u/Elle_Nero

Please visit this link for the complete FAQ, which will be updated further, in coming days: https://support.vinegarsyndrome.com/en-US/get-spaced-halfway-to-black-friday-2026-6071586

Save a film. DON'T EMAIL (unless you have a problem with your order!)

When, where and what is the sale?

Halfway to Black Friday (HBF) at VinegarSyndrome.com is a yearly tradition for fans of genre film! The sale will begin at exactly 12:01am EDT on Friday, May 22nd and will end on Monday the 25th at 11:59pm EDT.

Nearly everything in our extensive home video catalog will be 50% off SRP. We will also be unveiling:

- Two secret Vinegar Syndrome releases,

- One new VSA,

- One VSL,

- One Cinématographe,

- Three new Degausser VHS,

- 4 variant slipcases/slipcovers and so much more!

Please note: our website will be placed into maintenance mode the morning of Wednesday, May 20th to prepare for the sale. All website functions, including the VS + Partner Label checklists, will be unavailable from the 20th to the start of the sale.

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VSMC Sweepstakes:

During the Halfway to Black Friday Sale, our Vinegar Syndrome Media Club members will have the opportunity to redeem their hard-earned VSMC points for entries into a brand new Sweepstakes.

This year we will be offering up an official VS Display Rack loaded with 4 titles (of your choosing) as the grand prize. Three grand prize winners will be selected at random at the conclusion of the sale event.

Please note: Only VS and VS Sub-Label releases are eligible to be chosen for the winners.

More details about the Sweepstakes and how to enter to come!

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What products will be on sale?

Every VS, VS Sub-Label, and Partner Label title with a release date prior to November 2025 will be discounted 50% off SRP. Titles with release dates beginning in 2026 will NOT be discounted.

Special note: certain VSU and VSP releases, Merch, Clothing, and a few older Partner Label titles currently under distribution by another company may not be discounted.

*More information on sale items to come!

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I placed an order during the Flash Pre-order event and/or pre-ordered one of the latest releases - what do I need to know?

During the HBF sale, add additional orders to your package for free, using the “Add to my existing order” shipping option. See the FAQ linked above for more information!

If you are unsure during the sale, please check specific product pages as they will let you know if that title is included in what you have already ordered.

Please note: If you used order stacking but one of your orders ships without the rest, don't worry! This can happen for a number of reasons, and we will ship out any remaining orders ASAP. You'll receive tracking numbers for each package that ships to you.

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I’m a current VS Subscriber, what do I need to know?

Thank you for taking the plunge with us so far in 2026! Here’s what is already included in your Subscription: MACABRE, NIGHTWATCH and the 2 secret VS releases.

The new Vinegar Syndrome Ultra release of EXPLORERS, the new Cinématographe release of COME BACK TO THE FIVE & DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN, our new VSP ANYTHING THAT MOVES, THE LUSTFUL TURK + JOYS OF JEZEBEL From Distribpix, the secret Cinématographe release, the the new VSA, VSL, and Pink Line releases are not included in your subscription, but you will have access to your regular Subscriber discounts*.*

If you are still confused, check the individual products pages once the sale goes live to see what’s include in your Subscription.

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How do I become a VS Subscriber?

This is hands down our most asked question of all time. You only have one more opportunity to become a subscriber this year, and that is during Summer Subscriber Week, July 1st - 7th*. More information on this will be posted soon!*

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Something I recently ordered is discounted for Halfway to Black Friday, can I get a refund?

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer partial refunds on fulfilled orders or price match on existing orders. If your full price item hasn’t been fulfilled yet, please place an order for the product at the discounted price and reach out to customer service. We can cancel and refund the original full price item.

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Do you have quantity limits on Limited Edition releases?

Yes, all limited edition releases on the site are limited to (1) copy per customer. Subscribers, your subscription package counts towards this limit.

If any packages contain more than (1) limited edition of any given release, the extra(s) will be refunded upon shipping.

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What are your HBF shipping policies?

If you are a Subscriber, placed a Flash pre-order or pre-ordered MACABRE, NIGHTWATCH, EXPLORERS, COME BACK TO THE FIVE & DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN, ANYTHING THAT MOVES, THE LUSTFUL TURK + JOYS OF JEZEBEL OR any of the packages— you qualify for FREE shipping during the sale and should use your free shipping option at checkout.

Otherwise, our HBF shipping rates are as follows:

- $8 Standard (USPS Ground Advantage)

- $14 Deluxe (USPS Priority or FedEx)

- Canada = $14 (DHL Express Worldwide or FedEx International)

- International = $22 (DHL Express Worldwide or FedEx International)

All free shipping thresholds will be disabled during the sale.

Important*: If you did not place any HBF pre-orders ahead of the sale, please make sure to pay for shipping on your first order for the sale. Then, you will unlock the 'add to my existing order' shipping option that can be used for the remainder of the sale.*

Please reference our shipping policies for more information.

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When will you begin shipping orders?

This year, HBF orders will begin shipping out on Wednesday, June 3rd, starting with Subscribers, followed by Flash Pre-Order customers, and then regular sale customers.

Note: Since shipping will begin after the start of Partners Only month in June, order stacking will be available for customers who want to continue to add to their HBF shipment (before it ships)!

Please allow 3-4 weeks for your package to ship. If you do not receive your shipment notification by the end of June, please contact us so we can update you on your order.

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My order is stuck ‘In Transit’ and the tracking number has not updated for a few days, what should I do?

If there has been no movement on your package for longer than normal please reach out to your local post office or FedEx facility first. They will be able to track down your package for you. Once packages leave our building they are out of our hands and are the responsibility of the mail carrier. If your package has been ‘stuck’ for 30 days or longer, then you can reach out to us and we can figure out a solution for you. Otherwise we please ask that you give your package ample time to get delivered to you.

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Item 'X' has sold out, can I call dibs via email in case you have any extra stock?

No. After everything has shipped out, if we have additional inventory on items the were previously “sold out”, the additional inventory will be re-listed on our website once the site relaunches.

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Will your retail stores have the new releases?

Our Vinegar Syndrome stores in Bridgeport, Denver, Pittsburgh and Toronto will have all of the new releases in-stock on Friday, May 22nd. Their in-store prices will also reflect the sale prices on the website, so be sure to stop by to enjoy the sale in person if you're local!

.. and if you're a 2026 Subscriber, bring your loyalty card!

For more information on Halfway to Black Friday sales at our retails locations, please visit their various social media accounts. Feel free to contact the stores for additional information.

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Think we missed something? Still have a question? Contact us at orders@vinsyn.com, reach out via the Help Center or use the chat feature on our site and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

Pick up a copy, here! https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collections/frontpage/products/explorers

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz33wgHjQNE

2026 Subscribers: this is NOT included in your Subscription. If you'd like to purchase it, you will need to login to view your special 50% off SRP pricing.

Save $5, by pre-ordering this title during our Flash event! Order stacking will also be enabled for the upcoming HWTBF sale. Offer ends Monday (5/4) at 11:59 pm.

"A sentimental adventure of childhood wonder and the regenerative cycle of pop culture (and B-movies), which links '80s childhoods to the fantasy of '50s sci-fi, Joe Dante's EXPLORERS shows the Piranha director's unique skill in blending genres.

Featuring childhood film debuts from Ethan Hawke (Dead Poets Society) and River Phoenix (Sneakers), with Robert Picardo (The Howling) and, naturally, Dick Miller (Gremlins), it also boasts extensive use of a broad range of effects by Rob Bottin and visuals from Industrial Light & Magic, as well as an epic score by Jerry Goldsmith (Alien).

Vinegar Syndrome Ultra is proud to present this cult film to 4K UHD in both its theatrical and home video versions, newly scanned and restored from its 35mm original camera negative, and featuring a brand new extended making-of documentary produced exclusively for this release."

"Working closely with director Joe Dante and incorporating never-before-seen materials from his personal archive, Special Features Producer Elijah Drenner introduces his extensive making-of documentary "The Thunder Road: Making Explorers", produced exclusively for our new Vinegar Syndrome Ultra release."

Sources:

FAQ: https://support.vinegarsyndrome.com/en-US/2026-halfway-to-black-friday-pre-order-5899563

VS E-mail.

This limited-time event is your first chance to secure our latest releases at the lowest possible prices, as they are set to increase after the Flash Pre-Order event! (apologies for the dodgy text formatting, the editor won't listen, lol)

Going live Friday at 12:01 PM ET:

• A long-awaited VS Ultra: a beloved ’80s sci-fi/adventure classic, making its world 4K UHD debut, complete with multiple cuts and a brand-new feature-length documentary,
• A gory, twisted studio shocker (VS) with an all-star cast, newly restored from its original negative,
• An underground, artful, gory, and sexy festival hit (VS Pictures), making its home video debut,
• A star-studded New Hollywood gem (Cinématographe), arriving on 4K UHD for the first time,
• The next installment in Something Weird + Distribpix’s “Films of David F. Friedman” series (available via VS + Mélusine),
• Prefer a mystery? Our Secret VS Releases bundle returns, complete with clues, and is available to everyone!

All titles will be available at special Flash Pre-Order pricing—lower than during the Halfway Sale itself.

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Unlock Exclusive “Everything” Packages

Pre-order MACABRE before Friday, and you unlock access to our exclusive Flash Pre-Order “Everything” packages.

For the first time ever, these packages:

• Are only visible to customers who pre-order MACABRE,
• Offer the entire May VS + Sub-Label lineup at a deep bundled discount,
• Can even include the Pink Line and Distribpix releases!

The site will be going offline at 11:59 PM ET on Thursday, April 30th so we can prepare for the flash pre-order event.

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Extra Perks for Flash Pre-Order Customers

• Add items to your order for FREE shipping once the Halfway Sale begins (May 22nd),
• Enjoy faster shipping - Flash Pre-Order orders go out ahead of standard sale orders.

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I’m a Subscriber, what do I need to know?

As a VS subscriber, you will automatically receive MACABRE, the secret releases and the to-be revealed VS release.

The VSU, Cinématographe, VSP, and Distribpix titles can be purchased with your 50% off SRP subscriber discount. Everything will be shipped out after the sale with your May package!

Note: Both EVERYTHING packages will only be available on www.vinegarsyndrome.com. They will not be available for purchase on the mobile app.

Please see the FAQ for more important information.

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Will there be any other new releases on May 1st?

Yes! Our May Partner Label line-up will also be dropped on May 1st, at 12:01 PM EDT.

These releases will be available to ship before the Halfway to Black Friday sale, so be sure to place a separate order for them if you’d like them to ship earlier. Stacking them with Halfway to Black Friday Pre-orders means they will ship out after the sale.

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When will everything ship?

Halfway to Black Friday pre-order items will ship out following our Halfway to Black Friday sale.

The sale takes place May 22nd-25th, so we expect to have your item(s) shipped out by the end of June. This includes all pre-order or regular sale items.

May Partner Label pre-orders ordered separately will ship out in early-mid May, before the Halfway to Black Friday sale.

For more information, please visit the FAQ page, linked at the top of this post!