The Rise and Fall of BlockBuster

Blockbuster flew a little too close to the sun. For this video, we’ll be looking at the former video rental giant’s highs and lows in its over 30 years as a company. Our video will include everything from the Early Days all the way up to Legacy & Nostalgia in the Media. Do you miss Blockbuster nights? Let us know in the comments.
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#Blockbuster
#History
#Business
#VideoStore
#VideoRental
#Netflix
#Streaming
#Internet
#90s
#Nostalgia

[@WatchMojo]

Do you miss Blockbuster nights? Let us know in the comments. For more nostalgia filled videos, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5zWk2ZtfN96e68

[@hunterrousseau3770]

I did I really did in fact when I was still living in PA back in the day I remember coming to this video store I went to all the time and even one time when I rented Mickey's House of Villains ahh memories

[@career5690]

I do 😢

[@Ultimatebaseballstar1137]

I do because Blockbuster was amazing

[@Misfit636]

This hits me in the feels I miss going to blockbuster on a Friday. Renting movies an game you could never beat over the weekend. Wish they’d come back.

[@OGMillyMillz_]

No Move on

[@P.I.P.E.L.I.N.E_Podcast]

I also had BO IDEA that there’s an original comedy about workers at blockbuster coming to Netflix 🤯

[@Reaperguy67]

@@OGMillyMillz_ nobody has to listen to you. They are allowed to remember something from there child hood. You can't do anything about it troll..

[@Reaperguy67]

@@P.I.P.E.L.I.N.E_Podcast just a heads up. OGMillyMillz is going around to multiple comments and attacking people in the comments.

[@squibbsounds]

@@OGMillyMillz_ nope. Still open and I love it

[@isabellajoann22]

Blockbuster was such a staple in my childhood! My dad would take me to pick out a horror movie to watch with me later! It’s where I discovered my love of weird, old, (kinda shitty) horror movies!

[@20carpe05]

Being a 90s kid this was my childhood. Renting movies/games and ordering pizza every Friday.

[@stephensuarez9975]

I worked at Blockbuster for over 2 years. The writing was on the wall in my last months before quitting in a spectacular fashion. I have no nostalgic loyalty but still retain a mix of good and bad memories as an employee.

[@marcopina2659]

I worked at Blockbuster too in high school and some in college. I quit in 2002. In retrospect the writing was already on the wall. Their arrogance made them think they'd never have to innovate. I'm glad Blockbuster fell. Good riddance

[@kish45]

I do miss going to Blockbuster. When they were going out of business they were having a clearance sale and I bought a few dvds Scott Pilgrim, Hannibal, and the Mummy 1 and 2. While Blockbuster is gone streaming services have filled the void for me.

[@jessicayoung6208]

I remember going there as a kid and working for them when I was like 19-20 years old. I absolutely loved Blockbuster and it sucks they’re gone. Yes streaming platforms are convenient but there’s nothing like going to Blockbuster to pick out a movie and getting snacks.

[@Gutssssss666]

Yeah everything nowadays is just sit at home and do everything on your phone,laptop or tv I miss going out to rent a movie with my friends man

[@johntracy72]

Not to mention the fun of browsing the aisles. Man, those were the days.

[@franksandoval6046]

@@johntracy72 tell me what wrong with blockbuster then Netflix ?

[@ruben3305]

Blockbuster will always live in the 90s kids heart.

[@lultrill8147]

I was born in 2001 and vividly remember going there with my grandma whenever she wanted something new to watch

[@paul8926]

It was so choice !

[@ELmayberry]

yep yep 😆

[@career5690]

I’m a 90’s baby and remember Blockbuster very well.

[@rtjahyadi7868]

That’s a sweet memory of the 90s and 2000s

[@angelgregory9445]

I miss Blockbuster. I used to love running up and down the aisles looking for the newest video game or Disney movie as a kid. I had my own Blockbuster card and everything.

[@amandaredd3057]

I miss Blockbuster! I looked forward to going every Friday night as a kid

[@OGMillyMillz_]

Move on

[@eliotw149]

I miss it every day

[@OGMillyMillz_]

@@eliotw149 move on

[@ibleedblue56]

@@OGMillyMillz_ 🙄

[@OGMillyMillz_]

@@ibleedblue56 get mad 😂 #TeamNetflix

[@TexasKnuckle]

I remember renting Super Nintendo and Genesis games every Thursday at either Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. I remember the snacks, the trailers, the commercials (particularly the "Always Coca-Cola" jingle), the occasional movie that plays. Good times. But to be fair I see why Blockbuster went under.

[@red5robb1]

fuck hollywood video, i used to go there all the time as a regular, most of the employees knew my family. one time i rented Super Monkey Ball for the GC. returned it a few days later cause i didnt enjoy it. a couple weeks later went in to rent something else and they said i never returned the game and i owed over 100 bucks for the late fees. i fought it saying "i did, get the security tapes cause i knew exactly when i returned it". they never budged so i stormed out saying they were never getting my service again. years later when i was about to move 12 hours away from that place, i went in to rent a movie having forgot all about the incident, the girl at the counter said i had thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of late fees from that incident years ago. i said i returned it and she just said 'its been so long, i'll wipe the fees' and i was shocked, got the movie and left, returned it to a worker the day before i left and not the drop box

[@MrModel--CAPTURED-ON-FILM]

I really liked Jean-Claude Van Damme's line from his TV series "Van Johnson" where he hides inside an old vacated Blockbuster, explaining, "No one's looked for me in one of these since the 80s...."

[@MistrBlistr]

When I look back at times like this I get incredibly depressed. I'd give anything to go back to when life was good.

[@nikeairjordanfly]

There was nothing more exiting as a kid than going to blockbuster on a Friday/Saturday night and renting 3-4 movies and getting snacks. Take me back to the 2000’s 🥲

[@squibbsounds]

@@Die-Angst not me. I always wanted to watch action and horror, not hug mice and dogs in costumes. Definitely cooler than Disney land. 🤙

[@squibbsounds]

@@Die-Angst I would imagine my friends and I were definitely the outliers lol. 🤙

[@davidmurray7617]

I truly missed going to Blockbuster with my mother mostly. The Blockbuster store that I remembered was on Route 9 in Latham, NY which was a few blocks from McDonald’s. It is now replaced by the AutoZone store. As a 2000s kid, it hits me different slowly when I was introduced to Netflix on TV and I never thought that it would literally killed the good old days of DVD rental stores right on the spot. Sometimes you realized that time really flies by with a snap of the finger.

[@Psmgamer]

Blockbuster and Hollywood Video were my go to for DVDs and videogame rentals. I only went to Blockbuster a few times as it was limited to what games were available for rent.

[@Mangolite]

If Netflix doesn't figure out how to compete with the slew of current streaming services, it will be like Blockbuster.

[@dreamguardian8320]

I think Netflix will fall faster and harder than Blockbuster did, for Netflix is beginning to become less loved by all, because of their bad habit of cancelling shows that are good, and replacing them with shows that are bad. For example, they cancelled season 2 of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, just so they could keep a super bad X-Rated movie called Cuties on.

[@jamaulmoore]

I sort of gave up on Netflix. Most of their originals are trash and they don't have a lot of bingable variety anymore.

[@boydriceisawesome2520]

Cuties mmmm lol seem interesting

[@SexyButCurious]

Facts!

[@dreamguardian8320]

@@boydriceisawesome2520 Trust me, you would puke your guts out, get a broken heart, and not be able to sleep for a without risking having a nightmare about it. Don't watch it, it's tragic and not worth it.

[@Onoitsbroko]

Block Party actually existed in Indianapolis, IN; where I was born and raised. I never knew it was only one of two in the world. My dad took me there legit every weekend and I loved it. I can't beleive I was able to experience something so rare.

[@christopherlively8477]

Going to Blockbuster was an event back in the day! If I did my homework I could even rent a video game! Those were the days😊

[@Bionicokura]

A rental game store would be still cool as everyone could rent and get videogames like in the game rush time , i remember renting several games and later if i liked it i was more prone to buy it and get it , i even bought some from blockbuster , those were the days

[@Psmgamer]

I remember buying Streets of Rage 2 from Blockbuster.

[@robertobuatti7226]

I miss Blockbuster as well as video stores in general, to pick out a movie and physically hold it in your hands look at the cover and read the plot on the back was truly something special, with streaming you do not get that tangibility as it's all digital. I would spend over 6 hours at the video store almost everyday browsing through movies, it was my place of sanctuary.

[@ViewerOnline101]

I worked at Blockbuster for 6 years, and spent 5 of them as a manager. I miss it. You got to talk movies with customers, and there were a lot of benefits. Along with decent pay and flexible hours, we also got 7 free rentals a week, early access to rentals, and a 10% discount on all purchases. Also, we got to play movies all day, ranging from G to mild PG-13.

[@Markimark151]

Even though Netflix was the factor in the downfall of Blockbuster, it wasn’t the main reason Blockbuster failed. Their senior management made lots of bad decisions by screwing their franchise locations, ignoring Redbox and instead they tried to focus on brick and mortar business by trying to partner with RadioShack and even made an offer to buyout Circuit City prior to bankruptcy! Blockbuster would’ve adapted if they embraced digital streaming and partnered exclusively with movie studios to prevent Netflix from getting those movies available online!

[@jamaulmoore]

This makes a lot of sense. Plus, if Blockbuster had taken that deal to acquire Netflix, maybe Blockbuster will still be here in some capacity.

[@Markimark151]

@@jamaulmoore that was their biggest mistake, but they also missed an opportunity to partner with Netflix right before they went public in the early 2000s. Even one of their investors demanded then CEO Antioco to invest in online movies, which was too reluctant to abandon their focus on their cash cow of video rentals! Blockbuster was way too late to launch their online service right when they were sold off in 2004!

[@joaquinhernandez6940]

I was born in 2000, but I still remember the interior decor and the aisles of various genres. I remember watching "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" just before returning it.

[@httr94]

I hate how easy things are now. I miss having to go to the video store and look around. If the people who run the world had their way, we'd all never leave the house.

[@lazarusblackwell6988]

I pray that Blockbuster (and video rentals in general) come back. People need it.

[@Kap00rwith2os]

The problem with Blockbusters were that new releases were ALWAYS rented out until several weeks after it came out and the fervor died down. That plus they tended to be more expensive than the local video rental places. No such problems with the streaming services; Blockbuster was a product of its time, but honestly online streaming is much better, more convenient, cheaper, and I don't have to keep going back every couple of days to see if the movie I want to rent has been returned.

[@agente9988]

I miss Blockbuster so much. As a kid I always loved going with my dad so me and little sister could chase each other around the stalls. Next do The Rise & Fall of Toys R Us.

[@OGMillyMillz_]

Move on

[@Misfit636]

Is your sis single 😏 lol

[@enderethan144]

@@Misfit636 WHOA HEY that’s not what you should say about his sister man. She could be a teen by now.

[@davidcatlett4052]

@@OGMillyMillz_ Care to lead by example automaton?

[@OGMillyMillz_]

@@davidcatlett4052 move on, crybaby. Blockbuster isn’t coming back 😂😂😂

[@Ryan01224]

It's funny I did the classic rent a game for a friend who wasn't a member and he didn't return the game even though he swore he did, then the letters of final notices to return it then about 3 weeks later they closed down

[@TheAllSeeingEye2468]

The era of rental stores began dying after the year 2007. That was the turning point of technology and the internet

[@raysnhell89]

I still keep my blockbuster card with my clock in numbers in my wallet I had so much fun working there

[@bethg559]

I definitely miss Blockbuster!

[@sravanvenugopal8515]

In the year of 2040 when everyone will be fed up with internet and online streaming, VHS and blockbuster can be brought back.

[@playo4203]

Those where my happy family memories. My dad would take me and my sister to blockbuster on fridays while my mom was cooking dinner. We would come home have dinner and watch 2 movies every Friday night!

[@rdpruett88]

I remember when Blockbuster had a Pokémon Snap kiosk where you could print stickers of the pictures you took in the game.

[@CaptainMarvelsSon]

The first Blockbuster I evrer saw was in my home town, and it seemed to come out of nowhere. I don't remember seeing it being built. There was something special about browsing physical stores.

[@batterysurf]

i remember as a kid, pulling a movie called 'Lil' Pimp' off the shelf not knowing its an animation made by the creators of South Park. I still didn't understand what I watched back then.

[@fishingwithbryan]

Nice video!!! 👍👍👍

[@WatchMojo]

Thanks for the visit

[@DevinPosey20]

Blockbuster and Hollywood videos will always be missed

[@blindbandit1993]

I miss Blockbuster terribly. I miss family nights where we ran to the store, each picking a movie and a game, grabbing snacks when paying, and heading home for a night of family fun. If I had one wish come true, other than stopping Putin, it would be for a Blockbuster Resurgence. Sob x1000000.

[@o8thman812]

I recently found a blockbuster VHS "McVicar" in a derelict house. I see why they didn't return it. A really excellent British crime drama...

[@Reaperguy67]

That's actually Cool. Some of those abandon house can be great time capsules as well if everything is left behind.

[@coolnegative]

I worked at a small but professional video rental store in a small town in the early 90s....the thing is.....it wasn't just about picking up a movie......we were like the cool hangout, especially on the weekends for the local high schoolers. Yes the town was that small. I got to really personally know so many families and community leaders as well. I even had sort of a local fame with people who wanted to see something different as the guy to ask. Haha! At one point the owners marked out a section for movies that I recommended, that I would switch out every couple of weeks.😆 all that aside........it was the human interaction that really brought in the customers........the first time I realized this, was when I noticed that even though we had a drive thru return box......more people came in to return their rentals, even if they weren't renting anything else........to this day, I get recognized by kids that I helped at that store.......they almost always wax nostalgic with me, thank me for great memories, and of course, tell me how much they miss coming into the store............R.I.P. video rental stores😔

[@spacejam8765]

I absolutely loved Blockbuster. Got a film for 1 week. What a brilliant idea. Thanks a lot Netflix. 😮‍💨

[@SexyButCurious]

I'm a 90d kid and I definitely miss going to Blockbuster. Just having my mom take me to get a movie or video game was something my kids will never experience. I had no idea the 1st store opened in my home state of Texas.

[@ChristionGirl45]

This was my childhood! My mom would take us to the local Blockbuster every Friday and always let us get movies, popcorn, candy, etc. I will admit while I enjoy streaming servers. There is something I really miss about going into a Blockbuster, browsing all the movies, and that excitement you got when you brought new movies home. I really miss Blockbuster! 😔

[@THANATOS-PRIME]

So many fun memories of going to this place on the weekends and renting a movie. The smell the selection I miss it all. I could’ve seen myself working there given what a cinema lover I am.

[@robertmcnally2220]

I lived in south Florida when I was a teenager. They had a place called Blockbuster golf & games near the Sawgrass mills mall.

[@garrettnobles6775]

Blockbuster was best for renting games. I even bought my Playstation 2 with my graduation money at one in 2002. Then I started working at Blockbuster my first year in college. That was 20 years ago and I still have great memories of that place and the opportunities it gave me.

[@rubyhay450]

I remember going to Blockbuster and Movie Gallery to rent movies as a kid! Best part of my childhood was walking to the Movie Gallery and Blockbuster near my house to rent some movies that me, my parents and my older sister would watch! Live in Northwest Fl and we had 2 of each 2 Movie Gallery and 2 Blockbuster all within a few miles of each other.

[@ELmayberry]

the Blockbusters in my old neighborhood got changed into a clothing store 🤧

[@joelanthonyalvarado6947]

I miss blockbuster!!!! Was never old enough to rent a movie before it shut down but I remember.

[@kennethhatcher1909]

I kinda do miss BLOCKBUSTER

[@UCONN_HUSKIES]

I miss when Netflix was $7.99 a month 😪

[@OGMillyMillz_]

I miss when the 49ers was good. Oh wait, they never was! 😂 #GoRams

[@angelaholmes8888]

Yeah me too I hate that they raised the price 😡🤬

[@IceInVeins916]

How much is it now?

[@Reaperguy67]

@@IceInVeins916 there are 3 plans. Basic is 9.99 Standard is 15.49 Premium is 19.99 . All of those are by month .

[@kenziej4301]

Blockbuster was 6 $ per movie

[@TheSurvivor1243]

I went to Hollywood video more than blockbuster, despite blockbuster being closer to my home. It’s still a real shame what happened to places like this.

[@carocuno06]

Games and videos galore. It was a magical store with out a hearty price tag!

[@emptysocks7972]

I remember when my dad use to work in blockbuster.

[@kevinnaber790]

My family went to a local store called Video Update who had a decent selection and a great 2 videos deal on Tuesdays without the massive late fees.

[@CubeAtlantic]

i've got those dope, & nostalgic memories of renting DVD's, & et-cetra as a kid 16 yrs ago.

[@DominickRuocco]

I really do miss Blockbuster nights. "Blockbuster video Wow what a difference!"

[@dustinallday4383]

Blockbuster and Toys R Us use to be my favorite stores it’s sad most of them are gone 😢

[@Iruleyoufail]

I wish movie rental store would make a comeback. I still collect physical media and will continue to do so.

[@Terry.W]

Yes indeed I miss the Friday run ..picking 2 or 3 movies popcorn and large size Coke ...so sad..

[@charlieduncan6418]

Thanks to all employees that keep it going❤️. The stores was a huge piece of my childhood n ahead of it's time!!!

[@tinotica]

Omg I love this! Can we get the rise and fall of Saturday morning cartoons???

[@gerardocovarrubias3058]

I'm trying to look for a movie that I saw when I was kid in Blockbuster I can't find it is there a way to look up all the movies that were in Blockbuster all of them

[@Mr_Oggie]

I can remember a time when there was a video store on almost every block around here and if that wasn't enough every mini mall had a video store and you could rent them from your nearest 7-11. But times change. I used to have a store that sold role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons and then along came Amazon who sold the same books as me for 25% off the suggested retail price and with free delivery - nothing I could do to compete with that so had to close the store down.

[@lizrutherford2656]

There were Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and Family Video (locally owned video rental company that had several Midwest locations) in my city. Family Video always out-rented and out-sold both of them. Family Video was the last to leave town, too.

[@reagansweetheart]

I was born in the last few years of VHS. I'm so glad I got to see VHS tapes and Blockbuster before it was gone

[@monsoon1234567890]

My family stopped going to Blockbuster when cable on-demand became a thing. We'd sit around choosing movies like we would at Blockbuster. Also, kids lost interest in renting games by that point. Parents by themselves picking out movies for the family is a dull experience.

[@homecooking5]

Beau partage merci❤👍

[@donathanrogers2341]

It has always been my favorite video store for years. WHY’D IT HAVE TO GO AWAY ALL THIS TIME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[@CARNLOU]

Here in Ireland, we had XtraVision, which was Blockbuster in all but name. Yes, it would be fair to say that I miss rental nights because I still use physical media (mainly Blu Ray discs nowadays).

[@adriengray3332]

I miss going to Blockbuster and getting movies there. Good memories.

[@JackieMReacts]

the blockbuster in the town next to mine became a smoothie/milkshake joint. they got good shakes

[@MrDMC11889]

It seems to me that their downfall was refusing to change with the times.

[@h0m3st4r]

Of course, it was.

[@jasonmistretta4295]

I highly recommend people watch the documentary "The Last Blockbuster" from 2020. I was pleasantly surprised how great the interviews were. The actors who were interviewed had great stories about how this was their "Disney World." Grab a movie, grab candy, & drinks, maybe a pizza on the way home, and then just spending time with friends watching movies.

[@darkwingdave79]

Blockbuster Video was my 1st job. I will always love that place for that.

[@Makman1994]

Really sad that I never got to grow up with this store. Rest in peace.

[@eliotw149]

I always find something new and never seen before

[@GoonieLord]

1:51 check out all those VHS copies of the original Home Alone

[@greatazuredragon]

While I loved Blockbuster. It died in my country long before Netflix became a thing.

[@annamcvey9716]

I remember when I was young getting free movies and packs of revels from blockbusters, because of the wins in Dorito pack

[@marcgonzalez9126]

I wish I can go blockbuster video again! 📼 📀 📹

[@lazarusblackwell6988]

i never wanted blockbuster to go under. It just happened one day. One day you are out renting out a movie and games and the next day everything is closed forever.

[@frederikvansteen3971]

In The Netherlands the boxes were displayed from the beginning in 1981. And we took the boxes home. Not the tape in a paper sleeve. And our biggest chain Videoland DID become a succesful streaming service.

[@Lutonboy]

It's something my kids won't experience, looking at all the boxes but I dont think they would anyway. Boring they would say. I loved it.

[@brodiger]

I miss Blackbusters so much I remember going to renting movies and then returning them back on the day it was supposed to return not only could you rent movies but you could also rent video games as well and that was the best thing that that blockbuster had kids today are never going to know about it I’m sad that my childhood is gone

[@654_nosneb]

My dad has always been a tech enthusiast. When I was a kid, my dad was one of the first people to buy a Netflix subscription, thinking that it was an interesting thing that would eventually die. I remember that a lot of my favorite childhood movies: Wall-e, The Incredibles, Megamind, Shrek, Toy Story, and a long etcetera were there. In fact, I discovered a lot of them, like Megamind, through Netflix. At first, I was like: why should I stop watching television in order to watch "Netflix"; but, the more I used it, I quickly came to this realization: "Why should I watch TV on the first place? All the things that I wanna watch are on Netflix. Also, I get to choose what I wanna watch, when I wanna watch it, and with no ads in the way.

[@tianapitesr8553]

Teachers would say dreams come true like this hardworking founder. Those days were good bringing home hot takeout videos. Blessed era🤗

[@johntracy72]

To me, even sadder was the closing of I Luv Video in Austin, Texas. It was perhaps the first video store in America. They opened in 1984. Lazurus Brewery is going to occupy the old building so at least a local company will be there.

[@kidperk3347]

Nothing was better than hitting blockbuster on a Friday night and renting a video game and if you were lucky a VHS too lol......something about having to go to the actual store seems to have made it more special....man those were the days

[@robertrobillard4844]

VERY Old News ... Moving on, to New & Better things!!

[@scottjackson369]

Me: Give me, Blockbuster! Netflix: You’ll get your Blockbuster when you fix this, DAMN DOOR!

[@anandguruji83]

R.I.P BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO

[@anandguruji83]

R.I.P BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO

[@sheemalmighty]

I remember I played a lot of games that I never heard of until I saw it in a Blockbuster. Only got them cause the popular games were sold out lml

[@tjrudy5708]

im from York Pennsylvania so idk if it was an area store. but i remember buying games for my ps1 and 2 at Funcoland. does anyone else remember Funcoland? one time i went there it was turned into a GameStop. this was early 2000s.

[@stacymontes681]

I'm in Lancaster and I don't remember Funcoland.

[@BEAVISKORNHOLIO69]

I miss blockbuster so much it was a huge part of my childhood I had a lot of good memories going there it's funny now how Netflix is starting to look like blockbuster with many subscribers stopping their subscription to the streaming service

[@angelaholmes8888]

Yeah it's kinda ironic that Netflix is in the same situation

[@fromthehaven94]

I also had Hollywood Video nights and (because you paid upon returning a video) North Campus Video. But it was mostly afternoons.

[@xrrrismickey]

It's amazing there's still one.

[@andromeda331]

I miss wandering the store looking for movies and movie nights.