Have you ever made a purchase and then realized you didn’t get what you wanted out of the transaction? You might look back at the listing and realize, “Gee, I missed that” or “I must not have read this clearly.” In your defense, companies often keep details thin intentionally and don’t always put all the specifics up front or in big bold letters. I’m not making any accusations of dishonesty, but it seems to have always been the nature of the sales pitch since the dawn of humanity. If a business can present a product in a more favorable light (aka minimizing what it lacks), it might get the traction they’re seeking monetarily. Believe it or not, the same goes for digital goods, including movies.
Two listings for the same movie can actually be very different outside of the core film. There are multiple storefronts at your disposal, such as Apple TV, Fandango, Movies Anywhere, and Amazon Prime Video. Listings between these storefronts can vary not only in price (or limited-time sales), but also in format, features, and other differing edition elements. At the end of the day, you want to get the most value for your money. So, before you buy a digital copy of a film on any platform, be sure to check for a few key items to ensure you’re getting exactly what you expect.
Look for the picture quality, film’s edition, and bonus features
Not all digital copies are equal
At first glance, you may see a sale on a film you’ve been wanting to add to your digital library. Sometimes we assume that the latest and greatest will come in the best format: 4K UHD. But that’s not always the case. Depending on your region, the film’s licensing agreements with platforms, and more, sometimes a movie is only available on a particular storefront in HD. It’s not extremely common, but it happens. Additionally, studios have been known to strike a deal offering 4K on one platform, while other platforms are relegated to HD (1080p). If resolution matters to you, then this is an item you should definitely verify on each listing before clicking that button. You’ll also want to check for HDR formats such as Dolby Vision or HDR10 if you have compatible TV sets. On many storefronts, there is a “More Info” selection that you should review. This includes all of the necessary visual and audio enhancements that come with the purchase.
Film buffs are also inevitably looking for specific editions. While just about every storefront will offer the theatrical cut of a film, some platforms obtain exclusivity to extended editions, unrated versions, or director’s cuts. For instance, Blade Runner (1982) famously has several cuts of the film available. On Fandango, the theatrical version is just labeled “Blade Runner.” But if you actually do a search for the film, you’ll see the platform also has separate listings for “Blade Runner (Director’s Cut)” and “Blade Runner: The Final Cut.” Prime Video doesn’t have the director’s cut available. Of course, nowhere can you see the elusive “Workprint” cut but on Blu-ray disc. So, that’s a fun case to be made for physical media. Still, it’s important to note which edition you’re buying. Some storefronts may even package multiple editions together.
Bonus features are not dead with the advent of digital film libraries. On the contrary, many movies still come with extras if you know where to look. In fact, some services offer more extensive bonus features than others. I’ve encountered movies that come with no bonus features at all on a specific service, contrary to another service that does include “extras” like featurettes and other options. If these extras are important to you or add value to your purchase, be sure to compare listings.
Read the fine print
Also, read the fine print
By now, many consumers have an understanding of what “digital ownership” actually means. If you read the service’s terms, you’ll see that each storefront only grants buyers a license to access the movie indefinitely. This means that you do not actually own the movie like you would with a disc. Access can be revoked at any time should anything change with the storefront, your account, or licensing agreements related to specific films, though there are specific steps you can take to protect digital purchases. Rarely are movies actually removed from the libraries of customers. Services likely do everything they can to hedge against this possibility, as it fractures their business once customers stop trusting that their purchases will remain in place. But it can happen. In recent years, shifting agreements and store updates have caused some consumers to experience situations where specific 4K UHD movies were downgraded to HD, which is also another possibility to be cognizant of.
That leads me to the next point concerning upgrades. Policies in each storefront don’t always mirror each other. Some platforms offer free upgrades in specific cases; others charge for all upgrades. Familiarize yourself with the policy of your chosen platform, so you know how this is handled going forward. You should also ensure that your preferred devices will actually function with the platform and play the movies you purchase. Some digital libraries also have restrictions on the number of devices that can be used. For instance, I do happen to know from experience that Fandango at Home will not allow the same movie to be streamed simultaneously by two separate devices. Keep that in mind if you’re sharing your library with multiple people. Buying a brand new release for a Friday movie night could turn into a battle over control of the movie if others using your account also have the same idea.
At the end of the day, carefully preview your purchases. Be conscientious about what you want out of your digital movies before clicking that button. If you’re a much more casual viewer and these details don’t really matter, then more power to you. But for those looking to curate a collection of quality digital films and features that are accessible anywhere, analyze the details of each storefront so that you know what to expect.
