Tomasz Wadowski
If you have DVDs at home from the mid-2000s, you better check them – they might be slowly deteriorating! It turns out that millions of Warner Bros discs sold between 2006 and 2008 have a serious manufacturing defect. The problem is called "laser rot," which literally means "disc decay." It's not a visible scratch or damage – the disc literally starts to crumble from the inside.
What is "laser rot"?
Most people think that DVDs and Blu-rays should last for decades, but laser rot is the chemical degradation of the reflective layer. Over the years, the metal layer inside the disc begins to corrode, causing the DVD player to be unable to read the data. The result? The film freezes, strange artifacts appear, and eventually, the disc completely stops working.
The problem emerged in the 1990s with LaserDiscs, but no one expected it to affect DVDs as well. The issue came to light when Chris Bumbray from JoBlo tried to watch The Passion of the Christ (1944) – the film suddenly stopped. He thought it was the player's fault, but soon discovered that other collectors were experiencing the exact same problem.
How to check if your discs are at risk?
If you have Warner Bros movies released between 2006 and 2008, take a close look at the disc. If you see the marking “IFPI 2U” in the inner ring (near the hole for the spindle), it may indicate that the disc has a limited lifespan.
Here’s a list of the most notable films that may be damaged:
🎬 The Shawshank Redemption
🎬 Blade Runner (Collector's Edition)
🎬 Superman film series
🎬 Rebel Without a Cause
🎬 2001: A Space Odyssey (later releases)
FlatPanels HD has published a complete list of titles affected by this issue.
Warner Bros admits to the problem, but the exchange is not that simple…
After the report about defective discs spread online, Warner Bros officially confirmed that there was indeed a manufacturing error and the company is willing to replace the damaged discs. BUT… there are some limitations:
✅ If the movie is still on sale – you will receive a new disc.
❌ If the rights to the movie have expired or it has been withdrawn – you will receive another movie in return.
What to do to avoid losing your movies?
Check your discs – look for the designation "IFPI 2U" and play the movies to see if they work.
If the disc works, make a backup – According to Polish law, making backups for personal use is allowed. However, problems arise with technically protected discs – bypassing them, even in the comfort of your home, is illegal. Of course, we do not encourage such actions.
Contact Warner Bros – send an email to whv@wbd.com, attach proof of purchase, and request a replacement.
Why did this happen at all?
It is not exactly known what went wrong, but many people suspect that in the mid-2000s, film studios began cutting costs on DVD production. Cheaper materials and new production processes may have made discs from that period more susceptible to degradation.
The moral of this story? Physical media are not eternal
For many collectors, this is further proof that DVDs and Blu-rays are not as durable as once thought. In the age of streaming, some classic films are still available online, but many director's cuts, commentaries, and extras may vanish forever.
Source: JoBlo, FlatPanels HD, SteveHoffman.tv forums.
