After years of absence, the once-popular video rental store has reactivated its website, bringing back a wave of nostalgia for those who remember the heyday of the video rental era.
For those who never experienced it, Blockbuster was a chain of video rental stores that dominated the market in the 1990s and early 2000s. Customers would visit their local Blockbuster store to rent movies and video games for a few days, then return them for a new selection. It was a convenient way to access the latest movies and games without having to purchase them outright.
However, with the rise of online streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, Blockbuster's business model became outdated, and the company eventually filed for bankruptcy. in 2010. By 2014, Blockbuster closed all of its corporate-owned stores by early 2014, leaving a location in Bend, Oregon as one of 50 remaining franchise stores. In July 2018, it became the last remaining Blockbuster in the United States, and in March 2019, the last in the world.
Fast forward to March, 2023, and the Blockbuster website has been reactivated, sparking excitement and curiosity from fans of the video rental giant.
Theories abound that the reactivated website will allow visitors to stream classic movies from the Blockbuster catalog, including popular titles from the 1990s and 2000s, such as "The Terminator," "Jurassic Park," and "Forrest Gump."
The website's reactivation is a testament to the enduring popularity of the Blockbuster brand and the impact it had on popular culture. It's a reminder of a simpler time when renting a movie was an event in and of itself, and the excitement of browsing the aisles for the latest release was unmatched.