BLU-RAY PACKAGING EXPLAINED | STEELBOOK, METALPAK, DIGIBOOK, AND MORE!

Let’s take a look at the different types of Blu-ray packaging out there on the market and break down the differences between each type! This is a great video for you if you are beginning to get into collecting or want to know more about special packaging!
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[@JeffRauseo]

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[@patrickm.8509]

Thanks for the video it is really helpful, There are also Target and Bestbuy Exclusives For some Disney movies, I notice they like adding storybooks and sometimes an art book. They are not part of the case Here is an example with Frozen 2 www.target.com/p/frozen-ii-target-exclusive-4k-uhd/-/A-79188791 Personally, I am unsure how 4k would affect computer animation. Since like 2d animation, unlike live-action, I think they would be able to control the colors. Are you going to do a review on Cars or Tangled sometime?

[@bradybarrett5354]

I would like slipcovers more if all of them had different artwork other than what’s on the case. I love how Shout factory creates new art and also give you the option to reverse the inside art in the case. Great stuff!

[@WTDProductions]

unless it’s a fancy slip cover, i usually take them off (which i know is usually a no-no in collecting). but i like the uniform color across the shelf of the blue case, and often times the slip cover spine doesn’t sit straight and makes it look cheap.

[@movieking8847]

I'm a huge steelbook collector but you got me into criterion I just bought silence of the lambs, I also ran across airwolf season 1 and 2 Blu-ray from Millcreek

[@keancv]

**Cad dad*** as you collect steelbooks, you may know. Why on forrums do I see so many horror stories of steelbooks not travelling very well? I have any thing of mine go to an Amazon locker near me or my p.o. box. Yes that is how much I trust my neighbours

[@shawnkochanski9128]

It would be GREAT if you did a video about all the lenticular slip covers in your collection you forgot those and there my absolute favorite

[@mezcala1000]

Great vid! I used to be hardcore steel book collector until they stopped making Blu-ray- DVD steelbooks. Now it’s 4K- Blu-ray plus 34.99 with tax almost 40 bucks. I just stick to my Blu-ray slipcover movies now

[@siriush100]

Crazy! I was literally looking for a video like this yesterday. Subscribed to your channel after purchasing a 4k tv and player recently. Great content!

[@fact-factcheck4680]

You're in the right place

[@jojoabrera288]

For me your video is very informative especially when you described about the video and sound quality.Keep it up.Thank you for the information.

[@andrewmeraz4274]

Wow awesome video keep up the good work. You nailed it!

[@Clemente4u]

Excellent breakdown thank you very much!

[@xusiaxod6255]

Just subscribed. Enjoy the content and presentation.

[@williamjackson6705]

I don`t seek out Best-Buy steel-book exclusives anymore because I`ve seen these "limited editions" on sale at Wal-Mart recently for under $20.00. I drove 70 miles round trip in a rainstorm to pickup a copy of the Logan steelbook and manged to get the last copy in that city. 2 years later I find the exact same steel-book in Wal-Mart in abundance. There are also other Best-Buy" exclusives" there as well. That soured me on steel-books.

[@bosstimeagain]

Enjoyed this video Geoff. It might have been an idea to include lenticular slip covers in the video. Keep up the good work - cheers.

[@actualnotanewbie]

Nice to know what these formats are. I actually got some FYC DVDs in digibook format, they're pretty cool!

[@LILGHETTI]

I'm not a steelbook guy but, sometimes bestbuy puts them on sale for the same price as the 4k so I pick them up!

[@dznker4642]

In Norway/Sweden movies rarely get released with slip covers. I have like 230 blu ray’s I think, and only about 20-30 of them have slip covers, its so annoying

[@Carloszavalalol]

Damn. Lol. I get annoyed when in the states they don't have slip covers a long after release

[@madcat4563]

I've been buying blu rays for a while, and I realised I messed up with digipacks and digibooks. Very esoteric stuff, but stuff that makes us happy.

[@shawntaylor7442]

Great info. I have several steelbooks. Not sure if I have any metalpaks. I did buy that Birdman on eBay pretty cheap. Cool pack.

[@Historybuffrunner]

Hello, love the videos. Awesome tutorial on Blu-Ray packaging. I was wondering, what do you think about the eco-lite blu ray cases? I personally can’t stand them. I switch all mine out with eco-elite cases. I’ve had several in the past couple of years come damaged because of the spin wheel holes in the cases. Mostly, there’s damage to the insert of the film rather than the disc itself. Just curious. Thank you

[@aaronmelson2887]

This was a really cool video. All my 4K movies have slip covers (about 20) some of them I bout the slip cover on eBay. I have about 20 steel books too.

[@2Toadz]

Are there any recommendations for a "best" DVD / BluRay case replacement? For example, if I dropped a DVD case and crushed the corner of it, or if the manufacturer cheaped out on a multi-pack where the DVDs or BluRays don't stay put inside. Is there a brand to look out for, or a thickness of the plastic case?

[@karanvirkooner1993]

the digibook of Jaws is available on Amazon

[@waynevia6976]

I got midnight Express on digibook it is great and one of my favorite movies.

[@Victor-Vargas]

Criminally underrated, it's a shame that no one in my generation has even heard of it

[@Eva_H]

Hi Jeff, Would you be able to do an opinion piece video on domestic versus international collectors. So for example I am from the UK however I do import heavily for certain things, again for example season five of the blacklist never got a Blu-ray release in the UK but did in the US likewise for season three blindspot so I imported both. The other things also include anything by Disney outside of Star Wars and Marvel in relation to the 4K format. Just a suggestion is all, thanks for the video.

[@timothymathetes]

Very interesting

[@cezaryiwanowicz9206]

What's O-Ring i see it often it just seems like regular for me perhaps its about the way the discs are held ?

[@SeViLionCollectibles]

Most of my collection is steelbooks & metalpacks. I actually didn’t realize the difference between the two until this video, so thanks for that! Beyond that, either I have a complete collection box sets or just whatever is most available for the film.

[@dravenlee4473]

I like how a lot of steelbooks look but since a lot of them are limited edition and I didn't seek them out originally, I try to avoid them unless a movie only comes out in steelbook from. Slipcovers though, I'm pretty obsessed with them. Especially with 4K since I consider it to be the final physical media format and I want everything complete and perfect. It's stupid but if you are a collector, these are the kind of things that you care about.

[@jad7306]

When's Dolby Vision coming to a projector?

[@DriveupLife22]

Bluray case in a slipcover in a hard plastic protector case is the best looking packaging for shelves hands down.

[@Benjimikey]

I bought the dark knight 4k trilogy each in digi book, one of them came in the post damaged at the corner so I returned it and Zavvi replaced it

[@kaiserahmed8340]

Jeff do a best 4k uhd player pls indeed of some guidance

[@dilly1725]

I threw away like 20 of my slip covers back in 2012 when I didn’t like the way they looked on my shelf. Huge regret that I think about like once a week :(

[@yukiyukari77]

Damn, that sucks. You can buy individual slips on bluraysforeveryone.com. Some can be a little too pricey though.

[@RetroMythologist]

OK.. but... what is the "basic" case @2:45 called?? Are these "Keep Case"?

[@mr.rapter4517]

I have a Digibook of Valerian and I always wondered, the Digibook is filled with promotion screens of the actors and the blu-ray disk has a comic book as a bonus on it. So why the hell did they not put the comic in the digibook instead of pointless promotion pictures for a movie I already bought? So stupid lol. Made me stay away from digibooks as they're kinda pointless and they don't fill them with content that makes sense, just screenshots etc.

[@GhoulishGwyn]

Found the Jaws digibook from a third party Amazon seller last year for twelve bucks. Still can’t believe how lucky that was.

[@HaydenCornelius]

Just a heads up: Jaws digibooks are floating around on eBay for $20 right now

[@mikecrawford1247]

The first season of evil dead was in a metal pack and is the only way to have a complete evil dead collection in steel “type” cases

[@IamSnoogans]

I buy whatever's cheapest or readily available, usually. I just want the titles. Not many standard packagings bother me. I only keep slip covers if they have different artwork/attachments. I've thrown so many of them away. The digi-books that store the discs in sleeves can be annoying. Some digi-packs are really cool. Criterion is the king of packaging. They are the only ones I shell out the extra money for (but only on sales).

[@keancv]

**Geoff-films at home** Do you recall recomending a seller of empty viva ellite cases for 4k discs? Just got my order, top company. Very good packageing, fast delivery to UK. Yes expensive but that is the same every where. Any more accessories like that?

[@kingdave3]

Your standard blu-ray cases look different (thinner/flimsier) to the ones we have in the UK? Is that a thing? Also, what determines which films you buy? Price? Rarity? etc I just started collecting, buying classics and films that I like, there must be loads on your shelves that you've never watched? And with no intention to either?

[@JeffRauseo]

David Gane good catch. Yes the UK cases are typically thicker. For me, I buy movies I like obviously, but I also buy stuff I think is culturally relevant or rare so I can ensure I have it on physical media.

[@kingdave3]

Films At Home interesting! So technically US collections can fit more discs per shelf!

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Yeah i too prefer the thicker Amaray Blu-ray cases from UK. However 20th Century Fox / MGM used them for a while here in Germany but now replaced them with standard thinner cases :(

[@nicksteez8873]

Do you think that there would be in the future anything beyond the dvd/cd format that’s physical? Like how Nintendo makes mini disc for games. You think movies could move onto that format?

[@DriveupLife22]

If you look at the sales numbers of physical media I definitely think that 4K Blu-Ray is the last stop on the physical media train

[@nicksteez8873]

Chris C could be true. How about 8k?

[@DriveupLife22]

@@nicksteez8873 The cones in our eyes can barely see discernable difference in 4k, let alone 8k. 8k will be a commercial format for mega screens like jumbotrons.

[@nicksteez8873]

Chris C ohh interesting. So I guess you’re right, 4K is the last stop for physical.

[@user-sb1vz9pv5y]

I bought A new hope and empire strikes back at target. I didn't notice at first but then i saw that that a new hope didn't have the slip cover. I thought that was odd as i always buy ones in the security glass. Just a habit. Anyway i took it back to target and looked again and saw that all the new hope ones had no slip cover. Even the ones in the security case. Yet all the other Star Wars movies had slip covers. So i decided to see if i could trade it for Return of the Jedi since it was around the same price. The customer service rep said no because it had been opened. I said how do you expect me to know if the movie is there if i don't open it? I was like it was less than 30 minutes ago that i purchased it. She then said it came from the manufacturer like that. I said no it didn't. Why would the other ones have a slip cover and that movie doesn't? I said what most likely happened is that you have an employee that thought he or she was suppose to remove the slip cover before placing it in the security case. Her boss went ahead and exchanged it. I wasn't trying to be mean and i would have accepted it as my mistake if it was not in the security case and i could clearly see it had no slip cover. Some people toss the slip cover but i prefer keep what comes with the movie except the shrink wrap.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Interesting. Fox never did this slip case with the velcro foldout cover over here in Germany. I only once saw Paramount doing that with the Roddenberry Vault Blu-ray but only the first batch came with that. Not the re-pressings. However Studio Canal and Koch Media / Koch Films did slipcases for some of their releases. Like Koch media did with the Ray Harryhausen movies. But again, only the first batch. Later re-pressings were missing those. Studio Canal did that with the Ultrabit release of "Strange Days". Also the German Blu-ray release of "Birdman" looks very boring… coming with the same standard blue Elite-cases like all Warner Blu-rays. Warner in particular treats the german market really really bad and often ommits discs and versions in our releases. Like leaving out the theatrical cuts for the first 2 Superman movies in the Superman Box. Had to import from UK to get the WHOLE thing. Funny thing is… the biritish Discs even had the german dubs on them. And yet Warner felt like "Nah... the krauts won't get it.". I don't have a SHOUT! Factory release yet. Even thou they look really amazing. You know you also need celophane protection covers for these special releases, like you would protect Vinyl covers. Man, that Space Jam Steel looks amazing! Had no idea they included a DVD in it as well. Warner usually only puts a Blu-ray in the steels. Mostly the only way to get both with ONE release are Mediabooks. 5:20 those are known as Futurepacks over here. Turbine and some smaller labels like XT films and NSM uses those instead of standard Steelbooks. I prefer them actually over steelbooks. The hinge is a lot beter on the Futurepacks.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Mediabooks all the way. They really give me the Laserdisc feeling much more than standard Amaray / Scanavo / Elite cases or Steelbooks. Digipacks feel a little flimsy to me but Mediabooks are great because they are basically very sturdy, come witth amazing (mostly original vintage) cover artworks and the inner pages are always a pleasure to read. Nothing that falls out or might get lost or could bend & dent too much. Plus the discs usually come out a lot easier than some Steelbooks where you have to grind off the holding clamps a bit to release the disc from it without breaking the freaking disc. You should check out some german releases sometimes. We also have something called Leathercase. It is basically a thicker, stuffed mediabook which comes with a PU leather skin. Some films like "Tokyo Decadence" were released like that. I think Battle Royale was released in such a case as well. But i went for the Steelbook instead.

[@leighs966]

Is a media book the same as a digi book?

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

@@leighs966 Should be. A mediabook always comes with a Blu-ray AND a DVD while a normal digipack would be either a DVD or a Blu-ray. Often Mediabooks even contain multiple Blu-rays and in some cases even Soundtrack CD. Dunno why it's called Digibook elsewhere but it seem to be pretty much the same. Bookformat with thicker spines than a normal keepcase release or standard digipack and always coming with some nice book pages.

[@leighs966]

@@KRAFTWERK2K6 ah okay thanks for the reply. It's interesting. I only have one for Interstellar. It has the blu ray plus a special features disc so I guess a regular digibook

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

@@leighs966 is it that bestbuy exlusive one? With the extra 70mm cel that comes from a real IMAX print?

[@leighs966]

@@KRAFTWERK2K6 no I'm in the uk. I got it off eBay

[@MuscleAL]

Digital Book with 2 plaster disc trays is the worst! Most crack during shipping! 😝 Steel Book is nice but risk of getting bang or scratch! Handle with care! 😁

[@veredaleware145]

U can send that HDR 2001 space odyssey my way haha I just bought the standard blu ray also the sequel 2010 didn't know they had HDR

[@mortenovejohnsen9081]

I have a weak spot for steelbook covers. But i dont like those that have a piece of paper attached to the cover with tape. Jurrasic world fallen kingdom has this on my edition. The only steelbook edition of that movie in a steelbook here in Norway.

[@CinematicDependency]

Basically just go to KultCinema.ca for all the upcoming boutique labels. Can’t wait for all the Bruce lee films coming to the criterion collection

[@bluemetal04606]

What's going on with 4k blu-ray stuff? I have a really hard time finding 4k blu-rays locally, and keep hearing that companies are going to stop making the players.

[@dravenlee4473]

Media in general is kinda hard to find outside of the new releases. Stores just don't have the shelf space to keep it. You pretty much have to go online unless you are after a new release. As for the players, it's only Samsung for mainstream brands that has stopped making all physical media players. Owning physical movies is just going back to being niche - just like it used to be. The same with music. The casuals will stream and the enthusiasts want to own their media.

[@dravenlee4473]

@@HackingSpartan All of the FYEs closed around me and there's only one Family Video left. They did have 4K though just overpriced. I think the idea of a specialty store in general is dead. There's just not enough profit selling and devoting an entire store to niche products when the big stores and online sell the same thing for less.

[@ElliotCoen]

Notice me senpai!

[@GodComplexion]

I, Tonya and rocky horror came with attractive, sparkly slip covers. I was tempted to keep them, but I threw them out like all the rest. steelbooks, I think, are mostly pointless, with some exceptions. I got seasons 11-13 of red vs blue, the Indiana Jones movies, and Jurassic Park (original with lots of extras) on steelbook (all used, for cheap), and ones like that I like, but mostly I think of them as space wasters with nothing extra included that cost more money. one person told me "well, they're stronger cases", to which, I can only respond "what the hell are you doing with your movies, dumping bricks on them?". digibooks, I have a few of, and really like.

[@christophersnow688]

I actually like the slipcovers but the past 6 movies i've ordered from (Amazon,Ebay,Bestbuy ect). The picture of the movie they are selling clearly shows it has the slipcover on it but when I get it no slipcover. I have complained and most refund me $5 or so. I guess I should learn for it to say comes with slipcover but sometimes I go for the best value. I just wish that overall whatever someone is selling the pic matched what your getting.

[@quatz1981]

For quality i still prefer the traditional DVD packaging which i think bluray has never matched unfortunately. I do prefer the smaller form factor of bluray but the quality of the plastics are pretty poor on bluray for the most part.

[@quatz1981]

@Josh Allen I know right, they never accommodate for that.

[@DungeonStudio]

What I don't get now is that stupid 2cm bar of dead space at the top of basic cases. Other than to signify the Blu-Ray logo. But then all this other packaging doesn't hardly signify Blu-Ray in any way. And obviously, we movie fans like BIG artwork still. So why this double standard of logo vs. non logo. I definitely prefer cases without the logo and wasted space.

[@bhangrahindi]

STEELBOOKS ARE LIFE

[@ricardomunoz7683]

I throw away all the slipcovers and I don't like steelbooks

[@Twinbeaks]

I would recommend selling the slipcovers on Ebay. People such as myself would buy them from 4 -8$ for a single slipcover.

[@roybodin7301]

I throw all my slip covers away. They fray and they take up more space. Edit: It also makes me anxiois knowing there is a possibility of your hard case sliding out of the slip cover when handling it.

[@keancv]

**Roy Bodin** did you follow the video properly? Geoff tells you that some slip covers are sellable on ebay? You are effectively throwing money to the wind

[@roybodin7301]

@@keancv The time invested in to trying to sell them isn't worth it to me. I'm not that desperate for small change.

[@keancv]

Roy I just had a look on ebay-usa for real, $6 or so to pay delivery and fees, about $2.50 for the item. Like you say not worth the effort on it's own. possibly if selling the movie as well, might swing a sale

[@ChingonChiu15]

I'm the few people that cringes every time someone calls a Metalpak by Steelbook 😅

[@robscoggins6524]

I Hate!! Absolutely HATE!! Digibooks.

[@chad1246]

Save Space Go Digital. 🚀

[@leighs966]

No