Two weeks ago, I wrote about how it was time for streamers to get this show on the road and give fans physical media options for the originals that they love for five key reasons: so fans can own what they buy, picture and audio quality, media preservation, offline access, and and special features. Then, last week, Hulu announced that the Predator prequel Prey would be getting a physical release a year after debuting on the platform. Now, Disney has announced that we are finally going to see physical releases of The Mandalorian Seasons 1 and 2, WandaVision, and Loki Season 1.
This is great news! News that is absolutely not because of me, but I’m choosing to be a little bit smug about the timing anyway. Now that it seems like the floodgates have opened, let’s talk about some other big titles that deserve the physical release treatment in the US ASAP. (Several titles do have physical copies available internationally due to distribution rights.)
The Sandman (Netflix)
It took a good long time to get an adaptation of The Sandman. Creator Neil Gaiman wanted to be sure that when it happened, it was done right. And was it ever. Show-stopping designs meet impeccable performances in this stone cold stunner of a series, and I want to know every single detail there is to know about its creation.
Imagine how beautiful this series would look on blu-ray before even considering the bounty of special features that could be offered. Add in ultra-soothing narration and commentary from Gaiman himself? Perfection.
Midnight Mass (Netflix)
While The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly manor lucked out by having external production companies that retained the physical distribution rights, Midnight Mass is 100% Netflix and currently has no chance of getting a blu-ray option anytime soon despite the pleas of creator Mike Flanagan.
This rich, lore-heavy beauty of a limited series is the perfect candidate for a physical media release for the potential bonus features alone. I’m a firm believer that every film and show should have a gag reel; the more serious the story the better. (You’ve just made me cry! The least you can do is give me a laugh.) And think of how great cast commentary would be on this title. Let’s go, Netflix!
The Boys (Prime Video)
(A/N: I’ve learned after publishing that Seasons 1 and 2 of The Boys are, indeed, available on blu-ray currently! Here’s hoping Season 3 isn’t far behind!)
Who among us doesn’t want to dive deeper into The Boys universe with Eric Kripke? What about seeing the pivotal whale scene in high definition? The Boys — like both The Sandman and Midnight Mass — isn’t at risk of going anywhere anytime soon, but saving something from being sacrificed to the server gods is far from the only reason to pick up physical copies of media you love.
Prime Video does an alright job of giving behind-the-scenes looks at their best and weirdest moments, but, like we discussed in the first column on physical media, you’ve got to hunt it down if it doesn’t live directly in their catalogue (read: YouTube, social media, etc.). Let’s get back to special features menus!
The Fear Street Saga (Netflix)
The Fear Street trilogy had such a unique release. Since Netflix purchased the films after they were already complete rather than creating them as a ground-up original like many of the other titles on this list, the streamer released each film one week at a time back in 2021. Before that, they were originally slated to release theatrically. I’d be incredibly interested in a from-page-to-screen look at the whole trilogy. Plus, these movies were a lot of fun and deserve to be remembered rather than sucked into the void of Netflix’s back catalogue.
Severance (Apple TV+)
There are so many corners to explore in the world of Lumon — the company keeping Adam Scott’s Mark and his coworkers’ innies under control. This is the exact kind of series where behind-the-scenes looks become the most valuable, whether it’s additional context from Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller or something as simple as a map explanation of the corporate grounds as we know them in Season 1.
Apostle (Netflix)
The current streaming model means that its films and series drop out of the conversation pretty quickly, but Gareth Evans wrote and directed a banger of a horror flick called Apostle back in 2018 that will always hold a special place in my heart. Folk horror has always been an easy sell for me given its ability to couple beautiful scenery with absolutely gnarly gore, and this beaut is no exception.
It’s hard to say what kind of special features older Netflix originals may have in their arsenal, but boy would I love to find out with this one. Especially when its age means fewer people are actively streaming it, leaving it at risk of the dreaded “content” culls.
Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Shrinking is so much more than Harrison Ford. In fact, I think every actor on that show is giving the performance of their careers in it. But, Ford is absolutely the reason I want to see Shrinking get a blu-ray release with all the extras they can pack in there. I basically just want an on-set documentary of him exploring the comedy role he was made for.
And look at that cast! You know the gag reels from this series are legendary.
Our Flag Means Death (Max)
When the Warner Bros. Discovery merger first started, we saw a lot of originals on the chopping block over at HBO Max. And frankly? I still don’t trust them with my favorite gay pirate show. The sooner Our Flag Means Death gets a physical release, the sooner we have the option to save it from “content” purgatory.
Andor (Disney+)
By deciding not to shoot on The Volume, Andor didn’t just feel more real, it also opened up an exciting list of shoot locations that would be a wonderful deep-dive for Star Wars die-hards. The very same die-hards who have spent their lives used to physical releases with loads of extras exploring their favorite franchise. While this makes Andor an obvious choice for a physical release, we might have to wait until both seasons are out for Disney to pull the trigger.
The Bear (Hulu)
The Bear might not have the lore or deep-dives of the other media on this list, but I just think it’d be nice to have on my shelf. Also, y’know, if we’re making suggestions, I wouldn’t say no to a little video cook-along…
Teach me how to make those short ribs, Sydney!
Good Omens (Prime Video)
Good Omens might be a short book, but it’s packed with twists and turns to explore and ineffable friendships (of both its protagonists and authors alike). Since the release of Season 2, Good Omens hasn’t just evolved the relationships of Crowley and Aziraphale into something more, it also grew beyond the original novel as readers knew it. With the source material being around since the 90s, we’ve had so much time with this original chapter. Now that we have a whole new season devoted to ideas discussed between Gaiman and Terry Pratchet but never-before-read by fans themselves, there are endless opportunities to explore in the form of blu-ray extras!
That’s my list — one that I will undoubtedly look at 15 minutes after publish and panic about the omission of something that I love — which is where you come in! What’s your dream list? Which streaming originals do you want to see make their way to your blu-ray shelf?