Tomasz Wadowski
If you have DVDs from the mid-2000s at home, you better check them – they may be slowly disintegrating! 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 rot". This is not a visible scratch or damage – the disc starts to literally break down 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 breakdown of the reflective layer. Over the years, the metal layer inside the disc begins to corrode, which means the DVD player cannot read the data. The effect? The film skips, strange artefacts appear, until eventually the disc completely stops working.
The problem appeared in the 90s with LaserDiscs, but no one expected it to affect DVDs as well. The issue came to light when Chris Bumbray from JoBlo was trying to watch The Passion of the Christ (1944) – the film suddenly froze. He thought it was the player’s fault, but quickly discovered that other collectors were having exactly the same problem.
How to check if your discs are at risk?
If you have Warner Bros films 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 spindle hole), it may mean that the disc has a limited lifespan.
List of the most well-known films that may be damaged:
🎬 The Shawshank Redemption
🎬 Blade Runner (Collector’s Edition)
🎬 Series of Superman films
🎬 Rebel Without a Cause
🎬 2001: A Space Odyssey (later releases)
The FlatPanels HD service published a complete list of titles at risk from this issue.
Warner Bros admits to the problem, but the exchange isn't that straightforward…
After the report about faulty discs spread across the internet, Warner Bros officially confirmed that there was indeed a production error and the company is prepared to exchange damaged discs. BUT… there are certain limitations:
✅ If the film is still on sale – you will receive a new disc.
❌ If the rights to the film have expired or it has been withdrawn – you will receive another film in return.
What to do to avoid losing your films?
Check your discs – look for the marking “IFPI 2U” and play the films 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 privacy 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 an exchange.
Why did this happen at all?
It is not exactly clear what went wrong, but many people suspect that in the mid-2000s, film studios began to cut 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 disappear forever. Fans of physical media really have a tough nut to crack.
Source: JoBlo, FlatPanels HD, SteveHoffman.tv forums.
