DVDs are the new vinyl records: Why Gen Z is embracing physical media

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Just before the movie “The Lady from Shanghai” started at Vidiots, Aidan Gannon and Jason Fine were browsing the store’s huge selection of DVDs. For these film lovers, Vidiots isn’t just a place to watch movies—it’s a way to connect with the history of cinema.

Within minutes, the two 24-year-olds were happily lost in a huge collection of “Star Wars” DVDs and Blu-rays, fondly remembering the bonus content they loved when they were children.

For many, DVDs aren’t just a nostalgic throwback to their youth. They’re actively collecting and enjoying them again as adults.

I’ve started collecting physical media again, and honestly, it’s amazing! I recently hit 200 discs, and I love being able to just walk over to my shelf, pick something out, and watch it. It’s so much better than wasting a ton of time browsing through streaming services, only to end up rewatching the same old shows.

Gannon isn’t alone in seeing a boost – local video stores are experiencing a resurgence. Businesses like Vidiots, Vidéothèque in Highland Park, and Cinefile on Sawtelle are all reporting more rentals, purchases, and customers. Even Barnes & Noble, which still sells movie discs, is seeing increased sales in that department.

Before streaming became popular, people used to rent movies from stores like Blockbuster or kiosks like Redbox to see new releases. As Netflix and similar services started offering streaming, the need for physical rentals gradually disappeared.

Just like vinyl records became popular again with millennials, DVDs are now making a comeback with some members of Gen Z, even though they don’t make a lot of money for movie studios anymore.

DVD sales have been declining for years, with a significant drop of over 20% in both 2023 and 2024. However, the rate of decline slowed considerably last year, with sales of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs decreasing by only 9%, according to industry group Digital Entertainment Group.

Small, specialized Blu-ray companies, such as the Criterion Collection, are also becoming more popular. Criterion, a major independent seller of classic and modern films on home video, told The Times that their sales have increased significantly compared to last year.

According to Peter Becker, Criterion’s president, the company’s consistent yearly growth is driven by young people’s ongoing preference for physical media like DVDs and Blu-rays.

Initially, with the rise of streaming, it didn’t seem like physical media would make a comeback. But it definitely has,” Becker explained. “We’re now seeing a lot of interest, even at places like the Criterion Mobile Closet, from younger people who are re-evaluating physical formats. In a world where everything is instantly available, owning physical media is becoming more meaningful to them.

According to Amy Jo Smith, head of the Digital Entertainment Group, sales of DVDs and Blu-rays usually increase when popular movies and series, like the recent release of “Wicked,” become available.

According to Smith, 4K UHD Blu-ray provides the best way to watch movies at home. In 2025, U.S. viewers spent 12% more on 4K UHD titles compared to the previous year.

Vidiots had a record-breaking January in 2026, renting an average of 170 movies each day and reaching 500 rentals on its busiest day. Movies rent for $3 apiece, and popular choices include classics like David Lynch’s “Wild at Heart” and Elaine May’s “The Heartbreak Kid.”

Vidiots quickly became popular when it opened in 2023, lending out about 22,000 movies and DVDs. A year later, that number doubled to around 50,000 rentals. By 2025, the shop was renting over 1,000 movies each week, and continues to see growth.

According to Robbie McCluskey, who runs the video store, current sales numbers are nowhere near what they were in the mid-2010s. He believes this is actually a really great time for things like DVDs and Blu-rays – a ‘golden age’ for physical media.

Bianca Garcia and her friends, Lauren and Emily VanDerwerken, spent the weekend searching the Vidiots store for the movies “Raising Helen” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous.” They couldn’t find the films on any streaming services. For them, having physical copies of movies – whether by owning or renting – provides a sense of security and peace of mind.

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Lauren, 31, explained that she likes having physical copies of media because it means she can still enjoy it even if it’s removed from online platforms. She values the security of owning something tangible, rather than relying on the choices made by studios about what’s available online.

Garcia, 27, began exploring filmmaking during the pandemic and views owning physical copies of movies – like DVDs and Blu-rays – as a way to go against the grain.

Garcia expressed frustration with the current streaming landscape, saying she needs six different subscriptions just to find something to watch. She questioned the value of paying for content that’s only available for a limited time, asking, ‘Why am I paying so much if they remove movies after only a year?’

She explained that Vidiots is different because its staff are genuinely passionate about film, not just focused on earning her subscription fee each month.

Cinefile, a video store that opened in 1999, has also seen its business grow. They had about 300 members after the COVID-19 pandemic, and now have around 500.

Luis Samra, who works at Cinefile, has observed a recent surge in younger customers both online and in the store. He’s noticed a lot of Gen Z groups visiting on Friday nights, when the store stays open late, looking for films by directors like David Lynch and David Cronenberg, as well as movies from the production company A24—known for titles such as “Hereditary,” “Midsommar,” and “Marty Supreme.”

Samra described it as a casual, post-meal activity. People enjoy looking through the collection and recommending movies or directors to each other. Typically, about a third of those who browse end up joining as members.

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Cinefile used to focus on offering hard-to-find and independent films. Now, with a recent increase in members, they can afford to stock more new releases, including all the movies nominated for Oscars this year. They’ve also expanded the selection of films available for purchase.

Barnes & Noble is unusual among large retailers because it continues to sell DVDs and Blu-rays in its stores. Bill Castle, who leads the music and video department at B&N, says sales of these physical discs have risen significantly – by a large percentage – over the past year.

Sales of physical media – books, vinyl records, and more – are significantly higher for us right now. People seem to want to own things and create personal collections. Plus, our customers buying these items tend to be younger. It’s all about convenience; they can enjoy content whenever they want without being limited by what’s available on different streaming platforms, says Castle.

Castle expressed his disappointment that big companies like Disney appear to be focusing more on streaming services than on releasing movies and shows on Blu-ray or DVD.

Castle explained that when Disney switched from handling its own distribution to using Sony, they noticed fewer Disney movies becoming available. They used to carry all of Disney’s releases, but that’s changing, and it’s happening with other studios too. They need a good selection of products to keep customers interested, and a lack of content puts them at a disadvantage.

Ed Saxon, a producer and the chair of USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program, was surprised to recently receive a Blu-ray copy of his 1988 film, “Married to the Mob,” from Vinegar Syndrome, a company specializing in releasing older films on Blu-ray.

The film is still highly regarded now, even though it wasn’t initially popular. Saxon explained that its recent resurgence wouldn’t have happened without online platforms. He believes the film resonated with audiences because it felt comforting and shows how important movies are to people in today’s digital world.

He believes the recent surge in popularity started in the 2010s with the rise of audio streaming and a renewed interest in vinyl records among millennials. He noted that for younger generations, like his students, collecting and renting DVDs offers a chance to disconnect from the constant need for new entertainment and simply enjoy things at a slower pace.

Having endless options can be draining. People are simply overwhelmed by the sheer amount of content available. By owning physical media, like records or books, you’re making a statement and reclaiming some control, resisting the dominance of streaming platforms. It’s not about choosing physical media over streaming, but rather about adding a sense of intentionality and lasting connection to what you consume.

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Special anniversary showings of classic films are proving popular in theaters, and audiences are thrilled to see these favorites back on the big screen.

As a movie fan, I always appreciate a good physical copy of a film, and it’s interesting to hear from someone like Saxon, who worked on a classic like “The Silence of the Lambs.” He pointed out something I’d suspected – studios still make good money from things like Blu-rays and DVDs, which is good news for us collectors!

He explained that ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ has become a classic, and he gets why it’s always been popular. He believes people connect with the film deeply enough to continue buying it even now.

Physical media, like DVDs and Blu-rays, provides a valuable extra income stream for older movies that aren’t generating much money elsewhere, beyond new streaming services. When you consider all the films from a studio, these sales really add up to a significant amount of money.

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2026-02-23 14:33