DVD Sales Decline Slows Sharply as Gen Z Discovers the Appeal of Physical Media
Slashdot
by msmashFebruary 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The decline of DVD and Blu-ray sales, which had been steep for years, is slowing significantly as Gen Z consumers discover the appeal of physical media. This shift is evident across video rental stores and retailers in the U.S., with notable increases in disc rentals and purchases. According to the Digital Entertainment Group, overall disc sales fell just 9% last year, a stark improvement from the more than 20% drop seen in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, U.S. consumers spent 12% more on 4K UHD Blu-rays in 2025 compared to the previous year. This resurgence of physical media is particularly driven by younger customers, as noted by The Criterion Collection, a leading boutique Blu-ray label, which reported significant year-over-year sales increases.
The rise of physical media consumption is also reflected in local businesses. Vidiots, a video store in Los Angeles, experienced its busiest month ever in January 2026, averaging 170 rentals per day. This follows a pattern of increasing demand: the store loaned out about 22,000 discs in 2023 and roughly
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Originally published on Slashdot on 2/25/2026