It's the best time of year to buy physical media and that's because the Black Friday DVD deals and Blu-Ray deals are here, so you can pick up a new disc or a classic box set for much cheaper than usual.
Technically speaking, Black Friday is on Friday, November 24, but online and high street retailers trip over themselves to begin their discounts sooner and sooner this year. So DVD sales have already begun all over the web.
Here at What to Watch we love DVDs and Blu-Rays, as they let you watch your favorite movies or TV shows whenever you want (not just when streaming services permit it) and also come with loads of bonus features. So we've scoured through all the Black Friday deals to find some of the best DVD and Blu-Ray box set deals.
The following will be great whether you're looking to buy something for yourself or a birthday or holiday gift, and with Christmas around the corner, the latter is doubly important! We'll be updating this page for all the new deals too, with daily checks to make sure no new deals are missed.
So if you're looking to buy a single DVD or a big box set, make sure to bookmark this page as we'll constantly be updating it to help you find gift picks and savings galore.
DVD gift guide quick links
If you're looking for your own DVD picks, here are some of the retailers you should be looking at:
- Amazon US and Amazon UK: Huge selection of DVDs including frequent discounts
- Walmart: US retailer has loads of modern movies and TV shows, as well as collectors' sets
- HMV: UK store offers 2 for £10 on DVDs and 2 for £15 for Blu-Rays
- Best Buy: range of deals on 4K UHD Blu-Rays, steelbooks and collections
- Zavvi: UK shop outlet site has discounts on loads of DVDs as well as collectibles
- Barnes and Noble: US bookstore offers $9.99 (or less) on DVDs
- Target: US retail giant has massive DVD movies sale
Black Friday DVD deals in the US
Black Friday DVD deals in the UK
Wondering why we've got far fewer UK deals? Well, that's because not all retailers have begun their reductions yet, but keep checking back (and using the quick-links at the top of this page) to see when they do.
DVD gift guide ideas
Don't mind picking up a DVD or Blu-Ray that isn't on sale? Here are some picks that you might want to consider, firstly of recent movies and shows, and then of classics.
DVD gift guide top tips
Whether you're buying a DVD or Blu-Ray for yourself or as a gift, there are a few things to bear in mind when you're making a purchase.
Here are some things you should know, if you need some advice.
When is the best time to buy a DVD gift?
Unless you're in a rush to buy a certain DVD, it can be worth holding your horses to pick up a bargain.
Towards the end of the year, there are deals periods that see lots of discounts on popular products, and waiting until one of these could really help. This isn't an exhaustive list, but it's one to bear in mind:
- Amazon Prime Day: Tuesday, October 10 - Wednesday, October 11
- Black Friday: Friday, November 24
- Cyber Monday: Monday, November 27
- Christmas sales: Through December
- Boxing Day sales (some countries): Tuesday, December 26
Also consider that some movies from the year, notably Oppenheimer, aren't available on DVD yet at the time of writing, so if you want this you will have to wait.
Should I buy DVD, Blu-Ray or 4K UHD?
For most new DVDs, you'll find them available in three major configurations: DVD, Blu-Ray or 4K UHD, and each one is more expensive than the last. So, which do you buy?
Well, as you can guess the pricier options give you better visual and audio fidelity. But that doesn't mean you should pick the most expensive one, as you may not have a way to play it.
For Blu-Ray, you'll need a dedicated player, and while some DVD players will let you watch Blu-Ray too, not all will. Many games consoles will, if they have disc ports.
If you want to enjoy 4K UHD, you'll need a screen that supports this high-resolution format, as HD or 1080p ones won't let you make the most of all the extra you're paying for.
Not sure about your DVD / Blu-Ray player or TV / projector screen? Check the user manual or Google the product version to be sure.
