J.W. Rinzler and edited by Pixar director Lee Unkrich, this set is based on hours of interviews and research. The first book, with an introduction by Steven Spielberg, details every production step. Its detail is stunning. If there is a more thorough “making-of” book, I’d be shocked. This book is as long as all three volumes in Rinzler’s “The Making of Star Wars” series.
The box set also includes a scrapbook with production photos, artwork, and documents.
This compendium is the best behind-the-scenes collection I’ve ever read.
Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” is in stock at Amazon for $125, but it’s unknown how many copies the publisher printed or if there will be additional print runs. Amazon sold out during preorders last summer, and it remained out of stock until recently.