As a film major and a regular customer, I greatly love and appreciate the $5 DVD bin at Walmart. Almost every time I stop by the supercenter, whether I'm grocery shopping, buying craft materials for a project, or even just picking up one little thing, I always pause to rifle through the $5 DVD bin at the back of the store (conveniently placed next to the $0.99 candy bin), as their selection of movies is constantly changing.
Last week, I visited Walmart and saw that the usual $5 movie bin was marked "Rollback: $3.74." Excitedly I began my usual routine of rummaging through the bin and couldn't believe my eyes when I glimpsed "Caddyshack" amongst the assortment of movies.
"Caddyshack" is one of my absolute favorite movies. I was initially excited, as before whenever I wanted to watch it at my apartment I would always pay $2.99 (or $3.99 for the high-definition version) just to rent it on Amazon Prime instant video. However, after my instant wave of excitement, I was hit by a wave of sadness. Is what is arguably one of the greatest comedies of all time only worth a mere $3.74?
Nevertheless, I have come to the conclusion that in a society where people are far more likely to peruse Netflix for their late-night movie watching than to pick up a DVD, more people need to be aware of the wonders of the discount movie bin at Walmart. From my last visit, here is a list of ten fantastic movies you can currently buy for a mere $3.74 at Walmart:
"Crazy, Stupid, Love."
I'm not typically a rom-com fanatic, but I love this movie. The friendship between Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling's characters and the twist at the end are what make this movie so much more than just a rom-com.
Flipper
This is one of my childhood favorites, but also likely the initial cause of my severe fear of sharks.
"Life of Pi"
This brilliant adaption of Yann Martel's novel that almost every kid has to read in high school won four Academy Awards in 2013 for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Music Score, and it truly is a visual wonder.
"Almost Famous"
In my opinion, Penny Lane is Kate Hudson's finest role.
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
"Jumanji"
Inexplicably paired with RV in this two-for-the-price-of-one combo.
"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"
As much as I love Johnny Depp, the original version of Roald Dahl's book is a classic. In my opinion, this version is much more magical because the delectable scenes inside the chocolate factory were actually real sets that were built using many edible pieces, and not just created by a computer.
"Fever Pitch"
Jimmy Fallon as the romantic lead is what makes this movie so fantastic.
"Legally Blonde"
"It's called the 'bend-and-snap.'"
"Caddyshack"
As mentioned before, one of my absolute favorites. The other day I learned that somehow neither of my two roommates have seen this movie, and I was in utter disbelief. If you find yourself digging through the discount bin at Walmart, and you only want to get one movie, this should be it.