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

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

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

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 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Blockbuster had its own exclusive snacks and candy.
   Some items (like Blockbuster-branded popcorn) became fan favorites and are now collector items.
7. 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.”
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. A Blockbuster credit card existed.
    Customers could apply for a branded credit card that earned points for rentals and store purchases.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. The Bend Blockbuster includes a mini-museum.
    It displays old rental equipment, VHS boxes, and retro memorabilia from the chain’s heyday.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.