Blockbuster in a Nutshell

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]This video is brought to you by our channel partner, Gamer Supps. More about them at the end of the video. And free Gamer Supps. So, we all know the scarely common experience of sitting down in front of the TV, opening up one of the many various streaming platforms, and searching for a film to watch. Scrolling through thousands of digital movie covers as you decide, unsure of what you're in the mood for. And if you're in a group, forget about it. The supposed movie night just turned into a movie browsing night as you ultimately end up having more fun just looking for a movie to watch, [music] and then decide to sack it off and do something else. Well, recently, I've been feeling a little bit nostalgic, and it made me think back to what things were like before streaming services. Okay, not that far. So, in the early to mid 2000s, there was a little store called Blockbuster Video. Now, the general premise of Blockbuster was that it was a video rental store, which as the name suggests, meant you could go in there, find a physical movie, rent it for a short period, watch it, then return it. Pretty simple. But, for anybody that had the pleasure of visiting Blockbuster in their lifetime, you will know it was far more than this.

[00:01:02]So, the local Blockbuster I used to go to as a child was in a very British precinct near my childhood home, featuring a Co-op, a fish and chip shop, a Chinese, and of course, Blockbuster.

[00:01:12]As I was writing this, I actually went on Street View and set the date to 2008, and I was flooded with memories when I saw that blue store silhouette. So, next door to this specific Blockbuster was a florist. So, whenever me and my mom would be in the precinct, she'd wander in there to look at the flowers, and I'd head next door. So, there I'd stand opposite the blue storefront, the glass doors flashing a quick glimpse of the interior. Then as you step in, you're met with that iconic Blockbuster interior, [music] blue and yellow decor, and aisles containing a sea of movies, and I was ready to dive in. Now, all of these movies were organized into sections, genres, and this only made things more fun. I'd run to the action section and look at all the cool covers.

[00:01:52]Then I'd walk straight past the romance section to get to the sci-fi as I'd soak up all the Star Wars movies I'd seen countless times, always learning and being introduced to films I'd never seen before, picking up the box and reading the synopsis. Then I'd notice when new films had been added to each section. It was a bit like earlier when I mentioned you look for a movie to watch and end up having more fun just looking at the movies. It was a physical, far more interactive personification of that. But then, there was the horror section. I'd always have to hype myself up to venture over there. The horror DVD covers alone would scare me. Sometimes I'd almost dare myself to go over there, like a test of bravery. I mean, in hindsight, I was a 7-year-old looking at a bunch of films that certainly weren't made for me. Then I'd go over to the family section as a palate cleanser, a little more my style. Then after you'd peruse the numerous movies inside the store, you could then head outside the store.

[00:02:42]Yes, you heard me right. Just outside the door of Blockbuster would be the discount DVD bin. This was like a graveyard of movies, any actor or director's worst nightmare, crappy comedy movies, box office flops, or just bizarre artsy films. Basically, any movie you'd see featured on the Joe Soap channel. And because they'd been sitting outside for so long, some of them would be soggy from the rain, or the covers would be sun-damaged and forgotten about to rot away. But who cares, [music] cuz they were cheap as chips, even though I think nobody actually ever bought them.

[00:03:10]So, once you'd eventually picked out something you like the look of, you'd look down the middle aisle, and there sat the counter. It was usually manned by some sort of film nerd, film student, failed director, or somebody that just needed money, or all four, with the most 2000's facial hair ever. Now, because I was a bit of a bad boy, I'd pick up an 18-rated movie, walk right up to the counter, stare the worker right in the eyes, and then quickly hand the DVD to my mom cuz I was scared and far too young. Then she'd pull out her Blockbuster card. Now, to this day, I'm still not entirely sure what these did, because I never actually owned one. But upon a Google, it turns out this was literally your Blockbuster ID, the key to your account. Quite obvious now that I think about it. So, hand over the blue master key in the form of a plastic card, the worker would scan it, you'd pay a small price, and boom, this DVD was yours for the next 24 to 48 hours.

[00:04:03]Then you'd race home and watch said movie, or movies if you bought multiple.

[00:04:07]Then sometime over the next couple of days, you'd make your way back to the closest Blockbuster and return it. But the best bit about the return, you didn't even need to socialize with the worker. Cuz on the exterior wall of the store, next to the soggy DVDs, was a quick drop slot, like a mailbox for watched movies. So, the workers could open it from the inside and return all the DVDs back onto the shelves. So, this whole process seems pretty cool, right?

[00:04:31]The concept of renting something, watching it, then returning it. But wait, you've seen nothing yet. Whilst Blockbuster was great alone, well, with your mum, it was even better with friends. As a child, Blockbuster was the backbone of every great sleepover. The amount of times I'd have a friend come round to my house, or vice versa, on a Friday night, then you'd go on an adventure to Blockbuster. The iconic blue light shining through the darkness like a beacon of joy. You'd wander in, both look around, and then pick out a movie or three for the weekend. But that wasn't all. At the counter, they sold popcorn, crisps, and ice cream.

[00:05:05]Literally all a child could need for an elite level movie night. Any night that started with a trip to Blockbuster was bound to be a good one. Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the video games.

[00:05:17]That's right, Blockbuster didn't just sell movies, they had a whole section packed full of brand new and old video games. Arguably, my favorite part of the store. Me and my friend used to do this thing where we'd go to Blockbuster on a Friday night, rent a game, and spend all weekend trying to beat it before the rental period ran out. And speaking of this rental period, the amount of times you'd take a game out, play the out of it, and then it was time to return it, and you didn't want to part with it.

[00:05:44]But Blockbuster thought of this, too.

[00:05:46]You could go to the counter and extend your rental period, so you could go straight back to playing more of the game. And every single child knew that one kid who would never return their Blockbuster games. You'd just see a copy of the game with a fat Blockbuster rental sticker on it, 3 years after they'd got it from the store. Who am I kidding? We were all that child.

[00:06:05]Everybody had at least one thing from Blockbuster that they forgot to return, gathering dust. And honestly, they probably still own it to this day. And let's say there was a movie or a game you rented and really enjoyed, you could always go back to Blockbuster and buy a full copy of the game to own forever.

[00:06:20]Now of course, Blockbuster was a product of its time. In September of 2000, Netflix literally offered their entire business to Blockbuster for $50 million.

[00:06:29]And Blockbuster swiftly rejected their offer. Then with the introduction and popularity of online streaming, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy in 2010, and by 2014, all their stores had vanished off the high streets. Well, except the one remaining one in Oregon.

[00:06:42]Maybe I'll go there for a video one day.

[00:06:44]And as of 2026, Netflix is now valued at around 450 billion. Whilst there is something great about streaming services, a press of a button and you've got endless movies to browse and watch, there is something missing. I know it's been said a thousand times, but in a world full of instantly streamed music and movies at your fingertips, where you don't actually own anything, just paying a subscription each month to access them, I think people are just starting to miss physical media. You see it now with the resurgence of people buying vinyls and record players to feel more connected to their favorite [music] artists, to own something tangible, something timeless. I mean, I've gotten really into movies this year. I mean like really into movies. I think I've watched more films this year than I have in my entire life. I'm just catching up on all the ones I've missed from being not a film person. And recently I found myself wandering into stores like HMV or CEX and picking up physical copies of movies I've watched and loved just to own and collect them. Not to mention that the cinema is nowhere near as popular as it used to be. And now when a new film comes out, people just wait for it to go on to streaming so they can watch it at their makeshift home theater. And whilst I can't revive being a child and walking into Blockbuster [music] whilst my mom looked at flowers next door, or on a Friday night with my friends as we picked up a game to binge, and the hardest decision that week was what flavor ice cream we wanted. I guess I've just been reflecting recently.

[00:07:59]From the very start of time, there has been some exquisite collaborations, beautiful pairings, elegant unions, made matches, lock and keys, yin and yangs, iconic duos, other halves, flames, meant to be's. But, this that's what I call a collaboration.

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