How do you decide which movies are worth buying?

[Krizzle1]

Ive recently got into buying blurays and have bought a bunch but i keep thinking twice before making a purchase, everything ive bought so far, ive already seen (either in cinema's or digital), but some movies I think are worth watching more than once, and thats when I might buy them on bluray.

My criteria:
- Will I watch it more than twice?
- Would it look amazing getting the movie in the highest quality?
- Price (obviously)

I've been going through the Poundland blurays thread and see loads of totally random titles (imo) being bought for a couple of quid, but I think to myself I'll might just watch that movie once and then it'll just collect dust and take up space (when you add all those 'watch-one' titles up)

But also...recently a member also said something along the lines of "If a movie is worth watching, its worth watching in the highest quality"

[Foggy]

It depends really, obviously if somethings cheap I’ll pick it up if I think I’ll like it. Newer, full price stuff is generally stuff I either really liked, would like to share with friends or family or just something I’ve been wanting to watch for a while.

I’ll occasionally impulse buy something (likely part of a deal) that I’ll think back on being a naff choice, but only from time to time.

[DefLeppard]

• Favourite actors/directors/genre/a particular era (due to the signature cinematography/style of that era for ex 70s or 80s)
• Only because it's a LIMITED EDITION by so-and-so label/studio
• Silent films
• Offbeat /Cult films

[Bumblefeet]

Given I already own most of the movies I've grown fond of and have lots of rewatch value to me, a lot of the decisions are in regards to double dipping for those titles.

Will I get a new edition because it has better transfer or better features? Is it still worth getting it on blu-ray or will I skip this release and wait for a 4K release down the line? Factors in as well.

In regards to newer movies (2015-...) I look at the country release that has the best transfer/extras combo and I end up buying the movies that I saw in the theatre and liked, which usually boils down to a handful of movies each year.

Rarely I will get a huge blockbuster movie that's mainstream and readily available, but when I do it's usually because of the special effects or 3D version; for instance Everest, The Walk, Gravity, the Hobbit set, ...

I'm also someone who likes having complete blu-ray titles of the directors I like, though I am not in a rush, and I also support collections (for instance the Italian collection by 88 films is one I intend to complete).

And sort of related to that I like to help with kickstarters for restorations of overlooked cult movies as I find it a thrill to discover a forgotten B-movie in HD quality.

[rapta]

My habits changed over the years. At first I would buy theatrical titles on release as much as I'd get the best output from the boutique labels, but now I generally go the other way around and wait for any studio titles in offers/sales giving priority to boutique stuff (which is a bit pricier than it was in previous years). If I do come across something particularly cheap, I weigh up whether it's worth a punt and whether I could at least make my money back if I decided I didn't want it (e.g. Poundland titles).

I try to just buy boutique stuff on the whole, and even then only the necessary stuff on release (i.e. limited editions, first print run booklets), and any studio stuff I'll usually pay no more than £5-6 for (unless there's a good reason to pay more). I personally find myself prioritising certain eras (e.g. New Hollywood, 50's/60's Japan) or genres (westerns, noir, sci-fi) but it always depends on the film/filmmaker as well as the label whether I actually pre-order (some are more reliable than others, so waiting for reviews is a good idea sometimes).

[Al_The_Strange]

In the past, it was simple: if the movie's good, I'd buy it.

And I'd argue this is a good way to start collecting the classic titles that are worth owning. Problem is, the definition of "good" changes as time goes on, and I found myself holding onto hundreds of titles I wound up not caring about or revisiting.

These days, I'd revise my standards to the following:

1. If I'm still thinking about the movie so-many hours, days, or weeks after I've seen it the first time, then by golly it must be something special and worth owning. This is regardless of how "good" or "bad" it actually is, since I will revisit paracinema as much as I would award-winning masterpieces and big-dumb-fun-blockbusters. Nowadays, I probably gravitate the most towards cult films, which strikes a nice middle ground among all these different film types.
2. Blind-buying movies is a more complicated thought process that will depend on all the following variables:
   1. What is it? Is it a genre know and love? Is it a subject that'll stimulate me? Does the premise, blurb, or tagline grab me?
   2. Word of mouth. Good? Bad? I'll definitely bite on movies I hear are good and worth seeing, and maybe some that are so-bad-they're-good.
   3. Talent. Some directors can do no wrong by me. Others are hit-and-a-miss. Some must be avoided. Few actors/actresses might grab my attention, and good writers might just quicken my pulse.
   4. Availability and type of release. If it's a common, popular, new movie in a standard edition, I can probably stand to wait for a sale. But a limited run of a long-lost cult gem that's beautifully restored by a boutique label with days' worth of extras all offered in a box stuffed with swag will warrant an immediate preorder.
   5. Price. I'll give any movie a chance if they're a dollar each. For $5, I'd be willing to buy most titles, but not all. More, and it better be something more.
3. Nowadays, I'll also factor in 4K and streaming options. I will undoubtedly always buy a physical copy of a movie that I can't live without. But for most others, I'll be content to own it on digital-only, especially if it's available in 4K online but not on disc. Some movies I'm happy with having digital-only and don't want discs for. Others, I'll want both. Others yet I'll import discs regardless of digital. It's complicated.
4. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie everybody loves and hate it. Then I'll watch it again some years later and love it--this could be because I found a superb edition and I can see the movie in a better way, and other times my opinion just changes. Either way, it happens because public opinion and reputation sways me to give movies another chance, to the point of buying them outright. So, stupid as it might sound, critical opinion and cultural relevance become factors regardless of personal opinion.
5. Sometimes, I'll see a pretty cover and just want it.

[Agent Kay]

If I have seen it and liked it.
If I liked the trailers/premise

[Gerby]

I'm finding myself buying less & less nowadays so i have to really like the film a lot to buy it. Running low on space & i also think how many more films do i really need to own?
Currently trying to clear my wishlist on Wowhd which stands at 26 blu rays, after that is clear i will probably only buy a couple of new releases each month depending on what comes out.
I also hardly ever blind buy blu rays.

[drush9999]

Combination of nostalgia, favourite director's, favourite actors, favourite genres, discovering new or old stuff for the first time.

[oilers73]

Computers.

[L.J.]

First is it rewatchable, lot of good films out there that one time views. Second nostalgia, things liked when I was a kid or remind me of the time. Like to have the highest quality but am still not sold on 4k, just don't want to start rebuilding my collection of favorites again by upgraded to 4k.

[UpsetSmiley]

I google *movie title* scene or watch a trailer or two to get a taste of what it's like, price isn't normally a factor unless it's a film I'm not 100% sold on. I fully endorse the sentiment: "If a movie is worth watching, its worth watching in the highest quality".

Generally, I don't buy films without watchability and I check my collection for stuff I've convinced myself I won't watch and sell/donate them.

[BluBonnet]

I'll buy something if the library doesn't have it, and it's also not available from Netflix or Amazon Prime.

[formula_nebula]

If it's something i've seen, and really like, I buy it. I do a lot of blind buys though too. Not all have been keepers.

[Billz]

Rewatchability factor.

[Jim B.]

1) Classics films I love I want to own on BD

2) I kinda collect certain directors so will but work by them if it's cheap enough, like John Carpenter, although turkeys like Ghosts of Mars I will skip.

3) I collect new films by a few select brilliant current directors and will buy them once they drop to £8 or less - Fincher, Nolan, Villeneuve currently.

4) Impulse buys of bargains I see that look ok

5) Blind buys of £6 films I may like, like some Gialo film or old noir, I will normally do some research and check the IMDB rating and the Wiki summary to see if it is generally regarded as a good film.

[backslashio]

Nowadays I try to watch stuff that has replay value but occasionally I'll buy movies because I just like them or have nostalgia for. Digital titles from iTunes are easy purchases when its under $10 and on the verge of a rental and doesn't rely on me waiting for it to randomly appear/disappear from streaming services like Netflix

[SororityRow]

If I've watched the movie more than 3 times and still consider rewatching it in the future. I hardly ever buy Blu-rays for first time watches.

[Ste7en]

Some films I've bought over and over again. Habit going back to the VHS days. Especially ones I love.

Sometimes I'll buy a BD instead of going to the cinema.

Poundland BDs are the new 'rentals' for me. Any good, I'll keep it - if it is crap, in the bin it goes. You also get a 'free' replacement Amaray case

[paulboland]

I purchase films on Blu-ray
1)Picture quality
2)Extras as in documentary etc more the better
3)Packaging be it a steelbook or a limited edition with booklet and other items etc
4)I don't often get chance to goto cinema due to working night shifts

I will often purchase a film I already have on Blu-ray even if it's just a basic amaray simply because of a re-release has new extras and this is most times the reason.