There's a plethora of retailers to choose from when it comes to buying Blu-rays, but I recommend you start with Criterion and Zavvi. You've likely heard of the 'Criterion Closet' but the site is a movie buff's dream. Zavvi is available in both the US and UK and is my personal favorite site for finding the latest limited edition 4K releases.
US - Criterion
UK - Zavvi
My physical movie collection is my baby. I covet my shelves of videotapes, DVDs, and Blu-rays just as much as my game collection. Not only do I love having a piece of media that I physically hold in my hands, but owning one of my favorite movies on DVD or Blu-ray means I can always get access to that film without having to rely on a good internet connection or whether it's even available on a streaming service to begin with.
Should Netflix ever decide it no longer wants to host Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster Jaws, it's okay, as I own multiple copies of my favorite film that's forever made me too terrified to swim in the ocean. Yet cultivating this collection hasn't been an easy feat. I have made a lot of mistakes in my over 15 years of collecting Blu-rays alone, from over-spending to accidentally grabbing bootleg releases of films that are no longer in print. But the cool thing about making mistakes is that I share what I learned with a new generation of physical media enthusiasts.
I've laid out my top tips in total below for those of you who may be suffering from streaming fatigue and are starting a new physical collecting journey. Just remember that while you can invest in a new swanky Blu-ray player to play your growing collection, any disc-edition PS5 can run both standard and 4K UHD discs. If you've already got the Sony console in tow, sticking with it can help save you some cash, which you can put towards more Blu-rays. Or DVDs, I won't judge.
1 - You don't need to own every single Blu-ray release in existence
Before you go buying up every Blu-ray that you find, my number one tip is to try and narrow down what type of films you want to collect and watch. This is always the most realistic approach to collecting any form of physical media. Not everyone has an unlimited budget, and so narrowing the types of movies or TV you want to own physically can really help make building your collection a more realistic and approachable endeavour.
For example, I focus primarily on collecting Blu-rays and films of the horror and anime genre - with general film and TV shows being secondary. In my living room right now, I have shelves dedicated purely to horror and purely to anime, and it helps keep me focused whenever I'm in my local second-hand store or browsing films online as to what to grab. Just the other week I stumbled into CEX (a chain of second-hand media and gaming stores in the UK) and immediately went to the anime section and picked up a second-hand copy of the Magic Knight Rayearth: The Complete Series boxset by All the Anime.
I'm really happy with my latest acquisition as I not only got it for far cheaper than its MSRP, but it's one that's frequently sold out at retailers online, including All The Anime's own online storefront. Yet, had I gone to CEX without that 'anime' focus, I may not have immediately spotted the boxset. Not to mention, without that focus, I could have spent far more than would be healthy for my bank account to endure. I really don't like making that mistake, and neither do my savings.
2 - Pre-ordering new 4K Blu-ray releases can help avoid disappointment
Some 4K UHD Blu-ray releases can be highly sought after, particularly if they come with a whole bunch of physical goodies. With that in mind, I highly recommend pre-ordering any that you have your eye on to avoid disappointment and having to hand over your hard-earned cash to re-sellers on eBay down the line.
This is a tip that isn't always manageable, especially if you've got a limited budget or if a film drops weeks before payday. However, it's your best bet to avoid dealing with some serious FOMO. Had I not bothered to pre-order the Dogma 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, I'd have been kicking myself as it remained out of stock for a while at UK retailers like Zavvi, where I predominantly pick up the latest 4K releases.
However, I knew I had to grab it as soon as possible, as not only is it one of my all-time favorite films, but it had been out of print for years due to rights issues. That gave me an inclination that it would sell out fast, which nicely rolls into my next bit of advice.
3 - Always do a little bit of research before you buy
Not all Blu-ray releases are created equal. Just because a film or TV series is getting a new physical release doesn't mean it's going to be produced with the utmost care and quality like the rest of your collection, so research is always vital.
For example, I'm a huge fan of the Dragon Ball anime franchise, and yet I don't own the series physically besides some of the movies. Why? Because the Blu-ray releases often don't look fantastic, and I'd rather wait until another company comes along and gives the series what it's due. The way the episodes of Dragon Ball Z are remastered often looks blurry and gives me a bit of motion sickness. As a result, to this day I still don't own one of my favorite series physically, but I'm glad I did research beforehand so I didn't waste my cash.
Research can help in other ways too. As I mentioned above, being familiar with the fact that Dogma was out of print for so long was partially what spurred me to ensure I grabbed its recent re-release. Taking your time to read up about upcoming Blu-ray releases, how they're made, and what's included with the film can help ensure you have a collection that you're proud of, and one you hopefully haven't spent more to build than you needed to.
4 - Never be afraid to shop second-hand
I wouldn't have as big a collection of DVDs, Blu-ray, and 4K Blu-rays had it not been for thrift stores, eBay, and other second-hand retailers. While I get it's always a nice serotonin boost to unwrap the cellophane of your movie for the first time, buying pre-owned Blu-rays can open up your collection to a whole new world of possibilities.
For one, it can make collecting physical media far more budget-friendly. There have been so many instances where I've stumbled in a local second hand store only to find a film I didn't yet own for £1-2, which was, at the time, sitting online at Amazon for at least £10. Sure, every time I've done this, the cases aren't always in the most immaculate condition, but saving cash (which I can put towards even more movies) can be far better in the long run.
Being open to adding second-hand Blu-rays to your growing collection can not only be better financially, but it can be a great way of finding gems or movies you wouldn't have otherwise known to watch. Plus, nothing beats having a rummage to find your next favorite movie.
5 - Familiarize yourself with the best US and UK Blu-ray retailers
This tip is a biggie, as without it I'd not have the collection I do today. There's a myriad of US and UK retailers that stock Blu-rays and 4K UHD releases, but not all of them will have the same bountiful spread of new releases, nor will they have the same kind of sales that can help fill up your shelves.
If you're based in the US, I've gathered a list of the top online stores for picking up the latest Blu-ray releases down below:
- Amazon: regular discounts across a wide range of Blu-ray releases
- Criterion: a huge variety of Blu-ray types presented perfectly for cineaphiles
- Walmart: provides super-low, budget-friendly prices on a range of blu-rays
- Zavvi: a huge range of limited edition 4K releases at competitive prices
When it comes to the UK, my personal favorites are Zavvi and HMV. Zavvi is well-known for supplying some of the snazziest limited edition releases, and it's where I instinctively went to grab my steelbook copy of the Jaws: 50th Anniversary Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray at launch. How many Jaws copies is too many?
HMV is also dependable for providing sales and discounts that cover a wide range of Blu-rays and 4K releases. Each payday I regularly check back in to see what I can grab, and even as I type these very words, the online store is currently running a 2 for £18 Collector's Blu-ray deal. I've gathered the two retailers, and a few more of my favorite places to shop here in the UK, down below:
- Amazon: regular discounts on a plethora of Blu-rays and film
- HMV: the best place for Blu-ray sales and offers
- Zavvi: great prices for limited edition Blu-ray releases
FAQ
Do you need a Blu-ray player to watch Blu-rays?
If you don't own a games console like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X which has a Blu-ray disc drive, then you would need a dedicated player to watch your Blu-ray collection. There's plenty of different models available to purchase, and you can expect to pay upwards of $100 for a standard Blu-ray player, or $300+ for one which is also compatible with your 4K UHD discs.
What's the difference between standard Blu-rays and 4K UHD Blu-rays?
Blu-ray discs are an optical disc format that can provide more storage than your typical DVD. The discs utilize a blue-violet laser technology which are available in different layer types. The single-layer type can store up to 25GB of content; meanwhile, a double-layer type can store up to 50GB, which as dvdfab.cn states, "is enough for 720p or 1080p HD video".
Meanwhile, 4K Ultra High-Definition Blu-ray discs support a 3840 x 2160 resolution and so can look better on modern 4K smart TVs. Not only do they provide a larger image size, but they can support higher refresh rates and more high-end audio and visual technology such as Dolby Atmos spatial audio and HDR10.
- View all Blu-ray deals at Amazon
Already got plenty to watch? Check out our guides to the best gaming TVs, the best gaming chairs, and the best gaming headsets to help transform your gaming and movie-watching setup.
