When was the last time you went to buy a DVD, then thought twice and opted to just rent it instead? Probably pretty recently, if the latest data from the trade organization Digital Entertainment Group is any indication. Released yesterday, the report indicates that DVD sales — a usually reliable source of cash for movie studios — have been hit hard by the recession, dropping 13.5 percent for the first half of the year. As for the time-honored tradition of renting videos? Rentals rose 8 percent over the same period. It’s kind of a no-brainer to me: If you’re looking to cut back on your entertainment budget, rentals are a great way to economize. I mean, do you really need to own a copy of He’s Just Not That Into You forever and ever? With all apologies to Jennifer Aniston and Co., probably not.
One thing the LA Times pointed out in its coverage, though, is that certain blockbusters seem to be bucking the trend, still selling well even in these our troubled times. The two titles they mention: Dark Knight and Twilight (apparently, you really do need to own Robert Pattinson forever and ever), which indicates that this summer’s big box office hits, like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, might do the same.
Personally, I’ve always been pretty selective about the DVDs I shell out money for, recession or no. How about you? What movies or TV shows will you still buy and which ones are rentals only? And more importantly, which ones might you have bought last year, but are deciding are not worth it this recession-plagued year?
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I’m a big fan of getting the lastest releases from my local library. Granted I have to put it on hold and wait for my turn, but its free and I get to keep it for two weeks. Can’t beat that.
I will only buy the movie if I think it will stand the test of time.
netflix is the way to go!
I will only buy movies if they are ones that I know that I will watch several times or ones that are likely to be out of print eventually (especially classic movies from the 30s -50s). There is no point in buying some of the more recent movies as I can always rent them whenever I want from the library (FREE!) or netflix.
I really don’t buy movies. I put them on my Amazon list and wait til a holiday. I get DVDs as gifts a lot, which is fine by me. Every now and then I’ll shell out money towards TV on DVD. I can’t rent that stuff. Too much waiting to get the next disk. Also, I watch movies online if I don’t really care enough to even rent it.
We borrow from the library, sometimes rent from the video store if we can’t wait, which is rare. I buy the big sweeping classics, like Gandhi, Gone with the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, and Dr. Zhivago. Also movies that you can’t figure everything out from just one viewing, like Memento and 12 Monkeys. You live and learn from this, since we also have a copy of Dude, Where’s my Car on a bottom shelf.
One word…NETFLIX.
And sadly for the movie biz…most of my rentals are tv shows. I don’t get HBO or Showtime…so I’ve been renting shows like True Blood, Dexter and so on.
I used to buy DVDs like it was going out of style when I was in college, but now I find it much easier to rent movies through my cable provider’s on-demand function.
I actually buy a lot but i’ve started to slow down or stop because of the quality of the merchandise… i mean they are using the flimiest of cardboard, cheap plastic cases, and those stupid security tags they put right on the artwork. I’m done buying dvds and tv shows on dvd if they continue sliding in quality.
I used to buy all the time. Would love to buy the upcoming releases of “Watchmen: Director’s Cut” or “Race To Witch Mountain”. Sadly though, I spent two months this summer on the unemployment line. That cut into my DVD money. I went to 5 dollar movies with a can of pop in my pocket and popcorn if I could split the cost with pals. LOL. I have a job again but I’m going out of town to see family in August so I don’t see myself buying another DVD until the releases of Gladiator, Star Trek 2009, Forrest Gump, and Braveheart on Blu-ray, and “KINGS” on DVD (for which I nabbed an early 20 dollar pre-order). Thank the lord for Netflix. 13 bucks a month for 2 at a time.
I borrow DVD’s through the library too, especially TV shows. Then I buy them if I enjoyed all the special features and the commentaries.
I rent and buy! I have hundreds of DVD’s but lately I have been buying only TV on DVD because you can get movies from the library at no charge. My wife and I are pop culture junkies and we have been through pretty much the whole collection at the library.
I buy TV shows on DVD way more than I buy movies. There’s more to watch, and usually the extras are better. Plus having a couple seasons of a TV show all together looks sooooo nice!
I’ll buy something like “The Dark Knight.” Something like “Knowing” not so much.
I am waiting for Lost to come out in a deluxe blu ray box set! That is something I am definately going to buy. Only reason to buy a blu ray player too. The ONLY reason.
I am waiting for the Lost complete box set blu ray dvd to come out. I will buy that for sho! That is the only reason to buy a blu ray player too. The ONLY reason.
I have lots of movies, but I only buy them if I love them, even those on the $5 shelf. Or if I think I’ll love them–I bought Hot Fuzz unseen because Shaun of the Dead was hilarious…but I got it for $5. Consignment stores are a good place for DVDs, too. I bought Strictly Ballroom for myself, and A Mighty Wind and Dawn of the Dead for my son, and spent less than $10 on all three. But I’ve slowed down buying DVDs and CDs.
I never saw the point of owning DVDs…I rarely watch movies or shows more than once. I love Netflix.
The only DVDs I buy are TV shows. I don’t see the need to buy a movie. There are many other ways to watch a film I want.
http://tvdonewright.com/
I purchase DVDs. A lot. I’m bad at returning rentals so I usually wait until a movie is at a certain price point and then purchase. I’m paying the same as I would renting with paying late fees and I get to keep the movie too.
With that said, my purchases have been slowing down too but not because of the economy as much as the fact that there haven’t been that many movies I’m interested in watching on DVD lately.
Since Netflix started renting Blu-Rays, there is no reason to buy most DVDs. I have probably 300 in my collection and I wish there were a “video iPod” I could load them all onto so I don’t have the filling shelves and gathering dust. I haven’t bought a DVD in nearly 2 years.
I like buying previously viewed DVDs (3 for $20 woo!) at Blockbuster or Hollywood Video.
I’m both… I rent (Netflix rules my world) but I also have some DVDs that I’d pay to own (How I Met Your Mother, Eli Stone series are on my list, for example).
I don’t buy too often though… I never really get around to watching my DVDs all that often.
I’m more likely to buy a TV season than a movie. I only want to own things I can repeat-watch. Simple litmus test. Studios need to monetize on-demand viewing rentals stat. DVD sales aren’t going to last forever.
I’m both… I rent (Netflix rules my world) but I also have some DVDs that I’d pay to own (How I Met Your Mother, Eli Stone series are on my list, for example).
I don’t buy too often though… I never really get around to watching my DVDs all that often.
I use Netflix and now the Roku box they offer…sometimes I buy, like Pushing Daisies and my husband buys Lost…but we don’t buy many movies…
I don’t rent, i buy, especially lately. I buy movies that i have seen in theatres at least once, that i know i will watch over and over again. I also buy movies through amazon that are older ones that can’t really be found in stores. i also buy movies if they are based on books that i have read, like jane austen novels, or the harry potter series. i also have a few of my favorite tv shows on dvd, but that can get quite expensive when there are multiple seasons,so i mostly buy movies.
I rent four a week from Netflix but I do buy if there is something I want to see and own and don’t want to wait 3 months.
i don’t rent, i buy, especially lately. I only buy movies that i have seen at least once in theatres. i also buy movies through amazon that are older and can’t really be found in stores. I also buy movies that are based on books that i have read, like jane austen novels and the harry potter series. I do have a few of my favorite tv shows on dvd, but that can get quite expensive when there are multiple seasons, so i mostly buy movies.
I think the quality of the movie and it’s vastly different buzz and or critic endorsement is setting back dvd sales too. I’ve bought 3 different movies recently on their dvd release date based on word of mouth, and have immediately felt buyers remorse. Paul Blart is hilarious… really?? Damn you over-hyped crap!! Now I have cold feet for new releases, AND I have to build back my trust for my friend who promised me I’d “love Mall Cop” Pfft!