While combined US sales of DVD and Blu-ray declined again last year, sales of UHD Blu-ray discs increased by 12% despite a notable lack of major film releases in the fourth quarter.
The figures were published in the annual report from the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), which tracks consumer spending on home entertainment formats in the US.
- "Spending on all physical formats, including DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD showed some resilience, dropping less than 10 percent for full year 2025 and the fourth quarter. The small but premium 4K UHD category provided buoyancy, with spending on the collectible format flat or up for every quarter, finishing the year up 12 percent from full year 2024," said DEG.
UHD Blu-ray sales had previously declined almost every year since 2018, as documented last year, making the return to growth in 2025 noteworthy.
Total US consumer spending on DVD, Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray discs reached $870 million in 2025, down 9.3% year-over-year.
More consumers buy movies online
For comparison, optical disc sales fell 23.4% from 2023 to 2024, dropping below $1 billion in the US for the first time.
The more moderate decline in 2025 may indicate that optical media is stabilising as a niche format for collectors and enthusiasts.
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Still, more consumers opt to buy movies online. Spending on purchased movies (EST) from online storefronts such as Apple TV, Amazon and Fandango (Vudu) totalled $2.2 billion in 2025, down 3.3% year-over-year. Digital rentals (VOD) generated $1.6 billion, a decline of 4.7%.
- "Theatrical new releases are historically a key driver of transactional home entertainment spending and softness in this area contributed to a fourth quarter decline in EST spending of 24.3 percent. Consumer spending on purchases of theatrical and TV titles declined more than 25 percent in the fourth quarter due to tough comparisons with titles released in the year-earlier period," DEG added.
Meanwhile, subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max continued to soar. According to DEG, consumer spending on streaming services in the US alone rose 19.8% year-over-year from $48 billion in 2024 to $57.5 billion in 2025.
