Times are tough in today’s economy. When the budget is bursting at the seams, it behooves consumers to trim down the fat, which is always the extras or luxury purchases. But for many of us, solid entertainment media is our saving grace from the rigors of daily stress and life’s challenges. For me, movies offer me a reprieve from my problems and allow me to explore other worlds and emotions through the visual art form in the space of 90 minutes to 2 hours (or 4 if you’re a perpetual LOTR extended edition viewer). So, some might say it is an essential expense for those of us drawn to cinematic storytelling.
With movie and TV licenses often changing hands between streaming giants like Netflix, Prime Video, Peacock, and more, building your own digital collection of your favorites is never a bad idea. And buying digital movies to add to your collection doesn’t have to be a total drag on your wallet. You just have to be smart with each purchase and, at times, strategic. Digital movies and TV series are just as prone to sales as any other physical commodity. Often, you can find stellar deals for digital goods on Prime Day (through Prime Video) or holiday periods on various storefronts. Frequently, platforms like Fandango are engaged in promotional sales for select movies that are worth checking out if you’re looking to grow your own personal digital library. It’s at times like these that you’ll find bundles to be among the best deals in entertainment media.
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Buy more, spend less
Sometimes, buying in bulk is the answer
If you haven’t purchased a digital movie or TV series bundle on sale before, you might be surprised at how cost-effective it really is. Let’s take Fandango (formerly Vudu), for example. As of the time of this publication, the platform is holding a “Summer Blowout Sale” where you can buy the entire Hunger Games 5-film collection for $19.99. If you do the math, that’s basically $4 per movie. And that’s not even mentioning the fact that the bundle is in 4K UHD. You really can’t beat five 4K UHD movies for just $4 each.
Actually, I lied. You can beat that deal. If you’re an action movie connoisseur and fan of Jason Statham, you can grab a 15-movie bundle of Jason Statham films (in HDX) for $19.99. This bundle includes many of his most notable films including the entire run of Expendables films, Crank, Wild Card, and more. With that, you’re looking at $1.33 per movie. Do you see where I’m going with this? Those two examples are only scratching the surface. Digital storefronts are constantly trying to attract new patrons to begin curating a library with them. The easiest way to do that is by selling items in bulk for a low cost.
Bundles make building a collection much easier
They also keep your collection organized
While many sales feature bundles that include several movies with differing IP but through the same distributor, there are often sales of entire franchises or TV series. With my previous example, you’ve collected the entire Hunger Games franchise for the typical price of one movie. These bundle sales make it easier to buy full franchises all at once without the need for multiple individual purchases. You can also collect the entire run of your favorite TV series with this method. In the same Summer Blowout Sale, the entire 6-season run of Nashville is just $29.99 (in HDX). Compare this to buying a physical version of the complete series at Walmart for $59.99 (on DVD / Standard definition). If you look at the individual seasons on Fandango, the price is $19.99 per season. Buying all six seasons for $29.99 is a no-brainer both from a pricing and completionist perspective.
There are many ways to build a collection. If you have favorite filmmakers or stars, you can collect chunks of their filmography at once with bundles. Sometimes, you just have to know when and where to look. Bundle sales are always in flux. You just have to stay on top of the trends. For instance, a Christopher Nolan bundle was likely offered around the time The Odyssey was released in theaters. When major stars are trending for whatever reason, their biggest hits are typically bundled together on major storefronts. If you’re a horror fan, you should definitely check out the bundles available during the Halloween season. In the past, I’ve acquired slasher classics like the entire runs of Friday the 13, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Child’s Play series for a very low cost.
Bundling movies and TV is no doubt the best way for any consumer to cultivate a digital library. Just remember to be vigilant, and look for the best deals frequently. They’re always out there.
