Universal is back at it again, and this time they’re dangling something shiny: brand-new 4K steelbooks for both the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World trilogies. Each set is a slick six-disc package with new wraparound artwork, Dolby Vision, Atmos, and a $64.99 price tag that practically screams “collector bait.” They’re being marketed as “limited-edition” steelbooks, with the kind of hush-hush mystery that gets disc nerds refreshing retailer pages like they’re watching the skies for UFOs. And sure, I’ll admit—the tins look nice. Really nice. Even as someone who’s not a steelbook die-hard, I’ve got eyes. But here’s the kicker: I already picked up the complete six-movie 4K box set for $45 on sale, and I’m not itching to drop nearly triple that just for a prettier box. Yet here I am, thinking about it. And that, my friends, is the FOMO talking.
This is what drives me up the wall about these studio tactics. The phrase “limited edition” gets thrown around like confetti, but try asking Universal what that actually means. Go on. Ask them. You won’t get a number, a range, or even a hint. No production run totals. No breakdown of how many are headed to each retailer. Nothing. It’s like they’re offering a golden ticket to a theme park you’re already standing in—except they won’t tell you how many tickets are left or if the gates are even closing. And people buy into it, because scarcity sells. The less you know, the more you assume. So you pre-order. Just in case.
Boutique labels like Vinegar Syndrome or Terror Vision? They do it differently. They’ll tell you exactly how many units exist. Sometimes you can literally watch the counter tick down in real time. Last year, Terror Vision put out a physical release of Frogman—a scrappy little found footage flick that instantly became one of my top films of the year—and they only had a couple hundred copies. I waited too long, and by the time I was ready to buy, it was gone. Vanished. Poof. Luckily, I found the Blu-ray at Walmart for fifteen bucks, and I’m still happy with that purchase, but at least with Frogman, I knew what I missed out on. I wasn’t guessing. That’s the key difference: transparency versus manufactured mystique.
Now let’s be honest—Universal isn’t stupid. They know physical media is shrinking. They know it’s becoming a collector’s game. These steelbooks aren’t meant for the casual viewer. They’re for people who want a trophy on their shelf. And what better time to cash in than right before Jurassic World: Rebirth stomps back into theaters? This is all part of the long tail: remind everyone how much they loved the original films, release shiny new editions to juice sales, then watch the nostalgia ride carry straight into a new installment. You want to feel like a real fan? Prove it. Pre-order now. Or else.
And yeah, this wouldn’t be nearly as annoying if it wasn’t working. Twister’s 4K steelbook did the same thing earlier this year—Best Buy sold out within hours, Amazon listed it, then pulled it, then relisted it, and collectors scrambled to secure a copy before it disappeared again. People posted screenshots. Deal trackers freaked out. FOMO took over. The whole system is designed to simulate panic, to blur the line between artificial scarcity and actual demand. It’s psychological. And it’s brilliant. And kind of evil.
What grinds my gears the most is that, eventually, we all know how this story goes. These movies aren’t disappearing. Maybe the steelbook version sells through and never gets repressed—sure. But you think Universal isn’t going to re-release these again in five years? Maybe in another nine-movie “Saga Collection.” Maybe when Rebirth hits home video and they can slap a new slipcover on it and call it definitive. This is the home-video industry equivalent of the McRib: if you miss it now, don’t worry. It’ll be back. With more sauce.
So I’m not saying don’t buy them. If you’ve got the money and you love the packaging, go nuts. They’re beautiful editions. They’ll look killer on a shelf. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to buy them right now or you’re not a real fan. That’s the scam. That’s the game. The real flex isn’t grabbing a steelbook just because the studio told you it’s “limited.” The real flex is knowing your own collection, knowing your own taste, and not letting a countdown clock—or a lack of one—make the decision for you.
And seriously, go watch Frogman on Tubi. It’s worth your time. And best of all, no steelbook required.
Hollywood After Dark 