7 Things I Like About Netflix DVDs

I’m a movie buff (junkie). I like to be transported into another time and place (escape). I like a darkened movie theater with Surround Sound for a total immersion experience, but there’s something to be said for watching movies in the comfort of your own living room, or home theater, if you have one. Here are seven things I like about Netflix DVD service, which we’ve used at our house since 2009.

1. Familiar Germs. I would have better enjoyed the new Annie movie in December of 2014, if a young girl hadn’t coughed at the back of my head for two hours. I wanted to offer her a lozenge and tell her to go home to bed. That doesn’t even address the microscopic critters living on the armrests.
2. Vetted audience members. The last few times we went to the movie theater, the bright glow of cell phone screens irked me, because our theater hasn’t been enforcing the no-cell phone rule very well. Last week, a guy actually talked on his phone during the movie. At home, I can voice my displeasure if someone’s making too much noise, without wondering if they’re carrying.
3. Saving money. When my husband and I go to see a movie in the theater, and I indulge myself with the refillable vat of popcorn, we’re sure to drop at least $35. A Netflix subscription is about $8 per month, if you receive one DVD at a time. This works out to about four movies a month. I can pop my own popcorn just fine.
4. Variety/availability. What’s nice about a DVD subscription is that you’ll usually find any movie you want. This is not true with streaming services, which are constrained by licensing agreements. Want to watch an obscure indie film? An old movie in black and white? Add it to your queue.
5. Newest titles. When I hear about a movie coming out that I want to see, I add it to my DVD queue. Sometimes we’ll go see it in the theater, but if we don’t get there, we’ll catch it at home. Usually, new movies are available on DVD before they stream.
6. Video and sound quality. The quality of a DVD is superior to streaming. Plus, if your Internet connection goes down, your DVD movie won’t be interrupted. Interestingly enough, among the 315 DVDs I’ve received from Netflix over the past seven years, I think only three disks were damaged and had to be replaced.
7. Convenience. I really like opening my mailbox and seeing a red envelope waiting for me. I don’t have to drive to a video store to pick up a movie and then again to return it, or stand out in the cold while a machine dispenses one to me.

So, there you have it. Seven things I like about Netflix DVD service. At our house, we also have streaming services, which are good for series originals and also for instant gratification, while we’re waiting for our next DVD to arrive.

Disclaimer: I am a member of Netflix’s DVD.com Director’s program, which gives me free access to movies. If you sign up with my referral link, I may receive a referral reward.