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?
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.