Monday, December 14, 2009

How long do you keep an unwatched Netflix DVD before you just give up and send it back, already?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images

As much as I love and adore Netflix, I have to admit, about 50% of the time, by the time a movie arrives in my mailbox I've forgotten why I wanted to see it in the first place and sometimes have to kind of force myself to watch it. Sometimes a particular movie can become a virtual entertainment albatross—and the longer you hold on to it, the more of a waste it seems to be to send it back without watching it. Your pride gets involved. It becomes a battle between you and the movie, and you're not going to let the movie win, dammit! (Wait, is that just me?)


I've been sitting on the 6th disc of Season 1 of HBO's Carnivale for almost a month now, and Battle of Algiers since May 13 (gulp). Yes, I suppose that would have been a lot of late fees from a normal rental place, but I have to wonder if my typical Netflix usage is, in fact, that much more cost-efficient. However, since I am the kind of person who has year-old magazines piled up next to my couch that I refuse to recycle until I've flipped through to make sure I'm not missing something terribly important, it is also not all that surprising: Hoarding seems to be in my genes. (Aside: If you have a clutter problem, too, check out some of the useful advice on the—shameless plug—At Home channel.)

Anyway, now for the sake of discussion (and hopefully making me feel better), you tell us:
1) What's your cut-off for keeping a movie without watching it? A week? Two? A month?
2) What movie has lingered, unwatched, for the longest time in your household?

Leave your answers in the comments section below.
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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 40
  • Laura's Avatar
    Posted by Laura Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:38am PDT

    Well, we've kept one for about a month. We just didn't want to watch it anymore. But, you are right, you just feel like you SHOULD!

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  • anne's Avatar
    Posted by anne Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:07pm PDT

    Er... MONTHS. We're talking a dog could've conceived and given birth to puppies in the time I've kept a Netflix movie.

    Report Abuse
  • miss n's Avatar
    Posted by miss n Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:08pm PDT

    it seems like it's either 3 days or 1 month! I use their on demand service much more than the disk thats been sitting in my unchecked mailbox for a week now (i just remembered thank you). I loved watching seasons of weeds on their instant programming on my laptop while moving and unpacking...netflix still floats my boat.

    Report Abuse
  • Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff's Avatar
    Posted by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:16pm PDT

    months. i think i just need to cancel my account.

    Report Abuse
  • HeatherC's Avatar
    Posted by HeatherC Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:42pm PDT

    I haven't had this issue because I watch a lot of TV series on Netflix. I've been catching up on all the HBO and Showtime series I have missed. I get sucked in to the stories and can't wait for the next disc.

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  • rglo820's Avatar
    Posted by rglo820 Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:47pm PDT

    I'm usually pretty good about watching movies within a week or so, but I sat on Half Nelson for like 6 weeks once. The really ridiculous part was, the week after I sent it back unwatched, I noticed it on OnDemand and watched it immediately...

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  • catherineh's Avatar
    Posted by catherineh Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:32pm PDT

    I watch mine as soon as I get it and send it back so I can get the next one.

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  • UKnUWntMe's Avatar
    Posted by UKnUWntMe Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:12pm PDT

    I have never tried NETFLIX because I thought it was a waste of money. After looking over some of the comments above it might be something that I look into. But the only thing is that I dont watch that many movies and when I do I get hooked for a couple weeks and than it goes away. Dont know might try it.

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  • Alex's Avatar
    Posted by Alex Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:42pm PDT

    I have held on to several netflix movies for so long, I sent them from a different state after I moved. It was so long that I can't even tell you what they were. I was a ravenous movie/tv series watcher and on the highest dvd plan. It's the best if you watch tons of movies. Now that we are trying to save every penny I have had to cancel my account and I miss it so much, I cry. Lol, not really but you know what I mean!

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  • jenny's Avatar
    Posted by jenny Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:13pm PDT

    I have been with netflix for 4 years. the longest i had a movie was a week . my husband was working to much to watch it.

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Comments 1-10 of 40

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