I Love Physical Media — DVDs to be Specific

July 18, 2025

A variety of DVDs owned by the author. Photo: By Author.

In a world where subscriptions and the “not owning anything” mentality have become the norm, there’s something special about owning physical media. Having a DVD on hand means you can reach for it any time—no internet connection required. There’s a unique beauty in owning media: you can touch it, open it, read the booklet if there’s one included, and build a tangible library. Honestly, what’s not to love?

Since I was a kid, I’ve enjoyed collecting DVDs to add to my library. I remember getting Jurassic Park when I was seven and being absolutely over the moon! I even asked for Freddy vs. Jason for Christmas—because I know a masterpiece when I see one. Or receiving the 25th anniversary set of Back to the Future for Easter.

On Friday nights, my siblings and I would browse through our DVD stash, pick our entertainment for the evening (many times it was Scooby-Doo), and pop the disc into the player. We’d fire up that clunky TV for some free, quality fun. Sometimes, we'd put something on in the background and play Old Maid or Go Fish. Either way, it was awesome!

Or, we would do a family movie night. Growing up, our family movie nights were similar to many others who grew up in the 2000s. We'd go to Blockbuster, pick out some movies, maybe grab pizza, and then go home to settle down in the living room to watch our new movies! It's a tradition I still think about fondly. Many of the films I own now can be attributed to those movie nights.

Now, everything seems to require a subscription—if you even choose to go that route. I’ve held off so far, but I can’t deny I enjoyed the early days of Netflix, back before ads, before the monthly cost was more than $7, and when The Office, Saturday Night Live, and Friends were just a click away. Streaming had its golden moment.

Like everything, there are pros and cons to having physical vs. digital media.

Why I choose physical media:

• Reliability.

  • It’s mine. I don’t have to hunt down the streaming service hosting the movie or show—I can go straight to the source. A streaming service may come and go, but a DVD is mine as long as I take care of it.

• Collecting is fun!

  • Everyone has their niche, and mine is collecting DVDs and books. I’m tactile by nature, so having my collection visible and accessible is incredibly satisfying.

• Cost.

  • They're so cheap! Especially if you raid the movie shelf at the local thrift store.

• Comfort in knowing my favorites are always available.

  • Streaming platforms pull content all the time—owning the DVD means it’s always there.

• Memories

  • There's something special about having something in your life that will always be attached to positive moments.

Why I sometimes give in to streaming or renting:

• Space. I don't have enough room to house all the DVDs I'd like to own.

• Convenience. Sometimes it’s just easier to rent a movie for the night.

• One-time watch. There are plenty of films that are fun to see once but don't need a permanent spot on my shelf.

At the end of the day, how you manage your media is a personal choice. Whether it’s VHS, Laserdisc, DVDs, or streaming, we all share the same goal: satisfying our desire for entertainment. I choose DVDs—and I’m sticking with them.