Blockbuster Video was, for a time, one of the most powerful brands in all of entertainment. When the home video market was booming before streaming took over, Blockbuster was the go-to destination for watching movies from the comfort of home. It may be hard to consider now, but watching movies from your couch used to mean going to an actual store, renting them one by one, and returning them after you were done at an agreed upon time. Remember late fees?
Blockbuster hit its peak with around 9,000 stores in 2004 before it all came crashing down. After filing bankruptcy in 2011, Netflix began its era of streaming dominance and the company didn’t pivot, making it a dinosaur that faded into obscurity rather quickly. Several stores hung on for dear life for a number of years, but the last three remaining stores in Alaska closed in 2019, leaving only the one in Oregon to remember this bygone era.
Nostalgia for the chain has come back around in recent years. Netflix released a series titled “Blockbuster” that ended up lasting just one season. But the fact that it was produced in the first place signifies that people feel some kind of way about the days of video rental stores. Dish may be ready to seize on that opportunity. Stay tuned.
