What is your strategy for buying BluRay movies...vs. simply renting them?

For example:
* do you buy all the movies you want to view?
* do you watch them more than once?
* are you replacing your DVDs as they come out?
* do you plan on have hundreds just like many own 500+ DVDs?
* do you already own hundreds of DVDs?

I know I want a couple but in general I'm not sure why I want to buy movies vs. simply renting them...my usage is watch once and for those movies I watch again it's usually years later after they come out in yet another version (format or simply a better transfer).

Part of me wants to have a criteria where I buy classics. If think about the best movies ever and list a few per genre (ie. best western, best SciFi/Fantasy, best boxing, best comedy, best film noire, best detective...etc....I end up wanting about 500 movies in my library....and then every few years there is a new version....not sure I want to play this game or not.

I have over 500 DVD's, but I pretty much stopped buying them last year with the exception of a choice few titles and TV on DVD.

My Blu-ray plans are to only purchase new releases that I really want, and only replace a couple of must have HD titles such as Lord of the Rings. I signed up for Netflix so I'll be renting a lot more than I did in the past.

I doubt my Blu-ray library will ever exceed my current DVD library unless the prices really drop.

I only rent films I've never seen. If I really like it I'll buy it and if I don't I never will. Sometimes I've bought DVD's having never seen the film, it's a bit risky but it's worked out for me at times. I bought Blair Witch and Election (Broderick/witherspoon/Klien) and loved both, especially Election but I've bought some real duds (U-571 and the boiler room)

Yup same here, I will rarely blind buy a DVD, unless of course I know that I will like the movie without a doubt, but thats rare. I'll usually watch it once, and if I like it enough I will buy it.

I know for me, I have simply been replacing my HD-DVD and DVD Collection with Blu-ray Movies. As of late if a title is available I will do a blind buy because Blu-ray has been so outstanding with all of their recent releases. I do not feel I am taking a "risk" like I did back when Blu-ray first came out. In the past couple of months they have really got their act together and have delivered great movie after great movie.

This list of upcomming movies over the next 60 days or so looks AMAZING!! and will put a big dent in my checking account though!!

~Josh

I have stopped buying DVDs unless I feel it's a must have. Basically, only one a month or so. I think the last DVD that I really had to have and looked forward to was Inside Man. I would imagine that the prices will drop for Blu Ray discs, hopefully this year. I am very hesitant on buying Blu Ray if I have the movie on DVD already. It's just the principal of it I guess!

I kinda stopped buying HD DVD and Blu ray disc until this war is over...I did buy a couple of BD today because of the BB 1 for 1 promotion otherwise I rent from BlockBuster.

* do you buy all the movies you want to view? Yes or HD-Tv\cinema
* do you watch them more than once? Yes if i like :D
* are you replacing your DVDs as they come out? Yes but only thouse i really like, then more.
* do you plan on have hundreds just like many own 500+ DVDs? sure
* do you already own hundreds of DVDs? About 500-600

All my favorite movies will be replaced by Bluray ASAP.

since many are renting first and then buying...how often do you view after buying? I assume you rent/view and then buy/view? I would be tempted to rent and view and determine that I love the movie and then buy it and put it on the shelf only to maybe watch a few years later again...there are so many new things and things I haven't seen in 20+ years that it's hard to watch many movies more than once

...all just curiosity....thanks for the replies...

Never rent.

Use buy.com or Amazon deals to get HD movies for $12-$18.

Just buying absolute favoite movies. Like Spiderman, Matrix, Aliens..... Also def Casino Royale

* do you buy all the movies you want to view?

I'm using the BD Tier system to make sure the movies I do want to own on BD look good enough to double/triple/quadruple dip for.

* do you watch them more than once?

If I own it, I've usually watched it more than once, though I still have 3-4 DVD's still shrinkwrapped.

* are you replacing your DVDs as they come out?

Yes and no. I own over 400 DVD's, and I've come to realize that I have some stuff I don't really need or want anymore. I'm being a lot more selective with my BD purchases.

* do you plan on have hundreds just like many own 500+ DVDs?

Over the next 10 years? I doubt I'll get more BD's than I currently have DVD's.


* do you already own hundreds of DVDs?


Over 400, but I'm not sure what the exact number is anymore.

Personally, I'm more apt to rent a movie than buy it right now, given the cost.

I've got 1200 DVDs that have been Netflix backups that look awesome on a Sony BDP-S1 Blu Ray 1080P upconversion player so I'm not all that concerned about the longevity of the Blu Ray/ HD DVD outcome. You think BD would win just on storage capacity and video quality alone.

I've got 1200 DVDs that have been Netflix backups
As in 1200 burned copies of rented movies or did I miss something? If the former, not the smartest thing to admit to on this forum.

I never rent. I take my chances on blind buys and for the most part I've been satisfied with all my purchases.

I'll buy movies that I know will be watched repeatedly in my household. The rest I rent. I have been a lot more selective with HD DVD and Blu-ray titles than I was with DVD. I normally would take chances with DVD because of the lower price, but that's not the case with high-def titles. I have a number of DVDs that are still in plastic, so I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.

Rent all and if good enough that I'll watch a few more times I will buy, so far zero. Exceptions to the rule birthdays and Christmas, so far 5. I've learned a lot about myself over VHS and DVD and DVD backup even and imo threw away thousands and really the only things rewatched are kids movies. I also do the same for videogames now less pc gaming since there is no service for that. Hey if they are going to give me the same overall affect for far less, I am all over it and without renting I wouldn't have purchased the 360 or the add-on.

"I have been a lot more selective with HD DVD and Blu-ray titles than I was with DVD." - I feel there will be a large group of customers that will feel this way. DVD even though you could copy them still was thee boon imo for customer sales. A lot of people made libraries that I bet from time to time look at them and think of the waste. So in the future they will be more frugal and reasonable with their future libraries. The group that won't be like that are first timers like teenagers and early 20 something's today. They'll be the ones in percentage to end up with massive HD collections, less Addicts and Rich people.

A lot of people made libraries that I bet from time to time look at them and think of the waste.

I'm curious how many feel this way on this forum....I can see someone looking at their library and doing the math (i.e. 400x$10+=$4,000) and then thinking about the utilizaiton and trend of new formats coming out and wondering if they made a good decision...

I can see otheres loving the presence of the library and the ability to pull a forgotten disk off the shelf on a whim and the joy of browsing their own private library of the greatest movies....

Some have libraries of books and I'm not sure how many of those are read more than once.

Of course with libraries of books, libraries of lps & CD's, I can wonder if I really need another bookcase of stuff...one only has some much room.

^ There will always be groups that make up each category. I'm just thinking a lot of people never really had a library before and now have experienced one for themselves. Some will think it's grand and some will think, yeah I built one but really how much do I re-use it? That answer will vary and it will be balanced, however 50% not re-building is still a large part of the market staying out of mass ownership. I think everyone is fit to trying out a library (whatever it is) for a first time and or 2nd and 3rd, but as you grow older/wiser and for those that aren't loaded with throw-away money, they will now have experience to see if "a library" was all that is was cracked up to be for them. With rental places becoming more and more inviting each day that helps many make a decision that "a library" really is a nice to have and isn't a gift that keeps on giving and is more of impulsive mistake.

I was buying all the movies for both HD and BR up to this point and have about 100 titles total now. I am however changing my strategy and will start renting the titles for now on and only purchase must-have movies that get great AV reveiws on them. I'm getting a bit tired of mediocre titles from both formats so I will only get the truly impressive ones for now on

Just renting for now sans the occasional favorite or high interest title I missed in the theaters.

I always find these threads odd. Why do I have to "explain myself" to other people?:confused:

It's your money, do what you want.

Buy ones I have seen and will watch more than once, rent ones I havnt seen or am unsure about. If I really liked a rented one then I buy it. Simple enough.

I always find these threads odd. Why do I have to "explain myself" to other people?:confused:

It's your money, do what you want.

You don't have to do anything....of course :) What an odd dialog....
It's just interesting chatter for those interested in participating...I sometimes feel these types of posts are condescending and judgemental.


I have seen and heard the idea of building "a library" of books as a life long activity with hopes of leaving it as a legacy...the challenge with books is that they take up a lot of room and are there so many that it's harder to match interests. With movies the idea building something for a long time is challenged not only by format changes but by release changes. Even in DVD there seems to be a trend in re-issues many favorites for repeat buys.

I can relate to the learning experience of building "a library" of DVDs (or VHS). As I realize that my current verion of "The Godfather" will be obsolete by the time I'm ready to see it again, I feel less motivated and justified in building a library...despite an unexplainable desire to do so.... The unlimited subscription rental programs are also very appealing which also makes it a less compelling.

In the end I like having a small group of favs/classics as well as demo material.

Personally I cannot take going to the movies any-longer. Between the talking, popcorn eating and especially families bringing babies to the movie it is not worth it, plus I believe my home theater is a more enjoyable experience. I will not purchase Blue-ray discs as a did DVD's, meaning every week purchasing a new movie or two, 95% of my DVD's are collecting dust what a waste of money. I will purchase Blue-ray discs, but I would wager 80-90% will be rented.

I thought this was a "Should I buy BDs or pay my rent" thread, which I could empathize with.:cool:

I don't have a player yet, but when I do I will be renting rather than buying. There are very few movies I want to watch repeatedly, and with formats having a life of only 10 years or so it is hard to justify building a library. In the meantime, I'll just let Netflix store a collection on my behalf. That takes away much of the angst about who is going to win the format war.

If that weren't enough, the aggressive DRM that's baked into both BR and HD-DVD leaves some doubt as to what rights one is "buying" anyway.