A cool way to remember the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray wars.

I managed to find sealed copies of the first four Harry Potter films on HD DVD for only $0.50 total! I'm just one movie short of having a complete HD DVD collection of this series.

Because the HD DVD format was discontinued in early 2008 following the "format war" with Blu-ray, only the first five films in the series were ever released on HD DVD.

To complete my collection, I would need to purchase Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Sealed copies sell for less than $10.

Archivists and collectors reported that various HD DVD releases suffer from disc rot, with certain releases becoming notorious among collectors for their high failure rates. Common symptoms include:

  • Pinpricks: Tiny holes that appear when the disc is held up to a strong light source.

  • Haze or "Milkiness": A cloudy appearance under the plastic surface that cannot be wiped away.

  • Edge Corrosion: Darkening or jagged patterns creeping in from the outer rim of the disc.

This is the main reason why I don't collect HD DVDs. I just wanted to own my favorite movie franchise of all time. I may never find out if my discs are rotting because I'm planning on displaying these sealed cases in my historical display case.