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UK Physical Home Entertainment market boosted by tentpole Streaming IP as sales of STRANGER THINGS: THE COMPLETE SERIES surpass £1 million in first month

  • Collection from Arrow Video marks first time popular streaming series made available on disc in its entirety
  • Impressive sales send title straight to number one for retail value on both YTD Physical and YTD Blu-ray charts
  • Release demonstrates how transactional entertainment (buying and renting on digital or physical) continues to play vital role in entertainment release lifecycle

8th September 2026: Sales of STRANGER THINGS: THE COMPLETE SERIES on Blu-ray and 4K UHD surpassed an impressive £1 million in the UK in the first month, placing the title comfortably in the number one spot for retail value in the year to date Physical and Blu-ray charts as of the end of August.

Released on 27th July 2026, the limited-edition, 25-disc collection from Arrow Video marks the first time the blockbuster streaming series – of which the penultimate and final seasons rank among the top 5 most popular shows of all time by hours viewed on Netflix – has been made available on disc in its entirety. The collection ranges in price from approximately £145 for the Standard Edition to upwards of £200 for the Deluxe Edition.

Dean Lawson, Director of Sales and Marketing at Arrow Video, said: “10 years after Stranger Things first premiered on Netflix, to bring the complete series to physical media for the first time ever in the UK and US has been a phenomenal project for Arrow to work on.

“We’re thrilled to see the appetite for this series on physical media and how positively it has been received by fans across the UK and US. Whilst the market as a whole is perpetually volatile, there continues to be a real demand for quality physical media releases.”

The success comes amidst a growing trend toward analogue media, with core consumers demonstrating increasing willingness to pay a higher price point for top quality and collectible releases. Premium physical formats continue to perform particularly well – the value of the 4K UHD Blu-ray market grew 19.5% YoY in 2025 – as audiences seek out the highest viewing quality for their physical home entertainment collections.

Dedicated fanbases also play an important role in the ongoing success of physical releases, with elements including exclusive content, bonus art and items, and overall collectability offering additional appeal. Other top-selling physical TV releases by retail value so far for 2026 include DOCTOR WHO: THE COLLECTION – SEASON 21, DOCTOR WHO: THE MOVIE, STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS – SEASON 3, and IT: WELCOME TO DERRY – SEASON 1, demonstrating both the power of engaged fan communities and particular genres like sci-fi and horror, which typically enjoy strong cult followings.

The impressive physical release is not the first time STRANGER THINGS has succeeded beyond its traditional streaming home in 2026. The simultaneous cinema and streaming release of STRANGER THINGS: THE FINALE at the start of the year showcased the hybrid potential of ‘eventised’ viewing; in the US alone, this approach delivered upwards of $25 million in ‘concession cash’ – admissions were free with a minimum food/drink spend – for movie theatres over New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.i Paired with the streamer’s Christmas NFL broadcast, the series finale also drove 430,000 new Netflix subscriptions in the US, the biggest spike of 2025.ii

Liz Bales, Chief Executive at the British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE), said, “The exciting success of Arrow Video’s Stranger Things release confirms the continuing relevance of physical media and the undeniable influence of fan communities. It’s clear that audiences have an appetite for first-rate physical releases and are willing to pay a higher price point to add the right title to their collection.

“These impressive numbers also demonstrate the power of embracing a complementary relationship between different parts of the entertainment lifecycle that are too often siloed. To have one of the most popular streaming series of all-time committed to disc in its entirety, and for it to then sell so well while it remains readily available to stream, is a testament to what can be achieved when transactional and streaming work in tandem.

“From the simultaneous theatrical and streaming release of the finale at the start of the year to now a stellar performance on physical right out of the gate, Stranger Things showcases how the whole industry benefits when consumers are offered meaningful choice.”

ENDS

Sales and charts data sourced from the Official Charts Company.

i Deadline
ii Ampere Analysis

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