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[Triggerhappytel]

I used to love them and watch them for all films I really liked, but that was a long time ago and I guess a lot of the appeal was that it was a new feature. I can't remember the last time I watched any special features properly; maybe Sunshine? I know that I enjoyed that so much that I watched the film, and then the director's commentary, and then the science advisor's commentary. Helped by my being a fan of the director (Danny Boyle) and the scientist (Brian Cox). I haven't done it on any films I've bought in the last few years for sure.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

I don't think I ever cared about DVD extras.

 

[muteki]

I remember when BluRays/HDDVDs were coming out and to differentiate we got crazy amounts of extras. Loved it.

Feel like they don't put in as much effort anymore, but they are still nice releases here and there.

 

[King Gilga]

Not really, but I feel I'm getting cheated if they aren't there.

Yup, I probably won't watch them, but I'll be pissed if they're not there.

 

[Bleepey]

Yup, I probably won't watch them, but I'll be pissed if they're not there.

Bingo, I may not watch them but I won't buy without them.

 

[Menitta]

I like the deleted scenes. They should always be there. I'm totally gonna watch the Star Wars extras on the blu ray. However, my want of extras depends on the movie itself. Like Star Wars, yes. Pokemon Heroes, not really.

I'm buying the blu ray for the movie, not the extras.

 

[V1LÆM]

i love features showing behind the scenes, how the movie was made, interviews, documentaries, and of course deleted scenes.

i just bought the star wars box set + episode 7 and the harry potter blu rays. can't wait to watch all that bonus content.

 

[Catdaddy]

I stopped buying DVDs with availability of streaming/on-demand and honestly as I get older the less desire to see a movie more than a couple times, so why bother buying.

The deleted scenes/outakes/flubs are great and probably all I would care about but most of those appear on youtube within days of release.

 

[kai3345]

if im going to be buying a dvd or blu ray in 2016 then yeah i'd like there to be some substantial extras on there to justify the purchase

 

[Khoryos]

I still think Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog had the best extra - an entire separate musical commentary track.

 

[HStallion]

I love buying Criterion Collection Blu Rays because of the extras as much as the incredible quality's of the movies themselves.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

if im going to be buying a dvd or blu ray in 2016 then yeah i'd like there to be some substantial extras on there to justify the purchase

here's my thing: If the movie itself isn't enough to justify your purchase of the movie you probably just shouldn't buy the movie then.

I have to want the 2 hours of movie before I even start to take into account the bonus bullshit that comes with it.

Stuff like

I may not watch them but I won't buy without them.

Makes no sense to me. It's treating fluff pieces like car insurance.

 

[Osahi]

Depends. I love a good making of documentary. Most are shitty promo-pieces though. TFA's extra's were actually pretty dissapointing, and created the feeling they will have a much more thouroug documentary (and more deleted scenes) on the inevitable holiday re-release with the 3D-version of the film.

 

[Bleepey]

here's my thing: If the movie itself isn't enough to justify your purchase of the movie you probably just shouldn't buy the movie then.

I have to want the 2 hours of movie before I even start to take into account the bonus bullshit that comes with it.

Stuff like



Makes no sense to me. It's treating fluff pieces like car insurance.

Not really, I buy them because they offer something I can't get with Netflix. I am a patient guy and can wait for Netflix. If I don't see any special features I don't see it as worth the cost. I know will get to the DVD commentaries one day, honestly.

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

Not really, but I feel I'm getting cheated if they aren't there.

"I didn't earn it. I don't need it. But if they miss one payment, I'll raise hell!"

 

[NealMcCauley]

One can argue most people never cared about them to begin with. Usually it comes down to how much directors like including stuff. I usually go out of my way to buy blus from Fincher or Ridley Scott for example because of how in-depth their extras are. Not a fan of promo stuff that's nothing but a sizzle reel cut with quick one sentence interviews.

 

[_Ryo_]

I absolutely care about them and I hate whenever I buy a tv show/movie and there aren't any. Also, redbox rentals don't include extras, so yeah that's understandable but still disappointing.

 

[Venture]

A good commentary can be almost as entertaining as the movie/show itself. That's one of the main reasons I look forward to a video release. The Simpsons and Futurama for example have great commentary tracks. Game of Thrones commentary is good. Making of stuff can be interesting but it's often not that well made and usually available on YouTube anyway.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Not really, I buy them because they offer something I can't get with Netflix.

Not if you never actually watch them.

 

[Bleepey]

Not if you never actually watch them.

I will, one day!

Last DVD i bought was the Raid 2. I listened to the DVD commentary

 

[Man Called Aerodynamics]

The behind-the-scenes documentaries on the Lord of the Rings DVDs are practically as compelling as the movies themselves.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

I will, one day!

I do kinda like the idea of like, setting aside a weekend, looking at the shelf and going "Okay, yunno what? I like all these movies. So this weekend, instead of binging episodes of Cutthroat Kitchen and Chopped, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna watch their extras. I'm gonna go through and binge all these documentaries and gag reels and maybe even check out a couple of these 10 minute costume design thingies."

 

[manzoman96]

I love watching all of the making of features and things like that, especially on classic Disney releases.

 

[Imbarkus]

Only Simpsons commentary, really. So of course it was the one they had to torpedo to leverage me into their streaming shitpipe.

 

[SpaceHorror]

Yeah.

Lord of the Rings set the standards for extras. Hell, even though it's not technically extras as they were released separately, I've seen the production diaries for Jackson's King Kong more than the movie itself. Best thing about that damn movie.

 

[RoslindaleOne]

Going from vhs to dvd, they were great at first. Now? I don't care as much. Maybe if I really liked the movie and wanted to know how it was made.

 

[AngmarsKing701]

Bloopers. Every movie/tv show should include a blooper reel.

 

[The Flash]

I do.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

That's probably the best way to gauge how "essential" extras are (well, I mean besides their name, which denotes their status pretty clearly)

If the extras on any given blu-ray/dvd were packaged separately and sold for something like 5-10 bucks next to a barebones release of the film, would most people bother to pick up the extras? Like if I'm headed to the store, and I know I've got 25 bucks in my pocket - if I saw the blu for 15, and the extras for 10, would I actually snatch up both, or would I just buy the blu and get myself a six-pack on the way home?

Let's use the Lord of the Rings example, maybe the best bonus features package in the history of DVD (although I'd argue both Blade Runner and the Alien sets outstrip it, but just barely)

If they had packaged those documentaries on their own two-disc set, and titled "The History of Middle-Earth" or something like that, and released them on their own, what percentage of Lord of the Rings fan do you think would cop those?

I'd bet something like 30-40% at best.

Not only has netflix/streaming basically eliminated the desire for them, but due to YouTube housing most of the good stuff within weeks of it being released, it's starting to seem like this stuff (which is largely promotional in the first place) is being seen as a thing that belongs on YouTube for free anyway.

 

[Doug Heffernan]

I haven't bought a DVD or Blu Ray in years. Like maybe 2007?

 

[Coin Return]

Shout Factory, Kino Lorber and a few other distributors have been putting out minor hits from the last 30 years with great commentaries and featurettes. Movies with troubled production histories like Robot Jox are put out with 3 audio tracks that give the viewer tons of info and insight.

The upcoming two disc set for Return of the Living Dead is a great example of continued trend of niche films with cool extras:

https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/film-horror/the-return-of-the-living-dead-collector-s-edition

 

[LakeEarth]

I think director commentaries can be very interesting, especially for good movies. Actors tend to have less to say, get bored earlier, and as a result they're less interesting. So I think it's a waste when a movie has multiple commentaries across different groups of people.

Futurama commentaries are GOAT though.

 

[120v]

Special editions sure but most of the time extras are just promo pieces or some other garbage

stopped caring about them after 2005 or so

 

[Venture]

I think director commentaries can be very interesting, especially for good movies. Actors tend to have less to say, get bored earlier, and as a result they're less interesting. So I think it's a waste when a movie has multiple commentaries across different groups of people.

Futurama commentaries are GOAT though.

Agreed. The best commentaries are when they mix actors and production people together. They tend to ask each other questions and it leads to a much more interesting discussion. It's a shame so few commentaries do it this way.

 

[Plasma]

I usually don't watch any of it but I really enjoyed watching the making of on the TFA blu ray.

 

[dbztrk]

Only when it comes to Marvel Cinematic Universe extras.