As a kid, one of my favorite things in the world was picking a DVD from our big, clunky case on a Saturday evening. Without fail, I’d flip through the sleeves, running my fingers over the plastic covers until I landed on a Barbie movie—usually Princess Charm School (a classic, no arguments). It was a ritual. There was something peaceful about it, like the whole process slowed me down in the best way.
If I wasn’t in the mood for a movie, I’d wander over to the library near my house. I wasn’t always sure what I’d find, but that was part of the magic. There’s a kind of calm that only comes from being surrounded by shelves of books, the faint smell of paper hanging in the air. It’s not quite the same as clicking “borrow” on an eBook, is it?
Now? Well, everything’s at our fingertips. Movies, music, books—you can access them all with a single tap. And yet, a lot of us are craving something different. Something a little slower. A little more… tangible.
Back when the pandemic hit, streaming was the thing. Every major studio and broadcaster had their shiny new platform. Suddenly, we had endless options. But somewhere along the way, streaming lost a bit of its sparkle. Subscription prices climbed, sharing accounts became tricky (remember when you could just text a friend for their password?), and the endless scroll took over. We’re watching shows while doom-scrolling TikTok and finishing dinner before the opening credits are done.
It’s no wonder physical media is having a moment.
Take vinyl records. Despite all the convenience of Spotify, vinyl sales are booming. According to Rolling Stone, vinyl outsold CDs in the U.S. in 2023—something that hasn’t happened since the 1980s. Artists are releasing new albums on vinyl and fans are loving it. Sure, Spotify might dominate the streaming space, but it’s not exactly rolling in profit. Meanwhile, Bandcamp has carved out a solid space selling physical formats—mostly vinyl—and making it easier for artists to connect with listeners in a way that feels more personal (and profitable). There’s something undeniably cool about flipping through a record collection, choosing what to play, and hearing that first satisfying crackle when the needle drops.
It’s not just music. DVDs, Blu-rays, and even video games are seeing a resurgence. People are collecting again—sometimes out of nostalgia, sometimes out of frustration when their favorite movie suddenly disappears from a streaming platform. There’s comfort in knowing that if you own the disc, no algorithm can take it away. And let’s be honest: building a collection of movies or games feels kind of special. Like a curated time capsule of your life.
Walk into any thrift store these days and you’ll likely find a shelf (or three) dedicated to DVDs and video games. Browsing through them is an experience in itself. Slowing down. Taking the time to choose something. It’s the opposite of the mindless scroll—and we need more of that.
Books, of course, never really went away. But physical books are experiencing a resurgence too, especially among Gen Z. Library visits are on the rise, and indie bookstores are finding creative ways to connect with readers through social media. BookTok is keeping the love for physical books alive, and plenty of young people are embracing the vibe of cozy, analog reading. Technology once threatened to replace bookstores, but now it’s helping bring them back. How’s that for a plot twist?
So what’s driving this comeback? Nostalgia, sure—but it’s more than that. It’s about craving a more tactile, authentic experience. Physical media offers permanence and ownership in a digital world that often feels temporary. A DVD you can hold. A book you can annotate. A vinyl record you can pass down. These things feel personal in a way that a digital file never will.
And yes, there’s the aesthetic factor—physical media looks good. A shelf of colorful spines. A record player in the corner of your room. But for many, it’s about more than decoration. It’s about connection. The Criterion Closet series is beloved not just for the films, but for the way it shows creators geeking out over their favorite physical copies. Letterboxd is growing fast because people want to talk about what they’re watching and why it matters.
In the end, physical media isn’t going anywhere. Whether it’s vinyl records, books, DVDs, or game cartridges, these tangible pieces of media are sticking around. They’re bringing back a sense of ritual, of intention. Of joy. And maybe that’s exactly what we need right now.
So dust off that DVD player, grab a book from the shelf and put on a record. The future of media? It might just be a little timeless.
