Physical Media Is Still Better Than Streaming Digital

Exploring the Evolving Landscape of Family Entertainment at Home

As the cinema industry grapples with significant challenges and ticket prices continue to climb, families are increasingly turning to home entertainment as their primary source of leisure. Personally, as a passionate cinephile who makes a living from movies, I had not fully grasped the severity of this shift until I welcomed my baby earlier this year. Suddenly, the frequency of my visits to movie theaters plummeted, and I found myself seeking alternatives for family-friendly viewing at home.

The streaming experience can often feel like a frustrating rollercoaster, primarily due to the dreaded buffering circle that interrupts our viewing pleasure. Even cultural icons like Beyoncé have humorously addressed this issue, reminding platforms like Netflix to maintain a smooth experience for their high-profile productions. As devoted fans, we can all relate: the most significant drawback of streaming is the inconsistency in connectivity, which can shatter the immersive experience of storytelling, often during the most critical moments.

Earlier this year, during the early stages of my pregnancy, I was excited to attend a screening of Furiosa at the prestigious IMAX Headquarters in Los Angeles. To prepare, I decided to revisit Mad Max: Fury Road on Max. However, to my dismay, I quickly realized that the audio quality was subpar compared to what I remembered from previous screenings. My husband and I have always prioritized watching films in theaters, often attending on opening day, and we could clearly recognize that something was amiss with the streaming service’s audio compression. After switching to our digital copy, the problem persisted, forcing us to dig out our Blu-ray, where we finally enjoyed the incredible sound design of Junkie XL’s intense score.

As a new parent, I recognize the need to adapt to more home entertainment experiences than ever before. While I cherish the idea of watching classic films on the big screen at revival theaters like the New Beverly or American Cinematheque, I am resigned to enjoying them at home. Typically, if I fall in love with a film on the big screen, I’ll purchase a copy from my favorite used video store, only to watch it when the mood strikes. However, my viewing habits are evolving as I curate content for my growing family.

Now that we have a future cinephile in our family, my husband and I are eager to curate their entertainment options for as long as possible. Our household has been a Bluey sanctuary long before our little one arrived, and we are committed to steering clear of shows like Cocomelon, Peppa Pig, or Minions. Transitioning from childless millennials who enjoyed Bluey to new parents has been a delightful journey, ensuring our child experiences the show in its intended form. It was disheartening to see Disney, after acquiring Ludo Studio’s Bluey, make various edits and ban certain episodes, although they have largely reversed those decisions.

To safeguard our viewing experience from unwanted alterations, we diligently sought out the first couple of seasons on DVD and even acquired the show’s music on vinyl. One of my pet peeves is enduring the silence during international credits before the next episode begins; it’s such a simple thing that could be improved for a better viewing experience.

Being at home postpartum during the holidays brought another set of challenges, especially with frequent buffering interruptions across various streaming services. While it’s easy to blame my internet connection, having a reliable Blu-ray player and physical discs eliminates those frustrations, allowing for seamless viewing.

You might wonder why, if I find streaming so irritating, I don’t just rely on my beloved film collection. Well, here’s the twist: during the pandemic, I moved, and someone stole our extensive physical media collection, leaving us with only one box of treasured favorites. Yes, amidst a chaotic move, someone managed to snag a film school’s worth of Blu-rays and DVDs right off the curb. It’s disheartening to think of the cinematic gems that are now in someone else’s hands.

So, how does this relate to my current situation as a parent? You might ask.

Take our beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza box collection, for instance. It’s gone. We realized this unfortunate truth when we searched for our box before watching Mutant Mayhem. Discovering its absence sent us on a quest to find the original films on various streaming platforms, only to learn that we don’t have a subscription to Paramount. This situation extends to other franchises too, like Sonic, as we attempt to catch up before the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Managing our time with a baby at home has turned into a scavenger hunt for which streaming service offers what, as titles frequently disappear, complicating our attempts to watch our desired films.

During this festive movie season, it’s particularly frustrating when classic films like An American Tail for Hanukkah are nowhere to be found on the platforms we’re paying for. Although you can rent or buy Fievel’s adventures on Prime Video, the burden of paying for multiple subscriptions without the ability to share with loved ones adds to the financial strain. Even if you’re subscribed to Disney+ and wish to watch Frozen, be prepared for a frustrating experience during peak times when millions are streaming simultaneously, causing the service to lag or, as I like to put it, get frozen—a situation I will not forget easily.

Unless you own your favorite films and hope your PS4 remains functional, navigating this entertainment landscape is fraught with challenges. This experience has inspired me to start a new column focusing on the significance of physical media and exploring the best ways to enjoy films at home. Thankfully, we received a PS5 for Christmas, so the journey to reclaim our film experience begins now. By the time Wicked hits Blu-ray, I’m hopeful we’ll have discovered some effective solutions.

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