Do DVDs from America work in the UK?

Answer 1

Depends on your DVD player. UK DVDs and players are Region 2, US are Region 1. For a Region 2 player to play DVDs encoded with a different region number, the player has to either be specifically able to play Region 1 DVDs, or able to be set to an All Regions mode.

Some DVD players have a "secret" code that can be entered on the remote control to set them to Region Free mode. Some players cannot be set to All Regions, while some need a particular model of All In One remote control. Google your DVD player make and model to find out where you stand on setting it to Region Free mode.

Answer 2

Generally, DVDs, Bluray discs and games sold in North America do not work in Europe. Most commercial discs have a region code imbedded within the disc data. The code is compared with that of the player or disc drive and if the two are not the same, the disc won't run. This limitation is a purely commercial restriction designed to prevent content marketed in one region being traded and used in other regions. This region coding is normally not present on non-commercial content.

Additionally, US content operates on television standards that differ from European standards. Many but not all televisions and DVD players will handle 60Hz / NTSC content from North America. If the region coding is not present, there is a good chance that the disc will play.

Although the same restrictions apply to UK discs being used in the US, it is worth noting that fewer televisions sold in North America handle multiple television standards. So, don't expect European discs to work in the US either.