Cue the return of the DVD because streaming’s grip on the market may finally be slipping. Prime Video has started running ads in its standard plan, while Netflix keeps hiking prices and cracking down on password sharing. Families who want more control over what comes into their homes are beginning to rethink how they watch movies. Streaming may still be the default, but an “outdated” technology is quietly making a comeback. 

Re-enter: the DVD player!

Tired of the unending ads? 

Streaming services once offered a respite from the constant interruption of commercials, but no longer. Whether it is ads before the video begins, or periodic media interruptions, commercials are becoming increasingly common — even on certain paid streaming platforms like Hulu and Prime Video. Your family is the captive audience for consumeristic drivel, and you have no control over the products featured in these ads. DVDs may have optional previews, but no ads or unpredictable content there.

Affordable and unplugged

DVD players are surprisingly affordable compared to the recurring cost of potentially multiple monthly streaming memberships. DVD players can be pulled out of storage or purchased new for around $40. Since DVD players do not connect to your Wi-Fi, you may even be able to opt for a cheaper plan with more modest speeds without the recurring need to stream videos. If your Wi-Fi connection was already a challenge, the DVD player frees you from the annoyance of buffering!

Escape the algorithm data: Curate and customize your family’s library

A DVD collection featuring family favorites and tried-and-true classics frees you from the pressure of globalized media. No longer does the trending film (or your past clicks) dictate what you should watch. A carefully curated DVD library allows you full content control over what movies are available to your family. The constant drive of novelty will be quelled as you discover the charm of rewatching a beloved oldie alongside your family. The bonds of your family culture will be strengthened as your treasury of quotable lines and lyrics learned by heart expands with familiarity.

Beyond the cloud: Rediscovering the value of the real

So much of the media we consume is floating out in the cloud — it cannot be seen or touched, and so it always has an air of the infinite, especially in the experience of children. The DVDs take up real space and require physical effort (albeit minimal) to place into the player and turn on. When streaming a movie, you rarely ask yourself if the film deserves a permanent spot in your memory, but when you must decide if the DVD gets a space on your shelf, you may give it a much-needed second thought. 

Additionally, a finite DVD collection is less alluring to young children than the unknown abyss of new releases. The physical dimension of DVDs also eliminates the risk of an auto-play feature sucking you into a Netflix binge. DVDs are still simple and easy to use, but by requiring more effort than a mere click of the remote, the physical reality of DVDs gives you more inherent control. These small differences that keep your entertainment connected to reality can help you maintain more sustainable and reasonable tech limits.

How to build your DVD library:

• Check those thrift stores: While others are offloading their “outdated” entertainment, you get to stock up on $2 bargains.
  
• Borrow from the library: Many local libraries still have DVDs available to check out. If your branch is moving away from offering DVDs, check out their used book sales — they just might be selling off their DVD collections.

• Share with a like-minded friend: If you already have a weekly movie night in place, this can be a great and predictable way to choose your featured presentation, as it has already been vetted by a trusted source.

Which DVDs to start with? Try our list of Best Family Movies for Kids of All Ages.

Have you switched back to a DVD player? Comment below and tell us about your experience.