what free program for compressing files

Hi,
I have made hundeds of movie backups by using compression programs to fit the movie on a 4.3 gb dvd. My question is what program, free if possible or shareware, do you recommend to compress a directory of downloaded files (5.6 gb) to a 4.3 dvd +r or +rw? My movie backup programs like 1clickdvdcopy or dvdxcopy xpress work on movies and I have not tried making compressed images of files or dirctories. I have used programs that image my entire drive (clone) to a differnt hard drive on my network. I'm looking for a simple program that will either compress any group of files or directories to fit on 4.3 gb dvds ie., iso files or other ways of storing these large 5-6 gb of file space to a dvd.
Thanks for any suggestions,

Miles

ps. I have winzip but never really used it to compress to a zip or self extracting exe files. I use it to open zip files that I download. Also the fastest compressing to a dvd would be the best.

 

sorry misread the question, not sure what say, maybe 7 zip?

 

Hi,
I think about zip too.
http://www.mrfreefree.com/free_software/free_zip_files_compressing_software.html

 

Excellent choice. It's right on the front page. http://www.majorgeeks.com/7-Zip_d4603.html

 

what about zipgenius it uses a lot of formats including 7 zip http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4696 i have been looking for a new zip program too and i found this, what do you guys think of it?