Arrow Films
British film distributor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arrow Films is a British independent film distributor and restorer specialising in world cinema, arthouse, horror, and classic films. As Arrow Video, it sells Ultra HD Blu-rays, Blu-rays, and DVDs online; it also operates its own subscription video on-demand service, Arrow Player.[1] From 2017 to 2025, Arrow had a dedicated podcast[2] hosted by film-makers Sam Ashurst and Dan Martin, with the final episode airing in January 2025.[3] Arrow Video is considered a boutique Blu-ray label.[4][5]
| |
| Industry | Film distribution |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 in Hertfordshire, England |
| Products | DVD, Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray |
| Services | Arrow Player (subscription service) |
| Owner | THG Ingenuity |
| Website | arrowfilms |
History
Arrow Films was established in 1991 as a family firm in Shenley, Hertfordshire.[6] While Arrow Films was the company's primary brand for theatrical releases, the Arrow Video label was created in 2009 specialising in cult and horror home video.[7][8] In 2011, the ArrowDrome brand was created for budget DVDs.[9][10] The Arrow Academy and Arrow TV labels specialised in the world cinema and Nordic noir genres respectively, but since 2021, each has been merged into Arrow Video.[11][12][13][14] In the same year, the company launched Arrow Player, a subscription video on-demand service in the UK, US, and Canada.[1]
Arrow began releasing films in the North American market in 2015.[15] In 2016, Arrow partnered with Canadian distributor Unobstructed View (which was later acquired by Blue Fox Entertainment in 2024),[16] allowing for film distribution starting in July of that year.[17] As of 2018, Arrow operated in the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada.[18]
In 2017, the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) partnered with Arrow Films, Severin Films, and Vinegar Syndrome to distribute their respective catalogs theatrically "in an effort to share exploitation films from the 1960s to the 2000s with the widest audience possible".[19]
In 2018, Arrow announced it would be "streamlining operations" with the departure of long-time executives Tom Stewart, who had been Acquisitions Director since 2010, and Jon Sadler, who had severed as Marketing Director since 2012.[20] In April 2018, Arrow Video and FrightFest agreed to a one-year partnership deal, in which Arrow became the headline sponsor.[21]
In 2021, Arrow Films was sold to THG plc (formerly The Hut Group) for £18.5 million.[22][23] In January 2025, THG plc demerged its technology and logistics arm, THG Ingenuity, into a privately owned, stand-alone business.[24]
In January 2025, Arrow Video partnered with Shudder to produce limited-edition physical releases of eight films from its catalog.[25][26]
In July 2025, it was announced Arrow would be releasing a 4K UHD package of Stephen Hopkins’ Lost in Space. Arrow also created a modern-style trailer for the film, teasing its September 2025 release.[27]
In October 2025, Arrow partnered with Mutant to launch a line of UHD Blu-ray releases under the banner Mutant Mediabook. Their first release would be Richard Kelly’s 2001 cult classic Donnie Darko starring Jake Gyllenhaal.[28][29]
In November 2025, Arrow Video announced it would be launching its streaming service, "ARROW," on LG Smart TVs.[30][31] That same month, Arrow offered a first-time 4K UHD restoration of Chuck Russell's The Mask, which stars Jim Carrey.[32]
As of 2026, Arrow Video was among the boutique labels, including the Criterion Collection, Shout! Factory, and Iconoscope (a sub-label of Vinegar Syndrome), in licensing agreements with Warner Bros.[33][34] Arrow has distributed several films by Warner Bros. subsidiary New Line Cinema on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.[35]
In February 2026, it was announced that Arrow (via their licensing deal with Warner Bros.) would be releasing a 4K remaster of John Boorman’s Excalibur.[36]
Reception
Arrow has been listed by The Guardian twice as their home video distributor of the year.[37][38] In 2011, they listed Arrow as the Label of the Year, noting their release of Bicycle Thieves, Rififi, and Les Diaboliques while specifically praising their releases of horror films, where they "truly excel".[37] The second time was in 2013 when they awarded Arrow Films "Label of the Year", noting their releases of Lifeforce and releases of television shows such as Borgen and The Killing as highlights.[38]
Camera Obscura: The Walerian Borowczyk Collection was voted the best home video release of 2014 by several publications, including Sight and Sound[39] and Little White Lies,[40] and won the Focal International Award for Best Archival Restoration Project[41] and the Cinema Ritrovato Award for Best DVD Series/Best Box.[42]
In 2016, Arrow Video won at the Reaper Awards, with Arrow's special addition of The Stuff receiving the award for "Best Box Art".[43][44]
In 2021, Arrow Video won two Home Entertainment Awards from Media Play News, with Arrow's limited-edition of Tremors winning "Best Extras/Bonus Material" and Arrow's Gamera: The Complete Collection winning "Best Box Art".[45][46]