Why Physical Media Is Still Worth Fighting For — My Thoughts at the End of 2025

Every December I end up looking back at the year in movies and asking myself the same question: why do I still bother collecting discs in a world that wants everything streamed?

And every December, the answer gets clearer.

Illustrated graphic showing Blu-rays, DVDs and film imagery representing the value of physical media in 2025

Streaming has made watching films easier, but it’s also made the experience… worse. Not always, but often enough that it keeps pushing me back to Blu-ray and DVD.

The feeling of stripping the cellophane from a brand new Blu-ray case and sliding out a shiny disc used to feel like Charlie finding his golden ticket. Now it’s endless button-clicking, scrolling through titles, and trying to settle on something you can even tolerate watching. It’s just not the same.

Over the last year I’ve lost count of the titles that vanished from platforms, changed without warning, or were buried behind rental fees. It’s a strange feeling when a film you love suddenly becomes unavailable, a reminder that what we “own” online is never really ours.

Physical media, for all its bulk, initial costs and inconvenience, still gives something that streaming can’t: certainty.

The Quiet Disappearing Act of Streaming

If you watched anything older this year, you probably noticed something strange. One week it’s there, the next week it’s gone. No announcement, no explanation. Even well-known films hop between platforms or vanish entirely.

And if you try to search for them, half the time you’re told they’re simply “unavailable in your region”.

That’s not ownership, that’s borrowing with conditions.

Blu-ray and DVD don’t do that.
Once a disc is in your hand, no company can decide that you’re no longer allowed to watch it. No licensing disagreements. No rights expiring. No regional locks suddenly blocking a film that’s lived on your shelf for ten years.

Censorship and Altered Scenes

This is the one that pushed me over the edge this year.
There’s a quiet trend of platforms altering scenes, removing lines, blurring elements, or swapping footage to fit modern guidelines. I’m not arguing the rights or wrongs of any change — only that I should be allowed to choose.

Physical media preserves a film exactly as it was released.
No edits. No updates. No quiet sanitising of the past.

If you’re a collector, or even just someone who likes to revisit favourites, that matters more than people realise.

The Fatigue of Endless Choice

I think we’re all feeling it: the scrolling, the thumbnails, the noise.
Hundreds of titles… yet somehow nothing that grabs you.

When I pick up a Blu-ray, there’s none of that. I’ve already made the choice. I’m not overwhelmed. I’m just watching the film.
Simple, calm, focused.
It’s a better headspace, especially around Christmas when life is messy enough.

Why I Started This Blog

Phoenix DVD Blog came from a simple idea: write about the films I actually enjoy owning, not the ones someone else’s algorithm tries to push at me.

I wanted a space where physical media still mattered.
A place to talk about the movies that shaped me, the ones I rewatch every year, and the small joys of having a shelf full of discs that mean something.

This year I wrote lists, nostalgic pieces, a few movie memories from my own life, and posts that reminded me why I still enjoy this hobby. The reaction has been small but genuine — and that’s the part that keeps me going.

The Idea That Never Quite Happened

My original idea for a blog like this was part of something much bigger. Years ago, I toyed with the idea of building an online store to sell DVDs and Blu-rays, and eventually creating a small platform where like-minded collectors could buy, sell, or trade films and TV shows. A kind of limited, film-focused version of eBay.

In truth, the idea arrived about ten or fifteen years too late. By then, physical media was already starting to slide out of the mainstream, and streaming was taking over. The moment had passed before I ever really got started.

Looking back now, that abandoned idea probably shaped this blog more than I realised. Instead of chasing a business model, Phoenix DVD Blog became something simpler and more personal.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Next year I want PDB to grow naturally, with more of the things I actually enjoy writing about:

● Collector guides – simple, practical, personal
● Spotlight posts – one movie, one story, why it still works
● Genre deep-dives – action, sci-fi, old comedies, forgotten classics
● Seasonal lists – Christmas action, Halloween thrillers, summer favourites
● A few bigger nostalgia pieces – the kind that always seem to resonate

Nothing over the top. Just steady, honest posts that make this blog feel like a place worth visiting.

I’ll also be adding affiliate links where they make sense. Running a site like this takes time, and if it generates a small bit of income along the way, that helps keep it going. If you already have an Amazon account, using one of my links simply means shopping as you normally would, with no extra cost or effort on your part.

Browse Blu-ray titles on Amazon UK | Amazon Ireland

Affiliate links – I may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.

A Final Thought Before Christmas

Maybe physical media will never be mainstream again, and that’s fine. Those of us who care about it will keep it alive in our own way, by buying the films we love, by watching them in their best possible quality, and by talking about them.

Thanks for Reading,

David

💬 Have a thought on this? Please leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your take.

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a movie enthusiast from Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been collecting DVDs and Blu-rays for years, and along the way my shelves have become a mix of favourites, hidden gems, and titles I occasionally decide to resell.

I’m not a professional critic, just someone who enjoys good films, well-made discs, and the odd rant about the quirks of collecting. This blog is where I share my thoughts, opinions, reviews, and experiences as a fan.

💬 Note from the Author
This blog is a hobby project where I write about DVDs, Blu-rays, and the ups and downs of being a collector. If you enjoyed this post, you might also like my other writing:

David Condon Finds – my lifestyle and review blog
David Condon Woodcraft – my main website focused on woodturning and handmade pieces

If you’d like to support the blog, you can do so through the Buy Me a Coffee button below. It helps keep this little side project alive — thank you!

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