The Collector's Guide To Blu-ray Packaging

Blu-rays come in all sorts of packages! What is a Steelbook? What is a digibook? What is a slipcover? Let’s answer that here in my collector's guide to all the different types of Blu-ray packaging you may find while building your Blu-ray collection!
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#Bluray
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[@themtgdude486]

The world of physical media is beautiful.

[@Zombietom40]

That it is!I particularly love the Digibook packaging presentation. Films such as Full Metal Jacket,Jaws and Clockwork Orange, just to name a few,deserve that special treatment if not an outright Criterion Collection overhaul. As a physical media collector,it's a joy to open and peruse the booklets that come with a Criterion selection especially!

[@TETRARCHFREAK666]

Exactly 💯👍

[@KathleenHolland-nk8nk]

I agree!

[@colt5189]

I used to be into those fancy box sets. But over the years, I just want minimal packaging due to space.

[@TheKibbles2005]

I’m really picky with my physical purchases now. I’ve been buying more digital movies lately. I just don’t have enough space for it all

[@brunomachado7279]

Just like the columbia classics clumsy giant box.

[@Yetaxa]

yeah a big bulky set needs to truly justify its size the recen classic Doctor Who 'The Collection' sets are large and bulky for no good reason. All that's really in there is the discs and the booklet, which would easily fit in a more regular size case

[@roadrash2005]

@@TheKibbles2005hopefully you didn’t buy them from Sony

[@nicholasstensson9699]

I usually just go for the standard blu rays but if it’s a franchise boxset or a movie that I really really like then I like to own the coolest version available like the LOTR trilogy

[@erikwaters6678]

Art is definitely the tie breaker for me. I prefer steelbooks, but have passed on a handful of titles I really wanted when the art was too lazy or minimal. Super Mario Bros. is a recent example.

[@bluegoose7832]

My dad's a big steelbook guy. He buys steelbooks all the time, even if he's already got the standard version, he'll sell it and buy the steelbook. Personally I'm more of a cover art fan, so if the standard version has a better cover art, I'll buy that over a special edition. A lot of steelbooks are very minimal, and 90% of the time, I'd prefer to see something more eyecatching. There are some exceptions like if the art is a cool in-universe reference like the Mummy trilogy steelbook and the Jumanji steelbook

[@savagemathorror4671]

That’s totally me 😅😅 For exemple there’s a 4K Steelbook release coming out in October of Frank Darabont’s ‘The Mist’ (2007) so I’ll be selling my regular Blu-ray to get the steelbook instead and of course I’m also upgrading to 4K at the same time!

[@mainnerd2222]

I'm currently moving from digital back to physical media. This was some good stuff to know. I recently pulled out a bunch of Blu-rays out of a storage box and I'm glad that I kept them. I came across The Hobbit Trilogy and realized that the cases were still pristine and looked brand new like I had just bought them.

[@OfficialEddieE]

Just started collecting. I don't value steelbooks but I'll look for them in my favorite movies.

[@DangerousDevilOfficial]

As many movies as I have, I rarely care about packaging, unless it is a truly special film to me. I am a true movie buff, as in, I purchase the films, 95% for the film itself. I don’t generally care about packaging. And only marginally care about extras on the discs…. I used to own the really expensive Lord Of The Rings DVD sets with the statues. But a couple years ago, I decided it was time to part with this statutes and packages. Since I knew I would likely never have space or desire to display them again. Plus they were still bringing in good money on EBay for those sets in mint condition. 🤷‍♂️

[@user-gs4oi1fm4l]

This reminded me of the hole poking straight through an eco case art cover on my shelf 😂

[@Markimark151]

I like the Digibooks because you’re getting pages of movie information, and elaborate artwork. Also as much I don’t like excessive packaging for Blu rays, I don’t like eco friendly Blu ray cases since they deteriorate and end up getting damaged. Those should only be made for bargain bin movies, not for new release movies at full price!

[@producerevan88]

Oh crap, really? I may have to check some of my more flimsy cases then, I have a couple of games and movies that came in those super thin and floppy eco cases

[@Markimark151]

@@producerevan88 the eco cases are the ones that easily break, if they do, there’s replacement Blu Ray cases!

[@bigtechisbigbrother8690]

@@Markimark151 So because the eco-friendly cases are so flimsy and break so often, people throw them away and they end up creating more garbage and causing more ecological damage than the supposedly non-eco-friendly cases?

[@Markimark151]

@@bigtechisbigbrother8690 I don’t throw broken cases away, I just recycle them through e-waste! But the Blu Ray manufacturers need to make durable plastic, because people are paying good money for those first run Blu Ray releases!

[@bigtechisbigbrother8690]

@@Markimark151 I didn't mean you specifically, it's just that I bet a lot of people do throw those "eco-friendly" cases in the garbage, which actually makes them much more ecologically damaging and wasteful than the "unfriendly cases." It's just something that struck me as ironic and typical of a lot of the illogical thinking that characterizes today's society.

[@hunteralexbrown7723]

The funny thing about the terminology is that slipcovers can also refer to slip cases and slip boxes. Another example is with the Digibook. There’s the Universal style digibooks that are basically just hardcover books with the plastic tray for the disc, then there’s the style that they used for the alien and Star Wars box sets, which have the cut outs that show the disc but still give each disc their own page, and then there’s the style where you have to pull out the disc from inside the pages, but these are all considered digibooks.

[@1luiszepol]

Learned something new today: Digibooks. That King Kong looks amazing.

[@lukecorwin4589]

I don't have any steelbooks, but one way you might test if they are actually steel is trying to stick a magnet to them. If a magnet doesn't stick, it is not steel. If it does, it probably is.

[@MesaCalledJaJaBinks]

Lenticular and steelbooks go hard in the paint

[@jaykumarsharma6529]

Please give Johnwick chapter-4 blu-ray 4kuhd hdr review

[@johnpagan6087]

My favorites are still the dvd box sets of "Murnau, Borzage and Fox" and "Ford at Fox". At a combined weight of 20 pounds, they announce themselves as important. And considering Disney's total lack of any interest in film history that can't be turned into a toy, I'm so glad they are a part of my collection.

[@albertaoridge]

Very good and informative video. Great job

[@SebastianGroebner]

Great video. Just like your slip cover one from last week, I love the educational approach. Videos like these might be helpful to ignite the love for physical media and bring more / new folks to the great hobby.

[@wooperdoopers469]

im loving these beginner tip videos!

[@colt5189]

I've actually thought of buying empty regular blu-ray cases to replace those terrible eco cases.

[@Tomhyde098]

I have a box of 200 cases that I've bought off of Amazon. Not only do I replace eco cases but I replace the ones that have glue on the spine

[@stephannelson8780]

I swap out the eco-cases every chance I get because sometimes you end up with holes being poked in the cover art it’s just a pain in the butt I don’t like it.

[@patricklena9307]

I absolutely despise Eco cases when I go into bullmousse. I usually will ask if they have a spare case behind the counter that I can trade it out with if not when I do trading I will switch cases..

[@jonkeller8155]

Damn it now you have fingerprints all over that steel book! 😉

[@theworldisyours6073]

Your collection looks so awesome man that predator head looks really cool. I’ve recently started buying movies on disc because you can’t get everything on netflix didn’t realise how popular collecting movies are. Keep it up man👏

[@higguana851972]

Welcome to the world of movie collecting my friend…

[@theworldisyours6073]

@@higguana851972 Thanks bro hehe

[@Macktube]

Great breakdown 😎I love that Blu-ray is coming so many variety packages. One thing you didn't mention is there's a third type of Steel packaging called Iron pack. Also there are hybrids of Digibooks like the Taxi Driver Edition or the Studio Canal Digibooks which look like Digi books on the outside be on the inside they're not.

[@chuckhagen1612]

Thanks for getting in to this Jeff, love all your content. Have all of the above, but still very helpful for new collectors of physical media.

[@Methuselah969V]

I like the digibooks but don't have too many

[@paulcasale3115]

Hey Jeff, Enjoyed your packaging video. While your at it you ought to chime in on your favorite home video company (Disney) and their apparent latest outrage editing The French Connection for streaming.

[@HunterBoldingVideo]

Damn! I had this queued up for my own Blu-ray collecting tips series! Nice video Jeff!

[@994pt4]

Great "PSA" for anyone new to physical media collecting. My preference is for slipcase or digibook/pack for most releases stored on a shelf.

[@andrewmoffatt1059]

I've got that scream steelbook, it's a work of art. This vid was super helpful! Found out so much stuff I didn't know about. Thank you!

[@ParanoidThalyyMVS]

Thank you very much for this video, I started my collection almost a year ago and this video is very useful.

[@dravenlee4473]

I think these are great videos for people just getting into the hobby. I know the attitude from some is "who doesn't know this stuff?" but if you are just getting started or aren't hardware, you may not know.

[@TETRARCHFREAK666]

Blu-ray packaging is absolutely amazing 🆒👍. Awesome topic to cover Jeff

[@garygrimmett7945]

Love a slip cover jeff👍ive got lots of hammer films and bond movie's with a slip cover not to mention suspiria..scarface and donnie brasco...slip covers are smart too👌cheers jeff..hammergazz

[@anubis66678]

I love that Dr Caligari box. Got an extra copy? 🤣

[@CraigCatapano]

I have the Fast and Furious movies in a 2 piece plastic/rubber tire.. I guess i shouldnt admit to throwing out my slip covers when i buy a blu ray

[@ImmortalRimas]

Yeah I think they should have more themed coloured Blu-Ray cases based on certain Films & TV shows if they have an iconic colour scheme such as The Green Incredible Hulk case shown in this video. I never thought to ask but why is Blu-Ray the name for the format and not just HD Disc?

[@lyhuewynegar7312]

I think the only ones you missed are the German Hardbox (also called Hartbox) which looks like a clamshell case with glossy artwork and sturdy build, and the old "Tin", a lidded metal box that old DVDs sometimes came inside such as the old The Wicker Man dvd from anchor Bay

[@devonbrooks246]

One thing I learned was that a O-Ring is the same as a slipcover.

[@casualblogger3810]

Man I love videos like this when it talks about the different variations of media. Just makes me love collecting even more. Amazing video and love the channel!

[@Geoffwhite18]

One I came across the other day was on my copy of up. It uses a case that says elite on the inside, and it's probably the nicest blu ray case I have. I've never seen one until now.

[@blairswanson44]

Good stuff Jeff. It's nice to have some variety in packaging. Makes for another artistic aspect to make collecting so enjoyable. Also makes for a visual "bookmark" when searching a movie to choose.

[@sshrul]

Excellent video man, very informative for me. Thank you

[@david22262]

Great video. Thanks! Incredibly helpful.

[@bigikes4137]

It seemed like back in the day DVD’s had some special packaging. For example the Goonies case had a board game with it.

[@kelownatechkid]

I love that you are making more videos about these topics! Thanks Jeff. Hurts my pocketbook but I love it lol. There are a lot of other fun packaging types. There's the Big plastic Box, like the Our World and Beyond 3D collection, and Nova Zembla comes in a DVD-sized package with a side slip lol. Or WeET. Anyways it's a great rabbit hole!

[@Biollante2kMillenium]

I actually just learned yesterday that you can clip the Snapping part on those older BR-cases on the inside so you dont have to unclip it everytime you want to open the case :D

[@cheekster777]

Nice one, thanks Jeff. 🙏🏻

[@1977Suspiria]

Honestly some collectors have way too much of an obsession with packaging where they get more excited about it than the movie itself. It's all a bit weird to me. I don't really care about slipcovers or steelbooks. I actually like the hardcases with booklets packaging most, they look great & I enjoy reading the booklets even though it's hard to find time to, but I'm not overly bothered, I'm very happy with a minimalist packaging like the Warner Archive titles are, what's important is the quality of the disc content, primarily the transfer of the film itself & Warner Archive always do a cracking job on their transfers so I love collecting their titles.

[@busht4169]

Love it my dude! I dabble in steelbooks (about 250 or so now), and nice limited editions for fun e.g. Arrow Video etc. Just so much fun. Got a great Gaumont Japanese Edition of The Fifth Element recently. Long live the world of collecting movies!!!!!!

[@jockmattock9239]

If only amazon would mention "with slip cover or not".

[@analogblues]

They absolutely should! The fact that they don’t has caused me to buy more often from eBay so that way I know whether I’m getting a slip cover or not.

[@shezdogz]

I noticed you have a Terrifier collection can you do a video on that please ❤

[@JOHNDOEJUGGALO]

So I have a diamond luxe edition of The Green Mile, would you consider that to be a metal pack or steelbook? It looks like WB was the only company to run this line.

[@popcorndistrict1334]

I don't own a ton of steelbooks but the only 2 warner bros ones I have are Metalpak.

[@yannicklabbe6686]

I don't know if someone mentioned it already, but there is also the cases that you have to take the disk from a cardboard pocket... I don't like those since they case easily scratch the disk. One that I really love on that kind is the box from Evil Dead Collection.

[@rodrigogonzalezbetancourt978]

what a fantastic video, Jeff 💥💥💥💥

[@chiangui24]

I hate the slipboxes. Sometimes the jewel cases get stuck inside the box and I struggle to remove them.

[@dertodesking8379]

Great video! Mediabooks are really popular here in Germany. You could have covered these ones too.

[@Horror_Collector87]

The new TCM set from Second Sight is either a Digipack housed in a large slip box or others might consider it a box set because of the size and size of book included, there is also Mediabooks mostly commonly from Germany, Letherbooks and hartbox are also international and mainly from Austria/Germany or Italy. There is also a whole other part to collecting and thats editions, gift sets, bust editions, collectors editions, premium editions etc. but thats something you might talk about later. Great Vid

[@adambliefernicht181]

Can we get an explanation on what these Universal Essentials Collection releases are? The upcoming Jurassic Park and The Big Lebowski specifically. Will this be ongoing like Criterion?

[@KobraEditing]

Iron Packs were another type of metal case. Probably the least common.

[@Mark-0O]

Digipacks have always been common in CD packaging.

[@Jared_Wignall]

You just gotta find the packaging that looks the best for you.

[@jasonmadwell9426]

Because of space, I bought the 5 and 6 disc blu ray cases (I think the 5 disc cases work best) and group movies together usually by the main star of the movie or occasionally by director. I pick my favorite cover art from the 5 or 6 films and use that for the case cover. I will keep/use the original packaging if it is some kind of a special set. I still keep all the booklets, just not with the movies. You can find sets of multi disc cases online. It can get a little pricey but it saves a ton of space. I have 1100+ movies on one average size three shelf bookcase that you would find in a big box store. And everything still looks nice although not as nice as having every individual movie on display.

[@Chris_Ramsay1]

With those blu-ray cases with the locks on them, you can usually snap the locking part in place on the inside of the case, so you don’t have to have it locked all the time.

[@pete49327]

Thanks, I got a lot out of this video. Finally I know the difference between digi book and digi pack, what they are...I have googled the definitionsf several times since I started collecting less than two years ago and always got different or confusing meanings. So far I've got 13 Criterion titles, all from Amazon, and I always noted they a few of them in description had the digi-pack notation, but always a head scratcher....kinda thought some element of a digital option included, i.e. streaming maybe. I would receive the disc and look for a digital code but there never was one, lol.

[@chrisjfox8715]

I'm a fan of the digipack style myself, as well as the rigid thick boxes Arrow uses. I gravitate towards steelbooks but I'm all for a great looking slipcover instead of it if it looks better! But as a snob, a 4k packaged in a regular snap case can make me not want to buy it lol...hold out for the day it gets some type of re-release

[@MarryMeSenpai]

I think you are the first person I've heard say they like the paranormal activity box set. Everyone I've see complain about it being flimsy.

[@TS-Idiot]

Hi

[@GlenHallstrom]

I'm surprised WB didn't try to bring back the cardboard snap cases for Blu-ray. I hated those things.

[@jesse1008]

Great video ! Could you possibly talk about the differences in 4K quality … like does it matter if you get a cheaper 4K player than a more expensive one, or what 4K quality does the PS 5 give you. What TV’s give you a better quality 4K picture. Just all the differences, variations in quality. Do these things make a very big difference ? Thanks 👍🏼

[@austindolan7182]

my issue with the eco friendly cases (dvd or blu, doesn't matter) is you could save on plastic by shrinking the case down a bit more, to something like a cd sized case.

[@davidalp6079]

Thanks Geoff

[@n815e]

I started keeping my box sets but replacing the discs inside with upgraded versions.

[@nordy259]

Speaking of packaging Jurrasic Park has 2 more versions of their movies coming out lol.

[@seangerant653]

forgot the tin case .....like the jurassic park came is .....round !!!!

[@_kaushin1540]

I didn't see the A24 editions!

[@dan-ger6963]

3D Blu-rays usually come with a clear case and the older Warner Bros DVDs used to come with a cardboard case here in the UK anyway Disney VHS tapes used to be a purple colour and 101 Dalmatians came with a spotted VHS tape

[@Biollante2kMillenium]

Great Video! But you made one small error i think. What you call Digibook is actually a Mediabook, a Digibook is basicly a Mediabook that doesn't have the Booklet part, so it's kinda in the middle of Mediabook and Digipack. At least that is how they are seperated here in germany. There is also a "Futurepack" which is slightly different from a Metalpack :D

[@ragnar-tl4fl]

Love the series on a personal note What packaging do you prefer? me I like slip covers. Only from vinegar syndrome of course other slip covers really don't interest me so much

[@Tom-qo4mz]

something that might not have been too obvious to cover (and probably is too specific and doesn't match the rest of the video's focus, though does arguably fall under 'packaging' maybe - i only thought you might cover it when you mentioned 'different types of box sets' which made me think of the x-files boxset i have that people complain about) - is the different ways discs are held within the packaging. For e.g. re: the x-files box set, the issue people had with it is that they were stacked, and far too many on a stack, so people don't like them for the risk that stacking has in affecting the surface of the disc, but also when stacked in such a large amount they're really difficult to take out without bending the discs and feeling like you're at risk of snapping one. Another type that people complain about are the foam/sponge dots, which people complained about for the Evangelion Ultimate Edition set where the discs where the foam dots wouldn't hold the discs securely and so the discs would come loose in transit and get scratched up. Another one are the pockets in a fancy designed box set, like in the World of Wong Kar-Wai Criterion Collection box set or either the last pre-disney US or UK (i forget which one, one card had pockets, the other had multiple plastic trays that turned like book pages) of the then Complete Star Wars Saga. Again people not liking them due to risk of scratching or wear on the disc surface from the sharp edge of the paper/card pocket. I enjoyed the video though thanks for posting, I'd heard of digibooks before but never actually seen one so was good to see that.

[@otmi240]

Curious what your thoughts are on custom slip covers from ebay and such. I really like them and want to get them for some of the films that I own, but the originals are so expensive, that's if you can find them. Thanks.

[@dbass1955]

What about Mediabook? I've seen them on Diabolik and are always region B and limited edition. To me they look like a larger digi book, but I don't own any so I'm not exactly sure. Since I mentioned it, a good video for beginners would be on the different regions. I now have region free player, but in the beginning when I first started buying Blu-Rays especially from Amazon or Ebay I accidentally bought region B disks.

[@fixestips]

Do you collect all versions of a single movie, like Mean Girls with the pink, blue and steel cases? And all the different covers?

[@AlexGreat321]

Does anyone remember those DVD cases where it was a digipak style with a black clip on the opening? What happened to them

[@MEMOEWILTONDALE]

I recently ordered on-line a full set (all seasons) of a very popular dramatic series. The packaging had very attractive artwork and was designed to look like a book. There was one BIG problem with the packaging. Every season was on 2 disks INSIDE a cardboard page, with no way to remove the disks without cutting (ruining) the pages. Rather than cut the pages, I sent the entire item back to the seller for a refund. Have you seen such a thing? How are people supposed to open them?

[@smellysheets]

warner bros released some movies in a "diamond luxe" packaging. do you have any of those?

[@AK-Media-Man]

I have one well 2 that are little different I have some dvd Steelbooks they are taller I also have one I’m not sure what to call it it’s T2 dvd is more like a very thick aluminum slipcover when I bought it it was labeled as a steel book 🤷‍♂️

[@overportfilms]

Did you hear about the insidious censorship of the French connection

[@markminsky9009]

Does anyone know a good brand for replacement blu-ray cases?

[@fourthplanet]

I have many hundreds of movies but have only kept a few cases over the years. Just don't have the room to store or display so the disks go into binders. Since 4k has come around I have been keeping the cases because most came with blu rays as well and i just didn't feel right about tossing them. So now i have over 100 cases with blu rays (in boxes) and not sure what to do. Selling them on EBAY seems like more trouble than it is worth. What do you guys do with disks you want to sell?

[@CinemaPunk]

SteelBook IS Aluminum

[@pungisotu]

How about neo-case?

[@gouravkgoswami9972]

Lightbox edition?

[@fourlights]

One rule: No slip no dip

[@Yetaxa]

just from the beginning I only just found out that there's a regional variation. In the UK blu-ray cases are the same thickness as DVDs, which always annoyed me because it was a waste of space on DVD and still as bad on blu-ray At least we don't have the excesses of DVD box sets where a 6 disc box set is in a slip case with full sized cases for each individual disc. Complete waste

[@anotherusername3537]

Yoooo

[@CinemaPunk]

i hate the eco case

[@sparkplug5392]

they should use original theatrical poster for the artwork, new artwork is shit

[@oogrooq]

Eco-cases are fucking garbage. They wrinkle the plastic and artwork. Not worth the plastic they're made with. End up in the garbage anyway. Packaging plastic is not made independent from oil refinery for fuel, so its truly worse than pointless. I really like the 2001 box and the Arrow Donnie Darko box except it comes with a thicker plastic case. They should just standardize those.

[@DriveupLife22]

Just say no to tiny illegible steelbook spines. Slipcovers are the true path to enlightenment.