Movies on discs. Nobody expected such a turn of events

We live in the era of streaming video content and VOD services. It would seem that this means the inevitable death of physical media – but this is not the case. And the latest data confirms it.

True DVD and Blu-ray sales dropped in 2025, this is one segment of film media that has made a mark very big growth. These are videos in the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. In 2025, their sales increased by as much as 12 percent – and despite this lack of big premieres in the last quarter of the previous year.

Data published by Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) show that the total spending of Americans on physical media – DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD – in 2025 was $870 millionwhich means a decline of 9.3 percent year to year.

For comparison, a year earlier the corresponding indicator was much worse. Sales of optical discs then shrank by as much as 23.4 percentand total revenues declined for the first time in history less than a billion dollars.

This year slowing down the rate of decline suggests that physical media gradually stabilize as niche formataimed mainly at collectors and enthusiasts.

Interestingly, digital transactions are also losing. Movie purchases on sites such as Apple TV, Amazon and Vudu generated $2.2 billion – o 3.3 percent less than a year earlier. Digital rentals (VOD) have arrived 1.6 billiontaking notes a decline of 4.7 percent. DEG indicates that the weaker fourth quarter of 2025 was due to lack of strong cinema premieres driving sales.

The only segment that is clearly growing remains subscription streaming. Americans’ spending on services such as Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max has jumped from $48 billion in 2024 to 57.5 billion in 2025which means an increase of almost 20 percent. That’s where the vast majority of viewers are moving, while 4K UHD Blu-ray holds its own a humble but resilient niche among those for whom quality and the physical collection have value in themselves.

After all, 4K UHD Blu-ray discs offer uncompressed audio and highest bitratethat can be obtained at home. So this is not a whim, but an objective reason to buy such editions.