Oh noes teh sky is falling!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

Interesting stuff. For me personally, I'm not concerned about the death of physical media. It's just not going to happen. There will always be a market for it no matter how small or niche of a market it becomes.

I primarily collect horror/exploitation/cult type stuff, and the sheer amount of titles being released is overwhelming. There are dozens of independent labels specializing in these kinds of titles. As a genre fan, things have never been better, despite the shrinking market for physical media. That's where I see the future of physical sales - in specialized content geared towards specific kind of collectors.

Do you get any Camera Obscura or Subkulture titles? If you don't know, they are German labels specialising in cult (mainly Italian for the former I think) films. Just picked up Come Cani Arrabbiati and 'The Brutes'. The latter seems ultra rare but is a great, moody film. Both films have nice transfers. If you have a region free player, they are very fine distributors.

[Val Lewton]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Do you get any Camera Obscura or Subkulture titles? If you don't know, they are German labels specialising in cult (mainly Italian for the former I think) films. Just picked up Come Cani Arrabbiati and 'The Brutes'. The latter seems ultra rare but is a great, moody film. Both films have nice transfers. If you have a region free player, they are very fine distributors.

I'm aware of both labels, but have yet to purchase from either one. Germany puts out a ton of great genre titles. Usually they'll eventually make their way to a North American release, which I wind up picking up. For instance I passed on DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE by Subkultur to wait for Scorpion's release. There are a bunch instances where I'll pick up imports if rights issues seem complicated in the US like FRIGHT NIGHT II, which I picked up from '84 out of Germany, etc.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Val Lewton

I'm aware of both labels, but have yet to purchase from either one. Germany puts out a ton of great genre titles. Usually they'll eventually make their way to a North American release, which I wind up picking up. For instance I passed on DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE by Subkultur to wait for Scorpion's release. There are a bunch instances where I'll pick up imports if rights issues seem complicated in the US like FRIGHT NIGHT II, which I picked up from '84 out of Germany, etc.

Ok, thanks. I also love cult films, horror, Exploitation etc..

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by eiknarf

"Heading towards" is the key word. Meaning, in the distant future when many people are no longer buying physical media anymore. Because as of right now, more people are buying Blu-ray today than people bought Laserdisc in its peak.
Because Laserdisc was never as popular or had as big of a market as blu-ray had.

I knew TWO people who bought Laserdisc back in its peak.
I know FIVE people who buy blu-ray today. One was one of the former Laserdisc buyers.

I'm not saying we will actually get down to laserdisc sale numbers any time soon. More just that we will be a collector/enthusiast format in the proverbial corner of the store. There's a lot more enthusiasts today then there was then, for a variety of reasons.

[Rich1631]

Streaming is a long way from taking off, for the simple reason as Netflix and Hulu are a baron wasteland of garbage and littered with direct to DVD / made for TV type films. There is like zero big blockbuster titles.

[bigshot]

Here in Los Angeles, we had Tower Records and Dave's Video. Laserdisc was huge. It may have never caught on in the midwest, but here in Hollywoodland, it sure did.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by Rich1631

Streaming is a long way from taking off, for the simple reason as Netflix and Hulu are a baron wasteland of garbage and littered with direct to DVD / made for TV type films. There is like zero big blockbuster titles.

Oh man! You don't judge by the handful of blockbusters that are in the theaters now. You judge by the deep catalog. Netflix isn't perfect, but for a true cinephile, there is plenty there to mine.

I'd venture to say that Netflix is *the* venue for documentary and independent films. And that is some of the most exciting stuff being made today.

[Rich1631]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Oh man! You don't judge by the handful of blockbusters that are in the theaters now. You judge by the deep catalog. Netflix isn't perfect, but for a true cinephile, there is plenty there to mine.

I'd venture to say that Netflix is *the* venue for documentary and independent films. And that is some of the most exciting stuff being made today.

Not into the indie/documentary scene, but Netflix doesn't even have big name blockbusters from like 5 years back. And they seem more interested in original programming in the last 2 years, that it is becoming more along the lines of HBO.

[bigshot]

Blockbusters are easy to still get for under $10 on blu-ray. That is the stuff that still sells. The advantage of Netflix is the deep catalog.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by Rich1631

Streaming is a long way from taking off, for the simple reason as Netflix and Hulu are a baron wasteland of garbage and littered with direct to DVD / made for TV type films. There is like zero big blockbuster titles.

Already took off.

Stranger Things on Netflix was the biggest phenomenon of the summer, if not the year. In many ways the new big Netflix original Friday show drop is becoming the new "movie", especially with what an awful year overall 2016 has been so far.

But contrary to what the posters above are saying netflix really has lost over 50% of it's catalog from just 3-4 years ago.

There are definitely a lot of classics for the casual fan or younger/newer cinephile on there but those are movies people like us probably already own.

It really feels like there are hardly any movies on there I'd like to see but that's fine because their original programming has been so great the past few years.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by flyry

But contrary to what the posters above are saying netflix really has lost over 50% of it's catalog from just 3-4 years ago.

It really feels like there are hardly any movies on there I'd like to see but that's fine because their original programming has been so great the past few years.

As Netflix (and Amazon Prime) focus more and more on original programming and continue to drop everything else they won't end up replacing anything else. People will still continue to subscribe to Netflix for the original programming, but hardly anyone will be satisfied with just Netflix in the near future.

The question becomes what will Netflix customers get for the rest of their entertainment? Will they be renting and buying the rest of their movies and TV shows physically or digitally? My concern is that many people will be used to the convenience of streaming so they'll be buying and renting digitally.

[Trekkie313]

I checked Netflix out myself for the first time in about a year and was sadden to see so much gone. Mostly generic crappy genre movies now instead of hidden gems.

Will never use HULU and Epix streaming has issues.

[StingingVelvet]

Netflix is all about television shows. I am similarly at a loss to find things on there I want to see most of the time, I usually watch documentaries or old sitcoms while I eat or something. However I am 99% a movie guy. A ton of people watch television shows mainly and they looooooove Netflix, Hulu and the rest. Those services have focused more and more on TV, so they must know that is what their subscribers mostly watch.

[PenguinMaster]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Netflix is all about television shows. I am similarly at a loss to find things on there I want to see most of the time, I usually watch documentaries or old sitcoms while I eat or something. However I am 99% a movie guy. A ton of people watch television shows mainly and they looooooove Netflix, Hulu and the rest. Those services have focused more and more on TV, so they must know that is what their subscribers mostly watch.

I think that's primarily due to the value that people put on TV shows compared to movies. Most people aren't willing to buy TV shows individually because they can watch them for "free" on a broadcast and always have been able to. The studios recognize that and find it's more profitable to license TV shows to Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu rather then sell them individually.

[Steedeel]

I think it depends on what Amazon does. At the moment Amazon Instant is a complete mess. It is unclear what is prime and what is available for rent or to buy. I think they need to split into two with a dedicated movie rental/buying storefront and then Amazon Instant. (As a disclaimer, my girlfriend has it, I do not lol)

I can see Netflix going that route as they wont want to concede that market. They will probably wait a couple of years until things have settled down.

[Cranston37]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Amazon Instant is a complete mess. It is unclear what is prime and what is available for rent or to buy.

On the Roku Ultra at least there is a drop down box at the top of the main screen that let's you select "show Prime titles only"

[eiknarf]

Pulitzer Prize winner, Dave Barry:

"There is a very fine line between ”hobby" and “mental illness.”

(I wonder if he's referring to any of us collectors)

[Steedeel]

5.4.3.2.1.................

Who will be first?

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by flyry

Already took off.

Stranger Things on Netflix was the biggest phenomenon of the summer, if not the year. In many ways the new big Netflix original Friday show drop is becoming the new "movie", especially with what an awful year overall 2016 has been so far.

But contrary to what the posters above are saying netflix really has lost over 50% of it's catalog from just 3-4 years ago.

There are definitely a lot of classics for the casual fan or younger/newer cinephile on there but those are movies people like us probably already own.

It really feels like there are hardly any movies on there I'd like to see but that's fine because their original programming has been so great the past few years.

Indeed, it has well and truly taken over. And the development of original content TV is a huge development for the industry.

The biggest thing tbh, even above ease, is pricing. People don't want to pay for movies at all really, but £6.99 a month on Netflix gives them access to a huge library of TV and movies. The concept of paying the same for a Blu Ray for ONE FILM is absurd to them.

Same with Spotify. My dad used to be an almost obsessive collector of CDs, but since the advent of Spotify he doesn't use them at all. Not all his library's there, but around 70% of what he owned he can now get for the price of a nominal subscription fee (or even for free with ads).

[Jett Rink]

I think as long as there is oil, there will always be plastic products being made. So my opinion is that physical media will not go away for at least 500 years based on geological estimates.