Joe Nerds Out: Why Physical Media Is More Important Than Ever [Op-Ed]

Hello, I’m Joe, and I’ve been collecting movies since I was 13. Movies have been my favorite form of storytelling for as long as I can remember. It’s not uncommon for me to be at the movie theater several times a week, either to catch some new heat or watch a rerelease of an old fave. With that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise you that I own over 500 movies, and I’m still trying to pump those numbers up. 

While having a movie collection was fairly normal throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, the rise of Netflix streaming in the 2010s saw people drop the habit real quick. Who could blame them? If movies are just a casual interest, why take up shelf space when you can watch whatever you want, whenever you want, commercial-free and at a low price?

Well, at least that’s how it used to be. Over the last six years, we’ve seen more and more streaming services launch, and it feels like every six months they announce a new price hike. What started as an affordable alternative to cable has become an equally expensive and worse version of the thing streaming was supposed to replace. 

On top of rising prices, there’s the frustration of wanting to watch a movie only to find it on a streaming service you’re not paying for. Streamers have also begun engaging in the abhorrent practice of permanently removing shows and movies from their services if they don’t reach a certain level of engagement. As someone who experienced this firsthand when Comcast completely removed my work for G4 v2 from the internet, I can tell you it really sucks for both consumers and creators. 

You might also be thinking, “OK, but I can still just buy a movie or show digitally, right?” Yeah, but recent events have shown that you don’t really own anything you buy digitally. When Redbox went out of business, people who bought movies through its digital storefront completely lost access to them. 

Heck, a business doesn’t even have to close for people to lose access to movies they purchased. 

Sony sparked quite a bit of outrage this summer when it removed 500 movies from users’ digital libraries due to a rights dispute. The company didn’t offer a refund or even store credit for the removed content, so people were out money for something completely outside their control. 

As companies increasingly adopt a “you will own nothing and enjoy it” approach to digital content, physical media is the only way to ensure you truly own the movies and shows you love. 

So if you want to get into physical media, there are three core formats: DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Blu-ray. If you’re nostalgic or just like saving coin, DVD is a solid entry point into physical media. Chances are you have an old DVD player lying around, so if you’re not a snob about the highest-quality visuals, you can’t go wrong with a DVD. Blu-ray is the perfect middle ground for folks who want solid HD visuals without breaking the bank. If you have an old PS3, PS4, or Xbox One, you own a solid Blu-ray player. 

Over the last decade, I’ve developed a real love affair with 4K Blu-ray. I think it is the best way to watch a movie at home. While some streaming services offer 4K streaming for a premium, you’re still at the mercy of your internet and buffering. With a 4K Blu-ray, you get the highest quality visuals possible and don’t have to worry about buffering. There’s simply more hard data on the disc than you get through a stream, so the audio and visuals are top-notch. I’m a snob when it comes to visual fidelity, and nothing beats a quality 4K remaster of a movie shot on film. 

If you have a nice 4K TV, a high-quality 4K Blu-ray is one of the best ways to show off the picture quality. 

Now you might be asking, “But Joe, where do I get a 4K Blu-ray player?” Well, chances are you may already own one if you own a PS5. Though, with Sony indicating that the PS6 likely won’t have a disc drive, I’m thinking of purchasing a stand-alone 4K Blu-ray player. While they’re a bit hard to find right now, the resurgence of people buying physical movies has me hoping we’ll see more companies get into manufacturing 4K Blu-ray players. 

Getting into physical media is quite easy and doesn’t have to break the bank. Amazon and Gruv regularly run sales where you can get several movies at a discount. If you’re into artsy films, Barnes & Noble has 50% off sales for Criterion releases throughout the year. Also, don’t be afraid to check out a thrift store or even your local library, since you’ll occasionally find solid flicks at a great price.

I know some folks have the mentality of “why would I pay 20-plus bucks for one movie when that gets me access to a streaming service?” I gotta tell ya, more often than not I find the movies I’m looking for well under that price, unless it’s a boutique label like Criterion or Arrow. 

If you’re tired of algorithms controlling what you watch, buy physical media. If you’re tired of paying exorbitant prices just to spend more time scrolling than actually watching something, buy physical media. If the concept of ownership actually means something to you, buy physical media. As streaming services only get worse, owning the movies and shows I love and being able to watch them whenever I want has proved to be far more convenient than the Netflix catalog. 

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