Warner to offer cheaper Blu-ray movies later this year

300 is one of the movies that will feature a lower price tag in the fall.

(Credit: Amazon)

As much as we complain about the high prices of standalone Blu-ray players, in some ways the high prices of Blu-ray movies are even more frustrating. Today, Warner Home Video has taken a step in the right direction, by announcing that the company will offer discounted pricing on select titles this fall. Blu-ray buyers can expect prices between $17 and $20, which is a lot more than DVDs sell for, but less than the $20-$30 prices Blu-ray discs currently go for.

While there isn't a complete list of movies that will be available at this lower pricing, Video Business reports that The Fugitive, Enter the Dragon, Clockwork Orange, The Shining, The Aviator, Road Warrior and Swordfish will get the discount. Additionally, some newer movies will get a smaller price cut, including 300, The Departed, I Am Legend, Ocean's 13 and We Are Marshall.

While this certainly won't make everyone run out and buy a Blu-ray player, it's definitely good news that studios are hearing complaints that Blu-ray movies are just too expensive at their current levels. Of course, we'd prefer if the prices fell below the $15 mark, which would make them feel comparatively-priced to DVDs, but we'll probably have to wait until at least 2009 to see those prices. In the meantime, at least there's always Netflix.

Sources: Video Business via High-Def Digest

[dirty55409]

you'll still have the kids that say, "I won't buy blu-ray discs until they're $15." But I'm glad to see prices fall. Hopefully blu-ray players will be cheaper around the holidays, not to mention cheaper HDTVs and HD-Cable prices which also need to drop for america to start moving more towards HD. The numbers are still very low. Not many people other than us tech consumers like dropping loads of money on TVs.

[iamwho]

Has anyone gone to the movies lately? Did you get in for free? Was the popcorn and soda free as well? Otherwise, I wouldn't complain about the cost of a Blu-Ray disc, even at $30.00 list. It costs realistically several times more to see a single movie (I consider myself lucky that parking is free at my local multiplex), considering that this is a one-time event versus being able to watch the movie several times.

Make no mistake, I'm not defending Blu-Ray here (don't own a player and don't intend to get one), however there is the aspect of economic literacy which usually goes unmentioned in posts like this one.

[Wes#1]

It's a good move on Warner's part; one that will, hopefully, start some competition among the other studios to lower their prices as well. And let's not forget that "retail" prices are rarely what most people actually pay, so the "below $15" price point that the kids are waiting for may actually be achieved.

[iconoclast04]

iamwho: you seem to have a skewed sense of value. lucky to have free parking at the movies? do you live in new york city? if they want you to buy their product, they should let you park there for free. That's generally what most retail stores do. Also, on the Blu-ray disc point, sure you can watch the movie multiple times, but their are drastic diminishing returns after you've seen it once. How many times to most people watch most DVDs they own..2-3 maybe? I'm not sure where you get the idea that it costs more than $30 to watch a movie in the theater. Even if you buy food there it shouldn't cost that much. Plus, to get the same utility at home (assuming you have all the necessary equipment to play the movie), you have to buy food, as well. But you didn't factor that into the cost of watching a Blu-ray movie.

I mean, if you truly want to talk about economic literacy, by all means let's discuss. But I find your analysis to be flawed. As an economic consumer, it's in your interest to try for the best price you can get...and dishing out money for parking and $30 movies isn't the best way to do that, in my opinion. You speak with your wallet.

[wmclover]

I bought a Sony BDU-x10s internal Bluray disc drive for $170 and installed it computer (witch has a DVI and optical outlet) and used my existing DVI to HDMI cable to display gorgeous HD video on my 50" HDTV and used my existing optical cable to hear spectacular 5.1 or DTS sound via my AV receiver on my 6 large speakers. It does not cost my any more to watch Blu ray movies since Netflix does not charge extra for its extensive and growing Blu ray collection. I also stream movies from Netflix in this same manner with absolutely no problems. I play standard DVDs from my dvd drive and get a much better picture than my Sony upgradable
dvd player. Is my setup an industry secret???

[cnetmart]

What movie theatre do you go to. Several times the cost of a blu-ray?! Come on now..........

[lobo65]

The prices of Blu-Ray movies don't bother me because I just wait until a week or two after they are released, and then buy them used from private sellers on Amazon.com. I usually pay about the price of a new DVD on average.

[stano3005]

Hopefully this will created a nice little chain reaction and all of the Blu-ray movies, along with Blu-ray players, will begin to have lower prices.

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