Have you ever purchased a movie sight unseen?

[futurefields]

I was at Target and wandered by the Blu Rays. Saw Interstellar, they had the Blu Ray + Digital for $14.99. I figure that's not much more than a movie ticket and bought it based on reviews. What do you guys think about buying movies before ever seeing them?

 

[Imp]

Not anymore. I have a few shelves full of DVDs/Blurays/CDs and haven't touched any of them in years.

It's $6 to rent it for two days from iTunes. No, quality won't be Bluray good, but still cheaper and no useless physical object in my way.

 

[MongGrel]

Well, you had seen reviews, so that is a bit different.

It is pretty much established it's a good flick.

 

[smackababy]

I don't buy things sight unseen. Don't really care what it is. If I can't do some research or get an informed opinion on it, I probably don't want it.

 

[purbeast0]

i bought lone survivor on bluray launch day without seeing it. i might also do the same with jurassic world.

 

[Ken g6]

Yes, I bought The Avengers based on reviews only. Tried to do the same for Guardians of the Galaxy, but they were out of stock.

 

[yottabit]

What's the alternative? Only buying movies you've seen?

I would say most of the movies I buy are ones I HAVEN'T seen. I only buy a movie I've seen if I was really impressed by it. And so many of them are on Netflix/etc. But when you think of it buying a movie is usually cheaper than going to the movies to see it, often several times cheaper if you were going to go with several people. Plus you get special features, and don't have to worry about annoying people at the theater ruining it.

I was buying quite a few DVDs in the time period where it became acceptable for rental places to charge $5+ to rent a DVD. Back before Netflix instant streaming of course

I also went on quite the Blu-ray buying binge once I got my PS3 years back

I'll often buy a movie on Amazon digital video because it may just be a couple dollars more than renting it

Thinking about it, I usually only buy a movie now if it's something I was really excited about, and happened to miss it in theaters. Otherwise it's typically Netflix/Amazon/Redbox.

It kind of sucks to buy something and then have it show up on Netflix a couple months later.

 

[Spydermag68]

Most of the movies I buy sight unseen. It is the only way I can see movies, but they are movies that I would of seen in a movie theater if I have the time to do so.

 

[Exterous]

Yep. Not only that but I bought a movie reviews unseen. First and last time I ever do that because I picked up Taken 2 based on how good 1 was. I mean sure sequels are rarely as good as the first but how bad could it really be?

Man I was so pissed when I actually watched the movie...

 

[Imp]

Well, this is BS. Haven't surfed iTunes store in a while. No option to rent Interstellar, only buy.

 

[John Connor]

I mostly buy movies I really like; Ronin, Patriot Games, Clear & Present Danger, Hunt For Red October, The Matrix trilogy, Terminator & the Chronicles, Bourne series...mostly action spy shit. Most were purchased on ebay. The only movies I bought at Target that I never seen were Bugsy and A Bronx Tale. Wasn't a bad purchase. I also have Back To The Future and Spider Man I got for Christmas. Other than games the only other optical media I have are audio books.

Come to think of it, there are a few other movies I'd like to have. The first Batman for one. That was and IS the best Batman. "Get those wonderful toys." LOL

 

[John Connor]

i bought lone survivor on bluray launch day without seeing it. i might also do the same with jurassic world.

Lone Survivor was good! Jurassic Park World? Just alright. Seen both at the show.

 

[Linux23]

movies today are just utter crap so i never buy something i would dread watching again.

like spiderman 2. that was such a godawful movie that i would have resented myself had i bought it sight unseen.

 

[MongGrel]

One of the reasons this whole thread exists, of course.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2178406&highlight=what+movies+have+you+watched&page=406

 

[madoka]

My annual TV/movie budget is $6-8K, so I buy fairly indiscriminately. I went from buying DVDs to Blu-Rays to iTunes/Vudu/Flixster. But now that I have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, I don't feel the need need to buy so much.

 

[pontifex]

Most of the movies I buy sight unseen. It is the only way I can see movies, but they are movies that I would of seen in a movie theater if I have the time to do so.

you can't rent a movie, either from netflix or redbox, pay-per-view, or digitally? no movie theater?

I haven't bought a movie in many years. I rarely re-watch a movie unless it's REALLY good anyway.

 

[Newell Steamer]

On Black Friday / Lightening deals;
- Dredd
- John Wick
- Punisher War Journal

They have to be under $10. It is also how I got into Breaking Bad - they had seasons 1 & 2 for $5 each one year.

 

[Linux23]

My annual TV/movie budget is $6-8K, so I buy fairly indiscriminately. I went from buying DVDs to Blu-Rays to iTunes/Vudu/Flixster. But now that I have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, I don't feel the need need to buy so much.

Dam big baller. That's my 10-15 year entertainment budget. And none of it is earmarked for physical media.

 

[Homerboy]

My annual TV/movie budget is $6-8K, so I buy fairly indiscriminately. I went from buying DVDs to Blu-Rays to iTunes/Vudu/Flixster. But now that I have Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, I don't feel the need need to buy so much.

You spend upwards of $650 per month on TV and movies?

 

[JimKiler]

I almost never blind buy a movie on disc. But i did it once with Pacific Rim and regret it.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Once. The movie Sideways. Buddy kept going on and on about how awesome it was. Told him I would hold him accountable if it sucked... yeah wasn't for me.

 

[ultimatebob]

I bought the first Fast And Furious DVD that way about 13 years ago, mostly because I needed something other than The Matrix to watch on my shiny new DVD player.

Eh... at least my wife likes that movie.

To this day, I still have a pretty small movie collection. Netflix's physical disk collection is still pretty awesome.

 

[sdifox]

Probably a few hundred DVDs and a few BRDs.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I never see movies in the theater and would much rather buy the bluray or stream online. If a movie is under 10 bucks and I want to see it, I buy it no questions asked.

If the movie is 15 bucks or less, then I may check to see if its available on netflix instant streaming service or amazon prime service, and I may buy it if its not available on either streaming service I am subscribed to.

If its more than 15 bucks, I'll pay the $3 to stream it on amazon or get the bluray from a redbox and will only buy if its something I like very much.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Have you ever purchased a movie sight unseen?

Is that the one starring Ray Charles?