Asian Physical Media Highlights: What to Look Forward to in Early 2026
Well before the New Year’s fireworks, announcements surrounding Asian physical media releases for early 2026 have already caused considerable excitement among collectors and cinephiles alike. With landmark titles such as “Hard Boiled”, “Save the Green Planet”, and Takashi Ishii’s “Angel Guts Collection” scheduled for the first quarter of the year, the opening months of 2026 are shaping up to be exceptionally strong.
New Releases This Month
January brings an eclectic and highly anticipated slate, led by a two-film Kiyoshi Kurosawa set pairing “Cloud” with the cult classic “Charisma”. Fans of Hong Kong cinema can also revisit Stephen Chow’s early comedy “King of Beggars”, inspired by the mythical folk hero Beggar So.
Genre enthusiasts will find plenty to explore, from yakuza conflict in turn-of-the-century Osaka with “Blood Revenge”, to two Shaw Brothers Studio martial arts titles, “Secret Service of the Imperial Court” and “The Delightful Forest”. Collectors will also be pleased to see an alternative artwork edition of “On the Run” featuring a Sean Longmore variant cover, while retaining identical special features.
Looking Ahead: February and Beyond
February raises the stakes even higher. Among the highlights are Tsui Hark’s “Peking Opera Blues” in both Blu-ray and 4K UHD formats, the long-awaited 4K release of “Save the Green Planet”, and Takashi Ishii’s “Angel Guts Collection” boxset. Also arriving are “Picture of a Nymph”, “The Japanese Godfather Trilogy” boxset, and a comprehensive Toei boxset of the “Miyamoto Musashi” films.
March promises no slowdown, with “Hard Boiled”, a Takashi Miike boxset, and the “Samurai Revolution Trilogy” already confirmed, alongside further announcements expected from 88 Films. In addition, two March titles from Eureka Entertainment are scheduled to appear imminently.
Recently Added Highlights
Recent additions continue to enrich the catalogue. Ang Lee’s “Eat Drink Man Woman” remains a timeless exploration of food, family, and generational change, while Hur Jin-ho’s “A Normal Family” escalates from restrained domestic drama into psychological intensity, now available in limited numbered editions.
Fans of Taiwanese New Cinema will welcome the expansion of Edward Yang titles, with “The Terrorizers” and “That Day on the Beach” joining an already strong lineup that includes “Yi Yi”, “A Brighter Summer Day”, “A Taipei Story”, “A Confucian Confusion”, and “Mahjong”.
Release of the Year 2025: Results
The results for Release of the Year 2025 have also been announced.
Third place went to “Shawscope Volume Four”, followed by “Takashi Ishii’s 4 Tales of Nami” in second. Taking the top honor was Radiance Films’ “Radical Japan: Cinema and State – Nine Films by Nagisa Oshima”, which secured a commanding 30% of the vote.
Behind the Scenes
Further developments include upcoming listings from Chameleon Films, restocking of sold-out titles, and plans for customer surveys aimed at improving store services and expanding the catalogue in line with audience preferences. The team also reported an exceptionally smooth peak sales period, with minimal shipping issues despite high demand.
As always, continued community support through forums, social media, and word of mouth remains vital in helping these releases reach new audiences.
With such an extensive lineup already confirmed, early 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting periods in recent years for Asian cinema on physical media.
