Movie Films

Given the interesting financial interplay among the DVD markets, movie theater markets, and online/alternative entertainment markets, it's no surprise that studios are turning to alternative means to measure the success of their projects. Hollywood now releases a myriad of film formats--sometimes as many as a dozen different formats for one movie.

Should you get the new Tom Hanks picture on DVD, on CD-ROM, or as part of a special edition collector's pack? Should you purchase your child's favorite Harry Potter movie "one of a kind" or as part of a treasured collection? Even special edition DVDs come in various versions, and you can also find international versions of popular movie films on DVD, VHS, Laserdisc, Betamax, and other formats.

Ultimately, movie collectors have recourse. They can collect based on format, genre, style, or era. Unless you are developing your film library for the explicit purpose of reselling films to other collectors down the line, don't be afraid of the diversification. Invest in all the various movie film formats, if for no other reason than to widen your perspective on the industry.