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CUEnter the DVD renaissance.
Much like the vinyl record revival before it, Gen Z is leading the charge back to physical media.
63% of 18 to 24-year-olds recently reported an active interest in exploring a more analogue lifestyle, according to the 2026 Analog Lifestyle Movement Report by The Harris Poll (a market research firm).
In the US, some major retailers are expanding their physical media sections again because the demand to actually own things is skyrocketing. The decade-long freefall of physical disc sales has suddenly stabilised.
While major US tech retailers like Best Buy infamously surrendered their physical media aisles in 2024, Barnes and Noble spotted a massive gap in the market. Under their current expansion strategy, which saw nearly 70 new stores open in 2025, they have abandoned the “superstore” warehouse look in favour of boutique, curated spaces.
Why? Because true ownership is becoming a rarity.
When everything is stored on a distant server, you own absolutely nothing. Your favourite shows could be wiped from a platform overnight for a corporate tax write-off.
Perhaps curating a shelf of physical media is not just about retro aesthetics. We want to own things, collect things, feel things, and hold things.
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