More than 300 DVD titles released between 2006 and 2008, sold in millions of copies, have succumbed to laser rot due to the fabrication process, making them unplayable today.
Discs have an expiration date, but for hundreds of Warner Bros DVD releases, that expiration date came much earlier than expected.
As reported by JoBlo.com, DVD titles from Warner Bros released between 2006 and 2008 were manufactured in a way that caused the layers to "rot" prematurely, a phenomenon known as laser rot. They no longer work, and it is not the buyer's fault.
- "This was a frequent problem with laserdiscs back in the 80s and 90s, but it wasn’t a huge problem with DVDs. The issue comes down to the way the discs were authored," wrote JoBlo.com.
What can be done?
Unfortunately, nothing can be done. If you have them in your collection, it is too late to rip them to a hard drive, according to the report.
According to users on the internet forum stevehoffman.tv, the discs can be identified by the mould code IFPI 2U** above the spindle hole. Or you can simply try to put it in your DVD or Blu-ray disc player.
It affects releases such as Superman: The Movie, The Shawshank Redemption (SE), Rebel Without a Cause and Blade Runner (Collector's Edition), as well as later editions of 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange and Eyes Wide Shut. A list of confirmed releases can be found in the table.
It also affects HD-DVD discs from that time. Blu-ray discs are not affected.
Normally, a pressed – as opposed to burned – DVD or Blu-ray disc can last for several decades, with some estimates claiming up to 100 years in a best-case scenario, provided that the disc is stored properly, i.e. inside a case in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight, heat and humidity.
Warner offers to replace, but...
After the situation unfolded and collectors began realizing the extent of the issue, Warner Bros issued a statement to JoBlo.com offering to replace the discs. However, there is a significant caveat.
- "Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is aware of potential issues affecting select DVD titles manufactured between 2006 – 2008, and the company has been actively working with consumers to replace defective discs. Where possible, the defective discs have been replaced with the same title. However, as some of the affected titles are no longer in print or the rights have expired, consumers have been offered an exchange for a title of like-value. Consumers with affected product can contact the customer support team at [email protected]," Warner Bros said in a statement.
Also read: Sony updates PS3 to keep Blu-ray playback alive
This is obviously not the kind of news that movie collectors were hoping for, as it begs the question: Are discs from other studios and distributors affected?
Affected Warner Bros DVD releases
| 2001: A Space Odyssey-Stanley Kubrick Director’s Series
30 Seconds to Tokyo
A Clockwork Orange-Stanley Kubrick Director’s Series
A Free Soul/Divorcee-A free Soul rotted-Forbidden Hollywood Collection - Volume 2
A Midsummer Night’s Dream-Shakespeare collection and standalone
A Nightmare on Elm Street - Infinifilm Edition
A Slight Case of Murder-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2
Across the Pacific-Humphrey Bogart: The Signature Collection - Volume 2
Act of Violence /Mystery Street (Only Plays Mystery Street) Film Noir v4
Action in the North Atlantic-Bogart Signature Collection v2
Adventures of Don Juan-Errol Flynn SC V2
Air Force
All This and Heaven Too
Angels in the Outfield (1951)
Arsenic and Old Lace-snapper case
Austin Powers in Goldmember (Infinifilm Series)
Babes In Arms- Rooney & Garland Coll
Babes on Broadway- Rooney & Garland Coll
Bathing Beauty-Esther Williams Vol. 1
Best Foot Forward
Billy Budd-Literary Classics Coll
Black Legion-Gangsters V3
Blade Runner- 4 disc collector’s edition
Bombers B-52
Boom Town
Born to Dance
Bringing Up Baby-Classic Comedies Collection
Broadway 1936
Brother Orchid-Gangsters v4
Bullets or Ballots-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2
By the Light of the Silvery Moon-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2
Captain Blood-Errol Flynn SC V1
Captain Horatio Hornblower-Literary Classics Coll
Captain of the Clouds-James Cagney Signature Collection
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-Tennessee Williams collection
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory SE
City for Conquest-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2
Command Decision
Crime Wave/Decoy-Film Noir V4
Critic’s Choice
Cruising
Damn Yankees
Dance Girl Dance
Dangerous When Wet-Esther Williams, Vol. 1
Dark Passage
David Copperfield-Motion Picture Masterpieces
Decoy-Film Noir Classic Collection Volume 4
Deep in My Heart-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3
Desperate Journey-Errol Flynn TCM WWII Adventures
Destination Tokyo-The Cary Grant Signature Collection
Dinner at Eight-Standalone copy
Dive Bomber-Errol Flynn SC V2
Dog Day Afternoon SE
Dr. X/Mask of Fu Manchu-Legends of Horror
Dragon Seed-Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniv Coll
Droopy
Du Barry Was a Lady
Each Dawn I Die-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2
East of Eden SE
East Side West Side
Eight Legged Freaks
Evelyn Prentice-Powell and Loy TCM Collection
Executive Suite-Barbara Stanwyck Signature Collection
Eyes Wide Shut-Stanley Kubrick Director’s Series
Female/Three on a Match-Forbidden Hollywood v2
Firecreek-James Stewart Signature collection
Flamingo Road-Joan Crawford V2
Flying Down to Rio (Astaire/Rogers Collection)
Fort Apache
Friendly Persuasion
G Men-Tough Guys Collection and Gangsters V2
Garbo Silents Collection-Garbo Signature Collection
Gentleman Jim-Errol Flynn Signature Collection V2
Girl Crazy-Rooney & Garland Coll
Gold Raiders/Meet the Baron double feature
Hairspray SE
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix SE
High Sierra
His Kind of Woman-Noir V3
His Majesty O'Keefe-Burt Lancaster Signature Collection
Hit the Deck-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3
I Love You Again (Loy/Powell collection)
I'll See You in My Dreams-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2
Illegal / The Big Steal (only plays Illegal)-Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol 4
In This Our Life-Bette Davis collection v2
Invisible Stripes-Gangsters V4
Jeopardy-Barbara Stanwyck: The Signature Collection
Jailhouse Rock Remastered (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) - Elvis Presley 10 Film Set
John Carpenter’s Someone is Watching Me
Julius Caesar
Kismet-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3
Lady Be Good- Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 3
Lady Killer-Gangsters V3
Land of the Pharaohs-Cult Camp Classics v1
Looney Tunes Golden Collection vol 1 disc 1 & vol 5 disc 4
Love Crazy-Powell and Loy TCM Collection
Lucky Me-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2
Madame Bovary-Literary Classics Coll
Manhattan Melodrama-Powell and Loy TCM Collection
Meet the Baron/Gold Raiders-Gold Raiders won’t play
Mogambo-Clark Gable SC
Mr. Skeffington-Bette Davis collection v1
My Dream Is Yours-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2
Mystery Street-Film Noir Classic Collection Volume 4
Neptune's Daughter-Esther Williams, Vol. 1
Night and Day-The Cary Grant Signature Collection
Night of the Iguana
Ninotchka-Garbo Signature Collection
Nothing But Trouble-Classic Comedy Teams Collection
Lucky Man
On An Island With You-Esther Williams V1
On Moonlight Bay-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2
Operation Crossbow
Othello-Shakespeare Coll
Passage to Marseille-Bogart Signature Coll V2
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid SE-Peckinpah Collection
The Wild Bunch 2 disc SE-Peckinpah collection
Personal Best
Popeye
Popeye vol 1 discs 1 & 4
Presenting Lily Mars
Pride and Prejudice-Motion Pic Masterpieces
Prince of The City
Rebel Without a Cause
Red-Headed Woman-TCM Archives: Forbidden Hollywood Collection - Volume 1
Reflections in a Golden Eye
Reunion in France
Rio Bravo
Roberta-Astaire Rogers coll
Romance on the High Seas-The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2
Romeo and Juliet-Shakespeare coll
Royal Wedding-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 2
Sadie McKee-Joan Crawford V2
Shawshank Redemption SE
Shoot the Moon-Rooney and Garland coll
Side Street-Film Noir Classic Collection Volume 4
Splendor in the Grass-snapper
Story of Vernon and Irene Castle-Astaire and Rogers
Straight Time
Streetcar Named Desire
Strike Up the Band-Rooney and Garland Collection
Superman the Movie
Superman II
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
Superman III (Deluxe Edition)
Superman IV-deluxe reissue
Superman Returns
Tarzan’s Desert Mystery-Tarzan collection v2
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (Unrated)
That Midnight Kiss-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol 2
That’s Entertainment 3
That's Dancing-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol 2
The Big Cube
The Big Steal-Film Noir v4
The Charge of the Light Brigade-Errol Flynn SC V2
The Clock (1945)
The Comedians-Taylor-Burton collection
The Corn is Green-Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniv Coll
The Dawn Patrol-Errol Flynn SC V2
The Devil Doll/Return of Dr. X-Legends of Horror Collection
The Divorce-Forbidden Hollywood V2
The Fighting 69th-James Cagney Signature collection
The Flintstones
The Fountainhead-individual and Gary Cooper Signature Collection
The Golden Compass SE
The Great Lie
The Great Ziegfeld
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
The Hill-WWII collection
The Informer-John Ford collection
The Jazz Singer-2007 release
The Little Giant-Gangsters v4
The Live By Night/Side Street-Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol 4
The Maltese Falcon 3-disc SE and Humphrey Bogart: The Signature Collection - Volume 2
The Man Who Came to Dinner-Bette Davis collection
The Naked Spur-James Stewart Signature Collection
The Old Maid-Bette Davis V3
The Pirate-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 2
The Prince and the Pauper-snapper case
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex-Errol Flynn SC v1
The Prodigal
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
The Stratton Story-James Stewart SC
The Three Musketeers-Literary Classics Coll
The Toast of New Orleans-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol 2
The West Point Story-James Cagney Signature Collection
The Wreck of the Mary Deare-Gary Cooper SC
The Yakuza-Robert Mitchum SC
There Was A Crooked Man
They Died With Their Boots On-Errol Flynn SC v1
They Live By Night-Side Street-Film Noir v4
Three Little Words
To Please a Lady/Jeopardy-Jeopardy does not play. Barbara Stanwyck SC
Torch Song-Joan Crawford V2
Treasure Island
Twilight Zone: The Movie
Undercurrent-Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniv Coll
Vacation/European Vacation Comedy Double Feature release
Wally Gator
Watch on the Rhine-Bette Davis collection V3
Waterloo Bridge-TCM Archives: Forbidden Hollywood Collection - Volume 1
West Point Story-James Cagney Signature collection
Where Danger Lives/Tension-Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol 4
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? SE-Taylor Burton Collection
Without Love-Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniv Coll
Wizard of Oz- 2 disc SE
Wonder Woman
Words and Music-Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory: Volume 2
Box Sets and Series:
4 film favorites: Hugh Grant
4 Film Favorites: King of Horror- The Dreamcatcher side of Disc 1 doesn't load in any player. That side of the disc has become discolored.
4 Film Favorites: Lethal Weapon
4 Film Favorites: Urban Action (Black Belt Jones, Hot Potato, Black Samson, Three the Hard Way) - Hot Potato freezes at layer change
Adventures of Superman: The Complete Fifth & Sixth Seasons - Disc 2 (2U / L907)
Alfred Hitchcock - The Signature Collection-All these discs fail at the layer change:- Foreign Correspondent- Strangers on a Train: Two-Disc Special Edition (both discs)- Stage Fright- Suspicion- The Wrong Man
Animaniacs Seasons
Astaire and Rogers Collection Vol 1 and 2 and complete set
Barbara Stanwyck Signature Collection
Batman - The Complete Animated Series- Volume 2, Disc 3 starts skipping at episode 5.- Volume 3, Disc 2 doesn't play the last episode.
Bette Davis Collection Vol 1
Bette Davis Collection Vol 2
Bette Davis Collection Vol 3
Blade Runner 4 Disc Collector’s Edition-Disc 1,2 and 4
Burt Lancaster Signature Collection
Busby Berkeley Collection Vol 1
Busby Berkeley Collection Vol 2
Buster Keaton TCM Archives collection
Cary Grant Signature Collection
Clark Gable Signature Collection
Classic Comedies Collection
Classic Comedy Teams Collection
Classic Musicals From the Dream Factory Vol 2
Classic Musicals From the Dream Factory Vol 3
Cult Camp Classics Volumes
Dallas-multiple seasons
Doris Day Collection Vol 2
Dukes of Hazzard - Multiple Seasons
Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton collection
Elvis Presley (10-Disc Set)
Errol Flynn Signature Collection Vol 2
Errol Flynn TCM Spotlight WWII Adventures
Esther Williams Collection Vol 1
Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 3
Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 4
Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 5
Forbidden Hollywood Vol 1
Forbidden Hollywood Vol 2
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Friends: Season 3, Disc 1,Season 6, Discs 1, 3, and 4
F-Troop Season 2
Gary Cooper Signature Collection
Greta Garbo Signature Collection
Henrik Ibsen Collection- The Master Builder and The Lady From The Sea will not play.
Humphrey Bogart Signature Collection Vol 2
James Cagney Signature collection
James Stewart Signature Collection
Joan Crawford Collection Vol 1 and 2
John Ford and John Wayne Collection
John Ford Collection
Katharine Hepburn 100th Anniversary Collection
Katharine Hepburn Collection
Legends of Horror Collection-all discs rot.
Literary Classics Collection
Lois & Clark - The Complete Fourth Season: Disc 4 freezes at episode 3 on one player and read as invalid on another.
Looney Tunes Gold Coll 5 - Disc 2,Disc 4
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 2: Disc 3
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 4 - all four discs have rotted
Looney Tunes Golden Collection Vol. 5 - all four discs have rotted
Lucille Ball Film Collection
Man From Uncle Complete Series: Season 2 Disc 6
Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland Collection- TCM reissue pack is okay
Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection
Myrna Loy and William Powell Collection TCM Spotlight
Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection
One Tree Hill
Paul Newman Collection
Pinky and the Brain seasons
Popeye Volumes
Powerpuff Girls Complete Series
Rooney & Garland Collection
Sam Peckinpah Collection
Shakespeare Collection
SilverHawks Volume One - Disc 4 (2U / L906)
Smallville - The Complete Sixth Season: Disc 2 skips and freezes. Discs 3 and 4 only play the first two episodes on one player and read as invalid on another.
Spawn: The Animated Collection - 10th Anniversary Signature Edition (Steelbook)- Disc 1 freezes and skips over the opening eight minutes of the first episode.
Stanley Kubrick - Warner Home Video Director's Series
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - Disc 2 (60, L387)
Superman Ultimate Collector’s Edition Tin-multiple films and extras no longer play. Some discs completely rotted.
Superman: The Theatrical Serials Collection: Disc 4
Supernatural (Season 2), some episodes on discs 4 & 5 won't play
Tales from the Crypt - The Complete Fifth Season: Disc 1, Disc 2 froze before the end of the last episode on one player and read as invalid on another.
Tales from the Crypt - The Complete First Season: Disc 1 doesn't play.
Tales from the Crypt - The Complete Sixth Season: Disc 1 & 2 won't play some of the episodes. At least three are inaccessible.
Tarzan Collection Vol 2
TCM Archives Laurel and Hardy Collection - both discs rotted
TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection - Horror
Tennessee Williams collection
Tex Avery's Droopy: The Complete Theatrical Collection - both discs rotted
The All-New Super Friends Hour Volume One - Disc 1 (2U / L908), Disc 2 (2U / L907)
The Christopher Reeve Superman Collection
The Cult Camp collection
The Exorcist - The Complete Anthology- Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist fails at the layer change.
The Flash: The Complete Original Series - Disc 2 (2U / L907), Disc 6 (2U / L907)
The John Wayne Collection
The Sopranos
The Twisted Terror collection
The West Wing-Multiple Seasons
Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection Volume 2: Discs 1 and 2
Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection Volume 3: Disc 1
Tough Guys Collection-reissued as Gangsters Volume 2
Twisted Terror Collection
Vacation/European Vacation- Comedy Double Feature release
Val Lewton Collection-I Walked With A Zombie / The Body Snatcher, The Leopard Man / The Ghost Ship
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars - The Complete Second Season
Veronica Mars - The Complete Third Season
Warner Bros Gangsters Vol 1
Warner Bros Gangsters Vol 2
Warner Bros Gangsters Vol 3
Warner Bros Gangsters Vol 4 |
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