Warner Archive Collection
{{Short description|Home video line from Warner Home Video}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Warner Archive Collection
| logo = Warner Archive Collection Logo.png
| logo_size = 275
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2024
| type = Division
| industry = Home video
| founded = {{Start date and age|2009|3|23}}
| products = Home video releases
| services = Digital distribution
Physical distribution
| parent = Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
}}
The Warner Archive Collection is a home video division for releasing classic and cult films from Warner Bros.' library.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/articles/2016/05/24/warner-archive-rolls-along/|title=Warner Archive Rolls Along|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-date=2020-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810113133/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/articles/2016/05/24/warner-archive-rolls-along|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/3171-WARNER-ARCHIVE-RELEASES-ANOTHER-BATCH-OF-RARE-MOVIES-AND-OFFERS-A-THREE-FOR-TWO-DVD-DEAL.html |title=WARNER ARCHIVE RELEASES ANOTHER BATCH OF RARE MOVIES - AND OFFERS A THREE FOR TWO DVD DEAL |website=cinemaretro.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221182620/http://cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/3171-WARNER-ARCHIVE-RELEASES-ANOTHER-BATCH-OF-RARE-MOVIES-AND-OFFERS-A-THREE-FOR-TWO-DVD-DEAL.html |archive-date=21 December 2016 |url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|title=Warner Bros. Launches Warner Archive Collection|url=https://www.enewsi.com/news.php?itemid=14813|access-date=18 April 2011|archive-date=22 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322213807/http://www.enewsi.com/news.php?itemid=14813|url-status=live}} In November 2012, Warner expanded the Archive Collection to include Blu-ray releases.{{Cite web|url=https://www.criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=412129|title=• View topic - Warner Brothers Archive Collection Blu-rays|website=www.criterionforum.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-04-18|archive-date=2017-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419101444/http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=412129|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d3V7CxuY8g|title=A note on the format of our Warner Archive Blu-ray discs. (YouTube)|website=YouTube|date=23 October 2014 |access-date=2019-12-06|archive-date=2020-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625155804/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2d3V7CxuY8g&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}} 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. However, 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 than that of traditional mass-produced discs. Warner Archive claim the discs are indistinguishable in quality from to their mass produced counterparts.{{cite web|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/warner-archive-celebrates-10th-anniversary/|publisher=Media Play News|title=Warner Archive Celebrates 10th Anniversary|author=Stephanie Prange|date=9 April 2019|access-date=2020-10-09|archive-date=2020-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925152956/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/warner-archive-celebrates-10th-anniversary/|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2014/02/01/cutting-the-cord-warner-instant-archive/5083207/ | title=Cutting the Cord: Warner Archive Instant delivers a stream of rarities | work=USA Today | date=1 February 2014 | access-date=13 September 2014 | author=Snider, Mike | archive-date=16 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216201110/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2014/02/01/cutting-the-cord-warner-instant-archive/5083207/ | url-status=live }} In 2018, Warner Archive Instant merged with its sister service FilmStruck.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/turner-filmstruck-warner-bros-classic-films-warner-archive-shut-down-1202709741/|title=Turner's FilmStruck Adds Warner Bros. Classic Films, As Warner Archive Service Winds Down|first=Todd|last=Spangler|date=February 26, 2018|access-date=August 6, 2018|archive-date=August 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807035720/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/turner-filmstruck-warner-bros-classic-films-warner-archive-shut-down-1202709741/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/filmstruck-shutdown-warnermedia-turner-1202998364/|title=WarnerMedia to Shut Down FilmStruck Subscription-Streaming Service|website=Variety|first=Todd|last=Spangler|date=October 26, 2018|access-date=October 26, 2018|archive-date=October 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026150806/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/filmstruck-shutdown-warnermedia-turner-1202998364/|url-status=live}}
Collection and operations
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,{{cite web|url=http://www.alliedvaughn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/AVMOD-Newsletter-Vol-9-Iss-17.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325145051/http://www.alliedvaughn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/AVMOD-Newsletter-Vol-9-Iss-17.pdf |url-status=live|archive-date=2020-03-25 | title=The future delivered now. Powering today's leading entertainment supply chain.}} {{cite web|title=Sony Bows Screen Classics On Demand DVD|url=https://www.homemediamagazine.com/sony-pictures/sony-bows-screen-%E2%80%98classics%E2%80%99-on-demand-dvd-20585|access-date=18 April 2011|archive-date=26 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926180051/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/sony-pictures/sony-bows-screen-%E2%80%98classics%E2%80%99-on-demand-dvd-20585|url-status=live}} Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,{{cite web|title=MGM on MOD: The MGM Limited Edition Collection|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/videodrone-blogpost.aspx?post=93fbd064-3428-4033-9831-964260f9dfeb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319010958/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/movies/blogs/videodrone-blogpost.aspx?post=93fbd064-3428-4033-9831-964260f9dfeb|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 March 2012|access-date=18 April 2011}} Universal Pictures,{{cite web|title=Universal Vault Series opens at Amazon|url=http://www.killerfilm.com/articles/read/universal-vault-series-opens-at-amazon-23965|access-date=29 April 2011|archive-date=23 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223202041/http://www.killerfilm.com/articles/read/universal-vault-series-opens-at-amazon-23965|url-status=dead}} Walt Disney Studios,{{cite web|title=Amazon Adds More Classic Content for Customers to Enjoy in the "Never Before on DVD" Store |url=https://www.createspace.com/Special/PRArchive/2012/20120523_MoreClassicContent.jsp |date=23 May 2012 |website=CreateSpace |access-date=19 April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927004935/https://www.createspace.com/Special/PRArchive/2012/20120523_MoreClassicContent.jsp |archive-date=27 September 2012 }} and 20th Century Studios{{cite web|title=DVD Extra: Selznick's busy RKO year; Fox unveils first MOD slate|url=https://nypost.com/p/blogs/movies/slate_extra_selznick_busy_rko_year_vICHuCtouImBWmB3tEhy8M#ixzz1wHJu2w8j|access-date=18 August 2012|archive-date=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701190244/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies/slate_extra_selznick_busy_rko_year_vICHuCtouImBWmB3tEhy8M#ixzz1wHJu2w8j|url-status=live}} 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,{{cite web|title=Lionsgate Home Entertainment to Release More Than 100 Titles on DVD Through CreateSpace's On Demand Service|url=http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&sid=aEBVPPTuBdVA|access-date=21 April 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121011424/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aEBVPPTuBdVA|archive-date=2013-01-21}} CBS, MTV, and Nickelodeon have also started to offer MOD discs of catalog titles through Amazon CreateSpace. 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.[https://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2011/04_11/0401311_warner.html WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION TO OFFER TITLES FROM SONY PICTURES' "SCREEN CLASSICS BY REQUEST"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325145049/https://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2011/04_11/0401311_warner.html |date=2020-03-25 }}, sonypictures.com MGM Limited Edition titles are also sold through Warner Archive.{{cite news|title=MOD Movies for Intrepid Cineastes|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303425504577351841287690920|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=28 May 2012|access-date=26 December 2012|last1=Mermelstein|first1=David|archive-date=14 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314151620/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303425504577351841287690920|url-status=live}} In 2013, as part of Paramount's agreement with Warner Bros., select Paramount titles were released under the Warner Archive moniker.
= Blu-ray =
The Archive Collection began releasing titles on Blu-ray in November 2012, with the first two releases being Deathtrap and Gypsy.{{cite web|title=The Warner Archives Collection Announces First MOD Blu-rays|url=https://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Disc_Announcements/Warner_Archive_Collection/The_Warner_Archives_Collection_Announces_First_MOD_Blu-rays/10544|publisher=Hi Def Digest|access-date=26 December 2012|archive-date=21 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221065145/http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Disc_Announcements/Warner_Archive_Collection/The_Warner_Archives_Collection_Announces_First_MOD_Blu-rays/10544|url-status=live}} Unlike their DVDs, all Warner Archive Blu-Rays use pressed discs.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
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 =
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.
In February 2018, Warner Archive retired its online streaming service, transferring several of its films to FilmStruck.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/filmstruck-adds-warner-bros-films-as-warner-archive-sunsets-1202301824|title=FilmStruck Adds Warner Bros. Films As Warner Archive Sunsets|website=Deadline|first=Bruce|last=Haring|date=February 26, 2018|access-date=September 24, 2019|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325145049/https://deadline.com/2018/02/filmstruck-adds-warner-bros-films-as-warner-archive-sunsets-1202301824/|url-status=dead}} It was discontinued as of November 29, 2018, and was replaced by HBO Max in 2020, which later shortened to just Max in 2023.
Music
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
- The Criterion Collection
- Mill Creek Entertainment (television series and movies library)
- Shout! Studios (television series and movies library)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.warnerbros.com/collections/warner-archive}}
{{Warner Bros.}}
{{Region 1 home video}}