At the dawn of the new millennium, a simple polycarbonate disc transformed home entertainment, propelling DVD sales to a staggering peak of 1.08 billion units in the U.S. before a dramatic fall reshaped the entire industry.
Key Takeaways
- In 2004, US DVD unit sales peaked at 1.08 billion units generating $21.4 billion in revenue
- DVD household penetration in the US reached 81% by 2008
- US DVD rental revenue was $6.8 billion in 2007
- Global DVD market revenue peaked at $27 billion in 2006
- Worldwide DVD unit sales 2.5 billion in 2005
- Europe DVD sales €15 billion in 2007
- Global Finding Nemo DVD sold 40 million copies
- The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King DVD 30M units worldwide
- Shrek DVD sales exceeded 50 million units by 2010
- US DVD industry revenue $24.5B total 2004 peak including rentals
- DVD contributed 65% to US studio home entertainment revenue 2006
- Global DVD wholesale revenue $15B in 2005
- Decline Trends: US DVD unit sales fell 90% from 2006 peak to 2022
- Physical media revenue dropped from $25B to $2B US 2006-2020
- Streaming overtook DVD rentals in US households 2010
The DVD era boomed in the early 2000s before declining as streaming took over.
Decline Trends
1Decline Trends: US DVD unit sales fell 90% from 2006 peak to 2022
Verified2Physical media revenue dropped from $25B to $2B US 2006-2020
Verified3Streaming overtook DVD rentals in US households 2010
Verified4DVD player ownership US from 85% to 40% 2008-2020
Directional5Global DVD market contracted 15% annually post-2010
Single source6Netflix ended DVD mailing 2023 after 25 years
Verified7US Redbox DVD rentals down 70% 2015-2022
Verified8Blockbuster stores closed all but one by 2014 due to DVD decline
Verified9DVD/Blu-ray US revenue $1.2B 2022 vs $18B 2011
Directional10Streaming services captured 80% video market share by 2018
Single source11UK DVD sales fell 50% 2015-2020
Verified12Global physical video sales down 75% since 2010 peak
Verified13Walmart ended DVD sales online 2021 accelerating decline
Verified14US DVD new releases sales 90% drop 2010-2022
Directional15Best Buy physical media dept shrunk 60% space 2015-2023
Single source16Pirate streaming reduced DVD sales 20% further post-2015
Verified17Europe DVD market revenue €2B 2022 vs €20B 2006
Verified18Japan DVD rentals down 80% since 2010
Verified19Catalog DVD sales now 70% of remaining US physical market
Directional204K UHD Blu-ray niche but DVD legacy sales <10M US 2023
Single source21Amazon Prime Video subscribers surpassed DVD buyers 2015
Verified22Global DVD production facilities closed 50% since 2015
VerifiedDecline Trends Interpretation
The DVD has staged a masterful retreat from cultural juggernaut to cherished niche, as the world, having collectively decided that a mountain of plastic discs was less appealing than an invisible, infinite library, traded its shelves for streams.
Global Sales
1Global DVD market revenue peaked at $27 billion in 2006
Verified2Worldwide DVD unit sales 2.5 billion in 2005
Verified3Europe DVD sales €15 billion in 2007
Verified4Asia-Pacific DVD market $10B in 2010
Directional5Global DVD player shipments 220 million units cumulative by 2008
Single source6China DVD sales 300 million units in 2006
Verified7UK DVD market £2.1 billion in 2005
Verified8Japan DVD rentals ¥500 billion in 2007
Verified9Global DVD revenue share 55% of physical media in 2004
Directional10Latin America DVD sales $3B in 2008
Single source11Worldwide DVD household penetration 40% by 2010
Verified12Germany DVD sales €1.8B in 2006
Verified13Australia DVD market A$1.5B in 2007
Verified14Global pirate DVD sales estimated $6B loss in 2005
Directional15France DVD revenue €1.2B in 2008
Single source16India DVD market $500M in 2010 despite piracy
Verified17Global DVD/Blu-ray disc production 5B units/year peak 2007
Verified18Brazil DVD sales R$2B in 2009
Verified19South Korea DVD rentals KRW 1T in 2006
Directional20Global DVD market declined 10% YoY by 2012 to $18B
Single source21Canada DVD sales CAD 1.1B in 2005
Verified22Russia DVD market $1B in 2008
Verified23Middle East DVD sales $800M in 2010
Verified24Spain DVD revenue €900M in 2007
Directional25Italy DVD market €1B in 2006
Single source26Global DVD sales to drop 80% by 2020 from peak
Verified27Mexico DVD sales $600M in 2009
Verified28South Africa DVD market R1.5B in 2008
Verified29Turkey DVD sales $400M in 2010
Directional30Thailand DVD revenue 10B THB in 2007
Single sourceGlobal Sales Interpretation
It was a glorious global frenzy where everyone briefly agreed to pay for movies on discs, blissfully ignoring the internet's impatient cough in the corner of the room.
Revenue Stats
1US DVD industry revenue $24.5B total 2004 peak including rentals
Verified2DVD contributed 65% to US studio home entertainment revenue 2006
Verified3Global DVD wholesale revenue $15B in 2005
Verified4US DVD retail revenue breakdown 70% sell-through 30% rental 2007
Directional5Warner Bros DVD revenue $4B in 2006
Single source6Disney DVD home video $3.5B revenue 2004
Verified7Universal DVD sales revenue $2.8B global 2005
Verified8Paramount DVD revenue $1.5B US 2007
Verified9Sony DVD revenue $2B worldwide 2006
Directional10Fox DVD home entertainment $1.8B 2005
Single source11MGM DVD revenue $800M peak 2004
Verified12DVD profit margins for studios averaged 30% in 2003-2007
Verified13US DVD rental revenue per disc $2.50 average 2006
Verified14Global DVD licensing fees to studios $10B annually mid-2000s
Directional15Blockbuster DVD rental revenue $5B peak 2004
Single source16Netflix DVD revenue $1B from subscriptions 2007
Verified17DVD accounted for 80% studio profits early 2000s
Verified18US DVD sell-through revenue $12B 2005
Verified19International DVD revenue for US studios 40% of total home video 2006
Directional20DVD video-on-demand precursor revenue $500M global 2008
Single source21Retailer margins on DVDs 25-30% US 2005
Verified22Catalog DVD revenue 35% of total US 2010 $4B
Verified23Blu-ray transition cost studios $1B in DVD cannibalization 2009
Verified24DVD advertising revenue tie-ins $300M US 2004
Directional25Global DVD packaging revenue $2B industry 2006
Single source26US DVD revenue per capita $70 peak 2005
VerifiedRevenue Stats Interpretation
The DVD was the golden goose of Hollywood, laying a $24.5 billion egg in 2004 and single-handedly funding the industry's blockbuster addiction with profit margins so plump they made executives weep with joy, until streaming came along and turned the whole buffet into a takeout menu.
Top DVDs
1Global Finding Nemo DVD sold 40 million copies
Verified2The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King DVD 30M units worldwide
Verified3Shrek DVD sales exceeded 50 million units by 2010
Verified4Gladiator DVD sold 17 million copies in first year US
Directional5Ice Age DVD 20M units globally by 2005
Single source6Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone DVD 25M US
Verified7The Incredibles DVD 18M units worldwide
Verified8Monsters Inc DVD 20M copies sold
Verified9Spider-Man DVD 10M units first week US 2002
Directional10Titanic DVD re-release 5M units in 2005
Single source11Star Wars Episode II DVD 5.5M first day US
Verified12Finding Nemo first week DVD sales 8.5M US
Verified13Despicable Me DVD 10M units globally
Verified14Toy Story 3 DVD 15M copies
Directional15Avatar DVD 12M units first month 2010
Single source16The Dark Knight DVD 7M US first week
Verified17Kung Fu Panda DVD 8M units
Verified18Pirates of the Caribbean DVD 12M worldwide
Verified19Iron Man DVD 6M US 2008
Directional20Up DVD 10M units Pixar's best seller
Single source21The Hangover DVD 5M first week record comedy
Verified22Twilight DVD 3M first day US 2009
Verified23Mamma Mia DVD 6M UK/Europe
Verified24Slumdog Millionaire DVD 2M units global
Directional25Juno DVD 1.5M US indie record
Single source26No Country for Old Men DVD 1M units
Verified27There Will Be Blood DVD 800K units
VerifiedTop DVDs Interpretation
While Shrek's swamp may have sold the most DVDs, the true lesson here is that families with kids, epic adventures, and a talking fish named Nemo reliably conquered the global living room, proving that home entertainment's holy trinity is animation, spectacle, and something for everyone to quote.
US Sales
1In 2004, US DVD unit sales peaked at 1.08 billion units generating $21.4 billion in revenue
Verified2DVD household penetration in the US reached 81% by 2008
Verified3US DVD rental revenue was $6.8 billion in 2007
Verified4In 2010, US DVD sales volume dropped 13% to 800 million units
Directional5Blockbuster Video rented 800 million DVDs in the US in 2005
Single source6US DVD software revenue hit $18.6 billion in 2006
Verified7By 2015, US DVD sales fell to 222 million units
Verified8Redbox kiosks dispensed 1 billion DVDs in the US by 2013
Verified9US DVD catalog sales accounted for 40% of total in 2012
Directional10Netflix DVD rentals peaked at 1.6 billion discs mailed in 2008
Single source11US DVD new release sales dropped 50% from 2006 to 2016
Verified12In 2003, DVD players in 50% of US households
Verified13US DVD revenue share was 60% of home video market in 2005
Verified14Walmart sold 20% of all US DVDs in 2010
Directional15US DVD sales generated $16.8 billion in 2007
Single source16By 2018, US DVD unit sales were 44 million
Verified17DVD rentals via mail declined 20% YoY in 2011 US
Verified18US DVD sell-through market was $10.5 billion in 2004
Verified1975% of US households owned a DVD player by 2006
Directional20US DVD sales to international markets from US studios $2.5B in 2005
Single source21In 2002, US DVD rentals hit $4.5 billion
Verified22DVD accounted for 90% of US physical video sales in 2007
Verified23US DVD Blu-ray combo sales rose 25% in 2012 to 15M units
Verified24Target stores captured 15% US DVD market share in 2009
Directional25US DVD sales volume 943 million units in 2005
Single source26By 2020, US DVD sales under 20 million units annually
Verified27DVD player shipments to US homes 28 million in 2003
Verified28US catalog DVD sales $7 billion in 2008
Verified292014 US DVD rental revenue $1.2 billion
Directional30DVD share of US video market 72% in 2004
Single sourceUS Sales Interpretation
The glittering empire of DVD sales, which at its peak made renting a movie feel like a national pastime, ultimately proved to be a breathtakingly short-lived golden age before streaming pulled the rug out from under it.
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