One of the pioneering digital spaces that helped popularize physical media analysis and fan engagement in the pre-streaming era.
DVD Talk is an American online platform focused on home video entertainment, providing reviews, news, and discussion forums for DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and related media formats. Founded in January 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman in Beaverton, Oregon, the site emerged during the early mainstream adoption of DVD technology and quickly became a prominent resource for enthusiasts seeking detailed critiques, release announcements, and community interaction.
Under Kleinman's leadership, DVD Talk expanded to include specialized columns such as DVD Savant for classic film analysis, Anime Talk for Japanese animation releases, and Horror DVDs for genre-specific coverage, alongside features like an Easter Egg Database and price comparison tools. In late 2007, the site was acquired by Internet Brands, Inc., a Los Angeles-based digital media company.
DVD Talk's legacy endures as one of the pioneering digital spaces that helped popularize physical media analysis and fan engagement in the pre-streaming era.
DVD Talk was founded in January 1999 by Geoffrey Kleinman in Beaverton, Oregon, emerging as one of the earliest dedicated online platforms for DVD news and reviews during the nascent phase of the consumer DVD market. At the time, DVD players were just beginning to gain traction in households, and Kleinman — an entrepreneur with a background in film editing and early internet development — recognized the need for a centralized resource to guide enthusiasts through the growing catalog of titles.
Prior to launching the site, Kleinman had worked as a web designer and internet evangelist, including contributions to Intel's online communities and the creation of The Kleinman Report, an early email newsletter, which honed his skills in building accessible digital content for niche audiences.
The site's initial mission centered on delivering straightforward, unbiased information to empower hobbyists and collectors in navigating DVD purchases and viewings, free from corporate influence. This included comprehensive reviews, upcoming release lists, and practical buying guides, all presented in a no-nonsense style. Kleinman's vision emphasized independence, positioning DVD Talk as a community-oriented hub that prioritized user-informed decisions over promotional agendas.
The platform experienced rapid organic growth in its initial years, aligning with the explosive adoption of DVD technology. By June 2000, the site hosted over 670 in-depth DVD reviews, a bargains section highlighting deals, and a newsletter with 55,810 subscribers. Forums, introduced shortly after launch, had attracted 12,571 members by mid-2000.
By June 2001, the review database exceeded 1,800 entries, bolstered by established columns like DVD Savant and CineSchlock-O-Rama. Newsletter subscribers grew to 83,778 by mid-2001.
Facing competition from other emerging DVD enthusiast sites, DVD Talk differentiated through its community focus and comprehensive coverage, evolving from a one-person operation to a network of over 50 writers by 2006. By then, these efforts had propelled the site to millions of monthly unique visitors and over 20,000 reviews, cementing its role as a leading authority in the DVD space.
DVD Talk provided in-depth reviews of DVDs, Blu-ray discs, 4K UHD releases, TV-on-DVD sets, international titles, and related media. Reviews provided detailed assessments of video quality, audio performance, special features, and overall value. The site featured weekly release lists with price comparisons across retailers, and a distinctive ratings system using descriptive categories — Highly Recommended, Recommended, Rent It, and Skip It — rather than numerical scores.
Historical essays on cinema by critic Glenn Erickson, exploring film preservation and cultural context for classic releases.
Japanese animation discussions, release coverage, and in-depth reviews for the growing anime DVD market.
Genre-specific critiques blending cultural analysis with evaluations of encoding and packaging.
High-definition format insights providing balanced coverage during the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD format wars.
Early cinema archival analysis covering the preservation and release of silent film on disc.
A comprehensive catalog of hidden features in DVD releases — one of the web's definitive resources for disc secrets.
Additional features included the DVD Price Search tool for tracking deals, Collector Series DVDs archival sections, buying guides, and interviews with filmmakers and industry experts. The forums fostered vibrant community discussion across sections for Movie Talk, Blu-ray, TV Talk, and collector trading.
When Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment announced the US DVD release of Princess Mononoke without the original Japanese soundtrack and subtitles, DVD Talk led the opposition. Editor Geoffrey Kleinman collected thousands of electronic signatures and presented them in person at the 2000 Video Software Dealer's Association Meeting to the VP of Home Entertainment at Walt Disney Studios. The result: Disney reversed their decision and added the Japanese language track and subtitles to the release.
Posts on the DVD Talk forum exposed Amazon.com's practice of showing different prices to different customers for the same DVDs. The ensuing attention led Amazon to cease the practice of dynamic pricing — a significant consumer protection moment in e-commerce history.
In early 2004, Geoffrey posted an audio interview about Blu-Ray and High-Definition that predated the widespread use of the term "podcast." In January 2005, DVD Talk Radio officially launched with its premiere episode — an interview with Henry Rollins — making it among the first genre-specific podcasts ever produced. The show's RSS feed became one of the first third-party feeds added to MyYahoo.com. Browse the DVD Talk Radio Archive →
During the Blu-ray versus HD DVD format war, DVD Talk maintained a neutral stance, providing balanced comparisons of technical specifications, content support, and market dynamics without favoring either corporate-backed standard. This impartiality helped educate consumers and was frequently cited by industry analysts and media outlets including CNN, USA Today, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and the Miami Herald.
Geoffrey Kleinman sold DVD Talk to Internet Brands, Inc., a Los Angeles-based company specializing in enthusiast media. The acquisition integrated DVD Talk into Internet Brands' portfolio alongside properties like BikeForums.net and FlyerTalk.com. At the time of sale, the site featured over 20,000 reviews, 60+ contributing writers, and active forums with thousands of daily posts.
During his time running DVD Talk, Geoffrey contributed to various independent film projects as a post-production and distribution adviser. He was active in covering film festivals as well as speaking at them, and regularly served on selection committees and juries for film exhibitions and festivals.
Post-production & distribution adviser
Post-production & distribution adviser
Distribution adviser
He participated in panels including "So You Made a Film, Now What?" at Oregon's BendFilm Festival (2007), and served on selection committees and juries for film exhibitions including Pine Film and BendFilm. He covered the 2006 Sundance & Slamdance Festival for DVD Talk, and later covered the Sundance Film Festival for the nationally syndicated Air America Radio in 2008.
Post-acquisition, DVD Talk continued as a resource for home video reviews under Internet Brands, expanding its Blu-ray coverage and maintaining its team of over 50 contributors. New reviews and editorial content were published through January 2023, when the last reviews appeared. The site's forums continue to host active discussions as of 2025.
DVD Talk's influence extended well beyond its own pages. It was cited as an expert source by national media outlets including CNN, USA Today, ABC News, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, and Home Media Magazine. Shawn Levy of The Oregonian called it "worth a visit," and Randy Salas of the Star Tribune recommended it as a source of information for DVDs. It was used by industry insiders to gauge interest in DVD titles.
With its vast database of historical reviews still accessible online, DVD Talk remains a valuable archival resource — preserving detailed evaluations of thousands of titles and representing one of the earliest and most successful experiments in building independent, community-driven media on the internet.