Disney is discontinuing Disney Movie Club, the subscription service and online store where fans can purchase Blu-ray and DVD copies of House of Mouse movies. digital bit According to a report, the closure is due to a new deal Disney has signed with Sony, under which Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will take over all physical media production. News of Disney Movie Club’s closure was delivered Tuesday to the service’s 10 million users in the United States via email as well as the service’s website.
Disney Movie Club said, “While we have enjoyed serving our customers for the past 23 years, as consumer behavior and viewing preferences continue to evolve, we have made the difficult decision to close Disney Movie Club. I gave it up,” he said. The Wrap. Disney Movie Club users have until May 20th to place their final orders, and Disney will officially end the service on July 20th.
First launched in 2001, the Disney Movie Club provided fans with access to a vast selection of Disney’s physical media library, including Marvel titles. Star Wars, Pixar and 20th Century Studios. New members who sign up for a two-year contract will receive the first four titles for $1, provided they purchase at least five other movies at list price during the remaining contract period. Stated disney trippers In that review.
Disney Movie Club’s prices were often higher than brick-and-mortar stores or Amazon, but the size of its library was unparalleled. For fans of older or hard-to-find Disney movies that aren’t available for streaming, purchasing DVDs from the Disney Movie Club was sometimes the only option to watch movies at home (on eBay or elsewhere) . The service also offered additional benefits to members, such as special editions and exclusive prizes.
For some mousetrap enthusiasts, the writing is on the wall. Disney shut down its service in Canada in October last year, citing a “decrease in membership numbers.” Just a few months ago, in August, Disney halted production of DVD and Blu-ray discs in Australia and New Zealand.
Many families and Disney adults have likely replaced Disney Movie Club with the streaming service Disney Plus, which launched in 2019. However, not all of the Disney Movie Club selections were available to watch on Disney Plus, leading some fans to keep both services. Especially considering that Disney and other streamers sometimes remove titles, purchasing physical copies of your favorite movies and shows eliminates the risk of one day disappearing forever. Outside of Disney Movie Club, Disney super fans and collectors typically turn to Amazon, eBay, or physical media resale sites to find vintage or hard-to-find Disney films.
Physical media consumption has been in sharp decline for more than a decade, at the same time that streaming services and digital rentals and purchases have become widely available. He was hit particularly hard in 2023. U.S. estimates show that total sales and rentals of physical media (including DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and 4K Ultra HD) fell by more than a quarter (25.3%) last year. Digital entertainment group.
Given that Sony will take over Disney’s physical media operations, Disney fans in the U.S. will still have some options for purchasing DVDs and Blu-ray discs. However, it’s unclear exactly what this new service will look like, and whether Sony will scale back Disney’s physical media offerings or continue to offer the same titles.