Securing physical copies of a number of Disney classics is about to get a lot harder. Disney announced today that it will be closing Disney Movie Club later this year after 23 years of service. Disney Movie Club is a subscription service for die-hard fans and has been providing them with a way to secure DVDs and Blu-rays of countless pieces of Disney media since 2001. Members received monthly releases, but the real boon of the service was Disney Movie Club’s deep cuts of mostly forgotten classics that were otherwise very hard to get hold of.
The statement made by the company includes the following statements: “After 23 magical years, it is time to say goodbye. After serving more than 10 million valued Club Members, we have made the difficult decision to close Disney Movie Club. “We will miss the opportunity to be a part of the lives of so many Disney fans, including you, but we will be forever grateful for the time you chose to spend with us.”
Disney’s move to shut down Disney Movie Club follows a new deal the company struck with Sony that sees Sony take over physical media production on Sony’s behalf. The agreement first Digital BitsIt’s unclear whether Sony will offer its own similar service due to the closure of Disney Movie Club.
Physical media had long been on a downward trend thanks to the emergence of digital publications and streaming services, and such a move was almost inevitable. Disney launched its own streaming service, Disney+, in late November 2019, and the service was largely touted as the embodiment of the promise that the Disney Movie Club once held. But you don’t own the movies and TV shows on Disney+; They may be removed from service at any time. Despite its status as Disney’s digital vault, Disney+ is still missing some titles that are currently only available in physical capacity through Disney Movie Club. The service’s shutdown within a few months and the unavailability of these games on Disney’s flagship service left many wondering what would happen to the valuable games that had not yet been brought over and had no other physical releases.
The announcement of Disney Movie Club’s closure states that the service will be discontinued in July of this year, but existing members will have until May 20 to place remaining orders. If you’re a collector of old Disney movies and shows, or even just an advocate for the proliferation and ownership of physical media, it’s best to act quickly.
