One of the benefits of buying physical media in the age of streaming is that you can often find DVDs going fairly cheap online or in second hand shops (thrift stores in the US). One great source or DVDs in the UK right now are charity shops.

Since the days of the pandemic, when people started rearranging their furniture and having a good clear out, many households are thinning out their DVD collections and sending them straight to charity shops. And in some cases, it’s less of a ‘thinning out’ and more of a throwing out.

It’s of course a sad situation for the once mighty DVDs, but it’s a great time for collectors of physical media. UK charity shops now have plenty of DVDs on their shelves, and they are going cheap!

I’ve recently started DVD hunting, to fill out my collection a little, and have been pleasantly surprised and impressed with the spoils. There are some great finds to be found, so long as you look around.

Sure, there are copious copies of American Pie, Mamma Mia!, and Bridesmaids clogging up the shelves (all good films, but jeez, they are everywhere), but there’s are also lots of obscure titles and hidden gems amongst the usual suspects. Heck, you might even find The Usual Suspects in the mix, if you know where to rummage.

And the best thing? The offers!

In the UK, some charity shops sell four DVDs for £1, while others sell five. I’ve even found one shop that does a mighty ten for £1.

You often need to shop around to find the best titles, and some times you do have to deal with the pitfalls of buying used goods (scratched discs, cases clearly used as an ash tray, etc), but if you don’t mind digging in deep, you can come away with bargains. Literally you could have arms filled with goodies, and all for the price of a lottery scratch card or a can of Coke.

Actually, can you even buy a can of Coke for £1 these days? Answers on a postcard, please.

Anyway, I’ve recently found a complete treasure trove of a charity shop (within walking distance), which has been wheeling out unexpected titles with regularity. This place is a goldmine at present, having recently received an influx of over one thousand discs!

How do I know this? Because I was stood in the shop when nine heaped boxes of DVDs were brought in and handed over the counter. 

Since witnessing this marvellous moment, I’ve been back and forth to the shop to see what is put on the shelves. Below is an example of some of the DVDs I’ve recently come away with.

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Somewhere in Time (1980) – DVD

Romantic fantasy from director Jeannot Szwarc. Based on Richard Matheson’s novel, Bid Time Return, the film stars Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer.

The blurb reads: “The story of a young writer who sacrifices his life in the present to find happiness in the past, where true love awaits him. 

“Young Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) is approached by an elderly woman who gives him an antique gold watch and who pleads with him to return in time with her. Years later, Richard Collier is overwhelmed by a photograph of a beautiful young woman (Jane Seymour). 

“Another picture of this woman in her later years reveals to him that she is the same woman who had given him the gold watch. Collier then becomes obsessed with returning to 1912 and the beautiful young woman who awaits him there.”

Bonus features: Back to Somewhere in Time, an original documentary; Production Photographs; Feature Commentary with Director Jeannot Szwarc; Theatrical Trailer.

Condition: Excellent. Truly excellent. Disc, case, and cover artwork as new. An awesome find!

Cost: 20p (five for £1). If I was to buy a copy of this brand-new it would cost £10.99.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Slim! It’s difficult enough to find the Supermanmovies, let alone a more obscure Christopher Reeve movie co-starring Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman!

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Only You (1994) – DVD

Oft-forgotten mid-‘90s romantic comedy from director Norman Jewison. Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, and Bonnie Hunt star.

The blurb reads: “From the Oscar-winning director of Moonstruck, comes a star studded, irresistibly romantic comedy about a once-in-a-lifetime date with destiny.

“Faith (Marisa Tomei – My Cousin Vinny) is looking for her soul mate… but he’s not the man she’s about to marry! She’s known his name – Damon Bradley – since childhood, but that’s all the Ouija board and the fortune teller ever told her.

“Now, following a slim lead, and with best friend Kate (Bonnie Hunt – Jerry Maguire) in tow, Faith takes off to Italy in a last-ditch attempt to find her destiny. Here she stumbles into Peter (Robert Downey Jr. – Chaplin) who doesn’t need a Ouija board to tell him that Faith is his soul mate. The only trouble is, his name doesn’t fit the bill – and Faith is determined that her romantic quest must continue.

“From the stunning Adriatic to the cliffs of the Amalfi coast, Faith chases her destiny… and Peter chases Faith ever hopeful that her ‘Mr Wrong’ can eventually become ‘Mr Right’.”

Bonus features: Filmographies; Featurette; Theatrical Trailer; Behind the Scenes Interviews.

Condition: As new and in its original pink case.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). This film isn’t available on disc at present, so picking it up for just 20p is fantastic.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Very unlikely. Would need a Ouija board to track this one down.

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Jaws (1975) – DVD

Seminal horror blockbuster from director Steven Spielberg. Based on Peter Benchley’s novel of the same name, the film stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, and Lorraine Gary.

The blurb reads: “This special 25th anniversary edition is digitally mastered and contains exclusive footage, interviews, and behind-the-scenes material.

“Steven Spielberg directed this classic film that became one of the most enduring action-suspense films of all time.

“‘Jaws’ was an instant blockbuster, a phenomenon, and today it is still among the highest grossing films in motion picture history, acclaimed by critics and audiences alike.

“Rediscover the timeless film that continues to make entire generations afraid to go in the water.”

Bonus features: 50 Minute ‘The Making of Jaws’ Documentary; Deleted Scenes; Outtakes; 720 Photos; Shark Trivia Game – ‘Get Out of the Water’; Screen Savers; Shark World; 3 Trailers; Animated Menus; Production Notes; Cast and Filmmakers’ Notes.

Condition: 25th anniversary edition, unopened, still sealed from 2000(!!!), with an old WH Smith price label on the front.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). If I was to buy a copy from a regular shop, it currently would cost £6.99.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Somewhat likely to find Jaws, but unlikely to find a copy still sealed from the year 2000.

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The Cave (2005) – DVD 

‘00s horror movie from director Bruce Hunt. Cast includes Cole Hauser, Morris Chestnut, Piper Perabo, and Lena Headey.

The blurb reads: “Deep in the Romanian forest, a team of scientists stumbles upon the ruins of a 13th century Abbey. On further inspection, they make a startling discovery – the Abbey is built over the entrance to a giant underground cave system. 

“Local biologists believe the cave could be home to an undiscovered eco-system, so they hire a group of American cave-explorers to help them investigate its depths. Jack (Cole Hauser) and his brother Tyler (Eddie Cibrian) are thrill-seeking professional cave explorers who run a team of the top divers in the world. They arrive in Romania with all the latest equipment, including a new type of scuba tank allowing a diver to remain submerged for up to 24 hours.

“The crack unit, which also includes Charlie (Piper Perabo) and Buchanan (Morris Chestnut) immediately begins their exploration. But what they find deep inside the cave is not just a new eco-system, but an entirely new species altogether…”

Bonus features: Into The Cave Featurette; Designing Evolution: Tatopoulas Studios.

Condition: Case was a bit dusty and a little scuffed, so I replaced it with a spare case. Disc and cover artwork immaculate.

Cost: 20p (five for £1). Another bargain, as this film is not currently available on disc in the UK.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Unlikely.

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Spider-Man 2.1 (2004) – DVD

Special two-disc extended edition of Director Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2. Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and Alfred Molina are amongst the cast of this superb Spidey sequel.

Bonus features: (Disc One) Feature Film including 2 Brand New Scenes; 8 Mins Extra Footage Edited by Sam Raimi; Audio Commentary with Producer Laura Ziskin and Screenwriter Alvin Sargent; Spidey-Sense Branching Featurette; (Disc Two) Sneak Peak Spider-Man 3 Featurette & Trailer; BFX Breakdown – A Look at the Visual Effects of Spider-Man 2.1; Inside 2.1 Documentary; Villains of Spider-Man 2.1Featurette; With Great Effort Comes Great Recognition Featurette; Multi-Angle Score.

Condition: Perfect, as new. 

Cost: 20p (five for £1). Yet another bargain, as Spider-Man 2.1 is not available on disc anymore.

Likelihood of finding this in a UK charity shop: Slim. The Spider-Man movies pop up from time-to-time, but until now I’ve never come across a copy of Spider-Man 2.1.

It’s also worth highlighting that Spider-Man 2.1 is a perfect example of just how huge DVD sales were back in the ‘00s. This ‘extended’ version of the film only contains eight minutes of additional footage, but it received a two-disc release because the demand for DVDs was there.

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Above are just five examples of DVDs I’ve found in charity shops in the UK. All of these discs were in great condition, with minimal wear.

The total cost for all five was £1, which is great value – especially since three of the films aren’t even available on disc anymore! Plus, there’s not much you can get for £1 these days.

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