Another factor: music dvds. Terrible genre for VHS, with its bad sound and lack of chapter access. Plus a lot of the best early DVDs (Eagles, Roy Orbison) appealed to the age group that had the money to adopt.

Porn Industry they did the same for the internet

Price, extras, presumed durability (why collect things that wear out with use), and a familiar format (that is, they look like CDs which is something people are kind of used to).

there isnt much of a choice...is there?

Originally I got into DVDs in 1997 because there was limited availability of widescreen VHS. After I found DVD websites, the free and nearly free deals got me hooked.

I was thinking the same thing, nowadays you can get porn DVD's for 10 bucks.

Also the fact that Disney (and other children's video companies) are throwing everything on disc for children.

I think most of what's been mentioned so far is on target--especially price--but I think there are a few other factors at play that I don't think have been mentioned:

1) General increase in theatergoing - theater revenue have been increasing exponentially over the past few years for whatever reason, and with the other factors mentioned as the driving force, so has DVD sales of those movies. Remember that nearly all of the all-time top selling titles are new releases.

2) At the same time as theater revenue is increasing, I think people hoping to escape some of the rude behavior people have been experiencing at the theaters (children, cell phones, talking and assorted other annoyances) are combining their desire to see the movies with the ease of buying HT equipment and DVDs to recreate the experience here.

I think both of those things help account for the popularity beyond those of us who frequent these boards complaining about inserts or cover art.

that was a big seller for me right there. After an absolutely miserable experience watching XMen in the theater (this scuzzy couple brought there crying child in and it didnt stop wailing until the end of the movie) I turned towards DVD. A ticket is at LEAST 8 bucks at just about anywhere, and that's if you arent hungry or thirsty...then you deal with the croud. Then the bladder issues.

Now that the window form theater to DVD has shrunk SOO much lately, and most new titles are 14.99 on release, why WOULDN'T people want to buy them? I wouldnt be surprised to see theatrical showings to become a niche market in the next 5-10 years at this rate...

Those beautiful little inserts... thats what did it...


.....my presious....

extra features work, but i think pop culture ate them up because they're somewhat cheap, smaller than vhs, and shiney!

I think the picture is what drew most people in early on.In '97 I worked in retail and I would just go watch the promo dvd we had everyday and be amazed by the quality compared to vhs.

Bought my first player in '97 and never looked back.

It was a combination of things that everyone has mentioned. The planets aligned in the proper positions.
- Price - once the low pricing of both players and the DVD's themselves became commonplace the sales shot through the roof. They were no longer aimed at high end users (like laserdisc) they were aimed for the masses. VHS had laid the groundwork in this area.
- No REWIND -
- Improved Audio and Visual Quality - Anyone could see the difference on a good size TV between VHS and DVD. And the sound Quality was a BIG jump on anyones surround system as long as it was properly wired. (This is what did it for me in 1998)
- Extra Features- Laserdisc laid the ground work for this but DVD expanded on it.
- compact size -
- Useful in a variety of mediums - The public and Corporations liked this. They can be used on DVD players, game systems and computers.