What kind of collector do I want to be?

[bubaglobalj]

I do not have any friends in real life that collect Blu Rays, so that's why I am curious to get your feedback and perhaps learn from your mistakes.

I got into collecting fairly recently when I decided to get out of gaming and instead of buying a PS5, I purchased a Panasonic 4K Blu Ray Player.

When I first started I was focused primarily on buying 4K discs to test out my new TV and player. I've been focusing primarily on new releases and sales.

I have purchased a few boutique blu rays, such as the Midsommer Director's Cut, Crash and Cinema Paradiso from Arrow Video, a Terrence Malick from Criterion and a few collections from various film makers. I really do love the love those companies put into films and the way they feel and look on display.

I've been consuming "Films At Home" and "Boutique Blu-Rays with Elliot Coen" on YouTube for inspiration and to get tips and tricks and reviews.

As I have gotten more and more addicted to buying movies, I have realized that I need to set myself some parameters so this hobby doesn't go out of hand.

What kind of limits do you guys apply to yourself? Any other tips for a newbie?

[Al_The_Strange]

My collection is pretty important to me, seeing as I loved all kinds of films when I first started and having a collection of my own (as opposed to hinging off of my parents) was like taking my own first step into a larger world.

Films (well, any medium really) are not just things, they're experiences. What I didn't realize at first--but perhaps knew intuitively--is that building a library is a personal matter and deeply rooted in what experiences I chose to value. Those values changed over time. My tasted changed. Given enough time, thought, and after watching thousands of hours of film, I learned more intuitively what experiences I want to keep and own forever, and what I shouldn't. In time, I came to realize a few important truths about movie collecting:

• Don't let other people dictate or influence what you collect. Just because a movie's critically lauded or a box office smash doesn't mean it's worth owning. Similarly, just because a movie's universally hated doesn't mean it's not valuable to individual viewers. Critical reviews can help shape opinions, but if you genuinely like a movie and want to revisit it, nothing should stop you from collecting it all the same. But you also shouldn't feel pressured to collect something (even classics) that you'll never feel like revisiting again. I've owned copies of well-regarded movies, but wound up selling them off when I realized that I simply didn't value them as much as everyone else. But I have no qualms about holding onto stupid things like the Transformers series, because I get a genuine joy out of it somehow (even if for a "so bad it's good" kick).
  
• Collecting based off of talent (such as buying every single film by an actor or filmmaker) can be a blessing or a curse. Sometimes it seems like a good director can do no wrong, and we often put them on pedestals (especially on a forum like this). But realistically, they're people and they make mistakes. Very few filmmakers (if any) have a perfect filmography. It can be valuable to own big collections from the more consistent directors, but feeling like you need to be a completionist is another way to fill up your collecting with titles you may never want to revisit again. One offender me is Tarantino--as much as I love the majority of his works, I simply cannot connect with Jackie Brown. It might seem like I've left a hole by omitting that title, but in the end I find I don't miss the movie at all. I can enjoy and respect the works of many directors, but I don't necessarily own all of their films.
  
• Same applies to franchises. I've gone through phases where I'd want to collect every single film in a series because it seems like some franchises can do no wrong. The majority of the time, quality drops off after one or two sequels, so enjoying most long-running franchises depends entirely on how much you tolerate and enjoy it. I do love me a good Star Trek, Star Wars, or Terminator marathon, and I do own all of those--but there's no reason for me to buy and own all the Shreks, or all the Ice Ages, or all the Wrong Turns, all the MCU, or what have you.
  
• Many folks may pride themselves on avoiding blind-buys, but I find they can pay off when you find a cool new hidden gem. I blind-buy rather generously depending on many factors--reading reviews (this would be an exception to the first bullet point I wrote), reading blurbs, seeing a trailer. The most important considerations will be the talent behind the film (because I will respect or be excited for certain actors or directors), and the genre or subject matter. I get a lot of enjoyment out of the many sci-fi releases--but I won't randomly buy dramas or arthouse films unless I rent them first (but then it's not a blind buy). Blind-buying from boutique labels is a weakness for me, since their quality is often top-notch, but in time I learned to be wary of certain filmmakers (like Godard, whose films are too abstract for me) or genres (like coming-of-age films, which is not my thing really).
  
• Should probably be a no-brainer, but I don't recommend buying movies based solely off their cover art. Just because something looks badass or on-brand doesn't mean it's any good.
  
• I'd be cautious buying a movie just because it has a top-notch demo-worthy picture or sound. Plenty of titles have good quality and can be shown off with confidence--chances are strong you'll come across a film that's both demo-worthy and a favorite. How many people bought Avatar back in the day on the merits of the disc, only to find out that they didn't care about the movie itself?
  
• Buying off of nostalgia can be both a blessing and a curse. It's comforting and nice to revisit a childhood favorite--often times I find there's some things to appreciate more as an adult than as a child. But some things simply do not hold up. It's a no-brainer to own a lot of the Spielberg films, or a lot of Disney classics. But I had to part with Short Circuit and Harry and the Hendersons since I found them insufferable when I rewatched them. And I don't have a family that would enjoy those films--there's no point in having them.
  
• If it seems like I regard my collection and see nothing but a bloated lot of useless plastic, then it might be time to thin things out. I will often weed through titles and get rid of any I haven't thought about or felt strongly about in a long time. Even though I haven't read the book about it or anything, I will apply the Marie Kondo mindset that if a movie doesn't bring me joy when holding it, I should part with it.
  
• There is a big HOWEVER though--don't get rid of movies you don't want to get rid of. I've lost track of the number of times I've sold a movie off, regretted it, and wound up re-buying it. I try to mitigate the issue by giving movies a chance before selling them off, but I don't often have the time to revisit every single one I put into question. What works for me is to, simply, keep the classics, the popular ones, and familiar titles I know have some value to them even if I haven't seen them in a while (you never know when the mood will strike), and part with the ones that bring nothing to mind. It'll be the bland, unmemorable ones that elicit the least amount of joy, and can be sold off without regrets. And heck, if there's a movie you have that just bugs the crap out of you for specific reasons, single it out for the sell pile ASAP.
  
• I'd even add that you may want to hold onto all your favorite discs (even old DVDs or BDs) since you never know what direction society will take, and a movie (or its extras) available today may be gone tomorrow. There's also no shame in owning multiple copies of the same movie--even if just for the packaging. Personally, I often double-up on titles for the extras, alternate cuts, changes in color or quality, and the like.

It looks as though I've written enough to fill a textbook, but all of this is comes from my gut intuition moreso than any hard-and-fast rules or philosophy. I tend to flip-flop between keeping a trim collection and fattening it up. Right now it's pretty fat, with a lot of blind-buys I know I need to plow through and quite a few titles I'm not sure I should keep, but I am proud of it. It is worth noting that I've built it up over 20 years and I've had a lot of disposable income since I'm single and well-off--not everybody has this luxury, so you may need to adopt a collecting philosophy that matches your budget and tastes proportionately. The easiest thing is to, simply, buy what you enjoy and go from there.

[bubaglobalj]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

[...]. The easiest thing is to, simply, buy what you enjoy and go from there.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply, I will take all of it into account and keep abiding by your final principle for the time being .

[benricci]

I buy movies that I'd like to own.

Then I own them.

That's how I collect.

[Jay H.]

"Have a good time...all the time. That's my philosophy, Marty." - Viv, This Is Spinal Tap

[bubaglobalj]

Originally Posted by benricci

I buy movies that I'd like to own.

Then I own them.

That's how I collect.

Must be nice to live in a world without scarcity, whether it is the the physical space you have, or the money available to buy stuff.

Joking aside, I thought it would probably a good idea to set boundaries early on.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by benricci

I buy movies that I'd like to own.

Then I own them.

That's how I collect.

more or less the same here. I would just change it from own to watch

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by bubaglobalj

Must be nice to live in a world without scarcity, whether it is the the physical space you have, or the money available to buy stuff.

Joking aside, I thought it would probably a good idea to set boundaries early on.

life is all about choices, you need to make the choices that are best for you.

As for limits when it comes to films, The only soft one I have is to try and spend under 100$ in one movie buy.

p.s. when I buy films they go on my unwatched shelf until I watch them, an other thing that influences my buying that works both ways if the shelf is too empty I buy more and when it is too full I buy less- with 30-50 being the sweet spot.

[Hitman Horton]

Terms like OCD and addicted get used a lot around here. In reality, they are serious conditions. You saying that you are "more and more addicted" should be a HUGE concern for you. Have you thought of speaking to a counselor? They may have some strategies to help you make sure it doesn't get out of control if you really believe it could become a problem.

[monwobbbo]

First thing to do is get rid of the words collector and collection. You ate putting together a film library
As for what goes in that well as others have said buy what you enjoy
Personally that is what I do. As for rules I have a couple. First is buy titles that I will watch regularly. By that I mean if I don't see myself watching a title at least once every 3 years then I don't need to buy it. As you get older you may find this to be more important
Rule 2 don't pay stupid money for titles. Patience is a virtue

[Hitman Horton]

Originally Posted by monwobbbo

First thing to do is get rid of the words collector and collection. You ate putting together a film library
As for what goes in that well as others have said buy what you enjoy
Personally that is what I do. As for rules I have a couple. First is buy titles that I will watch regularly. By that I mean if I don't see myself watching a title at least once every 3 years then I don't need to buy it. As you get older you may find this to be more important
Rule 2 don't pay stupid money for titles. Patience is a virtue

You have a film library. I have a movie collection. People can call it whatever they want.

[unberechenbar]

Only you can decide what boundaries you want to set for yourself in collecting, since it's your collection. But maybe hearing how other members choose what to buy can provide some insight.

When I first started collecting I made my selections mainly on the basis of picture quality, only getting so-called reference discs. Since then I've gotten a bit more specific in terms of what I buy, only buying movies on the UHD format released in the last 15 years. I also avoid certain genres like war, comedies, and musicals since I know those movies are not for me. Those conditions have made it easier for me to control how many titles I buy. I hope you can find your own.

[monwobbbo]

Originally Posted by Hitman Horton

You have a film library. I have a movie collection. People can call it whatever they want.

Semantics. All I was getting it is that if you avoid the " collector"mentality it makes it easier to stay focused.

[Hitman Horton]

Originally Posted by monwobbbo

Semantics. All I was getting it is that if you avoid the " collector"mentality it makes it easier to stay focused.

What is the "collector" mentality?

[meremortal]

Try to show restraint and buy movies that you think you will enjoy watching multiple times. Don't get caught up in the "thrill of the hunt" at places like Dollar Tree or simply because a movie is on sale. I'd say impulse purchases kick in after after getting pretty comfortable collecting and movie shopping is part of your routine. Try to shop out of necessity instead of boredom. Stream or rent more casual interest titles. And make sure you have enough space to accompany a physical media collection. My collection is mostly sitting in boxes and bins and it's certainly not ideal.

[Lee A Stewart]

The bigger your collection gets, the less you will watch each movie. Keep that in mind when opening your wallet to buy movies.

[monwobbbo]

Originally Posted by Hitman Horton

What is the "collector" mentality?

gotta have it all. a collector is often more concerned with having something than enjoying it. oh look a new "special edition", "collectors edition" etc is out for a movie i already own. gotta have it. i really liked the first 2 movies in a series but the other 5 sucked but still have to buy the others or i won't have them all. i can go on but i think you get my point (though i'm pretty sure you already knew exactly what i'm talking about) .

by nature i am a collector however movies really aren't the same as sports cards or toys (for instance). during the dvd era i bought into the whole thing big time. the result was a big pile of movies i really never watch or have duplicates of that have maybe some different special features (that again i rarely actually watch or are one and done). i also ended up with a pissed off wife who doesn't get it at all.

with blu-ray i went a different route. i buy what i know i will enjoy and rewatch for years to come. i'm in my 60s at this point so the number of years to come isn't what it used to be. not going to waste time with movies that aren't that good. room is an issue at this point as well. i do wonder about guys that have 3000+ titles. when would you ever have time to watch all that. i couldn't even think of that many titles that i truly have an interest in. with that in mind why bother buying a ton of stuff even if its cheap.

[Hitman Horton]

Originally Posted by monwobbbo

gotta have it all. a collector is often more concerned with having something than enjoying it. oh look a new "special edition", "collectors edition" etc is out for a movie i already own. gotta have it. i really liked the first 2 movies in a series but the other 5 sucked but still have to buy the others or i won't have them all. i can go on but i think you get my point (though i'm pretty sure you already knew exactly what i'm talking about) .

by nature i am a collector however movies really aren't the same as sports cards or toys (for instance). during the dvd era i bought into the whole thing big time. the result was a big pile of movies i really never watch or have duplicates of that have maybe some different special features (that again i rarely actually watch or are one and done). i also ended up with a pissed off wife who doesn't get it at all.

with blu-ray i went a different route. i buy what i know i will enjoy and rewatch for years to come. i'm in my 60s at this point so the number of years to come isn't what it used to be. not going to waste time with movies that aren't that good. room is an issue at this point as well. i do wonder about guys that have 3000+ titles. when would you ever have time to watch all that. i couldn't even think of that many titles that i truly have an interest in. with that in mind why bother buying a ton of stuff even if its cheap.

I asked the question because I didn't know what you meant. I consider myself to be a collector so I was curious.

[monwobbbo]

Originally Posted by Hitman Horton

I asked the question because I didn't know what you meant. I consider myself to be a collector so I was curious.

so really you did know what i meant. lol. no biggie glad to clarify

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

The bigger your collection gets, the less you will watch each movie. Keep that in mind when opening your wallet to buy movies.

Agreed. It can become a sport in a sense where you may want the best editions of movies even if you have multiple editions already and they're all still sealed. And phrases like "going out of print soon" will really alert you and seem to matter a lot more. Plus, it'll likely become part of your routine. It's more practical to buy movies out of necessity because you really want to watch them instead of shopping out of boredom. I really slowed down on buying music and instead have been streaming and I've noticed I am listening to way more music now compared to when I was regularly 'collecting.' I'm sure it would also be the same for movies. Watching something just to fulfill a que or to 'check another off the list' can be really tiring. I'm trying to get through previous Dollar Tree, Black Friday etc. type hauls and that spontaneous sense of fun is not really there since it's more like obligation fulfilling.