First ever movie to be released on DVD may surprise you

With nearly 100 billion hours viewed on Netflix between January and June 2023 alone, it's crazy to think of a time before the streaming platform existed.

But, before Netflix revolutionised the way we watch films, the Digital Versatile Disc, better known as the DVD, spread like wildfire.

Arriving on the market in the late nineties, the DVD was far slimmer and easier to store than its predecessor the VHS, making it an instant hit.

It also boasted superior video and audio quality and increased storage space, allowing for fun extras like interactive menus and Shrek 2's 'Far Far Away Idol,' which honestly still feels like it was a fever dream.

But, you might be wondering: what was the first film to be released on the format?

DVDs revolutionised the way we watch films back in the late nineties, but just four films were released when the format first launched. (Getty Stock Photo)

The DVD first launched in Japan in November 1996, but was initially used to store and view music videos.

A month later, four movies were released on 20 December: The Assassin (1993), Blade Runner (1982), Eraser (1996) and The Fugitive (1993).

When the viewing format was released in the US three months later, 32 titles were available on launch day:

• Batman
• The Birdcage
• Blade Runner: The Director’s Cut
• The Bodyguard
• The Bridges of Madison County
• Bonnie and Clyde
• Casablanca
• The Color Purple
• Doctor Zhivago
• Eraser
• The Exorcist
• The Fugitive
• The Glimmer Man
• Gone with the Wind
• GoodFellas
• Interview with the Vampire

1982's Blade Runner was one of the four movies to first be released on DVD. (YouTube/Warner Bros. Entertainment)

• JFK: Special Edition Director’s Cut
• Lethal Weapon
• The Mask
• Midnight Cowboy
• Mortal Kombat
• The Road Warrior
• Rocky
• Seven
• Singin’ in the Rain
• Space Jam
• Species
• A Streetcar Named Desire: The Director’s Cut
• A Time to Kill
• Twister
• Unforgiven
• Woodstock: The Director’s Cut

With countless streaming platforms, physical media has become somewhat obsolete during recent years, but Brits have been told to check the value of their DVDs or Blu-rays before giving them away, with some titles being worth a decent amount of money.

Certain titles on DVD and Blu-ray are now worth a decent amount of money due to being out of production. (Getty Stock Photo)

One incredibly successful film isn't available to stream in certain countries and is also out of production on Blu-ray, making it pretty tricky for fans to get their hands on.

So, they're taking to eBay and are willing to fork out a pretty penny for a copy.

The film in question is Danny Boyle's 2002 zombie apocalypse flick 28 Days Later.

A TikToker said that someone over in the US was able to sell their copy for $110 (£86) because there's no supply but demand still exists, and copies in the UK are currently selling for up to £40.

Thousands of LADbible readers responded to an article on the topic, with many choosing to keep their DVD regardless of their worth.

One person said: "Physical media forever! I've got 28 Weeks Later and 28 Days Later both on Blu-ray in my collection.

"With streaming it can be removed at any time i’d rather actually own my movies physically."

Topics: Entertainment, Film, TV and Film, Technology

Bec Oakes