Physical media offers no shortage of benefits when compared to streaming and digital media. For instance, when you buy a copy of a movie or series you love in a physical format, you can be confident you’ll always own it. That’s not a guarantee with digital media. The libraries of streaming services remain in a constant state of flux, and even digital copies of titles you’ve purchased can become unavailable due to factors like rights issues and other such complications.
However, as I’ve pointed out in the past, there’s value in purchasing DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K discs of movies you’ve never seen before. It’s not uncommon for me to spend my hard-earned money on discs of titles I’ve yet to see. It’s also not uncommon for me to be happy with these purchases.
How do I decide whether a film I haven’t seen is worth buying? It’s actually fairly easy if you consider a few factors and leverage a few basic tips.
Wait for sales
I won’t pay full price for something I’ve yet to see
It’s worth noting that not every physical media sale or discount is worthwhile. You need to assess whether a sale actually offers value before making an impulse purchase you’ll regret.
That said, I understandably don’t want to take the risk of paying full price for a disc if I’ve never seen the movie on said disc. This is particularly true when I consider that I tend to buy releases from boutique labels like the Criterion Collection, which can already be more expensive than most discs.
Thus, it’s very rare for me to pay full price for a disc of a movie I haven’t seen. I make these purchases when sales are active. Another option is buying a used copy, although you have to be careful to avoid making certain common mistakes when buying used physical media.
Treat the purchase like you’re going to the movies
Apply the same logic you would when seeing a new movie in the theater
Even if I’m buying a supplement-heavy disc from a boutique label, when I make these types of purchases during sales, I usually end up spending between $20 and $30 maximum on an individual title. That’s at least the same amount of money I would spend seeing a movie in a theater, assuming I’m also getting some sort of snack or drink.
Although I love taking the opportunity to see a favorite film on the big screen when the chance to do so presents itself, most of the movies I see in the theater are new releases. In other words, I certainly don’t mind spending a decent chunk of change to see a movie I’ve never seen before if it just came out.
Logically, I also should feel equally comfortable buying a disc of a movie I haven’t seen. In fact, a disc is something I own permanently, so it represents an even more sensible way to spend my money.
To decide whether a movie I haven’t seen deserves to be part of my physical media collection, I apply the same basic tests I apply to determine if a new movie is worth seeing in the theater. First, I consider whether it appeals to my personal tastes to such a degree that I’m likely to enjoy it. For example, if one of my favorite directors releases a movie in one of my favorite genres, with a cast featuring some of my favorite actors, it’s a fairly safe bet I’ll be a fan of that picture.
I also consider the opinions of others. Between checking RottenTomatoes and lurking on platforms like Reddit, I can get a general sense of what the critics and fans think about a movie. This can further help me determine whether I should buy a given disc.
The main point to understand is that buying a DVD, Blu-ray, or 4k disc of a movie you haven’t seen before is no more financially risky than going to see a new movie. You just need to adopt the perspective of a theater-goer when buying physical media.
Supplemental features and technical details can tip the scales in favor of a purchase
Yet another reason physical media enthusiasts prefer discs over downloads is the fact that streaming services and digital platforms rarely offer all the content that physical media offers. Often, when you buy a movie in a physical format, you’re not just getting the movie. You’re also getting documentaries, interviews, booklets, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, and various other forms of additional content. There’s also a good chance that the technical details of a physical copy of a movie will rival those of a digital copy.
This is the factor that may ultimately determine whether I buy a disc of a movie I’ve never seen. Along with waiting to buy it at an ideal price and considering whether it’s the type of movie I’d spend money to see in a theater, I evaluate whether the disc offers enough supplemental features and technical strengths to justify the purchase.
Of course, I’m not advocating being unwise with your money. To the contrary, I believe frugality and budgeting are essentials in adulthood. However, I also believe that by applying these tips, you can ensure that buying a movie you’ve never seen before isn’t an unwise purchase in the slightest.
