While the R5 DVD movie format is of lesser quality than a retail DVD version, it is typically of higher quality than pirated versions because of the production process used by the movie studios. This process is known as "telecine" and is the result of directly copying a movie from its original source onto a DVD using a high-quality, professional grade film transfer device. Unlike their retail counterparts, R5 DVDs are not remastered and often come without audio and special features. R5 movies can, however, use a special peripheral device known as a decoder to access the original motion picture for its audio content.
R5 movie releases typically coincide with the release of DVDs known as "screener copies." The movie studios provide specialized audiences, such as critics and awards voters, with screener DVDs for promotional and award-voting purposes. Screener DVDs come with a variety of features not included on the R5 or retail copies, including scrollers, logos, serial numbers and black and white scenes, which are useful in identifying pirated copies of DVDs. Screener DVDs also come with contact information for anti-piracy organizations, should an unsuspecting consumer purchase or rent a screener DVD.
Retail DVDs come encoded with DVD regional codes, also known as "zone locks" and "country codes," which must match a DVD player’s regional code for the movie to be watched. At the time of publication, nine DVD regional codes are used for distributing retail versions of DVDs, six of which refer to specific geographical parts of the world. The remaining three codes are reserved for special playback audiences. Region 5 covers the same areas in which R5 movies are designed to fight piracy.
Region 1 retail DVDs are designed for Canada and the United States and Region 2 DVDs are produced for Greenland, the Middle East, South Africa, Japan and Europe. Region 3 DVDs are sold in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and parts of Southeast Asia, while Region 4 viewers are located in New Zealand, Australia and Latin America, including Mexico. Region 6 DVDs are sold in China; Region 7 DVDs are reserved for an unspecified audience. DVDs played on cruise ships and airplanes fit into the Region 8 category. A small number of retail DVDs are designated as "Region 0" copies and can be played anywhere in the world.