In a world dominated by streaming, cloud storage, and algorithm-driven recommendations, the humble DVD might seem like a relic. But for collectors, archivists, filmmakers, and anyone concerned with long-term access to culture, DVDs still matter — perhaps more than ever.
This is the story of how a format that once revolutionised home entertainment has become a vital tool for preservation, and why the future of physical media still deserves a place on our shelves.
The Digital Age Is Fragile
Streaming has made watching films more convenient than ever, but it comes at a cost: we don’t own what we watch. Entire catalogues disappear overnight. Licensing deals expire. Films get edited, censored, or pulled completely. In some cases, movies released just a few years ago are now entirely unavailable on major platforms.
That’s where physical media steps in. A DVD gives you a permanent copy — one that can’t be deleted by a streaming service or altered without your consent.
Bit Rot, Disc Degradation, and the Risks to DVDs
Of course, DVDs aren’t bulletproof. They’re subject to bit rot, where digital data becomes unreadable due to gradual physical decay. While most high-quality pressed discs can last decades if stored properly, cheaper burned discs (especially DIY DVD-Rs) may degrade within 5–10 years.
Preservationists stress the importance of:
- Storing DVDs in cool, dry conditions
- Avoiding direct sunlight or extreme temperature changes
- Backing up rare content digitally using lossless methods
Still, as fragile as DVDs can be, they’re often more stable than online-only formats. They don’t depend on subscription models or region-specific availability. You either have the disc or you don’t — and that’s comforting in an era of vanishing content.
What Makes a DVD Worth Preserving?
It’s not just the film. DVDs are treasure troves of supplementary material:
- Director’s commentaries
- Behind-the-scenes featurettes
- Deleted scenes
- Interactive menus and games
- Original trailers and TV spots
These extras — often absent from digital versions — offer insight into the creative process. In many cases, they’ve never been re-released elsewhere. Lose the DVD, and you lose part of that film’s legacy.
Take a look at our article on The Art of DVD Extras to see why these bonus features deserve attention of their own.
The Internet Archive and the Rise of DVD Ripping
Organisations like the Internet Archive have made it their mission to preserve endangered media, including DVD content. Through their efforts, rare educational discs, short films, and regional releases are being digitised for future generations.
Meanwhile, personal collectors use software like MakeMKV or HandBrake to back up their collections — preserving both the film and the extras in a portable, shareable format. While copyright laws differ by country, the motivation is often archival, not piracy.
If you’d like to understand how DVDs became a global format, our DVDs in the 1990s page provides great context.
Physical Media in a Streaming World
There’s a growing movement of physical media revivalists — people who believe that DVDs, Blu-rays, and even LaserDiscs offer not just better ownership, but better experiences. They want:
- Tangible collections
- Reliable playback with no buffering
- Control over resolution, aspect ratio, and subtitles
- The joy of sleeve art, booklets, and menus
This isn’t just nostalgia. It’s resistance to a world where access is conditional, and where your favourite film could disappear without warning.
Preservation in the UK: Libraries, Archives and Collectors
In the UK, bodies like the British Film Institute (BFI) maintain physical copies of films, TV shows, and special editions. Local libraries and universities also house rare discs, particularly documentaries and indie releases that never reached wide circulation.
At home, collectors are keeping the flame alive. Whether it’s full shelves alphabetised with love or private databases tracking every release variant, the UK’s DVD collectors are a passionate and resourceful bunch.
Our piece on DVDs in the 2000s explores the golden years of the format — when these collections really started to take off.
Is There a Future for DVDs?
While DVD production has slowed, it hasn’t stopped. Films still get DVD releases — especially in markets like the UK, where physical media remains popular. In 2021 alone, over 1.2 billion physical video transactions were recorded globally, many of them DVDs.
Streaming may be the default, but it’s not the only option. And as concerns grow about media ownership, censorship, and algorithmic control, the permanence of DVDs offers real value.
In fact, new players are still being made, and external USB DVD drives remain a staple accessory for laptops and desktops that lack internal drives.
A Note on Blu-ray and 4K UHD
It’s worth noting that some of DVD’s preservation power has shifted to Blu-ray and 4K UHD formats. These higher-resolution discs offer even more storage and improved video quality — but the principles remain the same. You own it. You keep it. It’s yours.
Still, DVDs have one major advantage: compatibility. You don’t need specialist hardware to play them. They remain the most accessible optical format around.
Final Thoughts: Why We Still Need DVDs
The idea that DVDs are obsolete misses the point. They’re not just delivery vehicles for films — they’re cultural artefacts. They capture how movies were presented, consumed, and celebrated at the turn of the millennium.
At DVDTimes.co.uk, we believe DVDs deserve more than a dusty corner of your attic. They deserve preservation, curation, and recognition for the role they played — and still play — in shaping the way we experience cinema.
Want to go deeper? Browse our guides to DVDs in the 1980s, <_