Let’s be honest. That tower of DVDs, Blu-rays and 4Ks collecting dust in your living room isn’t just a monument to your impeccable taste in cinema—it’s also a pile of potential cash. But in an age of endless streaming, where can you turn your physical media into actual money? As it turns out, you have options. But which one will give you the most buck for your banging discs?
We decided to find out. Armed with a small, yet potent, collection of films, we ventured across Dallas-Fort Worth on a quest for the best deal. To keep things fair, we used the same four items at each location. Our precious cargo included:
- The Princess Bride (Criterion Collection 4K Ultra HD): A timeless classic. Inconceivable that anyone would part with it, but we did it for science. (Miss you, Rob Reiner…)
- Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (Blu-ray): A brand-new disc, because our love for this one goes to eleven.
- The Nightmare on Elm Street 7-Movie Collection (4K Ultra HD): A hefty box set to test the waters with something more valuable. One, two, Freddy’s coming for you… and hopefully a good offer.
- Moneyball (Blu-ray): A slightly older title, just to see how they’d play ball.
We took these four cinematic gems to four well-known DFW establishments: Lucky Dog Books, Half Price Books, Movie Trading Co., and Recycled Books, Records & CDs. Some offers were modest, while others were a blockbuster hit. Here’s how they ranked, from lowest to highest.
Will you step up to support Dallas Observer this year?
At the Dallas Observer, we’re small and scrappy — and we make the most of every dollar from our supporters. Right now, we’re $14,000 away from reaching our December 31 goal of $30,000. If you’ve ever learned something new, stayed informed, or felt more connected because of the Dallas Observer, now’s the time to give back.
4th Place: Lucky Dog Books
First, let’s be clear: Lucky Dog Books is a magical place. Located on Garland Road in Dallas, stepping inside feels less like entering a store and more like discovering a secret labyrinth built from paper and ink. Bookshelves twist and turn, creating cozy nooks and unexpected pathways that invite you to get lost for hours. It’s a book lover’s dream.
Their movie selection, while smaller, is curated and interesting. However, their primary focus is clearly on the written word. For our four movies, they offered a combined $13 in cash and $4 in store credit. Their process involves evaluating what an item is worth to them and what kind of profit they can make. For books, they look at the original publisher’s price and offer a quarter of that in credit. For movies, it’s more about what they think will sell.
While the offer was the lowest in terms of cash (technically $17 if you count the store credit), a trip to Lucky Dog is never a waste. The experience itself is worth the visit, and the unique credit system (which can be used for up to half off used items) is a neat perk for regular customers.
Lucky Dog Books is a magical, labyrinth-like haven for book lovers, though their movie offer was more of a friendly pat than a winning fetch.
3rd Place: Half Price Books
The behemoth of the bunch, Half Price Books is a DFW institution. We visited the flagship location on Northwest Highway, a sprawling wonderland of books, music and movies. Their business model is simple: buy low, sell low. You can find incredible deals here, with Blu-rays of major films and even TV series box sets often priced around five dollars.
Their buying process is streamlined. They scan your items into a system that considers their current inventory, sales history and the condition of the disc and case. For our collection, the offer came to $16.75, with the cash and credit value being the same.
While not a huge payout, it reflects their pricing strategy. They offer less because they sell for less, passing those savings on to the next customer. If you’re looking to clear out a large quantity of common titles and maybe grab a few new-to-you bargains on the way out, Half Price Books is a reliable and straightforward option.
Inside the DFW institution where you can get cash for your old media. Half Price Books keeps their buy prices modest to pass the savings on to the next customer.
2nd Place: Movie Trading Co.
As the name implies, this is where movies are the main event. With locations all over DFW, we stopped by the Denton store. More than half the floor space is dedicated to DVDs, Blu-rays and 4Ks, with a massive selection of games, toys and music rounding out the inventory. It’s a haven for cinephiles.
Their expertise showed in their offer. The team gave our collection a look and came back with a deal: $20.50 in cash or $30.75 in store credit. The cash offer was surprisingly low, but the store credit option presented a significant jump. Their pricing is determined by an internal system that calculates about 20% of what they plan to sell an item for. The employee even helpfully suggested another store might offer more for our 4Ks, showing a genuine passion for the trade.
Movie Trading Co. clearly knows its stuff. If you’re looking to trade up and swap your old favorites for something new, that store credit offer is hard to beat.
Movie Trading Co. offers a massive selection for cinephiles, coming in strong with a generous store credit offer.
1st Place: Recycled Books, Records & CDs
And now, the clear winner. Nestled in the heart of Denton’s historic downtown square, Recycled Books is a three-story purple palace of culture. It’s a destination in its own right, with a vast collection of books, a fantastic record department and glass cases filled with rare treasures.
Their movie section is nothing to scoff at, either. The buyers here do their homework, checking online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay to gauge an item’s current market value. They consider what things are actually selling for, not just the highest listed price, to determine a fair offer. This meticulous approach paid off handsomely for us.
For our four movies, Recycled Books offered an astonishing $62 in cash or $74 in store credit. That’s more than three times the next-highest credit offer. They understood the value of the Criterion 4K and the Nightmare on Elm Street box set, and they weren’t afraid to pay for it.
The unassuming purple palace in Denton that took the top spot. Recycled Books, Records & CDs proved to be the undisputed champion for cash and credit.
The Final Cut
If you want the absolute most money for your movies, the answer is simple: make the pilgrimage to Recycled Books in Denton. Their thorough process and generous offers put them in a league of their own.
Of course, sometimes convenience is king. If you’re not looking to make a special trip, Movie Trading Co. provides excellent value with its store credit, and Half Price Books offers a quick and easy way to offload common titles. And for a truly unique browsing experience, you can’t go wrong with Lucky Dog Books.
For those with rare items and a bit of patience, selling individually on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Whatnot might yield an even bigger return. But if you just want to clear some shelf space and walk away with cash in hand, now you know exactly where to go.