Physical media is no longer a thing of the past. From vinyl to film photography, the recent resurgence in collecting has been hard to miss. This is no less true for boxsets, particularly as streaming services become increasingly expensive, and numerous. With a standard Netflix subscription (ads included) now costing £71.88 a year, this analogue revival seems inevitable....
This of course raises the question, why did we leave boxsets behind in the first place? Streaming’s early promise was irresistible - convenient, instantly accessible and filled with a seemingly infinite library of films and TV shows: And Netflix’s early monopoly facilitated this, hosting content from across major networks. In essence, it felt like the natural future of TV.
But with every rise comes a fall. This once centralised library of content fragmented across an increasing number of streaming services, leading to what many have dubbed a ‘subscription fatigue’. Faced with endless scrolling, is it any wonder then that people have begun to yearn for a time where your viewing options were simply the boxsets on your shelf or, if you were feeling adventurous, a trip to Blockbuster?
going back to boxsets is both a practical and nostalgic choice for many.
Thus, going back to boxsets is both a practical and nostalgic choice for many. For me, the appeal is readily apparent. The little pamphlets tucked inside, the bonus features that streaming platforms rarely bother with anymore, and most crucially, the price. Charity shops like the Byker Oxfam offer deals like 20 DVDs for £1. At that price, it would almost be irresponsible not to start a collection.
It’s not perfect - moving with a stack of boxsets is a workout in itself - but the trade-off feels worth it.
Maybe it was the creeping nostalgia of turning 20 and realising my childhood was now considered ‘vintage’, but something about turning back to DVD felt grounding. You choose a disc and, with no ads or algorithm nudging you towards the next new thing, you sit and watch. And it appears I’m not alone in this. As Humayun and Belk’s research has shown, there is a level of disenchantment with the digital that has begun to grow within society at large. It’s not perfect - moving with a stack of boxsets is a workout in itself - but the trade-off feels worth it.
Beyond personal considerations, there are also serious questions of preservation tied to the conversation surrounding physical media. As films and TV shows vanish from streaming platforms, the fragility of digital libraries becomes harder to ignore. This is not limited to indie projects. Famously, 28 Days Later (2002) nearly became lost media due to rights issues. DVDs are in many ways an antidote to this, immune to corporate dealings. Permanent.
This leaves the question, where do we go from here? Streaming is almost certainly here to stay, but this doesn’t mean you should accept the current model unquestioningly. While most students use their parent’s subscriptions, having a small, physical collection allows you to step away from the chaos of the streaming world when you need it. And maybe that’s what the return to boxsets is really about: reclaiming a sense of control, one disc at a time.