What we’re noticing: DVDs are vintage now

Caitlin on Jan. 29, 2026

There was a time when DVDs were something you tripped over on the lounge floor, half-returned to their cases, still warm from the player. Now, they’re turning up in a different context entirely: carefully stacked, thrifted, collected. For some young people, DVDs are no longer outdated, they’re vintage.

What we’re noticing: DVDs are vintage now

This is part of our What we’re noticing series, where we share trends, we’re seeing in how New Zealanders are watching, sharing, and rediscovering media, and what that can mean for viewers today.

We’re noticing more young people seeking out physical media, particularly films from the 90s and early 2000s. There’s something appealing about owning a copy of a film, choosing it deliberately, and watching it from start to finish without algorithms, autoplay, or endless scrolling. In a world of streaming, DVDs feel intentional. Almost comforting.

Why are young people collecting DVDs?

We don’t know exactly what’s driving this renewed interest, but there are a few familiar patterns. Much like the resurgence of vinyl, collecting DVDs may be about more than the media itself. It can be a reaction to modern viewing habits, a way of stepping away from platforms that quietly curate what we watch, when we watch it, and what comes next.

Physical media puts viewers back in the driver’s seat. You choose the film, you press play, and when it ends… it ends. For young people who’ve grown up with infinite choice and constant recommendations, that simplicity can be refreshing.

Is there any downside to collecting DVDs?

Unlike streaming platforms, DVDs don’t come with pop-up content warnings or summaries before you press play. The classification label is still there on the case, but it’s easier to overlook, especially when a film feels familiar, or when it’s picked up casually from an op-shop or second-hand store. Even second-hand DVDs sold in New Zealand are legally required to display their classification, so the information is always there, it just might take a closer look. Nostalgia can make us assume we already know what we’re getting.

Older films can also reflect different social norms and storytelling styles, and content that once felt unremarkable can land differently today. Checking a classification or content warnings can help avoid awkward surprises and support more informed viewing, particularly when films are being shared across generations.

Even though DVDs can feel like an “off-the-grid” way of watching media, the information isn’t lost. You can still find up-to-date classification details through our Find a Rating tool, and you might even stumble across a full content breakdown for one of the classics you’ve just discovered.

Are young people collecting video tapes as well?

This one’s a little more niche, but not impossible. While VHS hasn’t had quite the same comeback as DVDs, there’s no denying the nostalgia factor. Rewinding tapes, fast-forwarding past ads you recorded years ago, and the whirr of the machine all come with their own kind of charm.

Whether it’s DVDs, tapes, or something else entirely, the return to older formats reminds us that media trends move in cycles. When old ways of watching become new again, it’s worth bringing the same curiosity, and care, to what’s on screen as we do with modern platforms.

Final thoughts

Overall, collecting DVDs can be a bit of fun even if it makes some of us smile wryly at how quickly “normal” has become “vintage”. There’s real pleasure in rediscovering familiar films and watching them in a more deliberate way.

Where we can offer a helping hand is in supporting informed viewing. Knowing the age rating and content warnings of older films and knowing where to find that information when it isn’t obvious, can help avoid surprises and make sharing media across generations a more comfortable experience.

As viewing habits continue to evolve, the return of physical media is a reminder that while formats change, the impact of what’s on screen still matters.