I replaced Netflix with Blu-rays for a week. It was liberating!

Streaming services have changed my attitude toward TV and films

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

I love Netflix for the most part. It’s far from perfect, but I still consider it good value for the money despite the various (and seemingly endless) price increases in recent years. I also subscribe to Disney+ and Amazon Prime, and I use FAST services like Tubi and Pluto.

But I’ve grown increasingly frustrated of late with certain aspects of streaming services—and these frustrations have actually distorted my attitude toward the films and TV shows I watch.

Not only do I often struggle to decide what to watch, I find myself disengaged and easily distracted (mainly by my phone) when I do find something to put on. I also care less about the artistic elements of what I’m watching. The moving pictures on my TV screen are mostly just fodder to fill out an evening, which sucks because a lot of work went into those films and TV shows and they deserve proper appreciation.

One mundane task, one eureka moment

Dave Parrack / Foundry

What inspired me to try rewatching my DVDs and Blu-rays? Well, I’ve been meaning to clear out my collection for a while now, having built up a lot of them over the years. I wanted to send them off to charity shops, with some possibly even worth selling on eBay. Either way, I didn’t like that they were collecting dust.

But when I got around to it, my physical media—sitting there unloved and untouched for so long—sparked a hit of nostalgia in me before I even touched one of the cases. I spotted several movies and TV boxsets that I’d totally forgotten about, and many others that I’ve never seen featured on streaming services. It was a veritable gold mine.

A fresh look at my physical media library was all it took to inspire me to at least watch a few before I got rid of them. After all, I got these DVDs and Blu-rays because they were of my favorite films and TV shows in the first place! That’s when I decided: for one week, I’d abandon all of my streaming apps and stick only to my DVDs and Blu-rays.

Making the most of a smaller selection

Dave Parrack / Foundry

My first realization was that a smaller library of content isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, with only a limited number of discs to choose from, I didn’t struggle with the paradox of choice (i.e., how having an abundance of options can lead to indecision). And the fact that every option was sitting in front of me at once meant I was able to narrow down what I wanted to watch quickly and easily.

My takeaway from this? To start using streaming services differently. Rather than launching an app without knowing what to watch and then wasting time browsing what’s on offer, I’ll pick what I want to watch before launching the service (using a tool like JustWatch).

Physical media engaged me more

Dave Parrack / Foundry

Once I had decided on what to watch—in this case, V for Vendetta starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman—I just had to load it into my PS5. The PS5 is the only device in my living room that’s capable of playing DVDs and Blu-rays, incidentally.

Rather surprisingly, I enjoyed the physical act of taking the Blu-ray off the shelf, opening the case, and inserting the disc into my PS5. It made the act of watching a film more of an experience than just a brainless, background activity. Clicking “Play” on Netflix just doesn’t have the same impact. (Of course, there may be an element of nostalgia involved here. Someone under 20 may not feel the same way.)

The knock-on effect of this was to make me more engaged and committed to watching (and enjoying) the film I’d chosen. It compelled me to set my phone aside and actively watch the narrative instead of having it on the background. It certainly helped that V for Vendetta is a joy to watch, a film full of scenes and lines I was keen to not miss.

It was an odd shift in my psyche, and I don’t know how to explain it. Even when I watched the same stuff that I could on a streaming service, my posture as a viewer changed when it was via DVD or Blu-ray. The physical nature of the media made it feel more important somehow, as if I had put in the effort so I should pay attention to it.

My appreciation deepened again

Dave Parrack / Foundry

It wasn’t just my engagement that changed.

Remember DVD extras? I admit that I’d forgotten about them after so many years on streaming services. However, cracking open a couple of Blu-rays surfaced a slew of extras on the menu screen, and I dove into some of them after watching their respective films. Extra scenes? Yes, please! A director’s commentary over the top? Yes, please! All of this was especially great because I was mostly rewatching beloved films, so the commentary provided new content and more layers to it.

It only took a few days for me to start appreciating film as an art form again, rather than as mere content to be consumed in the background without much care or consideration. This was a big shift for me, and it’s one that I hope remains even when I return to streaming.

Streaming isn’t going anywhere, but physical media still has a place

Dave Parrack / Foundry

If you only stream media, whether because it’s more convenient or you simply don’t own any physical discs, then I recommend picking up a DVD or Blu-ray of your favorite film or TV series and devouring it. (Assuming you have a device capable of playing physical media, or you’re willing to go out and pick one of those up as well.)

Of course, streaming ain’t going anywhere—now that my week off streaming has come to an end, I plan to go back to streaming. But I’m glad I underwent this “detox.” Not only has it changed how I’m going to stream and renewed my love for film, I plan to keep some of my physical media (instead of ditching it all as I was originally going to do).

It’s a lot like vinyl records, which have made a comeback thanks to younger generations seeking out something beyond digital audio. Maybe it’s time for DVDs and Blu-rays to get the same treatment.

Further reading: How I save big money on streaming services