Gen Z is reviving DVDs and Blu-rays
Gen Z has somehow decided that DVDs and Blu-rays are not going to be permanently buried next to iPods and dial-up tones. Across the U.S., video rental shops and physical media sellers are seeing record traffic, especially from younger crowds. These customers are browsing shelves and renting movies like it’s 2004 again. According to some shops, Gen Z friend groups are literally turning DVD browsing into a Friday night activity. Like crate-digging, but for movies.
It’s showing in the numbers. For years, physical media has been in free fall. DVD and Blu-ray sales dropped more than 20% annually in 2023 and 2024. But in 2025, that decline slowed to just 9%. California-based video rental Vidiots even logged its biggest month ever in January, renting over 150 movies a day. Let’s look into what is driving this shift.
It’s not just about nostalgia
The interesting part of this resurgence is that a lot of the people driving it did not really grow up obsessing over DVD menus or Blockbuster runs. It’s more like they’re actually rediscovering physical media as adults, and they appreciate it for some sort of ownership streaming never gave them. Streaming is convenient, no doubt. But at the end of the day, you’re only paying for access and the platform decides what stays, what goes, and what gets buried by algorithms.
Unlike streaming, movie discs don't come with the risk of expiring licenses. As if rising subscription costs weren't bad enough, watching your favorite titles vanish overnight is also a real risk and huge dealbreaker. Owning a disc flips that dynamic.
For some, the fact that they don’t have to scroll endlessly to find something to watch is what does it for them. You can literally open Netflix, scroll for 20 minutes, and somehow still end up watching the same old comfort show. With movie discs, you just pick something and press play. That’s all.
There is a cultural facet to this
DVDs and Blu-rays are to the Gen Zers collecting them now what vinyl was to millennials. There’s an identity thing going on, as collections are physical signals of taste and love for film culture. After all, collecting or even renting a film feels intentional in a way tapping “Add to Watchlist” never can.
And for movie nerd circles, the appeal goes even deeper. Boutique labels and premium formats, especially 4K Blu-rays, are booming. Think curated releases, director cuts, restored classics, and packaging that feels more like merch.
The whole world probably will not choose DVDs over streaming. But if Gen Z has anything to say about it, the future of entertainment might have a lot more shelves in it.
Source: Los Angeles Times
