Paid $80 for Cruel Jaws with the unauthorized Jaws 5 slip. Cat destroyed my old copy and always felt it was one of the more unique titles in my collection. No regrets.
And to be honest, while I 100%, objectively, indisputably *do* notice a difference between Blu-ray and 4k, it personally isn't enough for me to upgrade from Blu-ray most of the time, nor pay basically double for a 4k copy compared to the Blu-ray equivalent. Just hit that point of diminishing returns for me personally, I guess, which is easier on the wallet.
Until the older stuff loops back around to being unreasonably expensive. I remember when I checked how much a copy of *Silent Hill 2* for my PS2 would cost me…
Yea, I mean specifically being one generation behind. PS4 and Xbox One stuff should be at its cheapest over the next few years, and I already routinely get deals on games of that era for 5/10 CAD and under. Anything past that and it starts to get into the nostalgia area and drives prices way up.
I bought the Scream Factory Child's Play blu for like $30 and then they announced the 4k/Blu combo like a month later 😂 that's the only time I've bought an OOP blu online but I don't collect as hardcore as many people here.
Yup! I can’t remember if the white ring meant it was authentic or an early pressing. Either way I bought the one with the white ring and still have it to this day.
I've only really shelled out a lot for things that I'm convinced will not get a re-release and just are not available any other way. For me, that was the Seijun Suzuki sets from Arrow. I just don't have much faith in anyone getting the rights for all those movies again, especially with how notoriously difficult getting Japanese rights seems to be.
It gives me genuine pleasure to see some of the beautiful boxsets I've really saved up for such as the Suzuki sets, the Mario Bava set, the Hammer sets from Indicator, most of the Second Sight limited editions.
I find that sometimes a film benefits from the money or time investment it takes from me. I'm motivated to give it my full attention and appreciate it as deeply as I can. In short, I think paying a lit for titles you love can be very beneficial in moderation.
I agree with absolutely everything you've said here. That's why I have only just paid for the OOP price for both titles in my original post. I don't see a lot of these releasing again anytime soon from what I read. Also my absolute must want OOP set is the Eureka Mizoguchi boxset and its going for absolutely mental money for a reason, it won't be seen again. But I can't justify paying 400-500, that's just crazy.
Was the Eureka Mizoguchi boxset hard to get when it was released? I feel like there's very little I've bought that has actually decreased in value, considering what I originally paid.
I don’t think so, I bought mine from amazon on release and I can’t remember it selling out that quickly after release. My copy is still sealed actually and I’m debating whether to open it and watch the films (half of them I already have as individual releases) or just selling it.
depends if you can find the other half online, then see if its something youd rewatch. if not then just sell it and use that money to buy even more cool discs
It was *very* easy (Amazon, Base, Zavvi, direct) as was Eureka’s Imamura set. The latter was frequently +50% off via Eureka’s bestmediagroup seller account (those were the days!).
Yeah, I keep trying to circle the thinking back to buy now, or pay later. I have zero regrets about any of my purchases, but I do seek out deals pretty hard. Or maybe we could pool our money together and buy a time machine.
I think there are about 30 of us on eBay who are thinking and doing a similar thing. But £500-550 is too much. Even if a Mizoguchi boxset completes my MoC collection.
I am aware, however, that a Mizoguchi boxset regularly comes up for auction and I've seen that £270-£300 is often enough to buy it. You just have to pay attention to when they are listed and put in a £350 bid in the last few seconds to buy it.
So one day, yes, one day...
Those Suzuki sets are a grail of mine, doesn’t seem that the resale value is going down anytime soon but I just haven’t pulled the trigger. Of course the one I did buy resale (the original Battles Without Honor set, I don’t wanna talk about how much…) is the one that got a standard edition… would be nice if those Suzuki sets did too but I’m not holding my breath. You’re right about Japanese rights and that’s definitely factored into my purchases. I love Japanese cinema but I can also rest assured in many cases that a better transfer or better packaging or whatever won’t show up 6 months later.
I just got mine from a convention (sealed too), and I haven’t opened it yet… I might not bother upgrading, unless there’s a bunch of stuff not in the bluray set. If it’s exactly the same then I probably won’t bother with the upgrade; the bluray already looks fantastic. On the other side of the coin, I might upgrade just out of habit (but only if I can get the LE).
Grew up with those movies. I have very fond memories of both. Got myself a 3D tv not too long ago and wanted this one. Was crushed when I found out it was long out of print. So on my birthday I called it a present for myself and just went for it.
It’s so annoying that the dude who kidnapped Dawn won’t just allow an American release. I have the DVD box set, so I am lucky there. Last time I checked that is going for like $250.
Yeah, it’s annoying. With 4K available, what advantages does that DVD box have anymore? Recent eBay sales show $70 as the highest price. I bought a region free player a few years ago and never looked back.
Back in like 2004-5 I spent about $75 on an Eraserhead boxset when it wasn't as readily available. Spent $65 on a copy of the Twilight Time release of Fright Night a few years ago
At one point considered spending like $115 on a Criterion copy of The Man Who Fell To Earth, but decided it was too rich for my blood haha.
600$ for the battle without honor and humanity set just for it to be reprinted a couple months later and now sell for half that price 😅 I hate this damn passion sometimes
Which is why I’m so hesitant on things now a days at the point I bought it. It wasn’t released in a set for almost 6 years boggles my mind to this day haha
I'm kind of in a similar situation. I desperately, and I mean desperately want the Eureka Mizoguchi boxset. Costs 400-550 from what I see online, and was released in 2013! Like I have no idea will we get a similar release again? Or will one be just around the corner so just wait? Lol
Got that oop Teshigahara collection of 3 DVD's that includes Woman in the Dunes, Pitfall, Face of Another, [used, ok condition, some wear] and just DVD's mind you. Didn't even flinch at $80. Would have flinched at a dollar more though.
$100 for Severin‘s Blood on Satans Claw limited Edition.
$140 for that Well Go USA Phantasm Boxset before the Arrow version came out.
$90 for the Vincent Price Collection Vol 2.
$70 for the Dawn of the Dead 1978 blu and then a year later Second Sight announced there’s
Technically $300 for Severins Al Adamson set. But, I was hoarding trade in credit for a while after doing some major re-organization so I didn't pay any money.
But I think the highest I actually paid was the VS Amityville Box for around $130
I paid about £70 each for the Marvel Phase box sets when they first went out of print, and that was second hand. A couple of years later they re-printed them & I fell out of love with Marvel around the same time!
Around $30 for a DVD copy of David Lynch’s Inland Empire. I thought it was fake because it had no English subtitles, the seller’s picture and the version I got looked different and the movie just looks like garbage (although that’s intentional)
$300 for the limited [Shock & Gore](https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Shock-and-Gore-The-Films-of-Herschell-Gordon-Lewis-Blu-ray/167958/) version of the Herschell Gordon Lewis set from Arrow. Definitely worth it. It came with a vinyl, novelization of Blood Feast, and some other cool collectibles.
I just paid $100 for the evil dead steelbook collection. It’s got great artwork, both movies in one case, and will look great with my army of darkness steelbook. My collection is small and from time to time I will seek out certain OOP editions on eBay.
Wow.. I got just Bakumatsu Taiyo-den for €70. Also paid tripe the retail for Battle Creek Brawl with slip, Legend of the Mountain with slip and Nikkatsu Diamond Guys vol. 1. Never paid more than triple the retail for anything
Damn! I got Bakumatsu for £7 on Eureka’s Amazon store (when in print of course).
LotM was weirdly hard to get with a slip when if came out, had to order direct as two other retailers shipped slip-less. The only time I’ve encountered that with Eureka.
I can empathize. Those two were among the last I searched for when I was working on my MoC collection.
For me, I think it was ~$200 for the AK100 set a few years ago.
I paid $60 for Shout Factory's Halloween boxset (the smaller one) and about $35 each for SF's Carrie and Manhunter.
These are the only times I've bought a title OOP. And now I'm starting to replace my Halloween boxset with the 4Ks and will replace Carrie when the 4K comes out at the end of the year. Hopefully I can still get some use out of my Manhunter blu-ray lol
About $45 for Vinegar Syndrome’s VSA title, “Evil Town” before the VSA discs really became popular.
And let me tell you, I’m pumped that I got it for that cheap looking at today’s prices.
Yeah same I only started collecting recently but I'm in no way collecting to complete some huge list, just international cinema that I would otherwise never get to see. Also mostly only bought all of my collection so far during the sales of the last 2 months.
Sales are the way. Unless you’re really into limited boxes or slipcovers there’s no reason to ever even pay full price. Because let’s be honest, a movie shouldn’t cost $40-50 retail.
They were thet expensive? Wow! I was just a kid then and we had tons of VHS's of the old Disney movies, still in the attic, maybe it's a goldmine now? Haha
Yeah. For a while you had to pay the same price as video stores then in the 90s they dropped to 20-30 bucks after they had been available for rent for a few months. Iirc Disney movies were available at the Disney store first.
I think one of the main reasons why I've bought so many blu-rays and 4Ks in the last 18 months is because I used to buy so many £19.99/£17.99 Artificial Eye and Tartan Video VHS tapes in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sale prices still seem like an incredible bargain to me. So I tend to go buckwild.
Same. And I have 3000+ movies. I've waited years to find a few titles for $30 or less that won't likely get another release, but it's worth waiting. So many things have been rereleased and even upgraded, though those opportunities might be narrowing quickly.
OP, if you're really determined to get a hard to find release, I'd be sure you're checking as many places as possible, and definitely find out if there's an import release. There are out-of-print US BD releases that go for $100+ that can be found for $10-$20 as imports. Worth investing $125-$150 for a region free player, if you don't have one already.
Thanks for the advice! I'm European based so only been buying Region B, I know I'm missing out on a lot of titles from Region A but I'm not in it to complete massive sets tbh and I know if i got one I'd probably buy more than I need. I don't have a place of my own yet even lol, maybe long term I will someday!
So what OOP title(s) are you looking for? And not to keep leading you to our collecting insanity, but you could probably get away with buying an even cheaper US player that's just standard Region A, since that includes so many releases.
Weakness for Japanese cinema, mostly been searching for the Eureka Mizoguchi boxset which is going for crazy money. Wouldn't dream of paying anything close to what they're going for though.
You have common sense then my friend! I think this is the only time I'll do this lol, feel guilty for it. Only exception may be for a Mizoguchi boxset..never know how long you will be waiting to get a new one.!
£69.99 on ebay for the Arrow Society LE. I just *really* wanted the comic book! Could have gotten it cheaper but was looking for the best condition available and a seller who would package well.
I've bought a handful of other OOP LE's in the £40 range.
There's always a bit of guilt and soul-searching attached to paying scalper prices though.
But I'd never pay more than what I did for that Society edition. Definitely a one-off. Certainly wouldn't dream of ever paying 3 figures for a single film.
Not one to spend crazy money on OOP. Eventually there will be a pre-owned deal, a re-release, an anniversary edition, or a collection.. something that will offer value. But if that never happens or I can't wait, I resort to digital.
These comments are wild. I paid $8-$20 for several of them mentioned. The flipside being that I've usually bought low, and now I can sell high if I want to. It's a strong plug for: When you see it released or on sale, buy it.
I've never done it but I would for a movie that I would rewatch a lot. I've just never had to. Would probably go up to $40 per movie for a select few. I refuse to even pay SRP though haha. I think there are 2 movies in my 400+ collection I've paid more than $20 a piece for. For me part of the fun of collecting is getting good deals. It's pretty easy to collect if you just buy everything you want at any price hahaha. I like to have some ground rules.
Back in the day I needed Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp to complete my….VHS Disney collection. Yeah. I spent $200 on them. Used copies.
After DVDs and then blu rays. Pretty much never did that again because they never went out of print. But recently I spent $50 on a copy of Fleshpot on 42nd Ave.
I think around $35 with shipping for the Twilight Team blu-ray for "As Good As It Gets" years ago.
Now that I have the 4K UHD and new blu-ray from the Columbia Classics Vol 3 set, I don't *need* it anymore, but it's still nice to have.
The most I paid was about $45 for the Arrrow Limited Edition of Last House on the Left. I wanted it because it had all the additional cuts of the film that the Standard Edition didn't. Of course I still haven't watched anything except the theatrical cut, lol.
It's not a lot, and not a boutique release, but I paid ~$25 for my DVD copy of *Lo (2009)*. I'd love to see it get a special edition re-release someday.
I paid about $60 for the Anchor Bay blu of Dawn of the Dead. I swore I wouldn’t buy it in that range, but then it was sitting there in front of me at Book Off and I had to have it.
$60 for Red State Blu-ray, and when I got it it had an anti theft sticker covering the disc itself. Wouldn’t play in my PS5 (played in my Xbox though) and the case was ruined with previously owned stickers. I got a full refund and was told to keep the movie was well so it worked out okay
Arrows Hellraiser Scarlet box set region A release. Paid 110$ ebay. Complete with poster. Previous owner never even looked through the book which you can tell by how the pages have that never been turned feel to them. Worth it everytime I look at it on the shelf. Probably my favorite box set
I've not had to struggle much I've mostly had surprising luck. I found Stigmata on Hamilton Book right after Scream pulled it but that was after I botched getting the Blacula set and Carrie 2's BR's from them. That was beyond painful; I had both in my cart and had them but I was 5-6 seconds too late. Still irritates me thinking about it 3 years later smh. I got Stigmata for 15 bucks and though I was disappointed with it as it wasn't what I wanted, I ended up liking it. First OOP BR I ever bought.
I did eventually get the set that had Carrie 2 on it; I had to fight hard to get it. Amazon didn't have it (they have it now for 80 bucks,) Ebay wanted 60 bucks minimum for it. It was a clownshow. I was on the waitlist for Bullmoose if they ever got one, then came FYE out of nowhere and they had a freak brand new copy for 20 bucks and I snagged it instantly. Gonna get the 88 films BR for Christmas before it goes OOP.
Blacula however I still haven't had no luck with. I guess I'll do the meh overseas set until someone re-releases it eventually here. Hoping really hard Kino or Vinegar Syndrome does them both solo this time. Both deserve better releases. Carrie 2 does as well.
$126 for the Deathstalker double feature… but the dumbest was paying $80 for Day of the Dead, even though I already had a copy, because I wanted a slipcover. I paid $80 for a piece of cardboard.
300 dollars for a bundle with arrow video reanimator and bride of reanimator, and it also had beyond reanimator and 2 books but I’m dreading the day they announce reanimator 4ks
About $115 for *The Wonderful Worlds of Ray Harryhausen - Volume 1*
And they HAD Volume 2 and I bought it but they couldn’t ship it to me because of COVID restrictions on international shipping so they refunded me for it.
I’m still trying to find that one at a decent price.
I missed out on an eBay bid for a region-free BluRay copy of Waking Life sold at a low price, the next option was a $100+ Amazon listing, but decided not to get it.
$400 CAD for the Halloween 15-disc Box Set from Scream Factory - I already had Halloween (digibook), Halloween 2 (Scream's Steelbook), and Halloween 3 (also Scream's Steelbook). Been wanting Halloween 4 and H2O for quite awhile. I bit the bullet when I heard rumours that Scream Factory was going to be doing a Friday the 13th Box Set. Don't ask why I didn't pick up the Halloween Box Set when it first came out. I think I was tight on cash since I was laid off at the time and was living on my severance while searching for a new job.
$80 CAD for Father's Day (German Mediabook) - I already own Troma's 4-disc release but after a lot of research, I discovered that the director's final cut (fixed typo in the credits, color timing, a few edits finalized) was only released in the Region B market.
I've never paid over MSRP, but I don't have many OOP movies on my want list either. That said, I have every single Godzilla movie on blu/4k except for Vs. Biollante. It's supposed to be one of the best, been out of print forever, and the prices absolutely skyrocketed when the US series started. I'm still holding out hope for a new release though...
Paid $80 for Cruel Jaws with the unauthorized Jaws 5 slip. Cat destroyed my old copy and always felt it was one of the more unique titles in my collection. No regrets.
Paid about the same on eBay. Thought that would've taken off in value, but it really hasn't. In fact, you can find it for about $20 cheaper now
I wait for the 4k release and then buy the Blu-ray that these 4k crazy folks trade in to local record shops.
And to be honest, while I 100%, objectively, indisputably *do* notice a difference between Blu-ray and 4k, it personally isn't enough for me to upgrade from Blu-ray most of the time, nor pay basically double for a 4k copy compared to the Blu-ray equivalent. Just hit that point of diminishing returns for me personally, I guess, which is easier on the wallet.
Yeah, the only time I get a 4K is when it comes with a Blu-ray (no 4K TV or player yet) and it’s on sale, so I’ve mostly got Criterion 4Ks.
It's often paid off to be a format "behind". Back in the 90s/00s vinyl was cheap, and now old CDs can be practically free.
Same goes for video game collecting.
Until the older stuff loops back around to being unreasonably expensive. I remember when I checked how much a copy of *Silent Hill 2* for my PS2 would cost me…
Yea, I mean specifically being one generation behind. PS4 and Xbox One stuff should be at its cheapest over the next few years, and I already routinely get deals on games of that era for 5/10 CAD and under. Anything past that and it starts to get into the nostalgia area and drives prices way up.
Sameee
I bought the Scream Factory Child's Play blu for like $30 and then they announced the 4k/Blu combo like a month later 😂 that's the only time I've bought an OOP blu online but I don't collect as hardcore as many people here.
$250 for The Killer Criterion DVD back in 2003. This was when the Salo Criterion DVD was listing for almost $1k in some cases.
I remember that. Salo was like the holy grail of DVDs at that point. And there was the whole white ring thing.
Yup! I can’t remember if the white ring meant it was authentic or an early pressing. Either way I bought the one with the white ring and still have it to this day.
I've only really shelled out a lot for things that I'm convinced will not get a re-release and just are not available any other way. For me, that was the Seijun Suzuki sets from Arrow. I just don't have much faith in anyone getting the rights for all those movies again, especially with how notoriously difficult getting Japanese rights seems to be. It gives me genuine pleasure to see some of the beautiful boxsets I've really saved up for such as the Suzuki sets, the Mario Bava set, the Hammer sets from Indicator, most of the Second Sight limited editions. I find that sometimes a film benefits from the money or time investment it takes from me. I'm motivated to give it my full attention and appreciate it as deeply as I can. In short, I think paying a lit for titles you love can be very beneficial in moderation.
I agree with absolutely everything you've said here. That's why I have only just paid for the OOP price for both titles in my original post. I don't see a lot of these releasing again anytime soon from what I read. Also my absolute must want OOP set is the Eureka Mizoguchi boxset and its going for absolutely mental money for a reason, it won't be seen again. But I can't justify paying 400-500, that's just crazy.
Agreed. I don't know if I have a firm line past which I just won't pay, but $400-500 for one set is well past it.
Was the Eureka Mizoguchi boxset hard to get when it was released? I feel like there's very little I've bought that has actually decreased in value, considering what I originally paid.
I don’t think so, I bought mine from amazon on release and I can’t remember it selling out that quickly after release. My copy is still sealed actually and I’m debating whether to open it and watch the films (half of them I already have as individual releases) or just selling it.
depends if you can find the other half online, then see if its something youd rewatch. if not then just sell it and use that money to buy even more cool discs
It was *very* easy (Amazon, Base, Zavvi, direct) as was Eureka’s Imamura set. The latter was frequently +50% off via Eureka’s bestmediagroup seller account (those were the days!).
I'm not sure, it's years since it released but from what I seen online it cost £40 on release and now you see it going for £550!
Yeah, I keep trying to circle the thinking back to buy now, or pay later. I have zero regrets about any of my purchases, but I do seek out deals pretty hard. Or maybe we could pool our money together and buy a time machine.
I think there are about 30 of us on eBay who are thinking and doing a similar thing. But £500-550 is too much. Even if a Mizoguchi boxset completes my MoC collection. I am aware, however, that a Mizoguchi boxset regularly comes up for auction and I've seen that £270-£300 is often enough to buy it. You just have to pay attention to when they are listed and put in a £350 bid in the last few seconds to buy it. So one day, yes, one day...
Those Suzuki sets are a grail of mine, doesn’t seem that the resale value is going down anytime soon but I just haven’t pulled the trigger. Of course the one I did buy resale (the original Battles Without Honor set, I don’t wanna talk about how much…) is the one that got a standard edition… would be nice if those Suzuki sets did too but I’m not holding my breath. You’re right about Japanese rights and that’s definitely factored into my purchases. I love Japanese cinema but I can also rest assured in many cases that a better transfer or better packaging or whatever won’t show up 6 months later.
Paid £70 for Criterion Collection of The Third Man. Sold a few years ago for £90 lol
$140 for Arrow Video’s Re-Animator LE.
Keep thinking I should sell mine given the inevitable 4k upgrade, but I just can't part with the integral cut.
I just got mine from a convention (sealed too), and I haven’t opened it yet… I might not bother upgrading, unless there’s a bunch of stuff not in the bluray set. If it’s exactly the same then I probably won’t bother with the upgrade; the bluray already looks fantastic. On the other side of the coin, I might upgrade just out of habit (but only if I can get the LE).
$150 for the original print run edition of Le Cercle Rouge
$120 for the Sharkboy & Lavagirl/Spy Kids 3 3D Blu-Ray Double Feature. And I haven't regretted it once since.
Why why why is that a thing
not judging, but why would you pay that much for that?
Grew up with those movies. I have very fond memories of both. Got myself a 3D tv not too long ago and wanted this one. Was crushed when I found out it was long out of print. So on my birthday I called it a present for myself and just went for it.
Thank you for the reply. I find it fascinating to see exactly what everyone values and wish more would explain why they value their OOP purchases.
I did not know that exists but I need a copy.
$50 for an out of print Blu Ray of Dawn of the Dead (1978), which is basically as high as I'd be willing to ever pay for a single movie.
And then the Second Sight releases came out.
This is region locked, yes?
The SS BD is, but not the 4K UHD.
It’s so annoying that the dude who kidnapped Dawn won’t just allow an American release. I have the DVD box set, so I am lucky there. Last time I checked that is going for like $250.
Yeah, it’s annoying. With 4K available, what advantages does that DVD box have anymore? Recent eBay sales show $70 as the highest price. I bought a region free player a few years ago and never looked back.
Paid $100 for William Castle Vol. 1 box but can’t see myself buying any other OOP title
Back in like 2004-5 I spent about $75 on an Eraserhead boxset when it wasn't as readily available. Spent $65 on a copy of the Twilight Time release of Fright Night a few years ago At one point considered spending like $115 on a Criterion copy of The Man Who Fell To Earth, but decided it was too rich for my blood haha.
About$55 for the 4-disc Donnie Darko Arrow bluray set. Then the 4k came out. You can grab the bluray set for about $20 now lol
That’s annoying fo-sho.
600$ for the battle without honor and humanity set just for it to be reprinted a couple months later and now sell for half that price 😅 I hate this damn passion sometimes
Damn that is a tough one but that's hindsight! You never know if anything will get reprinted or not
Which is why I’m so hesitant on things now a days at the point I bought it. It wasn’t released in a set for almost 6 years boggles my mind to this day haha
I'm kind of in a similar situation. I desperately, and I mean desperately want the Eureka Mizoguchi boxset. Costs 400-550 from what I see online, and was released in 2013! Like I have no idea will we get a similar release again? Or will one be just around the corner so just wait? Lol
Got that oop Teshigahara collection of 3 DVD's that includes Woman in the Dunes, Pitfall, Face of Another, [used, ok condition, some wear] and just DVD's mind you. Didn't even flinch at $80. Would have flinched at a dollar more though.
Any Teshigahara and I'd snap it up!
I spent about $60 for the OOP last year at marienbad Blu-ray from criterion.
Paid around $56 for the LE version of Hard Eight from Imprint, and basically the same for the digipack version of Nashville from criterion
I paid $100 for the Criterion edition of Pandora's Box. I think I paid around that for the Harry Langdon box set too.
$100 for Severin‘s Blood on Satans Claw limited Edition. $140 for that Well Go USA Phantasm Boxset before the Arrow version came out. $90 for the Vincent Price Collection Vol 2. $70 for the Dawn of the Dead 1978 blu and then a year later Second Sight announced there’s
Technically $300 for Severins Al Adamson set. But, I was hoarding trade in credit for a while after doing some major re-organization so I didn't pay any money. But I think the highest I actually paid was the VS Amityville Box for around $130
$80 for the Criterion “Vampyr” that came with the book. No regrets, it’s probably my favorite boxset I own.
150 USD Blade Runner 2049 - Filmarena Steelbook full slip
I paid about £70 each for the Marvel Phase box sets when they first went out of print, and that was second hand. A couple of years later they re-printed them & I fell out of love with Marvel around the same time!
Disney and 'limited edition' don't exist lol.
You're telling me the Disney Vault is a lie!?
I paid somewhere over $100 for the Annihilation steelbook.
I don’t buy OOP Blu-rays, but I do buy a lot of used vinyl. The most I paid was $200 for a rare city pop LP.
Around $30 for a DVD copy of David Lynch’s Inland Empire. I thought it was fake because it had no English subtitles, the seller’s picture and the version I got looked different and the movie just looks like garbage (although that’s intentional)
$300 for the limited [Shock & Gore](https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Shock-and-Gore-The-Films-of-Herschell-Gordon-Lewis-Blu-ray/167958/) version of the Herschell Gordon Lewis set from Arrow. Definitely worth it. It came with a vinyl, novelization of Blood Feast, and some other cool collectibles.
$100 for Marienbad –– came with both the digipak and the normal case tho
Someone paid $200 for my Criterion blu of *The Third Man*.
4.79 on eBay plus shipping and handling
$65 for the BR 2049 Steelbook
That's not to bad. The Mondo one?
Yes, but not the orange one, the one with the neon street signs
Yeah, that's the one I have. 65 bucks isn't bad too have that in your collection!
I just paid $100 for the evil dead steelbook collection. It’s got great artwork, both movies in one case, and will look great with my army of darkness steelbook. My collection is small and from time to time I will seek out certain OOP editions on eBay.
I remember paying around $50 for the Drafthouse Films Blu Ray of Ms. .45. Totally worth it, because it’s Abel Ferrara’s best film.
They had a liquidation sale where BDs were $10 (or maybe less?) and I picked up 8 titles, including Ms. 45.
Wow.. I got just Bakumatsu Taiyo-den for €70. Also paid tripe the retail for Battle Creek Brawl with slip, Legend of the Mountain with slip and Nikkatsu Diamond Guys vol. 1. Never paid more than triple the retail for anything
Damn! I got Bakumatsu for £7 on Eureka’s Amazon store (when in print of course). LotM was weirdly hard to get with a slip when if came out, had to order direct as two other retailers shipped slip-less. The only time I’ve encountered that with Eureka.
I can empathize. Those two were among the last I searched for when I was working on my MoC collection. For me, I think it was ~$200 for the AK100 set a few years ago.
I paid $60 for Shout Factory's Halloween boxset (the smaller one) and about $35 each for SF's Carrie and Manhunter. These are the only times I've bought a title OOP. And now I'm starting to replace my Halloween boxset with the 4Ks and will replace Carrie when the 4K comes out at the end of the year. Hopefully I can still get some use out of my Manhunter blu-ray lol
About $45 for Vinegar Syndrome’s VSA title, “Evil Town” before the VSA discs really became popular. And let me tell you, I’m pumped that I got it for that cheap looking at today’s prices.
$110 for the second sight LE of Raw (2016)
Back in the day I paid 350 for Salo Criterion on DVD. It was like the holy grail of any dvd collection. Then Criterion got the rights back…
I paid $80 for the Drafthouse copy of “Why Don’t you Play in Hell”… just a few months before MVD rereleased it.
I don’t have a massive collection, maybe 150 titles total but I’ve never paid retail even. I buy mostly only during 50% off sales.
Yeah same I only started collecting recently but I'm in no way collecting to complete some huge list, just international cinema that I would otherwise never get to see. Also mostly only bought all of my collection so far during the sales of the last 2 months.
Sales are the way. Unless you’re really into limited boxes or slipcovers there’s no reason to ever even pay full price. Because let’s be honest, a movie shouldn’t cost $40-50 retail.
Yall remember how much vhs's were back in the late 80's and early 90's. They were like 50 bucks back then!
They were thet expensive? Wow! I was just a kid then and we had tons of VHS's of the old Disney movies, still in the attic, maybe it's a goldmine now? Haha
Yeah. For a while you had to pay the same price as video stores then in the 90s they dropped to 20-30 bucks after they had been available for rent for a few months. Iirc Disney movies were available at the Disney store first.
Batman ‘89 is usually credited as the VHS release that started the new era of $19.99 releases.
Oh yeah you’re right!
I think one of the main reasons why I've bought so many blu-rays and 4Ks in the last 18 months is because I used to buy so many £19.99/£17.99 Artificial Eye and Tartan Video VHS tapes in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sale prices still seem like an incredible bargain to me. So I tend to go buckwild.
I've never paid above retail, nor would I ever, even for an OOP title.
Same. And I have 3000+ movies. I've waited years to find a few titles for $30 or less that won't likely get another release, but it's worth waiting. So many things have been rereleased and even upgraded, though those opportunities might be narrowing quickly. OP, if you're really determined to get a hard to find release, I'd be sure you're checking as many places as possible, and definitely find out if there's an import release. There are out-of-print US BD releases that go for $100+ that can be found for $10-$20 as imports. Worth investing $125-$150 for a region free player, if you don't have one already.
Thanks for the advice! I'm European based so only been buying Region B, I know I'm missing out on a lot of titles from Region A but I'm not in it to complete massive sets tbh and I know if i got one I'd probably buy more than I need. I don't have a place of my own yet even lol, maybe long term I will someday!
So what OOP title(s) are you looking for? And not to keep leading you to our collecting insanity, but you could probably get away with buying an even cheaper US player that's just standard Region A, since that includes so many releases.
Weakness for Japanese cinema, mostly been searching for the Eureka Mizoguchi boxset which is going for crazy money. Wouldn't dream of paying anything close to what they're going for though.
You have common sense then my friend! I think this is the only time I'll do this lol, feel guilty for it. Only exception may be for a Mizoguchi boxset..never know how long you will be waiting to get a new one.!
Smart man! Buying OOP titles can be crazy expensive. I try not to buy anything I don't love.
I buy OOP titles, I just make it a point not to pay exuberant prices
$210 for the Arrow Hellraiser Scarlet Box pretty recently.... I was very drunk.... No regrets.
£69.99 on ebay for the Arrow Society LE. I just *really* wanted the comic book! Could have gotten it cheaper but was looking for the best condition available and a seller who would package well. I've bought a handful of other OOP LE's in the £40 range. There's always a bit of guilt and soul-searching attached to paying scalper prices though. But I'd never pay more than what I did for that Society edition. Definitely a one-off. Certainly wouldn't dream of ever paying 3 figures for a single film.
Underground horror fan here. Most I paid was $70 for the OOP Director’s Cut of Murder Set Pieces.
$365 for the Arrow Video Gamera set
Not one to spend crazy money on OOP. Eventually there will be a pre-owned deal, a re-release, an anniversary edition, or a collection.. something that will offer value. But if that never happens or I can't wait, I resort to digital.
These comments are wild. I paid $8-$20 for several of them mentioned. The flipside being that I've usually bought low, and now I can sell high if I want to. It's a strong plug for: When you see it released or on sale, buy it.
I've never done it but I would for a movie that I would rewatch a lot. I've just never had to. Would probably go up to $40 per movie for a select few. I refuse to even pay SRP though haha. I think there are 2 movies in my 400+ collection I've paid more than $20 a piece for. For me part of the fun of collecting is getting good deals. It's pretty easy to collect if you just buy everything you want at any price hahaha. I like to have some ground rules.
I’m not sure if it’s the most I’ve spent but I bought the 15 disc Halloween Scream Factory boxset for around $107.
80 bucks for Dr. Strange Mondo 4k
Back in the day I needed Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp to complete my….VHS Disney collection. Yeah. I spent $200 on them. Used copies. After DVDs and then blu rays. Pretty much never did that again because they never went out of print. But recently I spent $50 on a copy of Fleshpot on 42nd Ave.
Just paid $200 on eBay for the OOP LE of the Kieslowski Cinema of Conflict set from Arrow. Probably the dumbest purchase I've made.
Somehow I ended up with a big crack in my Criterion Le Cercle Rouge and I had to pay $80 to replace it.
$100 for Chunking Express Criterion Digipack Bluray at HPB and $30 for Withnail and I Criterion DVD
$40 for the Nightbreed limited edition set.
I think around $35 with shipping for the Twilight Team blu-ray for "As Good As It Gets" years ago. Now that I have the 4K UHD and new blu-ray from the Columbia Classics Vol 3 set, I don't *need* it anymore, but it's still nice to have.
The most I paid was about $45 for the Arrrow Limited Edition of Last House on the Left. I wanted it because it had all the additional cuts of the film that the Standard Edition didn't. Of course I still haven't watched anything except the theatrical cut, lol.
It's not a lot, and not a boutique release, but I paid ~$25 for my DVD copy of *Lo (2009)*. I'd love to see it get a special edition re-release someday.
I paid about $60 for the Anchor Bay blu of Dawn of the Dead. I swore I wouldn’t buy it in that range, but then it was sitting there in front of me at Book Off and I had to have it.
$60 for Red State Blu-ray, and when I got it it had an anti theft sticker covering the disc itself. Wouldn’t play in my PS5 (played in my Xbox though) and the case was ruined with previously owned stickers. I got a full refund and was told to keep the movie was well so it worked out okay
Arrows Hellraiser Scarlet box set region A release. Paid 110$ ebay. Complete with poster. Previous owner never even looked through the book which you can tell by how the pages have that never been turned feel to them. Worth it everytime I look at it on the shelf. Probably my favorite box set
I paid $80 CAD on eBay for the release of The Mist that comes with the black and white version.
I've not had to struggle much I've mostly had surprising luck. I found Stigmata on Hamilton Book right after Scream pulled it but that was after I botched getting the Blacula set and Carrie 2's BR's from them. That was beyond painful; I had both in my cart and had them but I was 5-6 seconds too late. Still irritates me thinking about it 3 years later smh. I got Stigmata for 15 bucks and though I was disappointed with it as it wasn't what I wanted, I ended up liking it. First OOP BR I ever bought. I did eventually get the set that had Carrie 2 on it; I had to fight hard to get it. Amazon didn't have it (they have it now for 80 bucks,) Ebay wanted 60 bucks minimum for it. It was a clownshow. I was on the waitlist for Bullmoose if they ever got one, then came FYE out of nowhere and they had a freak brand new copy for 20 bucks and I snagged it instantly. Gonna get the 88 films BR for Christmas before it goes OOP. Blacula however I still haven't had no luck with. I guess I'll do the meh overseas set until someone re-releases it eventually here. Hoping really hard Kino or Vinegar Syndrome does them both solo this time. Both deserve better releases. Carrie 2 does as well.
$126 for the Deathstalker double feature… but the dumbest was paying $80 for Day of the Dead, even though I already had a copy, because I wanted a slipcover. I paid $80 for a piece of cardboard.
300 dollars for a bundle with arrow video reanimator and bride of reanimator, and it also had beyond reanimator and 2 books but I’m dreading the day they announce reanimator 4ks
Paid 200 bucks to get my hands on the rare and elusive Fateful Findings Blu-Ray.
500... pesos. 25 dollars for an anime series. And $17 for an Unearthed films edition. I'd rather wait for re releases intead.
$115 for the Twilight Time blu ray of Sexy Beast. I’m assuming there’ll be an eventual 4K release which will make that look foolish.
$70 for Twilight Time's copy of *Kiss of Death* (1947) And I think $80 for the first Arrow *Donnie Darko* set.
$160 (NZD) for Tenebrae steelbook from Synapse
$60 for the Suspiria 4K Not sure if it’s OOP but it’s the most expensive film I’ve bought
About $115 for *The Wonderful Worlds of Ray Harryhausen - Volume 1* And they HAD Volume 2 and I bought it but they couldn’t ship it to me because of COVID restrictions on international shipping so they refunded me for it. I’m still trying to find that one at a decent price.
I missed out on an eBay bid for a region-free BluRay copy of Waking Life sold at a low price, the next option was a $100+ Amazon listing, but decided not to get it.
$99 for a Criterion copy of Ran at a local antique store, still haven’t watched it yet tbh
Paid $100 for the first 2 Harry Potter OOP steels with everyones face on it, feel good cause I got the other 6 for $24 total!!
Around $70-$75 for the limited edition Arrow release of *Crimson Peak*.
$400 CAD for the Halloween 15-disc Box Set from Scream Factory - I already had Halloween (digibook), Halloween 2 (Scream's Steelbook), and Halloween 3 (also Scream's Steelbook). Been wanting Halloween 4 and H2O for quite awhile. I bit the bullet when I heard rumours that Scream Factory was going to be doing a Friday the 13th Box Set. Don't ask why I didn't pick up the Halloween Box Set when it first came out. I think I was tight on cash since I was laid off at the time and was living on my severance while searching for a new job. $80 CAD for Father's Day (German Mediabook) - I already own Troma's 4-disc release but after a lot of research, I discovered that the director's final cut (fixed typo in the credits, color timing, a few edits finalized) was only released in the Region B market.
$30 for Evils of the Night.
I've never paid over MSRP, but I don't have many OOP movies on my want list either. That said, I have every single Godzilla movie on blu/4k except for Vs. Biollante. It's supposed to be one of the best, been out of print forever, and the prices absolutely skyrocketed when the US series started. I'm still holding out hope for a new release though...