You Can Still Get DVDs From Netflix (and Maybe You Should)
Am I the only one who didn’t know that Netflix still offers DVDs? The company has been streaming for so long that I guess I assumed its physical media disappeared at some point between House of Cards and Squid Games . However, even in 2022, you’ll be able to mail movies and TV shows to yourself directly from Netflix if you have a disc-enabled device. And if you do, you might actually want to.
Wait, does Netflix have a DVD?
Depending on your age, you might be surprised to know that Netflix started out as a DVD service back in 1997. You placed an online order for the movies you wanted to watch and Netflix shipped the DVDs to you one at a time. You watched a DVD, sent it back, and a new one magically appeared in your inbox. It was Blockbuster from the comfort of your home, which is why everyone blames Netflix for killing the video store chain (although Blockbuster also had its own DVD-by-mail service).
Once their streaming service became popular, they tried to separate it into two separate options: Netflix (streaming) and Qwikster (DVD). In case you’re wondering what the hell Qwikster is, it’s because Netflix dropped the title less than a month later . Netflix now owns the dvd.com domain, which is much better.
What Netflix offers with its DVD service
Although Netflix’s current DVD service is little known (or at least not very well known to me ), it’s not all that cheap. There are three levels, with the only difference being the number of DVDs you receive at any one time. For $9.99 a month, you get one DVD; $14.99 for the two of you; and $19.99 brings you three. Universal perks include unlimited drives per month, no due dates or late fees, and no shipping or return fees (although there is an asterisk next to this entry without any explanation on the support page).
However, it can cost money depending on who you are. First, it restores Netflix’s status as a “everything” service. This is how we used to think about Netflix: Pretty much anything you could watch, you could find. However, in recent years, as more and more studios want their own streaming services, Netflix is losing more and more series and movies. Now you’re looking for something to watch, and more often than not, Netflix will recommend “similar” titles to you because there isn’t something that really interests you.
It also doesn’t change when something leaves Netflix. The Breaking Bad series promoted by Netflix will eventually leave the platform . But even then, you can book the show season after season and enjoy it one disc at a time. Netflix doesn’t say how many titles they have you covered, but they say you can watch “almost every movie and TV show you want,” with movies from the 1910s to the present day. That’s a lot of disks.
Speaking of discs, Netflix has more than just DVDs. While DVDs still have their place, Netflix also offers Blu-ray at no extra charge. It looks like Netflix doesn’t offer 4K Blu-ray, so you’ll miss out on the extra resolution and HDR. However, 1080p Blu-rays still look great and represent a much bigger visual transition from 480p DVDs than 1080p to 4K. Plus, with physical media, you don’t have to worry about a slow internet connection ruining your movie night. There is no buffering on Blu-ray.
While the price is a little high at first glance, it’s not too bad if you’re someone who watches enough movies. If you’re constantly renting the latest movies from services like Apple TV or Google Play, you’ll find that the Netflix offer is much cheaper. For example, if you buy Where the Crayfish Sing and Jurassic World Dominion for $5.99 each, you’re already spending more than a month on Netflix discs. Incidentally, these titles are currently available on Netflix’s DVD service, so you can watch most of the same content for less money.
As we said earlier, there is still room for physical media . Netflix may not advertise its DVD service in 2022, choosing instead to spend its marketing budget on streaming content. But dvd.com is something every movie and TV buff should think about. You can add the service to your current Netflix plan or subscribe to it separately. $9.99 a month doesn’t sound too bad if you’re ditching Netflix for $19.99 a month.
How to subscribe to the Netflix DVD service
If you already have a Netflix account, sign in to netflix.com , click on your profile in the top right corner, and select “Account”. Click “Add DVD Plan” and follow the on-screen instructions. If you don’t have a Netflix account, you can simply register for a Netflix DVD account via dvd.com or dvd.netflix.com .