My DVD and Blu-ray collection status (2024 edition)
A year ago, I started buying DVDs and Blu-rays in earnest again, after years of slacking off due to using streaming services. I had even sold off most of my older DVDs, both for money and figuring I didn’t need them anymore. These days, however, I wish I hadn’t done so.
Still, over the past year, I’ve managed to rebuy most of my old collection, plus add newer content. I’ve also ripped them on my computer to digital files, for my own media server (originally Plex, currently Jellyfin).
DVDs and Blu-rays recently bought
Below are some of the DVDs and Blu-rays I’ve bought over the past year.
TV shows
Aquaman (1967) (complete series)
Challenge of the Superfriends
The New Adventures of Superman (1966) (season 1)
Scooby-Doo Where Are You? (complete series)
The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour (complete series)
SpongeBob SquarePants (seasons 1-4)
Teen Titans (complete series)
Wacky Races (complete series)
What’s New Scooby-Doo? (complete series)
Movies
Barbie (2023)
The 80s/90s Batman movies (1989-1997)
The Book of Life (2014)
Ghost Rider (2007)
Hairspray (1988)
In the Heights (2021)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Looney Tunes (Super Stars, Platinum Collection)
Several Scooby-Doo direct-to-video movies
Several Flintstones direct-to-video movies
Slap Shot (1977)
Space Jam (1996)
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015)
The Star Trek: The Original Series films (1979-1991)
Specials
Rankin-Bass Christmas specials
Peanuts specials
Where I buy DVDs/Blu-rays
Some of the above was rebuying my old DVD collection, as I noted earlier. At this point, that’s mostly complete; the remaining missing old DVDs are either ones I don’t feel compelled to re-buy (for various reasons) or are out of print and expensive. (Example: one now-out-of-print DVD set I used to own now goes for five times what I originally paid for it on eBay.)
My sources for buying DVDs/Blu-rays:
Amazon. With stores like Best Buy no longer selling DVDs and Blu-rays, Amazon has pretty much become the dominant place to still buy a variety of DVDs/Blu-rays.
Gruv. Gruv is an online store run by Universal and Warner Bros., selling both studios’ TV shows and films, often on sale/with discounts. While the standard shipping can be a bit slow, it’s still a decent online store.
Target. I’ve bought a few films from Target; however, I think their selection is dwindling. The last time I went to Target, their vinyl record section was bigger than the DVD/Blu-ray one.
Miscellaneous. Other sources include: a few old DVDs my family didn’t want anymore (one had a still-valid digital code, oddly for an HD version of the DVD); a dollar store; eBay; and a yard sale, where I bought “Lady and the Tramp” and “Slap Shot” for $1 each (the former was on Blu-ray, unopened, and with a still-valid digital code).
Conclusion
Going into 2024 (as of this writing), I’m not sure I’ll need to be as aggressive about DVD/Blu-ray buying this year, since I’ve replaced my old collection. However, I’ll still buy some stuff if I deem it worth owning, it’s on sale, and/or I suspect it’ll end up out of print. The final issue’s a concern, given the state of declining physical media sales and the shift to streaming/digital video. (Even if streaming’s having its own problems.)
While I still like streaming services, they do have their flaws. It’s also nice to own my favorite TV shows and films, and without having to pay for an endless monthly bill.
Do any of you still buy DVDs/Blu-rays?