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Netflix put a big nail in the coffin of the DVD business when it ended its mail-in disc service after 25 years.
The media giant, which shipped the last of its DVDs from US distribution centers on September 29, said its business had been “reduced” by the popularity of streaming.
This means that fans are relying more than ever on streaming platforms to provide an eclectic mix of mainstream films, silver screen classics and cult favorites – but are they up to the task?
Unfortunately, MailOnline has found a bias towards more modern films made in the last 30 years, while many popular older films are nowhere to be seen.
Like it Hot, Citizen Kane, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s are some of the masterpieces that fans can’t stream as part of their Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video subscriptions.
Some Like It Hot, Citizen Kane, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s are some of the classics that fans can’t stream as part of their subscriptions
Originally, Netflix only shipped DVDs to customers in small envelopes (pictured), but its business model has shifted to online streaming
Back in 2018, film writer Kate Hagen noted that the number of films on Netflix that were produced before 1990 was only 98.
Even today, if you scroll down the list of Netflix movies, it’s amazing that the vast majority of them are movies from the last 20 or 30 years.
To investigate this further, MailOnline has compiled a list of 50 old films widely considered ‘classics’, as IMDb and Empire Magazine have called them.
Using 1980 as the cut-off point for what could reasonably be considered an “old” film, the list included Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Some Like It Hot, Mary Poppins, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Then we looked for it on the “big three” streaming services – Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.
Shockingly, Netflix only got three out of 50, while Disney+ did even worse – it only got one (Mary Poppins).
This is largely because Disney+ mostly has films owned by The Walt Disney Company.
Amazon Prime Video only had two out of 50 that I could stream as part of my subscription, although the majority were available to rent for an additional fee (between £3 and £4).
Experts agree that it’s becoming harder to watch old classic movies — those made in the 1970s and even earlier — due to the dominance of streaming.
said James Burr, a technology expert at Boris Consulting Group “Physical media in general seems to be having difficulties” – not just with DVDs but also Discless gaming consoles.
British retailers such as John Lewis have already stopped selling DVD players in their stores, although Blu-ray players are performing better.
“We are moving, or perhaps have largely moved, to a world where all media is ephemeral and vulnerable to being erased or altered by broadcast companies,” Burr told MailOnline.
“It’s not even that we rent our media, we rent access to it instead.”
Dave Wynn is the owner of one of Britain’s few remaining DVD rental shops – Snips Movies in Bebbington, Merseyside – which is stocked wall to wall with more than 15,000 titles available to rent.
Dave Wynn, owner of Snips Movies in Merseyside, said it was becoming more difficult for film fans to watch old films on streaming services.
Mr Wen said it had become more difficult for movie fans to watch old films on streaming services, which inevitably meant they were missing out on some classics.
He told MailOnline: “Unless you have the determination – and the finances – to subscribe to multiple streaming services, it’s likely you won’t have access to some of the greatest films ever made, or any access at all.”
“Sure, the majority of people would have little interest in seeing a Billy Wilder film or something produced by Douglas Sirk, but that doesn’t mean they’re not available.
“We need to preserve our cinematic history.”
Mr. Wen said the frustration of not being able to find certain movies on streaming services “is a constant topic of conversation” in his store with customers.
“I have just over 15,000 titles, and the number of people renting certain titles from me for the sole reason that they are not available on streaming platforms is growing with each passing month,” he said.
Mr. Wen believes that going to a physical store filled with wall-to-wall options allows people to discover a greater variety of films.
It seems like movie fans will have to rely more than ever on streaming platforms to provide them with the movies they want – but are they up to the task?
Blockbuster, known for renting VHS tapes and DVDs, has ceased most of its business operations in the past decade
In contrast, Netflix decides which movies will be heavily promoted on its landing page, while other movies are boosted by an algorithm that uses data from our viewing history.
“In the age of video stores, we’re not governed by an algorithm that points us in a specific direction on what to watch,” the owner said.
We had the freedom to browse, choose, and perhaps fall down the rabbit hole.
“The days when kids would stumble upon an old Brian De Palma movie or an Alfred Hitchcock classic are in danger of fading away.”
One of the best-loved movie rental companies was Blockbuster, which actually competed with Netflix 20 years ago before it began streaming movies to customers online.
Blockbuster, known for its VHS and DVD rentals, has ceased most of its business operations in the past decade, partly exiting the market due to the huge success of Netflix.
There’s only one Blockbuster store left — in Bend, Oregon — despite rumors that the brand is on the verge of a stunning comeback.
(tags for translation) Daily Mail