Streaming subscriptions keep getting more expensive, and a recurring bill that keeps changing is the last thing anyone wants to see on their spreadsheet. We know that. Been through it. I am not arguing for the price hikes. But looking at the alternatives for private viewing, I believe the streaming model still offers a substantially better experience at competitive prices.

I began with physical media. Blockbuster is no more, so disc rental is not an option. For a benchmark, I looked at the disc prices of movies released both physically and on streaming. Standard Blu-ray editions of the ten biggest domestic box-office hits released in 2025 were advertised around their disc launches at roughly $25 to $30 apiece. One of the pricier movie-streaming subscriptions, Disney+ Premium costs $189.99 annually, or $18.99 monthly.

For someone who watches only a handful of films, buying those films can make sense. At the lower end of that range, seven discs cost $175, less than Disney+ Premium’s $189.99 annual plan. An eighth brings the total to $200. Ownership also requires finding and buying the discs, waiting for delivery if ordered online, storing them, and having compatible playback hardware. Moving that collection from the living room to a phone takes additional arrangements. Nor does the Blu-ray label guarantee the best picture and sound quality. The edition matters when comparing resolution, HDR, and audio.

Watching more because the catalogue is readily available is itself a benefit of streaming. There is no reason to discount a hobby because the subscription makes it easier to enjoy. A disc does keep working without recurring payment, and rewatching it costs nothing extra. That makes ownership useful for a handful of favorites. But the subscription-apocalypse scenarios simply don’t fit how most consumers watch. In a 2024 survey, around 60% of Americans reported watching movies several times a month or more, at home or in a theater. For people who do enough of that watching at home, a streaming subscription could make financial sense.

If replacing a subscription costs more or makes watching less convenient, there is nothing stopping providers from raising prices even further. The model seems competitive enough against physical ownership, while viewers are left budgeting for a bill that keeps changing. For the price of the subscriptions to start falling, it would take more than ‘a disc won’t disappear from a physical library’.