"Physical media sales, DVDs especially, are experiencing a new burst of popularity. After a decade of freefall, enthusiasm among Gen Z halved a 20 percent sales decline in 2024 to just 9 percent in 2025. Stores have noticed. The Times' Karla Gachet spoke with staff at cultural hubs like Cinefile and Vidiots to discover why 2026 is already shaping up to be their biggest year, with the latter renting a surprising 1,000 DVDs a week."
"Big names like A24, Criterion, and Letterboxd are fostering a new generation of cinephiles who are engaging with more than just routine tentpole blockbusters. On the other end, Netflix and other major streamers are failing to service a generation that actually cares about film. They are raising fees, playing ads, and the relentless streaming war consolidation is tossing back catalogues into a black hole."
"The vinyl revival amongst millennials was partly about fidelity, partly about prestige. The return of DVDs is about necessity. The only practical way to dependably enjoy the films you love without corporate interruption is to own them on plastic. Add in some interesting third spaces to chat with like-minded folks and mill around in and suddenly you've got a burgeoning new scene going."
Physical media, particularly DVDs, is experiencing unexpected resurgence among Gen Z after years of decline. Sales decline slowed dramatically from 20 percent in 2024 to just 9 percent in 2025, with video rental stores reporting record demand. This revival stems from multiple factors: streaming services raising prices, introducing advertisements, and consolidating catalogs, making permanent ownership more attractive. Cultural institutions like A24, Criterion, and Letterboxd are cultivating new cinephiles interested in film history beyond mainstream blockbusters. Similar conditions exist in gaming, where digital distribution dominance, concerns about censorship, and long-term access issues create potential for physical media revival in that sector as well.
#physical-media-revival #gen-z-consumer-trends #streaming-service-decline #dvd-sales-growth #digital-distribution-concerns
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