Kicking off my Blu-Ray collection in 2026 with The Super Mario Bros. Movie as my first pick!

Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit frustrated. You know that moment when you’re in the perfect mood to dive into a specific movie, only to discover it’s vanished from all the streaming services available on your TV? With my current subscriptions costing around $35 a month for the cheapest ad-supported tiers, I’ve grown tired of paying for the chance to watch my favorite films. That’s when the charm of physical media caught my attention.

I’m kicking off my Blu-Ray collection with The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It just got pulled from Netflix in the UK, which was the final straw for me, especially with the sequel’s release on the horizon. I’m craving some Illumination fun.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Blu-Ray is available for $10.99 on Amazon, which is $5 less than a month of Amazon Prime for unlimited viewing. That’s for the standard 1080p version, though—if I want to go all out with 4K, the prices can jump significantly.

4K: $25.99, $19.99 at Best Buy

UK: from £6.99 at Amazon

There’s something heartwarming about an animated film based on childhood video games. These are the kinds of movies I want to have on hand whenever I need a pick-me-up, without the hassle of figuring out which service will charge me to watch.

I’m not exactly a film aficionado (as you can probably tell from this being my first choice). In fact, I don’t often enjoy movies at all. The internet has scrambled my brain to the point where sitting through two hours of the same story can feel like a chore. However, there are some films I can’t resist, and these comfort flicks are even more satisfying when I know they won’t disappear from my collection unexpectedly. Plus, having a shelf full of cases feels oddly comforting for someone like me who grew up in the ’90s.

Then there’s the cost. Building a full 4K collection will likely set me back about $20 per disc—not outrageous, but not exactly pocket change either. So, it doesn’t make much sense to completely ditch streaming services for physical copies. I’d need to find space for all those movies in my home, and I’ve already consumed way more than a Blu-Ray’s worth of content for $35 this year.

My Blu-Ray collection will be pretty selective. I already have a few discs for testing the best projectors for gaming. If I stick to my plan, I’ll only grab the movies I know I’ll always want to watch—leaving the exploration to streaming services.

Also, for Mario fans in the US, you can catch The Super Mario Bros. Movie on Amazon Prime Video, but only for the next seven days…

If you’re traveling and can’t make it back in time, you can always use a VPN to watch from anywhere. Setting your location to home will unlock the full catalog, so you won’t miss out on our favorite plumber.

A popular VPN is currently offering a 70% discount on their basic plan, bringing it down to $3.39 a month, and they still provide a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you prefer to stick with digital, consider checking out the latest bundles or free trials available on various streaming platforms.

Disclaimer: We recommend VPN services for legal recreational uses, such as accessing services from other countries (in accordance with their terms) and enhancing your online security and privacy while traveling. We do not endorse or support illegal activities, including consuming pirated content.