Streaming prices keep rising and Gen Z is fighting back. 4K Blu-ray sales are up, used DVDs are selling out, and physical media ownership is making a comeback.
The current streaming model is completely unsustainable. At some point, the bubble is going to burst, and we're probably going to see more and more people abandon streaming as time goes on. There's definitely going to be a lot more churning going on as people only sign up for seasons of shows/movies that they want to see and then cancel. I think what could be a catastrophe for streaming is if these companies decide to implement a contract model where if you sign up for a service or two, you're bound to that contract until it's up, or you end paying a cancelation fee. If streaming companies start doing that, it's not going to end well.
Physical media, on the other hand? That shit's forever. I just got the movie Threads on Blu-Ray from Severin Films. Phenomenal film. Hard watch, though. Gruv currently has a March Madness deal going and I snagged three Blu-Rays for the price of one: Eastern Promises, The Devil's Advocate, and The Adventures of Robin Hood. I'm not buying physical media as much as I used to, particularly newer movies, but I'm still picking stuff up. Especially for older movies.
Yes! Physical media is the way to go to have forever access to the films and TV shows you want. Of course, one has to keep a videocassette and/or DVD player in good shape to view them! My guess is that more of them will be manufactured with this new growing trend.
I know you don't like the Paramount deal with Warner Brothers but ultimately this is why I prefer Paramount to buy them simply because I know they'll keep physical media far more likely than Netflix would have done so I think that will be key to the growth of physical media despite the political implications of the deal.
Neither Netflix or Paramount was going to change what WB was doing with physical media. Studio Distribution Services runs the WB home media distribution and they have a joint deal with Universal through 2030 that wasn’t going to be broken.
I'm pleased to see the rise in physical media sales. You showed how streaming services have greatly inflated their monthly rates. I think they have crossed the Rubicon for most people, especially in this tough economic climate. I dropped Netflix in 2024, and I'm ending my HBO subscription this month. I'll hold on to Apple TV because they have some great shows coming soon, i.e., For All Mankind and Monarch. I got a good deal on Disney/Hulu, and I'll stick with them until the deal ends.
In this environment, I've been buying DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K discs. You are correct that they are permanent and always available to watch. I also love the extras that come with most discs. When I buy new, I know I am supporting the people who will (hopefully) keep producing physical media. We have a thrift store near us, and I stop there every few weeks to check out their DVDs. It is hard to argue with $2 discs, $1 when they are on sale. Books, DVDs, and music are better when you own the physical copies.
Excellent news on the 12% rise and I believe an 18% rise in the UK and probably Europe. But let's see the studios and boutique labels respond by making some titles not only limited edition steelbooks,( which can be priced above what most people can afford,) but standard editions.
If you check , license streaming prices might be going down compared to .. from prime, to dvd / bluray .. i stick to dvd nowadays .. films get wiped off streaming becareful , hardcopy is best ! …
Through the 2010s, this Gen Xer was broke AF. My one occasional indulgence was getting a DVD of a movie I wanted to watch or own. When Blockbuster went belly-up, that meant the bargain bins.
The algorithm never rewards the kind of curiosity that browsing a video store shelf would. That probably accounts for why Gen Z is making physical media a counterculture. Being broke AF like I was doesn't hurt either.
I've touched on this topic a few times, here and there. I regret getting rid of so many DVDs growing up. About a year ago I wrote about the revival of cassette tapes, which feels part of this same story.
I renewed my DVD collection. I don’t trust any company to honor my purchases for the long-term. There’s too much small print to trust they’d protect my account over their shareholders if push came to shove. The DVDs are in my possession and I’ll decide when someone else owns any of them.
This’s doubly important with the vulnerability of the internet. In times of bad storms, harsh weather, and/ or tech issues, my DVD’s will always load and be ready.
Be smart and get your DVD house in order or don’t whine when your digital Russian roulette loses.
Thank you for writing this. Your YT channel and book have been a central inspiration for me to dust off my 300+ dvd collection and focus on upgrading and curating my collection. Instead of going wide this time around, I’m opting for a more curated collection focusing on political thrillers, 70s thrillers, and auteur driven cinema. Upgrading older films to their 4k releases feels like unlocking a whole new world. So thank you for championing physical media.
I think the biggest issue with streaming is believing the algorithms are for us, and are there to understand our taste. They are not for us, they serve the platforms economic first. They may understand our behavior but not our motivations. Quotes from Reed Hasting saying “Netflix competes with sleep” is telling of their motivations. They aren’t there to make meaning, they are there to capture attention, and that’s fundamentally different.
I know Johnathan as I thought directly of YOU after I read this yesterday!!! Love it and Gen Z are really into something!!! Something I’ve been thinking about doing too!
I’m wondering if there isn’t something else working in the ether on Gen Z. Gen X took a while to understand that digital relationships are real relationships, but you have nothing to remind you or preserve those experiences. I have had some of the funniest conversations online, but they are very hard to explain to other people, almost impossible if you weren’t there. It is different in real life. Everything is an experience and a story. Physical media gives you something to add to the experience and hold on to. Hard to explain, but movies, music, and art are all experiences. Streaming and the digital world take something from that.
Fantastic!!! Love your posts Jeff!!
The current streaming model is completely unsustainable. At some point, the bubble is going to burst, and we're probably going to see more and more people abandon streaming as time goes on. There's definitely going to be a lot more churning going on as people only sign up for seasons of shows/movies that they want to see and then cancel. I think what could be a catastrophe for streaming is if these companies decide to implement a contract model where if you sign up for a service or two, you're bound to that contract until it's up, or you end paying a cancelation fee. If streaming companies start doing that, it's not going to end well.
Physical media, on the other hand? That shit's forever. I just got the movie Threads on Blu-Ray from Severin Films. Phenomenal film. Hard watch, though. Gruv currently has a March Madness deal going and I snagged three Blu-Rays for the price of one: Eastern Promises, The Devil's Advocate, and The Adventures of Robin Hood. I'm not buying physical media as much as I used to, particularly newer movies, but I'm still picking stuff up. Especially for older movies.
Yes! Physical media is the way to go to have forever access to the films and TV shows you want. Of course, one has to keep a videocassette and/or DVD player in good shape to view them! My guess is that more of them will be manufactured with this new growing trend.
The temporariness of streaming freaks me out. I want access!
I know you don't like the Paramount deal with Warner Brothers but ultimately this is why I prefer Paramount to buy them simply because I know they'll keep physical media far more likely than Netflix would have done so I think that will be key to the growth of physical media despite the political implications of the deal.
Neither Netflix or Paramount was going to change what WB was doing with physical media. Studio Distribution Services runs the WB home media distribution and they have a joint deal with Universal through 2030 that wasn’t going to be broken.
I'm pleased to see the rise in physical media sales. You showed how streaming services have greatly inflated their monthly rates. I think they have crossed the Rubicon for most people, especially in this tough economic climate. I dropped Netflix in 2024, and I'm ending my HBO subscription this month. I'll hold on to Apple TV because they have some great shows coming soon, i.e., For All Mankind and Monarch. I got a good deal on Disney/Hulu, and I'll stick with them until the deal ends.
In this environment, I've been buying DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K discs. You are correct that they are permanent and always available to watch. I also love the extras that come with most discs. When I buy new, I know I am supporting the people who will (hopefully) keep producing physical media. We have a thrift store near us, and I stop there every few weeks to check out their DVDs. It is hard to argue with $2 discs, $1 when they are on sale. Books, DVDs, and music are better when you own the physical copies.
Excellent news on the 12% rise and I believe an 18% rise in the UK and probably Europe. But let's see the studios and boutique labels respond by making some titles not only limited edition steelbooks,( which can be priced above what most people can afford,) but standard editions.
If you check , license streaming prices might be going down compared to .. from prime, to dvd / bluray .. i stick to dvd nowadays .. films get wiped off streaming becareful , hardcopy is best ! …
This...this actually gives me hope.
Through the 2010s, this Gen Xer was broke AF. My one occasional indulgence was getting a DVD of a movie I wanted to watch or own. When Blockbuster went belly-up, that meant the bargain bins.
The algorithm never rewards the kind of curiosity that browsing a video store shelf would. That probably accounts for why Gen Z is making physical media a counterculture. Being broke AF like I was doesn't hurt either.
I've touched on this topic a few times, here and there. I regret getting rid of so many DVDs growing up. About a year ago I wrote about the revival of cassette tapes, which feels part of this same story.
https://twistedwonderland.substack.com/p/is-the-cassette-tape-revival-a-good?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1yp56m
I renewed my DVD collection. I don’t trust any company to honor my purchases for the long-term. There’s too much small print to trust they’d protect my account over their shareholders if push came to shove. The DVDs are in my possession and I’ll decide when someone else owns any of them.
This’s doubly important with the vulnerability of the internet. In times of bad storms, harsh weather, and/ or tech issues, my DVD’s will always load and be ready.
Be smart and get your DVD house in order or don’t whine when your digital Russian roulette loses.
And there are a lot of great Films, you will never on platforms like: The quiet earth
The sentence: Not available anymore
Thank you for writing this. Your YT channel and book have been a central inspiration for me to dust off my 300+ dvd collection and focus on upgrading and curating my collection. Instead of going wide this time around, I’m opting for a more curated collection focusing on political thrillers, 70s thrillers, and auteur driven cinema. Upgrading older films to their 4k releases feels like unlocking a whole new world. So thank you for championing physical media.
I think the biggest issue with streaming is believing the algorithms are for us, and are there to understand our taste. They are not for us, they serve the platforms economic first. They may understand our behavior but not our motivations. Quotes from Reed Hasting saying “Netflix competes with sleep” is telling of their motivations. They aren’t there to make meaning, they are there to capture attention, and that’s fundamentally different.
I know Johnathan as I thought directly of YOU after I read this yesterday!!! Love it and Gen Z are really into something!!! Something I’ve been thinking about doing too!
I’m wondering if there isn’t something else working in the ether on Gen Z. Gen X took a while to understand that digital relationships are real relationships, but you have nothing to remind you or preserve those experiences. I have had some of the funniest conversations online, but they are very hard to explain to other people, almost impossible if you weren’t there. It is different in real life. Everything is an experience and a story. Physical media gives you something to add to the experience and hold on to. Hard to explain, but movies, music, and art are all experiences. Streaming and the digital world take something from that.