Netflix’s DVD business had dwindled in recent years (falling from over $1 billion in revenue in 2012 to $146 million by 2022), but it was a safe space for film fanatics who loved its immense library of new releases and classic films and shows that aren’t available to stream.
It’s hard to imagine what their revenue was like in the early 2000’s when there was no streaming. I remember renting films that were by the likes of Fassbinder, Bergman, Godard, Fellini, Kurosawa, etc…
Now, most of these are controlled by Criterion. Thank goodness they sell discs and have a high quality streaming channel. Somehow, I don’t imagine the Marvel or DC universe films ever being a part of their archive. 
I do miss getting BluRays from Netflix, but I had to stop it during the pandemic. Usually the top 3-5 titles in my queue were Long or Short wait. But before I cancelled the top 52 titles in my queue were Long Wait. I simply could no longer pay for that.
I then occasionally used RedBox, but they only had some of the major releases on BluRay. Now they rarely get anything new at all. I’m guessing they’re slowly eliminating all the kiosks as they’ve disappeared from the grocery stores and other locations around me.
Seems like if I really want to see a title on BluRay anymore I have to purchase it. Unfortunately I usually purchase after seeing a movie for obvious reasons. I plan on replacing my Pioneer Kuro and finally making the jump to 4K. I’d love a way to rent 4K and standard BluRays because streaming movies pales in comparison IMHO.
On a side note I recently received an email from MAX stating that they’re eliminating 4K and Atmos streaming.
It’s moving up a tier of course. You want that is $20/mo
Ah, thanks. I should have realized the email was specifically for the plan I currently have.
She is a very impressively smart person. I wish her the best.
Wonderful article. These types of collections are absolute treasure’s of knowledge, but sadly, are vastly overlooked by society. Digital media is ephemeral. Physical media remains long after everything else.
Came across this. If you’re into food and it’s associated trivia, this is the rabbit hole you’ve been looking for…
I had no idea he was in town. The Beacon is a great venue for musicians and audience alike.
He’s playing sax on this compilation from the early 1978. I purchased this album back in 1980. Some good tunes on it.
Did this photo inspire the cover of Led Zeppelin’s "Physical Graffiti?
Who knows, but an interesting backstory about the artist and the photograph.
For some context, I included a Wikipedia snippet regarding the Led Zeppelin cover.
96 and 98 St. Mark’s Place in New York’s East Village
The album was originally released with a die-cut sleeve design depicting a New York City tenement block, through whose windows various cultural icons could be interchangeably viewed.[31] The album designer, Peter Corriston, was looking for a building that was symmetrical with interesting details, that was not obstructed by other objects and would fit the square album cover. He subsequently came up with the rest of the cover based on people moving in and out of the tenement, with various sleeves that could be placed under the main cover and filling the windows with various pieces of information.[32] Incidentally, the same front doorway and stoop at 96 St. Mark’s Place is also the location used by The Rolling Stones for their music video promoting their single “Waiting on a Friend” from their 1981 album Tattoo You.
The two five-storey buildings photographed for the album cover are located at 96 and 98 St. Mark’s Place in New York City.[11] The original photograph underwent a number of tweaks to arrive at the final image. The fourth floor of the building had to be cropped out to fit the square album cover format.[32]
I can easily foresee a lot of good things from this buy. Samsung makes everything from giant front end loaders and excavators to kitchen appliances to phones. I believe that Roon integration is about to take a huge leap.
RIP Shane MacGowan