Are Your DVDs Rotting Away?

If you're like me and have a collection of DVDs gathering dust on your shelf, recent reports might have you worried about DVD rot. This issue, known as disc rot, has plagued various physical media for decades, from LaserDiscs and CDs to video games across multiple platforms. Any disc can deteriorate chemically due to numerous factors, leading to playability issues that can range from minor glitches to the disc becoming completely unreadable.

Encountering disc rot in your personal collection is often a matter of bad luck, but sometimes, the issue stems from how the disc was manufactured. A notable example is the recurring problem with Warner Bros. DVDs produced between 2006 and 2009. This issue gained recent attention thanks to an article by JoBlo's Chris Bumbray, who experienced it firsthand with Warner Bros.-released Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn box sets. However, this problem has been recognized within the collector community for years, with detailed coverage by physical media expert Spencer Draper, known as Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader, in a video posted in late 2021.

A Problem Discovered, and a Studio's Response

Draper and other enthusiasts discovered that this wasn't a universal issue with all Warner Bros. DVDs from that period, but rather those produced at the now-closed Cinram plant in Pennsylvania. The affected discs can be identified by a tiny manufacturing code on the inner ring of the disc's backside, where the data is stored.

Spencer Draper, a massive collector of film and TV across all formats, estimates he owns between 5,000 and 6,000 films on various media, including VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD. A significant portion of his collection consists of Warner Bros. DVDs. Upon learning about the issue, he frantically checked each disc individually. As Draper explained, "I found that even doing a scan or trying to do a digital backup wouldn't always guarantee that it was actually rot-free and that the only way to really tell for sure was to go through the whole disc. And not just the feature, but all the supplements and the menus and things, and also trying to figure out what titles did [other] people have that I didn't but had gone bad."

Draper reached out to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment about the issue. Initially, it was challenging, but as he noted in a follow-up video, Warner Bros. eventually sent him replacement discs for the affected titles still in production. IGN contacted Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for their current stance on the issue and received the following statement:

"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."

This statement aligns closely with the one provided to JoBlo, though it extends the affected period to 2009, consistent with Draper's findings.

How Do You Know if Your DVDs Are Rotting?

If you're concerned about your DVDs, start by checking the copyright year on the back of the case to see if it falls between 2006 and 2009. Discs produced outside these years are generally safe, at least for now.

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For those from the affected years, Draper advises looking at the manufacturing codes on the inner ring of the disc. "If you see the letters 'IFPI' in there anywhere, you know it's one of the screwy ones." These codes are tiny and may require magnification to read.

A quick way to check if your disc is likely safe, even if it's from 2006-2009, is to look for a blue stamp on the back cover of the DVD case that says 'Disc Made in Mexico.' These were produced at a different plant and are not affected.

If you have a Warner Bros. DVD from this period and want to skip the detailed inspection, Draper suggests, "It doesn't hurt to just go ahead and check it. The easiest thing is to just put the disc in and just run through everything on ultra-fast forward and then do the same on the extras. I know that sounds stupid, but that's one way of doing it."

Draper has compiled a list of the titles he's aware were affected, which is a helpful resource for those concerned about their collections. It's also useful for those considering purchasing older titles to avoid potential issues, though this can be frustrating if other versions are unavailable.

For horror fans, a notable example from Draper's list is the DVD sets for HBO's Tales From the Crypt, with multiple seasons affected. The series faces complex rights issues, making it unavailable for legal streaming or digital purchase, and the Warner Bros. DVD sets were its only physical release. This means fans looking to own the series must accept the risk of the discs not playing correctly.

The Warner Bros. DVD rot issue is more unpredictable than LaserDisc rot, where a disc could be fine one day and unplayable the next. This unpredictability affects titles like Volume Two of the classic RKO Tarzan films, which were released only once by Warner Bros. and are now rare and expensive on the resale market, with no guarantee of playability.

What's a Typical DVD's 'Life Expectancy'?

Despite the widespread issue with this particular run of Warner Bros. DVDs, large-scale DVD rot remains rare, even as DVDs approach their fourth decade. Draper notes that some early DVDs did suffer from rot, but these were exceptions rather than the rule.

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Sony's official statement on DVD life expectancy suggests, "A typical DVD disc has an estimated life expectancy of anywhere from 30 to 100 years when properly stored and handled." As we approach the 30th anniversary of DVDs in 1996, Draper remains optimistic, noting, "I have early Warner DVDs from 1997, the first [WB] year, snapper case era, perfectly fine. No issues whatsoever. It's like, 'Well, they managed to nail these perfectly!' These still work great."

Blu-rays have not shown widespread issues with rot. While there have been recent reports about Blu-ray concerns, Draper has not seen significant, repeatable examples, aside from some issues in France likely linked to a specific manufacturer. However, nearly all Warner Bros.-produced HD DVD titles are now unplayable, highlighting the risks of investing in newer formats.

Criterion faced a similar disc rot issue with some Blu-rays, which they managed effectively by identifying the affected titles and beginning an exchange program with later repressings.

Warner Bros. is aware of the ongoing DVD rot problem and encourages affected consumers to email [email protected] for replacements or alternate solutions. However, Draper notes that responses can vary widely in speed and effectiveness, and some consumers may need to provide receipts for products purchased long ago or received as gifts. For out-of-print titles or those with licensing issues, Warner Bros. offers alternate titles, which may not satisfy collectors seeking specific films or series.

Draper wishes Warner Bros. had been more transparent about the issue, similar to Criterion's approach, including providing an official list of affected titles and acknowledging the specific manufacturing plant responsible. His list remains a crucial resource for concerned consumers.

Additionally, even if you receive a replacement disc of a newer release, it might lack bonus features exclusive to the earlier version, as Draper experienced with films like Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. The 2006 Warner Bros. two-disc DVD of this film contains hours of extras not replicated in the newer Criterion Collection 4K UHD release.

Physical media enthusiasts often argue that owning physical copies is the best way to ensure access to favorite films and series, especially in the unpredictable streaming era. However, the Warner Bros. DVD rot problem highlights a significant vulnerability that can leave collectors lamenting the now-closed Cinram plant in Pennsylvania.