Last month, an interesting discussion began on Film Twitter. One user, “carouselshotgun,” posted an image of the menu for the physical release of the 2025 horror filmSinners. In the post, the user notes that menu screens are boring today. The post had numerous views and reactions, with many users agreeing with this and offering their own examples of much, much better menu screens.
They have a great point.Menu screens, especially on DVDs, used to be a form of art — carefully designed user interfaces that often contained footage, clever nods, and Easter eggs.As outdated as physical media soundstoday, DVDs were once considered cool. Box sets were pricey, but they were also beautifully designed for fans. There was an art to physical media beyond the movie it contained.
Much like the theater experience, DVDs were the ultimate form of entertainment for movie lovers. While cinephiles today continue to enjoy films passionately, owning a movie used to offer a uniquely engaging experience. Even if it was because of a silly menu that enhanced the experience, it is one of those things that, sadly, makes us say, “You just had to be there.”
Those Were the Days: DVDs Used To Be Very Different
DVD or Blu-ray releases didn’t have to be box sets to be interesting. Sometimes, even the lamest physical releases included bonus features.Not only were the menus more interactive than they are today, but they were usually based on the themes of the movie. Not to mention that nearlyeveryrelease came with special features andcommentaries often recordedby directors, cast members, or anyone involved with the production. These made you want to buy the disc, and the price wasn’t always an obstacle. The X posts you can find below have some examples of what these menus used to include.
The cover artwork was almost always great, and sometimes companies made the packaging especially memorable. The discs released under the New Line Platinum Series were some examples of these special releases. These collectors' editions came with special additions, like the crime scene polaroids for 2003’sThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or 3D glasses for the collection ofA Nightmare on Elm Street, and a box that resembled a serial killer’s notebook forSe7en. Today, we often have to settle for disappointing artwork if we’re even fortunate enough to have a cover that relates to the movie.
Some of the Best Examples of Creative Menu Screens and Easter Eggs
Occasionally, these menu screens went further than the art itself. For example, the menu screen forShrek 2’s DVD had a layout in the same style as the presentation of the iconic seriesThe Brady Bunch. Not only was it a great tribute, but you could see the characters interacting within the boxes with enough attitude to make you smirk.
Then there’s the DVD for David Fincher’sFight Club. The menu misled viewers into thinking they had acquired the wrong disc when options for the rom-comNever Been Kissedpopped up. However, if you gave it a few seconds, the screen glitched and therealmenu forFight Clubappeared.
Perhaps the coolest of the cool was the DVD menu for the 2002 horror filmThe Ring. As you probably know, the film is based on the premise that a VHS tape has a video that can kill those who watch it. It’s an unsettling collection of shots that became cemented in horror culture when the film was originally released.
When it was released on DVD, there was a secret button combination you could enter with the remote control to unlock an incredible Easter egg. After navigating to a specific part of the menu, it disappeared, and the famous analog video appeared on the TV screen. If you tried to turn it off, you couldn’t. The remote was rendered useless until the video was completed. The only way you could stop it was by unplugging the DVD player. Hopefully, someday, the lost art of unique DVD menu screens will make a comeback.
