One of the most anticipated Blu Ray releases in recent years was a 22-year-old naval cult classic, and it's popularity proved even greater than expected as it immediately sold out and is now worth an insane price on the second hand market.
With streaming services now dominating the entertainment world, physical media has become more of a collector's item that is typically only sold to enthusiasts over general audiences.
It's why rare and old albums in the form of CDs and vinyl are now worth so much on the second hand market when you could just listen to the same songs on Spotify, and the same is very much true for out of print DVDs and Blu Rays that are potentially worth thousands of dollars to the right buyers.
One recent highly anticipated 4K Blu Ray release has fast tracked its rarity with a limited edition steelbook release, and it has caused fans of the cult classic film to be left frustrated as it is already going for over double the price on eBay.
What is the 4K Blu Ray that has sold out so quick?
As reported by 404 Media, the release of a limited edition 4K Blu Ray steelbook for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World has unsurprisingly drummed up plenty of excitement and interest as it has been long anticipated within the physical media community.
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While Master and Commander had some success during it's cinema release back in 2003, earning $212 million from a $150 million budget, it's gained a much larger fan base in the 22 years following that, to the point where it's now considered a cult classic.
Directed by Peter Weir – who was famous for Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show, and Witness – and starring both Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany, Master and Commander follows a British ship during the Napoleonic Wars, and many have fallen in love with the film's gripping plot and jaw-dropping visuals.
That's precisely why so many became excited when Sony and Disney announced the release of a 4K steelbook of the film, giving collectors the perfect way to both watch and display one of their favorite films.
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The Ultra HD version of the film is particularly special if you're looking for the definitive way to watch too, as it not only enhances the resolution and visuals with the addition of Dolby Vision and HDR10, but it also has some highly appealing audio upgrades.
"It has the best surround sound mix ever and was released in Dolby Atmos," writes one comment on a Reddit thread in response to someone wondering why this release is so popular. "The 4K and Dolby Vision are just the icing on the cake. The Blu Ray limits you to upmixed 5.1."
However, it was quick to sell out in its initial run, and has continued to become available shortly after it receives a restock, leading some to head to eBay and be stunned by the prices that scalpers have set.
How much is Master and Commander selling for on eBay?
Despite only being around $40 when buying directly from official retailers, resellers have taken to eBay and decided that the demand for the steelbook makes it worth at least $90, and far more in some cases.
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There are only a handful of official listings up on eBay right now, with the cheapest being $89.99 for a sealed copy of the 4K Blu Ray steelbook. Alternatively, you can pay $114 for the same condition, or jump up to $119 if you want one with a protective sleeve for added security.
Even ones with small dents – a death knell for collectors – will set you back as much as $69.99, showing quite how much the hype has affected the market value of a film that came out nearly quarter of a century ago.
Looking at the sold listings it averages out that people are actually paying anywhere between $60 and $70 for their copies, but that could continue to increase as it remains out of stock and people become desperate.
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"It feels like every single physical product I want to buy is no longer a product," writes one Reddit user in frustration after the chaotic release. "What happened to me walking into a store and grabbing something off the rack?"
Another has given the sage advice that Disney and Sony should just "make more of the f***ing things" in order to solve the stock crisis, but the lack of availability all feeds into the hype cycle that has people rushing to pick it up any way they can.