Is Netflix's DVD Plan the Smartest Way to Watch Blockbusters Like 'Top Gun: Maverick'? (2024)
Is it worth giving Netflix’s DVD plan another look? Don’t laugh - it might be the perfect way to end the headache of so many streaming subscriptions.
Starting in the late 1990s, Netflix began offering a new way for people to watch new releases without having to leave their homes. The concept of streaming hadn’t yet emerged, and DVD were becoming the dominant media format. Subscribers would select a show or film, Netflix would send a DVD in the mail, and viewers could return the disc whenever they wanted. The service became so popular that it was eventually blamed for killing the beloved video chain, Blockbuster.
Since the rise of streaming, the media market has shattered into dozens of individual services. In some cases, you may subscribe to a service just to watch one film or show, letting the subscription lapse after you’ve seen it. But you might make a case that Netflix’s DVD plan could be a smarter way to go, especially if you already subscribe to the service.
For example, if you wanted to watch the recently released “Jurassic World Dominion,” you’d need a streaming subscription to Peaco*ck. And if you pay for the $4.99 tier, you’d still have to sit through commercials. To watch commercial-free, you’d need to pay $9.99 for the month - the same price as Netflix’s 1-at-a-time DVD plan.
Or consider 2022’s biggest blockbuster, “Top Gun: Maverick.” We still don’t know when that film will arrive on Paramount+, but you can rent the DVD from Netflix right now. In fact, almost every movie in theaters will be available for DVD or Blu-Ray well before it arrives on streaming platforms.
DVD Plan Tier
Basic
Standard
Premium
Monthly Price
$9.99
$14.99
$19.99
Limit of DVDs Rented Simultaneously
1
2
3
Note that all 3 tiers offer NO monthly limits, ZERO late fees, FREE shipping and return, and you can CANCEL anytime.
The benefit of going with Netflix DVDs is that you’re not stuck with multiple subscriptions, and you can cherry-pick your entertainment from the best of each service. You could watch Hulu hits like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” or HBO Max favorites like “The White Lotus” or “Mare of Easttown.” Want to watch every Star Wars film or binge the MCU? You don’t need Disney+ — Netflix DVDs have you covered.
Netflix’s DVD library can also come to the rescue with hard-to-stream titles. Right now, it’s very difficult to stream the comedy classic “This is Spinal Tap,” but you can rent it on disc. Same with the classic “Jaws.” If you want to watch the “Fast and Furious” series, you’ll need two different streaming services and there’s no way to watch “F8.” But you could see all the films (including F8) with Netflix discs.
Another benefit is that the Netflix DVD plans offer Blu-Ray discs, so in some cases, you may be able to watch at a higher resolution than the streaming services offer.
Of course, you will need a DVD or Blu-Ray player to watch the films, but you can find them on Amazon for less than $100, and some include the ability to use the player as a streaming device.
You can try the DVD service now for free, as their terms of use state that the trial is “intended to allow new members and certain former members to try the DVD service.” As for shipping speeds, they say they aim for fast delivery via USPS, and estimate that most customers can expect to obtain a DVD in about “one business day following our shipment of the requested DVD.”
Of course, the Netflix DVD plan isn’t perfect. If you want to watch a buzzy streaming-exclusive show, you may have to wait several months until it ends before it arrives on disc. But in many cases, this old technology could actually slim down your monthly streaming bill. It might be time to take a closer look.
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Netflix
Netflix is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 3,000+ movies, 2,000+ TV Shows, and Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, Squid Game, The Crown, Tiger King, and Bridgerton. They are constantly adding new shows and movies. Some of their Academy Award-winning exclusives include Roma, Marriage Story, Mank, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
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Netflix offers three plans — on 2 device in HD with their “Standard with Ads” ($6.99) plan, on 2 devices in HD with their “Standard” ($15.49) plan, and 4 devices in up to 4K on their “Premium” ($22.99) plan.
Netflix spends more money on content than any other streaming service meaning that you get more value for the monthly fee.
Blockbuster had about 5,000 stores in the US at that point, while Netflix had just started offering its new subscription model. The pair offered Blockbuster a 49% stake in their three-year-old business for $50m – and were laughed out of the room.
Netflix's strategic fit revolved around providing a subscription-based model with no late fees and unlimited rentals mailed directly to customers' homes. Redbox offered low-cost, self-service rental kiosks placed in convenient locations like grocery stores, making rentals accessible and hassle-free.
Netflix charges a monthly subscription fee, which allows customers to watch as many movies and TV shows as they want during that time. Netflix has primarily replaced traditional video rental services like Blockbuster due to its convenience, more extensive selection, and lower cost.
First of all, the discs give so much more than the movie. One of the greatest joy is the the uncompressed sound - Dolby Atmos, DTS HD Master Audio or Dolby TruHD. While it is true that Netflix also gives 5.1 sound, I felt that Blu Ray sound is better because it is 7.1.
So, by offering a monthly subscription model with unlimited rentals, Netflix was able to provide greater value and convenience to customers, making it more appealing than Blockbuster's rental model. Blockbuster had poor customer service and high rental fees, which made it difficult for customers.
By the early 2000s, Netflix had started to eat into Blockbuster's market share. Netflix's subscription-based model was more convenient and cost-effective than Blockbuster's physical stores. By the mid-2000s, Blockbuster was struggling, and in 2010, it filed for bankruptcy.
The positioning was to offer larger neighborhood stores with a wider range of family oriented movies than the many smaller mom-and-pop stores, using smart IT systems based on customer membership cards for control and to ensure popular movies were available.
Significant loss of revenue occurred during the late 2000s, and the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2010. The next year, its remaining 1,700 stores were bought by satellite television provider Dish Network, and by 2014, the last 300 company-owned stores were closed.
The single-camera workplace comedy starring Randall Park had a quiet run after launching Nov. 3 and never cracked Netflix's weekly Top 10. (Since Netflix uses hours viewed as ratings metric, comedies are at an inherent disadvantage since their episodes are about half the length of their drama/dramedy counterparts.)
It is hard to overstate how much Blockbuster customers hated late fees, which could easily double or even trip the cost of the original rental, even if a movie was returned only a few days late. By eliminating fees, Netflix gained a concrete advantage it could use to attract customers.
Which is better, Netflix or Amazon Prime? Both streaming platforms have their pros and cons, so the choice is yours. Netflix offers more original and exclusive content, while Amazon Prime offers a better deal in terms of the Basc pricing plan's value.
It's a pricey move to make for physical media, but it could be worth the money if you fall into any of these categories:You want better quality watching. Although streaming is convenient, you usually can't get the video quality of a DVD or Blu-ray because your internet is too slow.
Some other Netflix users stood by its DVD service not only for the selection but for added perks. Brandon Cordy, a 41-year-old graphic designer from Atlanta, previously told CNN he stuck with DVDs because many digital rentals don't come with special features or audio commentaries. There are other factors, too.
Amazon Prime offers both 1080p Full HD and 4K Ultra HD resolutions for streaming, as well as HDR video support. Unlike Netflix, both 1080p and 4K are included in the same package price. In other words, you don't have to pay extra for 4K video, which is great.
Contrary to popular belief, Netflix was not founded after its co-founder Reed Hastings was charged a $40 late fee by Blockbuster. Hastings made the story up to summarize Netflix's value proposition. Netflix's founders were actually inspired by Amazon.
Release. The sole season of Blockbuster was released onto Netflix on November 3, 2022, and consisted of 10 episodes. A trailer was released on October 7, 2022.
Marc Randolph does not own any Netflix stock. Reed Hastings owns 4.3 million shares of Netflix, which amounts to approximately 5.3% of the company. Does Reed Hastings have any input on the script or production of Netflix original programming?
Late fees accounted for more than 15% of Blockbuster's revenue during the retailer's heyday. When a customer returned a DVD late, they were hit with a substantial late fee. A standard late fee is $1-per-day that will be added for every movie title if it is late, for up to 10 days.
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