Why isn't Tron out on DVD?

[Greylock Crescent]

Because, obviously, if you have to pay $94 for a copy from a third-party vendor, then the film is no longer "in print" from Disney -- otherwise it'd available from Amazon.com at a reasonable price. The DVD was released a while back, it's true, but it's not currently available from Disney. A curious decision to make before the new film is released.

That's all rather easily deduced from the OP. Not sure where the confusion would be coming from.

 

[DimesDan]

Because, obviously, if you have to pay $94 for a copy from a third-party vendor, then the film is no longer "in print" from Disney -- otherwise it'd available from Amazon.com at a reasonable price. The DVD was released a while back, it's true, but it's not currently available from Disney. A curious decision to make before the new film is released.

That's all rather easily deduced from the OP. Not sure where the confusion would be coming from.

Ah yes, Amazon.com, the be all and end all of the Amazon Empire. I take it then you didn't look at my link, ok, with having to fling it across the pond, it might be a bit more expensive, but I doubt it will come to anywhere near nearly $100.

 

[Harvey]

I seem to recall that, in the months prior to Salvation, there was a distinct lack of Terminator DVDs out on the shelves -- and I looked, too. Though I don't think it was to the extent that we see for TRON, I do think the film studios are deliberately withholding reissues prior to new flicks. Why? Who the heck knows.

End of line.

TERMINATOR SALVATION is a special case, since the rights for each film are all held by different corporate entities (which is why there's never been a TERMINATOR Box-Set, or even a 2-Pack, in any form).

 

[Owain Taggart]

Err, it is on DVD. I picked up the 20th Anniversary Edition on DVD awhile back.

While it is possible to obtain older editions of the movie on DVD, it isn't currently "in print." Netflix doesn't have it available for rental. Amazon.com doesn't have it in stock, though it has links to other vendors that have used or rare copies for high prices. I've requested a copy from my library, but they're all checked out and I don't know how long the waiting list will be. This is definitely a case where the demand exceeds the supply.

I find the "no new DVD until the sequel comes out on DVD" policy rather bizarre and very manipulative of the audience. "Hey, we can make more money by depriving the customers of something they want!"

Not in stock at Amazon? That's where I bought it awhile back. I bought it earlier this year, in fact, and it wasn't from one of the merchants. I'd always thought they'd be the one to have it if nowhere else did. Guess I bought it at the right time, and glad I did.

 

[Dick Whitman]

There was an article about this subject in my local paper this week. It mentioned that the director has supervised a new High DEF master of the film. Disney is probably saving it for the sequel's DVD release.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I'm surprised that Netflix doesn't have it though, I wouldn't think going out of print would prevent them from renting the older discs.

 

[flipjack]

I'm surprised that Netflix doesn't have it though, I wouldn't think going out of print would prevent them from renting the older discs.

But Disney would. It's all about supply and demand. Apparently this business model makes more money for them. And like the Simpsons said: "Sorry, there's money to be had."

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I guess I just didn't think Disney could prevent them. Does that mean all the brick and mortar stores out there have had to pull it from their shelves?

 

[Trekker4747]

Tron IS out on DVD. It has been for some time.

Don't know why it isn't out on Blu-Ray, though.

It is?! So I can, like, go to Best Buy right now and buy it?

Or do you mean it WAS put out on DVD with a rather so-so release and then "vaulted" so now you can only get $100 copies on Amazon or eBay rather than paying $20 for it like a normal release?

I'm aware a DVD release already exists, I've borrowed it from a friend who had it. It's not a very impressive relase for me with crummy menus and special features. Given it's a some 30 year old movie I guess the release isn't too bad but you'd really think with a sequel coming out and with loads of people out there who've never seen, or heard of, the movie until the sequel was announced that NOW would be a good time to release it. How are you going to bring in new fans to watch your new movie if they've never seen the original?

A BD release for this movie will be cool but I'm also not entirely sure how much the effects and washed-out/colorless faces of the actors will be improved by a BD release.

It just strikes me as foolish to put a sequel out there yet have the predecessor be all but impossible to get a hold of.

 

[PsychoPere]

Tron IS out on DVD. It has been for some time.
Don't know why it isn't out on Blu-Ray, though.

It is?! So I can, like, go to Best Buy right now and buy it?

I know you're already well aware , but for the benefit of others who may still be confused by this "out of print" issue:

BestBuy.com doesn't even have a listing for Tron at this point. One can find the old entry via Google's cache, however, where the status of the DVD was "Not available" on October 12, when that version of the page was saved by Google.

 

[Harvey]

I'm aware a DVD release already exists, I've borrowed it from a friend who had it. It's not a very impressive relase for me with crummy menus and special features.

Huh? Are you sure you had the 2-disc anniversary edition, because I checked that out from the library about a year ago and it featured a plethora of special features, including a documentary (by Robert Meyer Burnett) that was longer than the film itself.

 

[Trekker4747]

I'm aware a DVD release already exists, I've borrowed it from a friend who had it. It's not a very impressive relase for me with crummy menus and special features.

Huh? Are you sure you had the 2-disc anniversary edition, because I checked that out from the library about a year ago and it featured a plethora of special features, including a documentary (by Robert Meyer Burnett) that was longer than the film itself.

It was the 2-disc version and, yeah, I didn't really dig too deep into the special features. But what I saw of them didn't leave me too impressed but special features rarely do anything for me anymore unless there's something really impressive there.

 

[Harvey]

Fair enough, but they're hardly shallow special features. They were, to be honest, far more interesting to look at than the feature film itself (which is intensely dated and has a flimsy story, though the cell-animation is cool). Definitely worth a second look.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

≈
I find the "no new DVD until the sequel comes out on DVD" policy rather bizarre and very manipulative of the audience. "Hey, we can make more money by depriving the customers of something they want!"

Isn't that why the LOTR Extended cuts aren't out on Blu-Ray yet? I thought they were being held up until Hobbit comes out.

And by that I hope it means until the film comes out *in theaters*. Having to wait all the way until Hobbit also makes it to home video will be way too long, IMHO.

 

[tomalak301]

Does anyone know if there is a way to watch the film between now and when the sequel comes out? Maybe it's available, but I don't want to buy it and it's not worth just watching once. I just want to watch the film before Legacy comes out and hopefully that happens some how, be on Netflix, On Demand, or on Cable somewhere.

 

[bigdaddy]

I find the "no new DVD until the sequel comes out on DVD" policy rather bizarre and very manipulative of the audience. "Hey, we can make more money by depriving the customers of something they want!"

This is the sane company that wrecks childhoods by sticking movies in vaults. So they are nuts.

 

[UssGlenn]

I watched it through Netflix in December of last year. Now that I need it to show to my girlfriend before the next one comes out, its not available anymore. While its possible that Disney asked them to make it unavailable, its much more likely that given the scarisity, all the copies they had are either worn out or stolen (reported missing by the recipients) and they have no way to get more.

 

[lennier1]

I find the "no new DVD until the sequel comes out on DVD" policy rather bizarre and very manipulative of the audience. "Hey, we can make more money by depriving the customers of something they want!"

In the end they're only hurting themself, since it makes it more likely that people will resort to less legal means to watch it.

 

[Aragorn]

Does anyone know if there is a way to watch the film between now and when the sequel comes out? Maybe it's available, but I don't want to buy it and it's not worth just watching once. I just want to watch the film before Legacy comes out and hopefully that happens some how, be on Netflix, On Demand, or on Cable somewhere.

Blockbuster? Maybe someone here can burn you a copy.

 

[Hyperspace05]

I am most annoyed that Netflix does not carry Tron. I guess I'll have to check my local Blockbuster (haven't been there in years) to see if they have a copy - if they still are in business.