If you're like me and have a collection of DVDs gathering dust on your shelf, you might be concerned about the recent reports on DVD rot. This issue, known as disc rot, isn't new and has plagued various formats like LaserDiscs, CDs, and video games for decades. Disc rot occurs due to chemical deterioration and can lead to severe playability issues, rendering your beloved discs unreadable.
While encountering disc rot in your personal collection can feel like a stroke of bad luck, sometimes it's due to manufacturing issues. A notable example is the recurrent problem with Warner Bros. DVDs produced between 2006 and 2009. This issue gained renewed attention following an article by JoBlo's Chris Bumbray, who experienced it firsthand with WB's Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn box sets. However, dedicated collectors and experts like Spencer Draper, known on YouTube as Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader, have been aware of this issue for years, discussing it in detail in his video from late 2021.
A Problem Discovered, and a Studio's Response
Draper's investigation revealed that the issue was specific to DVDs manufactured at the now-closed Cinram plant in Pennsylvania. These discs can be identified by a tiny manufacturing label on the inner ring of the backside of the disc. As a massive collector with an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 films across various formats, Draper was personally affected, prompting him to meticulously check each of his Warner Bros. DVDs.
DVD rot doesn't always manifest uniformly. Draper found that even digital backups or scans couldn't guarantee a disc was free of rot. The only reliable method was to play through the entire disc, including all features, supplements, and menus. After contacting Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Draper received replacements for the affected titles, although some were out of print or no longer licensed.
IGN reached out to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for their response:
"Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is aware of potential issues affecting select DVD titles manufactured between 2006 – 2009 and has been working directly with consumers on replacements or alternate solutions for nearly a decade. Any consumer who is experiencing an issue can contact [email protected]. This is not a new issue. A website recently experienced this issue themselves and decided to write a story about it (since updated) and that has caused the latest news. WBHE has been working with consumers for nearly a decade when it was first brought to our attention. We have offered replacements when possible, or an alternate title when needed. Some of the discs are now out of print or the titles no longer licensed for DVD release. In these cases, WBHE offered an alternate title as a replacement."
How Do You Know if Your DVDs Are Rotting?
To check if your DVDs might be affected, start by checking the copyright year on the back cover. If it falls between 2006 and 2009, look closely at the manufacturing codes on the inner ring of the disc. If you see the letters 'IFPI', it's likely one of the problematic discs. These codes are tiny and may require a magnifying glass or camera to read. However, if your DVD case has a small blue stamp indicating "Disc Made in Mexico," you can rest easy, as those were produced at a different plant.
Draper suggests a simple method to check: "The easiest thing is to just put the disc in and run through everything on ultra fast forward and then do the same on the extras."
She's wearing a DVD dress, which is one thing you can do with your rotted discs. (Image credit: Matthew Fearn/PA Images via Getty Images)
Draper has compiled a list of affected titles, which serves as a valuable resource for collectors concerned about their own collections or those considering purchasing older titles.
For horror fans, the DVD sets of HBO's Tales From the Crypt are particularly problematic, with multiple seasons affected. The series' complicated rights issues mean it's not available for legal streaming, renting, or digital purchase, making the affected WB DVD sets the only way to own it physically. Similarly, Volume Two of the RKO Tarzan films, released by WB, is rare and often expensive, yet susceptible to rot.
What's a Typical DVD's 'Life Expectancy'?
Despite the Warner Bros. issue, widespread DVD rot is not common. Draper notes that early, poorly produced DVDs did suffer from rot, but these were exceptions. Sony's official statement suggests that a typical DVD's life expectancy ranges from 30 to 100 years when properly stored and handled.
The random cruelty of DVD rot: Your Hot Dog: The Movie disc may be just fine, but what about your copy of Aliens in the Attic...? (Image credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Blu-rays, so far, have not shown significant widespread issues with rot, although there have been some reports. Criterion faced a similar issue with certain Blu-rays manufactured at a specific plant and promptly addressed it with an exchange program.
If you're dealing with the Warner Bros. DVD rot issue, you can email [email protected] to start the replacement process. However, responses can vary widely, and some affected titles are out of print or no longer licensed, leading to offers of alternate titles instead.
Draper wishes Warner Bros. had been more transparent, like Criterion, providing an official list of affected titles and acknowledging the manufacturing plant issue. For now, his list remains a crucial resource for concerned consumers.
In the streaming era, physical media offers the security of owning your favorite films and series. While this remains largely true, the Warner Bros. DVD rot problem serves as a reminder of the challenges that come with preserving physical media.
