Making the switch (back?) to physical media offers various advantages in the age of streaming and digital downloads. Along with ensuring you genuinely own the content you’re buying, DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K discs offer superior audio and video quality, often come packed with supplemental features, and may even enhance your sense of personal connection to the art you enjoy.

However, if it’s been a while since you’ve been in the habit of purchasing discs, the experience might be a little more overwhelming than expected. Among other reasons, this can be at least partially due to the fact that there are often multiple versions of the same title available on physical formats. A common distinction is the “bare-bones” DVD or Blu-ray alongside a pricier “special edition.”

What makes a special edition “special” can vary from one title to another. Thus, when determining whether to buy the standard disc or the premium release, you should account for several factors.

Look into the supplemental features

The bonus features special editions offer aren’t all universally impressive

Again, no two special editions DVDs, Blu-rays, or 4K discs are necessarily the same. You need to investigate the specific features of a disc you’re thinking about buying to decide whether it’s worth your money.

For example, one of the main differences between a standard disc and a special edition is that a special edition will often come with substantially more bonus content. That doesn’t mean this content is always worth spending extra money on.

Sometimes, particularly when they’re released via boutique labels like Criterion, special editions of movies come with additional content that’s arguably as attractive as the film or series itself. For argument’s sake, let’s say this content takes the form of a documentary that offers a unique, retrospective look back at a significant work of cinematic art. This documentary may be reasonably lengthy and could even stand alone as its own film.

Compare that to the type of studio-approved behind-the-scenes featurettes that sometimes constitute “documentaries” on some so-called special edition versions of physical media releases. This content is usually surface-level, functioning more as marketing content than anything else. You might understandably decide this type of bonus feature doesn’t justify any significant added cost.

That’s just one example. The point is that you should research the special features of a premium disc you’re not sure you want to buy. Various platforms offer reviews of discs, so you can learn more about the strengths of the bonus content. Taking time to do a little research can help you better determine if a special edition is a worthwhile investment.

Check to see if the bonus content is available elsewhere

The bonus content of some older discs might be online already

Maybe you want to save money, and thus wish to avoid making wasteful purchases on special editions DVDs and Blu-rays you don’t need. However, maybe the bonus content of a particular disc is calling to you.

Before spending money you might be better off saving, look into whether that bonus content is available online. Sometimes, such as when a disc is relatively old, it’s bonus content (such as behind-the-scenes documentaries, deleted scenes, and trailers) might have made its way onto YouTube or other such platforms. This could offer a cost-effective way to enjoy a special edition’s supplemental features without paying special edition prices.

Some streaming platforms also offer bonus features. For example, the Criterion Collection’s streaming platform often includes the audio commentaries its discs come with. The main point to understand is that a special edition offering various pieces of bonus content might not be the only way to access said content.

Check the technical details

Some special editions offer better audio and video than standard editions

It can’t be reiterated enough: The term “special edition,” at least when applied to physical media releases of movies and series, is a general term referring to various types of releases. Some special editions are released at the same time standard editions are released. In this case, the difference between a standard edition and a special edition is likely to primarily concern bonus features.

On the other hand, there are instances when studios and boutique labels may release special edition versions of discs years after releasing the standard versions. Although this isn’t always the case, they may do so because they’ve remastered the film or otherwise improved the audio and video quality. Because superior quality is one of the many reasons to spend money on physical media in the first place, this might be a good reason to opt for a special edition of a standard release.

Of course, you have to account for practical details when buying physical media. You shouldn’t blow your budget just because a special edition version of a movie you love boasts appealing features. Remember, if you want a particular disc, but don’t want to spend full price, there are various ways to build a physical media collection without breaking the bank.