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Although the VCR was invented in 1956, it wasn’t until 1980 that Walt Disney Studios released its first at-home Disney movie. The first load of Disney physical media was released on October 1, 1980, with a cost ranging from $45 to $60 per VHS tape.
However, since those original releases, Disney physical media releases have evolved from VHS tapes to DVDs, and now blue ray discs. But Disney’s latest announcements point to an end of the nostalgic days of bringing home the latest DVD to watch, and instead, Disney movies will only be available via streaming services.
Disney, the company has recently announced the closure of the Disney Movie Club. This is a pretty big deal for physical media collectors as multiple movies, TV shows, and even seasons of TV shows were only available on DVD or Blu-Ray via the Disney Movie Club (1/3). pic.twitter.com/vv8xAzPATR
— JWCartoonist (C0mms OPEN) (@JWCartoonist) February 20, 2024
Related: Online Sellers Charge Thousands For Disney VHS Tapes
This week, Disney started its round of announcements by ending the Disney Movie Club, a way for Disney fans to get new releases on DVD and hard-to-find collections and movies. For example, this was one of the few places to buy DVDs of rare Disney Animation Studios films like The Black Cauldron (1985) or complete seasons of Disney Channel shows like Tangled The Series.
Most fans saw this as a blow to physical media as finding a Disney movie on a streaming service is now easier. But Disney followed that up with a second announcement that could prove the death knell of physical media.
The Walt Disney Company announced that it had struck a deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to market, sell, and distribute all Disney’s new releases and catalog through retailers and distributors in the United States.
@Disney
Dear Disney.I Have A Question To Ask You. Is It True That Disney Movie Club Is Shutting Down?
The Reason Why I’m Asking Is Because I’m Worried I Won’t Be Able To Buy Disney DVDs Anymore!!! 📀
I’m So Sorry That You Have To Shut Down Disney Movie Club.😔😔😔
— JD Chappy (@ChappyJd) February 21, 2024
The sale of physical media has been in decline for decades, and with most of the Disney vault available on Disney Plus, there has been very little reason for people to purchase a DVD copy of their favorite film.
Best Buy, formerly one of the largest distributors of DVDs, recently decided to suspend the sale of physical copies of films, and streaming giant Netflix stopped shipping DVDs to homes last year.
However, for the average Disney fan, this marks the end of an era, and Disney may be forgetting a part of their strategy that makes it great and keeps people returning to Disney World year after year: nostalgia. Having a physical copy of your favorite Disney movie is something that binds generations. There’s something special about opening that VHS tape or DVD and popping it into the machine to watch your favorite film.
Disney Movie Club Subscription Service to Shutter This Summer
Once the site shuts down, it’s unclear if some of their exclusive titles will be reissued elsewhere, of if they will simply be gone forever…https://t.co/0ZTAG1Xf5y— johnny dollar (@johnnydollar01) February 20, 2024
So, while Disney’s announcements this week show a move away from physical media and toward the future, it is still a sad moment. With physical media sales dying, how will future generations know the joy of collecting every Disney movie on VHS? Since purchasing a VCR is impossible, perhaps that’s not a concern anymore.
What do you think about Disney’s announcements and the future of physical media? Let us know in the comments.
