Movie collectors are sleeping on the format everyone left behind

It’s amazing how our perception of quality changes as we enjoy higher-resolution formats. Back in the day, I thought movies on DVD played great on my old-school TV. That was until I saw what Blu-ray looked like on modern flatscreens, and I had a similar epiphany when trying 4K UHD Blu-ray discs for the first time. Quality is relative, and in the era of high-resolution physical media and 4K streaming, we’re spoiled.

That doesn’t mean we have to let the availability of higher-quality formats ruin our enjoyment of lower-quality formats. I spent a small fortune building a home theater centered around a 4K TV, a Dolby Atmos system, and a Blu-ray player. I’ve invested a lot to be able to play discs in 4K quality with lossless Dolby Atmos spatial audio, but I still buy DVDs — and that isn’t going to change anytime soon. The affordability of used DVDs in 2026 allows me to take chances on movies I otherwise wouldn’t pay for at Blu-ray or 4K UHD prices, and that’s why I’m not letting go of the DVD format.

I’m not ready to give up on DVDs yet

There’s a spot for DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD discs in my collection

Credit: Brady Snyder / MakeUseOf

When I first started collecting movies and TV shows on discs, I thought DVDs were good enough. I took a decade-plus break from watching videos on physical media, and I didn’t realize just how far streaming, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD had come. The maximum resolution of a DVD in North America is 480p, and it’s marginally higher at 576p in Europe. That counts as Standard Definition (SD), firmly below the modern tiers of HD and UHD. It’s easy to notice the lower quality, especially on large TV screens that support much higher resolutions.

It turns out, the quality of DVDs is quite terrible. Watch them on a small screen or an older TV, like a portable DVD player or a CRT, and DVDs actually look fine. However, when you blow up the 480p maximum resolution of a DVD on a massive 4K screen, the experience isn’t great. Blu-ray bumps the resolution to 1080p, and 4K UHD Blu-ray takes that to, you guessed it, 2160p (4K). The best 4K UHD Blu-ray discs offer perks like HDR and lossless Dolby Atmos surround sound, which makes DVDs look paltry by comparison.

If all things were equal, and I could have any movie in any format I wanted, I’d choose 4K UHD every time. The benefits are obvious. The problem is that DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD Blu-ray are not equal. Each format has pros and cons — yes, there are even perks to choosing a DVD.

The biggest drawback to choosing 4K UHD Blu-ray discs is their price. For starters, the cost of a 4K-compatible player is steep. I picked up a used Blu-ray player at a thrift store for $10, but new 4K UHD Blu-ray players can cost over $300. Buy the wrong one, and you could run into serious issues. Some players have trouble playing multi-layer 100GB discs. The discs themselves are pricey, too. All of a sudden, regular Blu-ray and DVD don’t look so bad.

I don’t have to own every movie in 4K

This is how I decide when to invest in 4K UHD Blu-ray discs

Compare the cost of DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD Blu-ray, and each format stands out in its own way. The price of 4K UHD Blu-ray discs usually falls between $30 and $40, but some premium releases end up at upwards of $50. I love the idea of owning movies in 4K and getting features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The cost is simply prohibitive, though. Unless I really need to own a title in 4K — maybe it’s a blockbuster release or a flick I know I’m going to watch over and over — I’m going to buy it in a lesser format.

Blu-ray is often the perfect middle ground. Its 1080p resolution and lossless Dolby surround sound audio are more than enough to beat streaming services. Plus, Blu-ray discs are much more affordable. I can often find them new between $15 and $30, but the real deals are to be had on used discs. I grabbed a Tron: Ares Blu-ray disc for under $10 in pre-owned condition from my local store just weeks after it debuted in theaters. The quality and the price are a perfect match.

What movie collectors miss is that you could say the same thing about DVDs. I don’t pay more than a dollar or two for DVDs, all gently used from my local media store or thrift stores. At about a buck each, the 480p quality is bearable. I’m not suggesting you buy every title in DVD format — not in the slightest. That said, buying movies on DVDs at next-to-nothing prices lets me own titles I’d skip if they were the cost of a Blu-ray or 4K UHD Blu-ray disc.

If there’s a movie you’re dying to own, I wouldn’t recommend buying it on DVD. A Blu-ray disc is the best value, and a 4K UHD Blu-ray offers the highest quality. Browse the dollar DVD bin for a few minutes, though, and I’m sure you’ll find something neat that you never would’ve discovered in the Blu-ray or 4K UHD aisle.

DVDs help me build a budget movie collection

I wouldn’t be able to afford my collection at 4K UHD Blu-ray prices

If you’re a movie buff, I think overlooking DVDs in 2026 is a huge mistake. People are practically giving them away these days, and that makes now the perfect time to scoop them up. Pad your collection with the niche releases, quirky titles, and forgotten flicks that you never would’ve purchased on Blu-ray or 4K UHD Blu-ray discs. Maybe you’ll find a hidden gem, or perhaps you’ll never watch that DVD again. For only a few dollars, you don’t have much to lose by taking a flier on a DVD.

Like many collectors, I only have so much money to spend on physical media. There’s a balance between quality and quantity, and exclusively buying Blu-ray or 4K UHD Blu-ray discs tips the scale too far in favor of quality. There’s something to be said about owning movies at the highest quality possible, but there’s also something special about buying 10 cool DVDs instead of one used Blu-ray disc.

Brand

Sony (UBPX700U)

Ports

Ethernet, Wi-Fi, HDMI, Coaxial

Connectivity

Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X

Sony’s UBPX700U 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player is the perfect solution for playing lossless Dolby Atmos discs. It supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X surround sound modes, with HDMI and coaxial audio outputs. The player also has Dolby Vision and HDR for visuals. In addition to Blu-ray discs, this player can handle DVDs and CDs.