The Final Flicks: LaserDisc’s Last Stand in Film History
LaserDisc was an innovative physical media format launched in the late 1970s, eventually overtaken by DVD. The last movies released on LaserDisc were Tokyo Raiders in Japan (2001) and Bringing out the Dead in North America (2000).
Before DVDs took over lounge rooms across the country, there was another bit of tech that made a splash in the world of home entertainment: LaserDisc. These days, talking about old-school physical formats can feel a bit like taking the mickey out of yourself, especially when most punters are glued to streaming services or digital downloads. Sure, vinyl’s still got its fans, but for most, digital is just easier, quicker, and usually looks and sounds better. Mention LaserDisc to anyone under thirty and you’ll probably get a blank stare. It’s not exactly a household name, mostly because it never really took off everywhere. Japan and North America were the main spots where it found a bit of a following.
LaserDisc’s Rise and Early Days
Back in the late 1970s, MCA and Philips rolled out this new format, first calling it DiscoVision before switching to LaserDisc. To get things moving, they needed a big title to show off what it could do, so they kicked things off with Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. Once it got going, people noticed the sound and picture were a step up from what they were used to. But the good times didn’t last. When DVDs hit the shelves, LaserDiscs started to look a bit clunky. The discs themselves were massive—about 12 inches across—and DVDs were cheaper, smaller, and had better features. Plus, the DVD crowd was growing fast, and LaserDisc just couldn’t keep up.
The End of an Era
By the time the 1990s rolled around, LaserDisc was on its last legs. DVDs were everywhere, and most folks didn’t even notice the old format fading away. The only ones who really cared were the die-hard collectors and those who’d built up a stash over the years. For everyone else, DVDs were a welcome change. By 2001, LaserDisc was pretty much finished, though Pioneer kept making players for a while after that. The last film to come out on LaserDisc in Japan was the Hong Kong action flick Tokyo Raiders in 2001. Over in North America, Martin Scorsese’s Bringing out the Dead was the final release in 2000.
Collectors and Cult Classics
Even though it’s long gone from the mainstream, LaserDisc isn’t seen as a flop by everyone. Tech buffs and collectors still reckon there’s something special about it, especially when it comes to rare titles you can’t get anywhere else. For example, Disney’s Song of the South was released on LaserDisc in Japan, but you won’t find it on any US format. Most films have made their way to other formats, but there are still a few that are tricky to track down unless you’ve got a LaserDisc player handy. There’s a certain charm to owning these big, shiny discs, especially knowing they were part of the early days of home entertainment and paved the way for what came next.