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Warner Archive Collection

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Warner Archive Collection
IndustryHome video
FoundedMarch 23, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-03-23)
ParentWarner Bros. Home Entertainment

The Warner Archive Collection is a home video division for releasing classic and cult films from Warner Bros.' library.[1][2] It started as a manufactured-on-demand (MOD) DVD series by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 23, 2009, with the intention of putting previously unreleased catalog films on DVD for the first time.[3] In November 2012, Warner expanded the Archive Collection to include Blu-ray releases,[4][5] Some Warner Archive releases, such as Wise Guys, previously had a pressed DVD release but have lapsed out of print and have since been re-released as part of the Warner Archive collection.

DVDs are manufactured on-demand for the consumer and authorized distributors for online resale using DVD-R Recordable media rather than the traditional business model of pressing large batches of discs that ship to "brick and mortar" retailers. This saves on the costs of storing unsold stock in a warehouse and mitigates the risk of a retailer holding unsold merchandise, especially since the majority of the films in the archive do not have widespread public demand. Unfortunately, the use of DVD-R Recordable media for manufacturing DVDs on-demand created an opportunity for the sale of counterfeit DVDs, as their quality was much easier to replicate compared to traditional mass-produced discs. Warner Archive claim the discs are indistinguishable in quality compared to their mass produced counterparts.[6]

In addition, Warner Archive also sells films and television shows as downloadable Windows Media files, and formerly operated a subscription-based streaming video service, Warner Archive Instant, which allowed members to stream many of the Warner Archive properties in a format similar to Netflix.[7] In 2018, Warner Archive Instant merged with its sister service FilmStruck.[8] The combined FilmStruck / Warner Archive streaming service was discontinued on November 29, 2018, and was replaced by HBO Max, which shortened its name to just Max in 2023.[9]

Collection and operations

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The collection consists of theatrical films, television shows, and television films from the libraries of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment Co. (including pre-May 1986 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Associated Artists Productions, RKO Radio Pictures, Brut Productions, Hanna-Barbera Productions, and pre-1991 Ruby-Spears Enterprises), HBO, Lorimar Productions, Warner Bros. Television, post-August 1946 Allied Artists Pictures, post-1946 Monogram Pictures, Largo Entertainment, post-November 1984 New Line Cinema and post-1994 Castle Rock Entertainment.

Sony Pictures (including Columbia Pictures titles), Paramount Pictures,[10][11] Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,[12] Universal Pictures,[13] Walt Disney Studios,[14] and 20th Century Studios[15] have also started MOD services after the success of Warner Archive. Their services are named Sony Pictures Choice Collection (formerly Screen Classics By Request), MGM Limited Edition Collection, Universal Vault Series, Disney Generations Collection, and Fox Cinema Archives, respectively. Including Warner, major film studios and including Lionsgate,[16] CBS, MTV, and Nickelodeon have also started to offer MOD discs of catalog titles through Amazon CreateSpace.[14] On April 13, 2011, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced that Warner Archive will offer on-demand titles from Sony.[17] MGM Limited Edition titles are also sold through Warner Archive.[18] In 2013, as part of Paramount's agreement with Warner Bros., select Paramount titles were released under the Warner Archive moniker.

Blu-ray

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In November 2012, the Archive collection began releasing titles on Blu-ray, with the first two releases being Deathtrap and Gypsy.[19] Unlike their DVDs all Warner Archive Blu-Rays use pressed discs.[citation needed]

Over the years, Warner Archive's Blu-ray releases expanded to include season sets of current television series, such as iZombie, The 100, Longmire, The Originals, Lucifer, Lethal Weapon, Ballers and Final Space.

Streaming

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Expanding their films' availability to Internet streaming, in July 2014, Warner Archive introduced the Warner Archive Instant service. Similar to Netflix, Warner Archive Instant allowed its members access to various Warner Archive library titles via their website, in addition to apps for Roku and iOS-based devices.[7]

In February 2018, Warner Archive retired its online streaming service, transferring several of its films to FilmStruck.[20] It was discontinued as of November 29, 2018, and was replaced by HBO Max in 2020, which later shortened to just Max in 2023.[9]

Music

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WaterTower Music with Linn now also reporting to Paul Broucek, president, music, Warner Bros. Pictures. In March 2015, the company switched distribution from Turner Classic Movies, and was replaced by Rhino Movie Music in 2015, which later soundtrack to just WaterTower Music in 2015.

Licensors

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References

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  1. ^ "Warner Archive Rolls Along". Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  2. ^ "WARNER ARCHIVE RELEASES ANOTHER BATCH OF RARE MOVIES - AND OFFERS A THREE FOR TWO DVD DEAL". cinemaretro.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Warner Bros. Launches Warner Archive Collection". Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  4. ^ "• View topic - Warner Brothers Archive Collection Blu-rays". www.criterionforum.org. Archived from the original on 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
  5. ^ "A note on the format of our Warner Archive Blu-ray discs. (YouTube)". YouTube. 23 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  6. ^ Stephanie Prange (9 April 2019). "Warner Archive Celebrates 10th Anniversary". Media Play News. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  7. ^ a b Snider, Mike (1 February 2014). "Cutting the Cord: Warner Archive Instant delivers a stream of rarities". USA Today. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  8. ^ Spangler, Todd (February 26, 2018). "Turner's FilmStruck Adds Warner Bros. Classic Films, As Warner Archive Service Winds Down". Archived from the original on August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Spangler, Todd (October 26, 2018). "WarnerMedia to Shut Down FilmStruck Subscription-Streaming Service". Variety. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  10. ^ "The future delivered now. Powering today's leading entertainment supply chain" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-03-25.
  11. ^ "Sony Bows Screen Classics On Demand DVD". Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  12. ^ "MGM on MOD: The MGM Limited Edition Collection". Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  13. ^ "Universal Vault Series opens at Amazon". Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Amazon Adds More Classic Content for Customers to Enjoy in the "Never Before on DVD" Store". CreateSpace. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  15. ^ "DVD Extra: Selznick's busy RKO year; Fox unveils first MOD slate". Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  16. ^ "Lionsgate Home Entertainment to Release More Than 100 Titles on DVD Through CreateSpace's On Demand Service". Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  17. ^ WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION TO OFFER TITLES FROM SONY PICTURES' "SCREEN CLASSICS BY REQUEST" Archived 2020-03-25 at the Wayback Machine, sonypictures.com
  18. ^ Mermelstein, David (28 May 2012). "MOD Movies for Intrepid Cineastes". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  19. ^ "The Warner Archives Collection Announces First MOD Blu-rays". Hi Def Digest. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  20. ^ Haring, Bruce (February 26, 2018). "FilmStruck Adds Warner Bros. Films As Warner Archive Sunsets". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
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