Due to the manufacturing issues faced by Warner Bros, nearly all DVDs produced between 2006 and 2008 are currently unplayable. This situation has caused significant frustration among collectors and enthusiasts, as many cherished titles are now inaccessible, leading to a growing concern over the longevity and reliability of physical media. The problem stems from flaws in the disc production process, which have resulted in a widespread phenomenon known as ‘laser rot.’ This unfortunate condition renders the discs useless, raising questions about the durability of DVDs and the responsibilities of manufacturers in ensuring quality and longevity for consumers.
UPDATED: Since we first shared this news, it has gained considerable attention, prompting Warner Bros to issue a statement through their Home Video department. They have offered to assist customers in replacing the damaged DVDs whenever possible, which provides a glimmer of hope for affected consumers.
Here’s the statement in full:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment acknowledges potential issues with select DVD titles produced between 2006 and 2008. The company is proactively engaging with consumers to replace any defective discs.
Where feasible, the defective discs are being exchanged for the same title. However, as certain affected titles are no longer available due to being out of print or expired rights, consumers are being offered alternatives of comparable value.
Consumers with impacted products are encouraged to reach out to the customer support team at [email protected].
For many collectors, this situation presents a mixed bag of emotions; receiving replacements is a positive step, yet numerous titles of personal significance are no longer being produced. This is especially troubling since the rights for many of these classic films have shifted, leaving them unavailable in any format. If you decide to utilize Warner Bros’ offer, please reach out to me at [email protected] to share your experience, as we aim to keep this story updated.
I am an avid enthusiast of classic cinema, particularly films from the Golden Age of Hollywood spanning the 1930s to the 1960s. This era produced some of the most iconic movies, and due to the limited availability of these titles on streaming platforms, I have diligently collected them on physical media. My collection now boasts thousands of titles on DVD, with several prized box sets released by Warner Bros during the mid-2000s, showcasing their extensive catalog of classic films.
A few months back, I decided to revisit an old Humphrey Bogart box set to enjoy my favorite film, Passage to Marseille. Unfortunately, the disc abruptly ceased functioning after roughly an hour. The same issue occurred with another film from the same set, Across the Pacific. Initially, I suspected my aging Blu-ray player was the culprit, so I purchased an upgraded UHD player, dismissing the incident as a mere coincidence.
A week ago, I attempted to watch an Errol Flynn classic titled Desperate Journey, only to encounter the same frustrating problem. This was particularly alarming since this film has never been available in HD or digitally. After conducting some research, I was horrified to discover numerous threads on home theater forums and informative videos confirming that this was not an isolated incident.
It has come to light that nearly every Warner Bros DVD manufactured between 2006 and 2008 has fallen victim to the notorious issue of laser rot, which causes discs to fail due to deterioration of their layers. Once this degradation occurs, it cannot be reversed. While laser rot was a common concern with laserdiscs in the 80s and 90s, it was not widely associated with DVDs until now. This problem stems from the way the discs were produced, affecting a range of titles from classics like The Wild Bunch and The Shawshank Redemption to TV collections such as The Dukes of Hazzard. Some of these titles have been re-released on Blu-ray or digital HD, yet many others, especially those beloved films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, remain unreleased, effectively rendering them lost media.
So what solutions exist? Unfortunately, there are none. As highlighted in a RetroBlasting video, we have essentially ticking time bombs on our hands. The recommended alternative would be to digitize our favorite films onto a platform like PLEX, but it’s too late for the majority of the affected discs. Despite the urgency of the situation, Warner Bros has not made an official statement, leaving collectors like myself with thousands of unusable discs taking up space. A comprehensive list of affected titles is available for reference.
At this point, it appears that Blu-ray Discs are not impacted by this issue; however, all HD-DVD discs released by Warner Bros during this time frame are essentially expensive coasters.
It would be encouraging if Warner Bros could extend their goodwill to consumers by providing replacement MOD discs from the Warner Archive. However, I remain skeptical. Given that the discs only deteriorated after around fifteen years, they might feel that consumers received adequate value for their purchases, which many would argue is not the case. A special mention goes to the outstanding Home Theater YouTube Channel, Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader, which was ahead of the curve on this story.
UPDATE: One of our readers, FilmFan-89, has informed us that Warner Bros may offer replacements for some discs if contacted directly, though there is a significant caveat. They will only replace titles that are currently in print, and unfortunately, many of the defective titles do not meet this criterion. It’s advisable to reach out to them via the WB Store and keep us updated in the comment section regarding any success with replacements.
What are your thoughts on this troubling situation? We invite you to share your opinions in the comments!
