Netflix is best known for its streaming service, but once upon a time, the company was all about renting DVD and Blu-ray discs by mail. Netflix starting shipping discs via the U.S. Postal Service in March 1998, and the company just announced that it will ship its final disc September 29, 2023.

I've been a loyal disc-by-mail customer since 2006. I pay extra for the privilege of receiving high-definition Blu-ray discs when a movie is available in that format. Sometimes, such as for the title that's on the way now (A View to a Kill), a DVD is sent. Unfortunately, the company never upgraded its catalog to include 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.

The following message was received by disc-by-mail customers today:

For 25 years, it's been our extraordinary privilege to mail movie nights to our members all across America. On September 29th, 2023, we will ship our final iconic red envelope.

While times have changed since our first shipment in March 1998, our goal has remained the same: to provide you with access to the broadest collection of movies and shows possible, delivered directly to your door, with no due dates or late fees.

As the DVD business continues to shrink, it’s going to become increasingly difficult to achieve that goal. In our final season, we’ll continue providing you the best service possible, all the way to the very last shipment.

You may have some questions, and we've tried to answer them in our Final Season FAQ - and if you want to share something with us, you can send feedback here.

We sincerely thank you for joining us on this amazing journey. We could never have shipped more than 5 billion discs without movie lovers like you. It's been a genuine privilege to share movie nights with you.

Pop the popcorn, fire up your player, and enjoy this final season of red envelopes.

Sincerely,
The Netflix DVD team

After reading that message, I had questions. If you do, too, you can visit the Final Season FAQ to see if some of them have been answered.

This news is sad news indeed for those that that don't use streaming services for whatever reason, and those that enjoy obscure titles that streaming services don't think to carry. Some titles are only available for purchase on streaming services instead of rental (if at all). Movies on disc are few and far between in local stores, with ever-decreasing disc sections in Best Buy, Target, and WalMart. Online retailers aren't always dependable sources for older titles, either.

But that's the world we live in now. Or at least, the world we'll live in come September 29.