Why the lack of Steel in the US?

[IzzyOtaku]

How come the only exclusives in the US are either retail exclusive, some rare special print just cause, a small printing edition by a studio, etc? Why do we not have our own version of Zavvi or Blurayfans? Are steels really not that popular in our here?

[Dean learner]

It's always baffled me to, could it be where the steelbook are manufactured? If it's within the EU it will mean that the distributor can pimp them around European countries tax and import duty free.

[Smigro]

I think the US (and even NA as a whole) a little behind in terms of steelbooks than the countries in EU. They are starting to gain some traction (BB WB and PAramount waves and Target Mondo collection) but I still don't think steelbooks are received as well in the states as they are over sees.

I think in part is has to do with the size of the countries in NA compared to the EU. It seems the print runs in the US are always big and don't always sell out. I wold think this has an effect on whether or not retailers pick up the option for a steelbook fearing they will be left with old stock. I think if they were a little more limited like the EU releases they would sell out more and retailer would then pick up the option.

Just look at the DCU steels with Target...they are limited and ALWAYS sell out so Target keeps going with them. BB on the other hand are like Zavvi with their big print runs or catalog titles and have issues selling out.

[MifuneFan]

Pretty sure we're getting more Steelbooks this year than any other year

[DJJez]

simple. amarays and slipovers are way easier to make and have alot more profit. there is a reason why there are so little steelbooks in america/canada.

[Cinema84]

I'm guessing the US doesn't have a premium steelbook market for the same reasons studios churn out crappy movies: film isn't taken seriously in this country by enough people. In Europe and Asia, films are considered an art form, and that is reflected in the quality of the steelbooks they produce. Best Buy (and now Target) are just riding the wave right now by testing the market but I just don't see anything worthwhile coming out of these retailers. For me, it's not enough to just make a steelbook and call it a day. No inside art, poor artwork choices, no gloss, no slips and no art cards or other peripherals - where's the fun in that? Even Mondo seems to favor Canada for the most part even though they're based out of Texas- that says everything, sadly.

[KazzPetrelli]

Originally Posted by cine74

I'm guessing the US doesn't have a premium steelbook market for the same reasons studios churn out crappy movies: film isn't taken seriously in this country by enough people. In Europe and Asia, films are considered an art form, and that is reflected in the quality of the steelbooks they produce. Best Buy (and now Target) are just riding the wave right now by testing the market but I just don't see anything worthwhile coming out of these retailers. For me, it's not enough to just make a steelbook and call it a day. No inside art, poor artwork choices, no gloss, no slips and no art cards or other peripherals - where's the fun in that? Even Mondo seems to favor Canada for the most part even though they're based out of Texas- that says everything, sadly.

Very good point Buddy!

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by DJJez

simple. amarays and slipovers are way easier to make and have alot more profit. there is a reason why there are so little steelbooks in america/canada.

Doesn't that same reason apply to the UK as well? Amarays are easier and cheaper and more profitable there too.

Originally Posted by cine74

I'm guessing the US doesn't have a premium steelbook market for the same reasons studios churn out crappy movies: film isn't taken seriously in this country by enough people. In Europe and Asia, films are considered an art form, and that is reflected in the quality of the steelbooks they produce.

This is pretty silly. Are you trying to tell me that because Europeans treat film more seriously, that they get a Ted 2 Steelbook that we don't get in the USA?

Sometimes I think that people think all French people love Godard, and all Swedes binge watch Bergman films all the time. The US studios, usually churning out crappy movies, do not cater to the US market; they cater to a global market. On top of that, there are plenty of French romcoms and Asian action movies as terrible as the worst US films. The general public of Europe does not treat film any more seriously than the general public of the USA or Canada.

[Integra1995]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Doesn't that same reason apply to the UK as well? Amarays are easier and cheaper and more profitable there too.


This is pretty silly. Are you trying to tell me that because Europeans treat film more seriously, that they get a Ted 2 Steelbook that we don't get in the USA?

Sometimes I think that people think all French people love Godard, and all Swedes binge watch Bergman films all the time. The US studios, usually churning out crappy movies, do not cater to the US market; they cater to a global market. On top of that, there are plenty of French romcoms and Asian action movies as terrible as the worst US films. The general public of Europe does not treat film any more seriously than the general public of the USA or Canada.

We all are entitled to our opinions and so of us do not live in those other countries.

[BuckNaked2k]

I think the sheer number of people in the US (potential buyers) might play into the logistical challenge of manufacturing such a large number of premium items. I know we get SteelBooks in the US, but they are either limited, or not associated with premium titles.

[Cinema84]

I keep fantasizing about all the films that could get mindblowing premium steelbooks by a quality-minded US Blufans/FA/kimchi counterpart. Hell, even Criterion's BDs would look awesome in lenti fullslips There's just no one in the US who cares enough about packaging to commit to this part of the market. And judging by all the comments by many folks on these boards against specialty packaging ("it's the movie that counts" or 'I don't buy movies to look at the boxes' ) it doesn't look like there's a big enough market to justify the expense. As long as I can keep buying the premium stuff from Asia via group buys, I'll be happy

[redphoenix]

Originally Posted by cine74

I'm guessing the US doesn't have a premium steelbook market for the same reasons studios churn out crappy movies: film isn't taken seriously in this country by enough people. In Europe and Asia, films are considered an art form, and that is reflected in the quality of the steelbooks they produce. Best Buy (and now Target) are just riding the wave right now by testing the market but I just don't see anything worthwhile coming out of these retailers. For me, it's not enough to just make a steelbook and call it a day. No inside art, poor artwork choices, no gloss, no slips and no art cards or other peripherals - where's the fun in that? Even Mondo seems to favor Canada for the most part even though they're based out of Texas- that says everything, sadly.

Replace "film" with "physical media" and I think you've found your answer.

Physical media is seen as dead/dying in the US and will likely become a niche market in the coming years. US retailers are helping to ease us into the disc-less new age with the inclusion of digital copies we can keep when we decide we don't want the discs taking up space anymore.

Any steelbook retailer exclusives are just seen as a way to sell a few more copies than an amaray release would for an already shrinking market.

Couple that with costs of obtaining rights to produce WEA exclusives in the US, the labor and materials that would be outsourced anyway, and the small profit margin on these guys, and that roughly gives you an idea of why you likely won't see a Blufans, Nova Media, KimchiDVD, Plain Archive, FilmArena, etc. in the US anytime soon. It's not a lucrative business for a US-based company. Heck, there's even been murmurings that Zavvi's in a bit of trouble. Whether or not they're true, I do not know, but I do know they cut a lot of corners for not a lot in return on the customer's end.

[Optimus-Prime-Rox]

Originally Posted by DJJez

simple. amarays and slipovers are way easier to make and have alot more profit. there is a reason why there are so little steelbooks in america/canada.

It's just not very cost effective to have steelbooks all the time for every movie, when the average person is perfectly fine the normal amaray cases.

[PJM]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Doesn't that same reason apply to the UK as well? Amarays are easier and cheaper and more profitable there too.


This is pretty silly. Are you trying to tell me that because Europeans treat film more seriously, that they get a Ted 2 Steelbook that we don't get in the USA?

Sometimes I think that people think all French people love Godard, and all Swedes binge watch Bergman films all the time. The US studios, usually churning out crappy movies, do not cater to the US market; they cater to a global market. On top of that, there are plenty of French romcoms and Asian action movies as terrible as the worst US films. The general public of Europe does not treat film any more seriously than the general public of the USA or Canada.

Films are extremely popular throughout Europe, particularly in the U.K, Germany and France. The European markets combined are larger than the U.S but then there's far more Europeans than North Americans so you would expect that in the same way that India and China have surged in the film going stats.

Maybe it's down to buying attitudes and habits? Luxury/Premium goods do very well in much of Europe but then again everything costs more here. Maybe it's as simple as the distributors seeing it as a viable market where we pay more for some fancy packaging?

Either way, your import fees seem to be pretty much none existent so it could be worst.

[GreatGreg]

Originally Posted by redphoenix

Replace "film" with "physical media" and I think you've found your answer.

Physical media is seeing as dead/dying in the US and will likely become a niche market in the coming years. US retailers are helping to ease us into the disc-less new age with the inclusion of digital copies we can keep when we decide we don't want the discs taking up space anymore.

Any steelbook retailer exclusives are just seen as a way to sell a few more copies than an amaray release would for an already shrinking market.

Couple that with costs of obtaining rights to produce WEA exclusives in the US, the labor and materials that would be outsourced anyway, and the small profit margin on these guys, and that roughly gives you an idea of why you likely won't see a Blufans, Nova Media, KimchiDVD, Plain Archive, FilmArena, etc. in the US anytime soon. It's not a lucrative business for a US-based company. Heck, there's even been murmurings that Zavvi's in a bit of trouble. Whether or not they're true, I do not know, but I do know they cut a lot of corners for not a lot in return on the customer's end.

I think this is likely the largest factor. Netflix has taken a huge dent out of physical media in North America. Ask around at your workplace or your friends and see how many people still buy movies. Not many. Also the death of the rental stores means that everyone is happy with < 1080p resolution to watch a movie. The average viewer is happy with DVD.

In China, where piracy is rampant, physical media is already a niche market. It's just that there are so many bloody people there, that it rivals the rest of the world's legitimate markets. My entire country is the population of one city in China. New York would be considered a small city in China.

Europe is still more into physical media than NA, but they are also weaning slowly.

[Tellymon]

Agreed. I think it's just not all that profitable. Look how lean BF and Kimchi run. Can probably count their employees on both hands.

[Threat]

Yeah, a lot of people here are just holding out for complete digital conversion, rather than buying another collection of movies that went from their VHS set to their DVD set, then Blu-Ray. Rather than go through that again, some don't really care for physical copies or extra menus etc, so they either download movies, get digital copies from friends who buy the Blu-Rays, or just waiting it out for the next technology. But also because of the cheaper options are more important to most. Those are usually the types who don't know the difference between steelbooks and metalpaks. They just want the movie.

[PJM]

Whilst I agree about movie downloads do you not get the feeling many of these are illegal downloads? I seem to get odd looks from colleagues when they realise I collect steels and amarays rather than just get them from torrents.

[Cinema84]

Originally Posted by PJM

Whilst I agree about movie downloads do you not get the feeling many of these are illegal downloads? I seem to get odd looks from colleagues when they realise I collect steels and amarays rather than just get them from torrents.

You're not the only one who gets those odd looks. There's a whole mentality around us that thinks people who buy physical media are some sort of irresponsible fool who can't control their "problem" and needs counseling. These are people who have no issue paying hundreds of dollars for concerts or seats at a basketball game or easily blow their paychecks at a bar on a Friday night. I'm spending my hard-earned money on a hobby I can enjoy multiple times and I'm the one being lectured on my spending habits?? Give me a break.