Director Peter Jackson said the decline of physical media is a shame as DVDs become niche products for aficionados [1].
Jackson's perspective highlights a broader industry shift where digital streaming has largely replaced the ownership of physical discs. This transition affects how filmmakers deliver extended cuts and bonus materials, which were hallmarks of the Lord of the Rings home video releases [1].
In an interview reported by IGN, Jackson said the role of physical formats in the modern era is diminishing [1]. He said the market for these products has shrunk significantly [1].
"It’s a real shame," Jackson said [2].
Jackson was a primary architect of the Lord of the Rings extended edition DVDs, which provided hours of additional footage and deep-dive documentaries [1]. These releases helped define the home cinema experience for millions of viewers in the early 2000s [1].
He said the accessibility of streaming has come at the cost of the curated experience found in physical sets [1]. The director said that physical media are now "almost a niche product for aficionados" [1].
While streaming platforms offer convenience, the loss of physical ownership means consumers no longer control their own copies of films [1]. This shift is driven by the dominance of subscription services over traditional retail sales [1].
“"It’s a real shame."”
The shift from physical media to streaming represents a fundamental change in media preservation and consumer ownership. When films exist only on servers, the availability of specific cuts or director's commentaries depends entirely on the licensing decisions of streaming platforms rather than the permanence of a disc.
