Retro Toys and Electronics

November 4 2025

Why Blockbuster Should Reopen More Stores, and Not Just for Nostalgia

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A Blockbuster Video Comeback Makes Perfect Sense…Under Certain Conditions

If you grew up in the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s, there’s a good chance Blockbuster wasn’t just a store for you, it was a Friday night ritual.

Picking out movies with friends or family, grabbing popcorn and candy, arguing over which VHS tape or DVD to rent… that was an experience.

And as much as I love the convenience of Netflix and Hulu, I can’t help but feel that something got lost when streaming took over.

So here’s a thought I can’t shake: Blockbuster should open a few more physical stores again.

I’m not saying a full-scale comeback with 9,000 stores like the chain had at its peak in 2004. Rather, a small and smart expansion modeled after the one surviving Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon.

The Last Blockbuster Standing

blockbuster video comeback

Let’s talk about the famous Bend, Oregon store, AKA the last official Blockbuster on Earth.

This store has become more than a rental shop; it’s a tourist attraction, a nostalgic landmark, and a reminder of how much people miss the tangible side of entertainment. Visitors fly in from all over just to take a selfie inside those blue-and-yellow walls.

What’s interesting is that this store didn’t survive by accident. It works for a few practical reasons:

Bend is relatively remote, with fewer entertainment options than big cities.
There’s a strong sense of community, where people still enjoy local shops.
Not everyone there is fully dependent on streaming, whether due to lifestyle, internet access, or simple preference.
Like many of us, a lot of people around Bend grew up with Blockbuster and still embrace physical media.

If the nostalgia factor alone keeps that store relevant, imagine what a modernized version of Blockbuster could do in the right places.

I emphasize: In the right places.

Why Opening a Few More Stores Is Worth Trying

blockbuster video comeback

Now, I know the argument: “Streaming killed physical rentals. Why go backward?”

But I’d argue it’s less about going backward and more about adapting what once worked into a new environment (albeit smaller and more limited).

Here’s why a small, strategic relaunch could actually succeed:

1. Physical Media Isn’t Dead. It’s Resurging

Vinyl records came back. Polaroid cameras came back. Even VHS has a niche collector market now.

There’s a growing appetite for tangible entertainment, especially with younger generations discovering it for the first time.

A modern Blockbuster could offer:

Retro movie sections (VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray classics)
Collector’s editions and exclusive physical media
In-store movie nights or community events

People today crave experiences, not just screens.

2. Not Every Town Has Reliable Streaming

We forget this living in big cities, but in certain areas (rural U.S., parts of Canada, Latin America, or even Australia) having fast, reliable, unlimited internet isn’t a given.

In some countries, data caps make binge-watching expensive. Streaming isn’t always practical.

Blockbuster could open stores in:

Rural or suburban communities with limited broadband
Countries where streaming adoption lags behind

Sometimes, old-school wins simply because the infrastructure isn’t there for the “new school.”

3. Community is the Secret Ingredient

blockbuster video open new stores

Blockbuster wasn’t just about renting movies, it was a social hub.

I remember walking in and running into neighbors, classmates, or coworkers. It gave people a reason to leave the house and interact with actual human beings. Believe it or not, that’s rare now.

A small chain of modern Blockbuster stores could recreate that sense of community:

Local staff who know movie tastes
Suggestion shelves curated by employees or customers
Family-themed movie nights
Retro gaming sections for Nintendo 64, PS2, GameCube, etc.

Think of it as part movie rental shop, part community center, part pop-culture museum.

4. Nostalgia is Profitable (When Done Right)

Let’s be honest: Blockbuster has brand power. People still talk about it. Documentaries have been made about it. Memes still circulate daily. It’s part of pop culture.

If companies can profit from reboots of everything from flip phones to Care Bears, Blockbuster absolutely can, too.

Imagine pop-up Blockbusters in malls, airports, or tourist destinations.
Imagine a Blockbuster café that rents movies and serves snacks themed around iconic films.
That’s revenue far beyond late fees and rentals.

What Should Be Learned from the Bend Store

Blockbuster video commercial:

To be clear, the Bend Blockbuster succeeded because of careful adaptation, not blind nostalgia. Any expansion should borrow from what works there:

Keep it local and community-focused
Offer merch and collectibles (the Bend store sells hats, shirts, magnets, and people love it)
Embrace the “museum appeal” while still serving a function
Lean into retro + modern instead of pretending it’s still 1998

It’s about balance.

Yes, streaming is convenient. But does it spark joy? Scrolling through endless thumbnails isn’t an experience; it’s a chore.

Walking through aisles, holding a physical copy, discovering a forgotten movie…that hits different.

The Bottom Line

Blockbuster doesn’t need thousands of stores again. It doesn’t need to replace streaming.

It just needs to exist in a modernized, strategically placed way that reminds people what made it special in the first place.

Because deep down, a lot of us still miss it.

Not just the movies, but the feeling.

And if one store in Bend, Oregon can stay alive in 2025, imagine what five or ten could do if they’re placed in the right towns, marketed with the right “retro-meets-modern” strategy, and built around community rather than competition.

Maybe it’s time for Blockbuster to take the gamble again. Not as a comeback… but as a cultural revival.

Another Blockbuster video commercial:

Fun Facts About Blockbuster Video

Blockbuster once had over 9,000 stores worldwide.
At its peak in 2004, the chain was opening a new store every 17 hours on average.
The very first Blockbuster opened in 1985 in Dallas, Texas.
It was founded by David Cook, who originally worked in the oil and gas industry and used a database system to track inventory, which was revolutionary for video rentals at the time.
Blockbuster famously passed on buying Netflix for only $50 million.
In 2000, Netflix tried to pitch a collaboration, but Blockbuster declined. This is one of the most infamous business decisions in history.
The “Be Kind, Rewind” phrase wasn’t invented by Blockbuster.
It began with VHS culture in general, but Blockbuster made it mainstream by turning it into an iconic slogan of renting etiquette.
Late fees once brought in $800 million a year.
They were a huge part of Blockbuster’s revenue until the chain removed them in 2005 after customer backlash.
Blockbuster had its own exclusive snacks and candy.
Some items (like Blockbuster-branded popcorn) became fan favorites and are now collector items.
Australia held onto Blockbuster longer than almost any other country.
A handful of stores survived until 2019, with one in Perth becoming the “second-to-last Blockbuster on Earth.”
Blockbuster wasn’t just movies, it rented video games, too.
For many gamers in the 90s, Blockbuster was the only way to test a new game before buying it.
Blockbuster once had a mail-rental service like Netflix.
It launched in 2004 (called Blockbuster Online) to compete with Netflix’s DVDs-by-mail model, but it came too late.
There was a Blockbuster spin-off called “Blockbuster Music.”
In the 1990s, the company briefly ran music stores and even tried CD listening stations before digital music killed the idea.
A Blockbuster credit card existed.
Customers could apply for a branded credit card that earned points for rentals and store purchases.
Some Blockbusters had “Video Game Pass” memberships.
For a set monthly fee, members could rent unlimited games. This was like an early version of GameFly or Xbox Game Pass.
Blockbuster briefly tried a streaming service.
Known as Blockbuster On Demand, it launched in 2011 and offered digital rentals. But there just wasn’t enough marketing power behind it.
Quentin Tarantino was a Blockbuster superfan.
He reportedly rented so many movies from his local video stores over the years that some owners joked he single-handedly kept them in business.
The Bend Blockbuster includes a mini-museum.
It displays old rental equipment, VHS boxes, and retro memorabilia from the chain’s heyday.
Blockbuster once aired a Super Bowl commercial with guinea pigs.
In 2002 and 2003, Blockbuster ran memorable ads featuring animated animals named Carl and Ray that became surprisingly popular.
Some stores had a “staff picks” wall.
Employees could highlight their favorite movies, often helping customers discover hidden gems and cult classics long before the internet recommended lists.
Blockbuster had a “No R-Rated Movies to Kids Under 17” policy.
Parents appreciated it, making Blockbuster feel safer than some independent video rental shops at the time.
The chain’s trademark colors were chosen to mimic movie theater vibes.
The bright blue and yellow were meant to feel welcoming, energetic, and cinematic.

November 1 2025

Brain Warp: The Color-Matching Electronic Game That Took the 90s by Storm

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If you grew up in the 1990s, chances are you remember a strange, futuristic-looking electronic gadget barking rapid-fire instructions like “Red! Yellow! Green! Brain Warp!” at you.

That little plastic sphere was none other than Brain Warp, one of those toys that looked simple, yet somehow managed to hijack entire afternoons. It’s one of those electronic memory and reflex games that kids got hooked on instantly.

It’s kind of like Bop It’s quirky, louder cousin.

Even if you’ve never played it, Brain Warp was one of the most uniquely designed toys of the decade, so let’s rewind a bit and talk about what made this oddball game such a 90s icon.

Brain Warp commercial from the 1990s:

A Quick Look at Brain Warp’s Origins

Brain Warp was released by Tiger Electronics in 1996 (with a prototype by Big Monster Toys). If the name Tiger Electronics rings a bell, it’s because they were behind many beloved handheld and electronic games of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.

Tiger became huge with kids thanks to their portable LCD video games, Giga Pets, and hit toys like Skip-It and Bop It (the latter through a licensing partnership), so Brain Warp fit perfectly into their lineup of fast-twitch, sound-driven, reaction-based games.

Brain Warp hit toy shelves during a period when interactive electronic toys were booming. Kids wanted sound effects, fast action, and bragging rights…and Tiger delivered.

The game stayed in production for only a few years before quietly disappearing in the early 2000s, as Tiger shifted its focus to new product lines and eventually merged into Hasbro.

Because production didn’t last long and the game never received a later re-release, original Brain Warp units have become collectible items. Fully working devices (especially boxed) can fetch impressive prices among nostalgic toy collectors today.

What Exactly Was Brain Warp?

For those who never played it, Brain Warp looked like a colorful space gadget with six protruding knobs, each labeled with a color and number.

The premise was simple: the voice inside the game would call out commands, and you had to twist and flip the toy so the correct color or number would be facing upward.

The longer you played, the faster the commands came. Mess up, and you’d hear the game’s signature “You blew it!” line.

Another Brain Warp commercial:

There were multiple modes to keep things interesting, including:

Color Mode

This is the mode most people remember when they think of Brain Warp. The game would call out a color, mainly “Red, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Green, Orange” and your job was to twist, flip, or rotate the device so that the matching color was facing up before the timer beeped again.

It sounds easy for the first few rounds, but the pace ramps up quickly. The game starts by giving you a moment to adjust, but soon you’re spinning this plastic UFO at frantic speed trying not to fumble. Color Mode tests coordination, spatial awareness, and your ability to react under pressure.

Number Mode

Number Mode works just like Color Mode, except instead of calling out colors, the game calls out numbers from 1 to 6. Because the knobs are labeled with both colors and numbers, your brain is forced to switch gears and think differently.

This made Number Mode feel surprisingly fresh, even though the mechanics were identical. Some kids actually found the numbers easier because they could memorize placement, while others found the numeric commands harder because they couldn’t rely on color association. It created a fun mental tug-of-war.

Memory Mode

Memory Mode is where Brain Warp fully lived up to its name. This mode played more like Simon, where the game would call out a growing sequence of colors or numbers, and you had to repeat the sequence back by rotating the toy in the correct order.

Round one starts simple: one command. Round two adds another. Then another. Soon you’re juggling a whole chain of instructions and desperately clinging to the pattern before it slips. Memory Mode forced players to slow down, concentrate, and resist the urge to rush.

This was the mode that separated casual players from the truly obsessed. Many kids treated it like a personal brain-training challenge and bragged if they could get past round 10 or 12.

Speed Mode

If Color Mode was intense, Speed Mode was pure chaos. Instead of calling out random colors or numbers at a fixed pace, Speed Mode gradually gets faster with each correct response. The further you get, the shorter the interval between prompts.

At first, you feel calm and confident, but by the halfway point, you’re flipping the toy like a caffeinated octopus, praying you don’t slip and hear the dreaded “You blew it!” voice. Speed Mode created that addictive “one more try” loop because every failure made you think, “I was so close, I’m sure I can do better on the next round.”

Some versions of Brain Warp included specific challenge variations within Speed Mode, like reverse sequences or alternating between colors and numbers.

What Makes Brain Warp So Addictive?

Brain Warp hit the sweet spot that many of the best 90s electronic games mastered: easy to learn, hard to master. Anyone could pick it up and understand it in 30 seconds, but getting past the fast rounds? That took legit skill.

Several things made it highly addictive:

It Turned Competition Into Fuel
Kids challenged themselves, siblings, and friends to beat high scores. The game’s escalating difficulty made “just one more try” impossible to resist.
Sensory Engagement
Bright colors, numbered knobs, voice commands, and fast-paced audio cues tapped into multiple senses at once. This created a rhythm-like experience that felt almost musical.
Perfect Balance of Chaos and Control
Your hands were constantly flipping and rotating the toy in different directions, creating controlled chaos that felt exhilarating under a time crunch.
It Pressured You (In a Good Way)
Brain Warp yelled at you if you messed up, but in a playful, motivating way. That sense of urgency (without it ever feeling too serious) was a brilliant hook for kids.

Why Brain Warp Stands Out Among 90s Electronic Games

Compared to other popular 90s audio games like Simon, Bop It, or Light’s Out, Brain Warp was arguably the most physically interactive. Where Simon tested memory and Bop It tested reaction time, Brain Warp blended both while also forcing full-hand movement and spatial coordination.

Its unique physical design was also part of the magic. It wasn’t a flat pad of buttons or a handheld controller; this thing looked like an alien training device. That alone sparked curiosity and earned it a permanent spot in the era’s toy culture.

Kids also loved how loud and energetic the toy was. Brain Warp wasn’t passive, as you couldn’t just quietly play in the corner. The game commanded the room, turning playtime into an event.

Production and Legacy

Though Brain Warp didn’t survive long into the 2000s, it remains a fond memory for many who experienced it at its peak.

Tiger Electronics continued making variations of reaction-based games like Brain Shift and Brain Bash, but Brain Warp remains the one that collectors and 90s kids talk about the most.

Today, original Brain Warp units are considered nostalgic collectibles. It has a devoted fan base online, especially among vintage toy communities and retro-gaming channels that love revisiting 90s pop culture.

If Tiger or Hasbro ever announced a modern re-release with new game modes, Bluetooth score-sharing, or updated sound effects, fans would likely jump at it.

Fun fact: In 2007, Hasbro released a successor called Hyperslide. It carried over the Code Buster concept from the original game, but this time players used four color-coded discs to keep the fast-paced action going.

Wanna Warp Again?

Brain Warp is one of those rare 90s toys that managed to be simple, wildly creative, frustrating, and endlessly fun all at once.

It’s proof that you don’t need complex tech to create a memorable gaming experience; you just need a clever design, a little chaos, and a voice that yells at you when you lose.

If you ever spot one at a flea market, yard sale, or online listing, grab it. Fire it up and see if you still have the reflexes that 12-year-old you once bragged about.