Blu-rays are back: Why people are building physical media libraries again
Remember when you’d go to Costco and buy DVD movies? Some habits are hard to break and I’m embarrassed to admit I buy a ton of movies on Apple and Amazon. That’s why the news coming out now surprises even the cynical me.
Buying a digital movie isn’t like purchasing a physical copy. The movie maker or distributor can’t come into your home’s DVD player and say, “Sorry, this is not yours to watch anymore.” When you “buy” a digital copy of a movie or show, they can do just that, and poof, you lost the movie and your money.
Drama rama is a risky business
The Discovery-Warner Bros. merger has stirred up a bunch of licensing issues. Max lost 87 titles, including the still-popular “Westworld.” And say goodbye to “Mythbusters,” “Minx” and “Legendary.” This means if you bought these titles on Max, you can no longer watch them.
The sci-fi drama and other axed programs are available for free (with ads) on Roku and Tubi, but the point remains: Just because you bought a show or movie doesn’t mean it’s yours to watch forever.
Companies are cutting shows and movies from streaming services to save money on paying residuals to actors and writers, so who knows what you’ll lose next. Enter the second rise of the Blu-ray.
Say no to digital
When I look at the rack in my home theater at my new house, there’s a Blu-ray player. When the AV nerds asked me if I wanted one, I figured, “Why not?” Turns out a lot of other people are doing the same thing now.
Folks are doubling down on collecting DVDs, Blu-rays and other physical media of their favorite shows and movies. For a while, it was just niche hobbyists and film snobs. Now, ordinary people are dusting off the old DVD player.
And where do you go to learn about a new hobby? Reddit, of course. Check out this haul one guy posted to the Blu-ray subreddit. He and his wife recently spent a weekend building a vast collection of their old faves. They’re up to about 500.
It’s not just old movies trending, either. The “Barbie” movie even has a special edition Blu-ray with a pink case. They wouldn’t make it if folks weren’t buying.
Want to go old-school?
The best eBay treasures to sell
A recent analysis of over 17 million sales on eBay uncovered the best-selling items to make extra cash. I bet you have a few of these products stashed in closets — or maybe your parents do.
If you want to make a few bucks, check out the list below and start scavaging.
Avoid 'free' downloads of these Oscar favorites - they're hiding malware
If you’re a movie fan, this is a huge weekend. The 92nd Academy Awards ceremony airs Sunday, Feb. 9, and tons of great films will win Oscars.
Just the mention of Oscar-nominated movies gives many of us the itch to binge-watch them all. You might be able to catch some of them on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Tap or click here to find out which service is better for movies.
Netflix now lets you turn off its most annoying feature
Streaming platforms like Netflix have changed the media landscape forever. Now, instead of spending hundreds on expensive DVD or Blu-Ray box sets, you can binge-watch shows from the comfort of your living room for a cheap monthly fee.