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British film distributor

Arrow Films
IndustryFilm distribution
Founded1991; 35 years ago (1991) in Hertfordshire, England
ProductsDVD, Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray
ServicesArrow Player (subscription service)
OwnerTHG Ingenuity
Websitearrowfilms.com

Arrow Films is a British independent film distributor and restorer specialising in world cinema, arthouse, horror, and classic films. Arrow Video is a boutique Blu-ray label, and sells Ultra HD Blu-rays, Blu-rays, and DVDs online.[1][2] It also operates its own subscription video on-demand service, Arrow Player.[3]

History

[edit]

Arrow Films was established in 1991 as a family firm in Shenley, Hertfordshire.[4] 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.[5][6] In 2011, the ArrowDrome brand was created for budget DVDs.[7][8] 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.[9][10][11][12] In the same year, the company launched Arrow Player, a subscription video on-demand service in the UK, US, and Canada.[3]

Arrow began releasing films in the North American market in 2015.[13] In 2016, Arrow partnered with Canadian distributor Unobstructed View (which was later acquired by Blue Fox Entertainment in 2024),[14] allowing for film distribution starting in July of that year.[15] As of 2018, Arrow operated in the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada.[16]

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 served as Marketing Director since 2012.[17] In April 2018, Arrow Video and FrightFest agreed to a one-year partnership deal, in which Arrow became the headline sponsor.[18]

In 2021, Arrow Films was sold to THG plc (formerly The Hut Group) for £18.5 million.[19][20] In January 2025, THG plc demerged its technology and logistics arm, THG Ingenuity, into a privately owned, stand-alone business.[21]

Reception

[edit]

Arrow has been listed by The Guardian twice as their home video distributor of the year.[22][23] 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".[22] 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.[23]

Camera Obscura: The Walerian Borowczyk Collection was voted the best home video release of 2014 by several publications, including Sight and Sound[24] and Little White Lies,[25] and won the Focal International Award for Best Archival Restoration Project[26] and the Cinema Ritrovato Award for Best DVD Series/Best Box.[27]

In 2016, Arrow Video won at the Reaper Awards, with Arrow's special addition of The Stuff receiving the award for "Best Box Art".[28][29]

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".[30][31]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Kozak, Oktay Ege (5 December 2017). "The Best Boutique Blu-ray Distributors (Who Aren't Criterion)". Paste. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  2. ↑ Jarvis, Henry (12 August 2022). "10 Best Boutique Blu-Ray Brands". CBR.com. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 Travis, Ben (2 April 2021). "Arrow Video Launches Cult Movie Streaming Service". Empire. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (19 June 2018). "UK Distributor Arrow Films Streamlines Operations With The Departure Of Two Key Executives". Deadline. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "Brands - Arrow Films". Arrow Films. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Rauseo, Jeff. "Long Live Physical Media: 5 Labels Every Horror Fan Should Know - Bloody Disgusting". bloody-disgusting.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  7. ↑ "Arrow Video Beckons You To The Arrowdrome". Twitch. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Arrow Video Beckons You To The Arrowdrome". ScreenAnarchy. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "James White of Arrow Films on the restoration and rescue of classic and cult cinema". Exit 6 Film Festival. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "Arrow Film's Nordic Noir label announce the DVD & Blu-ray box set release of Swedish TV series 'ARNE DAHL'". The Arts Shelf. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Nordic connoisseur Arrow Films launch UK streaming service". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "Arrow Video's September Lineup Is Stacked! CHILDREN OF THE CORN 4K UHD, LEGEND, Cold War Creatures, And Much More". ScreenAnarchy. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  13. ↑ Clark, Ashley (11 March 2016). "Can the celebrated Criterion Collection make a splash in the UK?". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  14. ↑ Townsend, Kelly. "Blue Fox's Canadian division to acquire Unobstructed View". Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  15. ↑ "Unobstructed View Is Bringing Arrow Video Releases To Canada!". ScreenAnarchy. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  16. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (19 June 2018). "UK Distributor Arrow Films Streamlines Operations With The Departure Of Two Key Executives". Deadline. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  17. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (19 June 2018). "UK Distributor Arrow Films Streamlines Operations With The Departure Of Two Key Executives". Deadline. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  18. ↑ CloutPR (23 April 2018). "FrightFest and Arrow Video hit the mark with headline sponsor deal". Clout Communications Ltd. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "THG Annual Report 2021" (PDF). THG plc. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  20. ↑ "THC Annual Report & Accounts 2021" (PDF). cdn.thg-corporate.com.
  21. ↑ "Demerger of THG Ingenuity confirmed after vote". BusinessCloud. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  22. 1 2 O'Neill, Phelim (17 December 2011). "The Best DVD & Blu-ray releases of 2011". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  23. 1 2 O'Neill, Phelim (21 December 2013). "2013 DVD & Blu-ray round-up". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "The best DVDs and Blu-rays of 2014". Sight and Sound. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  25. ↑ Jenkins, David (17 December 2014). "The 25 Best DVD & Blu-ray Releases Of 2014". Little White Lies. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  28. ↑ "Arrow Videos THE STUFF wins Best Box Art at the 2016 Reaper Awards | MVD Entertainment | Serving artists and audiences". MVD Entertainment. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  29. ↑ Moore, Debi (31 October 2016). "The Witch Casts a Spell on 2016 Reaper Awards - Winners Announced!". Dread Central. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  30. ↑ "Arrow Video Wins Two Home Entertainment Awards 2021 | MVD Entertainment | Serving artists and audiences". MVD Entertainment. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  31. ↑ Latchem, John (19 April 2021). "'Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection' Takes Top Honors in 2021 Home Entertainment Media Play Awards". Media Play News. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
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