How valuable are physical DVDs in the 2020s?

In recent years, DVDs have shifted from film watching essentials to mere collectors items. The rise of streaming, renting and digital download has made the physical purchasing of movies, in all practical terms, technically obsolete, but stores like HMV and CeX prove there is still a market for these purchases.

The film industry would not be the giant it is today without the release of DVDs. Their rollout in the mid-90s, affordably replacing VHS tapes, brought the enjoyment of movies into the comfort of film watchers’ homes, giving viewers the ability to cherrypick their own watchlists and relieving their reliance on TV channels or renting companies like Blockbuster Video for access to movies.

In the 2020s, the tradition of owning physical copies of media like films and music has returned to mainstream popularity. Whether that be vinyl, CDs or DVDs, there has been an outpouring of love for classic media formats, despite them not being a strict necessity due to widespread online access. Though it can seem counter intuitive or perhaps even a waste of money to some, the joy of collecting which many people share proves there is something uniquely special about being able to own physical copies of your favourite films or albums and display them in a personal library that reflects your own taste. 

I personally come from a household with a large DVD collection, which my family has curated over the years. From BluRays to standard DVDs, newly released picks to second hand charity shop finds, our DVD library stands in our living room as a thing of pride. It is a way of tracking how our tastes have evolved over time, as well as a means of ensuring our favourites are always on hand to rewatch. Though we still often watch movies on streaming services, there is something lovely about being able to see the physical copies of our favourites curated in front of us. Plus, it is a habit that is relatively affordable, considering most DVDs can be picked up for £10 and under.

All in all, the declining popularity of DVDs is an understandable by-product of media digitisation, but for those who still choose to own physical copies of movies, there is an indisputable personal value in this. Whether it is a nostalgic callback to a bygone era of physical media ownership or a means of having classics on hand to watch at all times, one thing is certain - curation is a deeply human act and therefore will always be a valuable one.