.png){kind=small} Logo as introduced in 2020 | |
| Industry | Home video |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 23, 2009 |
| Parent | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
The Warner Archive Collection is a home video division for releasing classic and cult films from Warner Bros.' library.[1][2] It started as a manufactured-on-demand (MOD) DVD series by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 23, 2009, with the intention of putting previously unreleased catalog films on DVD for the first time.[3] In November 2012, Warner expanded the Archive Collection to include Blu-ray releases,[4][5] Some Warner Archive releases, such as Wise Guys, previously had a pressed DVD release but have lapsed out of print and have since been re-released as part of the Warner Archive collection.
DVDS are manufactured on-demand for the consumer and authorized distributors for online resale, rather than the traditional business model of pressing large batches of discs that ship to "brick and mortar" retailers. This saves on the costs of storing unsold stock in a warehouse and mitigates the risk of a retailer holding unsold merchandise, especially since the majority of the films in the archive do not have widespread public demand. These discs are indistinguishable in quality compared to their mass produced counterparts.[6]
In addition, Warner Archive also sells films and television shows as downloadable Windows Media files, and formerly operated a subscription-based streaming video service, Warner Archive Instant, which allowed members to stream many of the Warner Archive properties in a format similar to Netflix.[7] In 2018, Warner Archive Instant merged with its sister service FilmStruck.[8] The combined FilmStruck / Warner Archive streaming service was discontinued on November 29, 2018, and was replaced by HBO Max, which shortened its name to just Max in 2023.[9]
- ^ "Warner Archive Rolls Along". Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- ^ "WARNER ARCHIVE RELEASES ANOTHER BATCH OF RARE MOVIES - AND OFFERS A THREE FOR TWO DVD DEAL". cinemaretro.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Warner Bros. Launches Warner Archive Collection". Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ "• View topic - Warner Brothers Archive Collection Blu-rays". www.criterionforum.org. Archived from the original on 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
- ^ "A note on the format of our Warner Archive Blu-ray discs. (YouTube)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
- ^ Stephanie Prange (9 April 2019). "Warner Archive Celebrates 10th Anniversary". Media Play News. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
- ^ Snider, Mike (1 February 2014). "Cutting the Cord: Warner Archive Instant delivers a stream of rarities". USA Today. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (February 26, 2018). "Turner's FilmStruck Adds Warner Bros. Classic Films, As Warner Archive Service Winds Down". Archived from the original on August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (October 26, 2018). "WarnerMedia to Shut Down FilmStruck Subscription-Streaming Service". Variety. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.