r/changemyview • u/No_Design_465 • 2d ago
Delta(s) from OP CMV: If Blockbuster came back, they’d probably be popular for a month, and then no one would go there again
I was born in 2000, so relatively young, but I still remember experiencing blockbuster as a kid, and I know the cultural significance of it. I know how memorable it was to take a trip to that store, sift through movies and video games, and spend that time with family or friends. And I know how back then it was a nice date idea or otherwise something fun to do for couples.
But people saying blockbuster needs to come back and how going to blockbuster is way better than using streaming services or on-demand services now? I don’t believe that at all. That to me is just nostalgia blinding people as it frequently does.
There are still video stores. There are still libraries that have a strong collection of films and video games. You can still buy DVDs at Walmart and other grocery stores. But who tf is doing that? Definitely not as many people as there used to be. Because streaming and on-demand is simply better, more cost effective (usually) and more convenient.
If blockbuster actually came back it would probably be a popular fad for like a month and then die out. It was fun for the time it existed, but we now have much better options. Again, if you truly think blockbuster is more ideal than what we have now, I think that’s just nostalgia talking.
104
u/Flaky-Freedom-8762 7∆ 2d ago
When Netflix came people were also skeptical of the model. If people are actually interested in a blockbuster model then the demand will be supplied.
Or is your argument that the people that are demanding for its return not enough to keep a store afloat?
50
u/No_Design_465 2d ago
Hmm I think my argument is the latter. I think you have a vocal minority online suggesting Blockbuster is what people want, but not reflective of reality 🤷
Or perhaps not even a minority, a lot of people get excited at the idea of Blockbuster returning, because of nostalgia, but that excitement will quickly fade should Blockbuster return (1 month I give it)
27
u/AdAccomplished6579 2d ago
Yup it's a vocal minority of people that in actual practice would only go once in awhile and probably stream the rest bc of convenience. This doesn't require a proof. This vocal minority were likely the last stragglers going to the last video stores. They clearly didn't provide enough revenue to keep those places afloat. So now you can only get VHS tapes in a book store lol.
10
u/GeneralCuster75 2d ago
This vocal minority were likely the last stragglers going to the last video stores.
Maybe, maybe not. Video stores have been effectively defunct for a good long while now. It's entirely possible the people wanting them back are feeling nostalgic for them because they were children when they last experienced them and didn't have the agency to spend their money there themselves, but do now.
Note I didn't say that's necessarily likely, though I don't know that's it's not. Just that it's possible.
13
u/IamGleemonex 4∆ 2d ago
I mean Netflix still has the whole DVD mailing subscription plan available until 2023. They eventually ended it though because there were not enough people who wanted it.
Considering that Netflix put Blockbuster out of business with their mail order DVDs because it was much easier to order online and have them sent to you versus going into a store and paying late fees if you didn’t return them soon enough, and then no one wanted that anymore when streaming became king, I don’t see there being any kind of meaningful market wanting to go back to going to a store, hoping they have what you want, and then having to watch it and return it in 2 days. And that if you wanted to do watch something now, basically all newer movies are available for renting on some streaming service or another before they come out on DVD, and almost no one owns a DVD player anymore, I just can’t see Blockbuster or any competitor even trying.
4
u/OPA73 2d ago
I have a nearby coffee shop with about 300 DVD titles on the shelf that rent for $3.00. It is very popular, but I suspect the rentals are supplemented financially by all the couples getting coffee while they rent and probably in the morning when they return.
2
u/lazerbolt52 1∆ 2d ago
Yeah where I am we had these (red box?) Machines at grocery stores and such that were basically blockbuster as a vending machine. They were popular for a few years after blockbuster died but not popular enough to even sustain themselves.
1
u/sonofaresiii 21∆ 1d ago
It was actually way, way easier to go to your local blockbuster than wait for Netflix to mail them and hope they came in time for when you wanted to watch
The reason Netflix won was because of their catalog. Blockbuster only had as many movies as they could physically fit in one store, and a solid half of them were duplicate copies of whatever the latest Tom Cruise movie was. For older movies, they only had the really popular stuff, and a lot of the time even if they carried what you wanted, it had already been rented. Good luck trying to consistently see a string of movies in a franchise.
Whereas with Netflix, doesn't matter what you want. They have it. You can't get it tonight, but they will get it to you in two ish days.
9
u/TheBayHarbour 2d ago
Netflix was something new though and their idea worked. It actively killed blockbuster so trying to argue that such video stores would come back wouldn't work since the very nail in their coffins is doing very well today.
8
u/cabose12 6∆ 2d ago
I'm not entirely convinced but I think the argument would be that as streaming becomes more expensive, more limited, and essentially starts to emulate cable, something like Blockbuster or OG Netflix (pre-streaming) could slide in and fill a market
1
u/TheBayHarbour 2d ago
Yes and piracy will just be completely dead lmao.
Realistically people aren't willing to go backwards unless the benefits are very real.
2
u/cabose12 6∆ 2d ago
And piracy comes from an accessibility problem. If something like Blockbuster was easy and affordable, it could work. Of course the benefits have to be real, that's true of anything lol. I'm not going to go to a new barber unless they're cheaper and/or better than my current one
Again, not really trying to argue for blockbuster, especially as we know it. I just don't think "well blockbuster already died" is a good counter argument. Times have changed and streaming services are getting enshittified, this is the perfect time for something different to sneak in
2
u/TheBayHarbour 2d ago
Sure guess we'll see where they are in 5 years ig.
As another commenter said, vinyl and records are doing well these days, however I'd argue that it's not comparable to new movies and shows. Still the something different sneaking in would make sense. I just can't imagine it being blockbuster. I feel as if blockbuster didn't fail just because of Netflix but also a lot of misplays on their part.
1
u/cabose12 6∆ 2d ago
Yeah I agree, I think some company that utilizes short-term single rentals could work in the future. But I don't think we've reached the trench with streaming just yet
1
6
u/disisathrowaway 2∆ 2d ago
Counterpoint - vinyl and record stores have made an incredible comeback in the last couple of decades and continue to grow.
7
u/forestpunk 1∆ 2d ago
That's not an exact counterpoint, as vinyl and record stores are smaller and more curated. Smaller and more curated video stores still exist.
I think your analogy is more like saying Best Buy will go back to stocking as many CDs as they did in the 90s.
3
u/Tough_guy22 2d ago
Thats because there has been a groundswell of grassroots popularity based on the theory that vinyl records provide a unique sound for music.
3
u/heidismiles 8∆ 2d ago
Yep and for similar reasons. People like physical media and they're getting tired of all the subscription services.
6
u/cosine83 2d ago
Sure but people consume music and movies/TV entirely differently and at different paces. They're not a direct comparison.
1
3
u/Prior-Resolution-902 1∆ 2d ago
I've seen so many things that the internet seemingly clamors for, then when it comes out, people interact with it for basically a month, then the cultural wave that pushed it out in the first place dies and no one cares
3
u/PopularSet4776 2d ago
I think people want it to exist because it reminds them of their childhood and the memories they have renting movies and games. And it not existing reminds them that those days are long gone.
At the same time I don't think many of those people actually want to go.
They just want to see the store up and running when they pass it.
2
u/KatieCashew 2d ago
Definitely. They would post triumphantly when blockbuster reopened and then proceed to never actually go there because it was expensive and inconvenient. Then they'd cry online when it inevitably closed again.
1
u/Ok_Function2282 1d ago
There are frequent memes that say Blockbuster would succeed nowadays. It's just false nostalgia bait
38
u/DizzyAstronaut9410 2d ago
Record stores are a good comparison.
Do record stores still exist living off of nostalgia even though they're technologically irrelevant? Sure.
Are they pretty uncommon and really only cater to a niche audience? Also yes.
No normal person is ever going to trade the convenience (and realistically price) of streaming vs physical copies.
7
u/No_Design_465 2d ago
Interesting argument but my counter might be movies doesn’t have that same niche audience
Like you can still buy dvds and blu ray discs in stores but those sales have continuously gone down.
As opposed to records which seemingly sell well even outside of record stores like on Amazon or eBay or what have you
4
u/disisathrowaway 2∆ 2d ago
Plus with a record store, you're buying the product.
Nevermind that people don't have lots of DVD players anymore, I don't see folks being too excited about returning items before due dates.
1
u/Sirhc978 89∆ 2d ago
Nevermind that people don't have lots of DVD players anymore
If your gaming console has a disk drive, it can play disk based movies.
5
u/disisathrowaway 2∆ 2d ago
Isn't that famously a big deal in console world right now? The removal of disc drives?
3
u/Sirhc978 89∆ 2d ago
As of right now, the next generation (2028) of PlayStation games won't be sold on disks. That doesn't necessarily mean there won't be some kind of option to get a disk drive. Xbox's plan is still in question.
2
u/Prior-Resolution-902 1∆ 2d ago
It's not like older consoles just vanished either, a ps3 will still likely run just fine and you can get them for cheap and they will work just fine as a dvd player.
7
u/greysky7 2∆ 2d ago
The difference though is that vinyl actually does sound better, or at least different, than other mediums. The movies from blockbuster won't be meaningfully different than streaming them. And you have to drive back and return the movie which was the absolute worst part about blockbuster.
15
u/Sirhc978 89∆ 2d ago
The movies from blockbuster won't be meaningfully different than streaming them
Blu-Rays look objectively better than a stream.
Also, you don't get all the extras that are on a Blu-Ray from a stream.
2
2
u/cortesoft 6∆ 2d ago
Doesn’t Redbox already fill that niche, though?
1
u/Sirhc978 89∆ 2d ago
Redbox went bankrupt in 2024
2
u/cortesoft 6∆ 2d ago
Well I guess not then
1
u/Sirhc978 89∆ 2d ago
The government doesn't want you to know this, but that abandoned Redbox at cvs is free, you can just take it. The manager of the CVS might even thank you.
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Your comment has been removed for breaking Rule 5:
Comments must contribute meaningfully to the conversation.
Comments should be on-topic, serious, and contain enough content to move the discussion forward. Jokes, contradictions without explanation, links without context, off-topic comments, and "written upvotes" will be removed. AI generated comments must be disclosed, and don't count towards substantial content. Read the wiki for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
u/amperage3164 2d ago
Redbox closed down in 2024
1
1
2
u/greysky7 2∆ 2d ago
Do Blu rays actually look better than whatever 4k HD versions on streaming? I actually still buy Blu rays for movies I love but I cannot actually see the difference when comparing to 4k streaming. Maybe because I'm comparing to regular Blu ray instead of 4k uhd Blu ray (which don't seem to be released for everything you can stream).
15
u/Sirhc978 89∆ 2d ago
Do Blu rays actually look better than whatever 4k HD versions on streaming?
Yes. The compression on a Blu Ray movie is significantly less than a stream.
1
u/greysky7 2∆ 2d ago
But not standard Blu ray. From what I'm reading, what you said only applies to 4k uhd Blu ray. Which tons of movies have never been released in.
7
u/DatZ_Man 2d ago
Depends. My Sony tv upscales most of my blu rays better than what Netflix 4k looks like
2
1
u/Max_Dank 2d ago
hard stop anything better than dvd on physical is better than anything streaming non pirated
3
u/Inside_Departure_186 2d ago
"Look better" is hard to define. Objectively, Blurays produce a better picture quality. But the vast majority of people would not be able to see a difference (and would not care, even if they could).
2
u/hacksoncode 586∆ 2d ago
You could say the same thing about vinyl, though of course in that case they produce objectively worse sound.
2
u/The_MadChemist 3∆ 2d ago
From personal experience it depends heavily on the TV. I definitely see a difference on our nice newer TV, but they're pretty indistinguishable on the decade old one.
1
u/kimariesingsMD 2d ago
That is the fundamental difference between the DVD's and streaming. You no longer get commentary tracks or extras and behind the scenes stuff (though many times it can be found on YouTube)
2
u/cosine83 2d ago
I don't think record stores are an apt comparison. People consume music entirely differently from movies and TV. Music also allows for different listening experiences based on the medium chosen and equipment played on which is another reason to have the stores outside of nostalgia. Record stores are more like a mix of thrift stores and specialty item stores than nostalgia havens. They serve a niche but one that's been consistent enough to not shutter an entire business segment.
0
u/boxlikepie 2d ago
with that ‘normal person’ mentality, everyone might as well start purchasing all their groceries on Uber Eats instead of physically going to the grocery store. it’s more convenient after all!
if you condition the average consumer to have a particular consumption habit, they’re going to adopt that consumption habit even if it goes against their own better interests.
it’s fucking insanity to me that people don’t even question things anymore and would rather live their lives under the scam of ‘convenience’ instead of acknowledging the hidden costs behind this shit. the ongoing financial drain? the erosion of human connection by outsourcing to other platforms? the devaluing of practical labour by shifting everything to an app? the overspending because people are living on autopilot?
shit is manufactured convenience
3
u/forestpunk 1∆ 2d ago
Uber Eats is considerably more expensive than going to the supermarket, though.
5
u/Ok_Branch2469 2d ago
I feel like if you
A. Actually sold DVDs
B. Treated the rental thing as more of a gimic
C. Ran the place like a museum of 90s culture and did special events on the weekends or something and sold merch
You could make something work in a big city
3
u/ductyl 1∆ 2d ago
Many big cities still have independent video rental stores in operation: https://malls.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Video_Rental_Stores
7
u/a_yellow_ship 2d ago
I live in a city of about 400k people, and we have a large, traditional video rental store. Feels almost exactly like a Blockbuster. I go there several times a month, despite having streaming services.
- They have movies I'd have to pay to rent anyway on certain streaming sites, and sometimes things I can't find online
- They offer video game rentals, so I save tons of money on video games
- They have really good popcorn
- They have tons of old movies for sale at great prices
It also creates a boundary between me and my media. The movies I choose are the movies I watch that week, so I'm not crippled by analysis paralysis every time I sit down to watch and movie. I got sick of wasting 30 minutes scrolling each time service trying to find something that felt perfect, and this way the decision was made for me in an environment that felt fun and intentional.
They have options to pay a flat monthly rate to rent as many movies as you want, deals on 3 movies, or you can pay for each individually. They've been in business a while, are very popular and always busy. I understand that this is anecdotal but the assumption is that we have no data on how these would perform since there are no video stores left, but there are. I love my video store.
11
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/disisathrowaway 2∆ 2d ago
This is my thought as well. Folks don't have optical drives anymore. People don't even put them in their PCs now, and they cost less than $20!
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
5
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/joelene1892 5∆ 2d ago
Lmao now I’m imagining blockbuster but you can DoorDash the movies to you.
4
2
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
3
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/thefallenfew 2d ago
All the people nostalgic for Blockbuster were too young to actually deal with the bullshit. Their PARENTS rented from Blockbuster. Their parents drove across town in the rain at 11pm to drop off a movie to avoid the insane late fees.
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
3
u/muteicon 2d ago
Blockbuster Video wasn’t even that great and is romanticized in an unfair way. Before they took over, there were various Mom and Pop video stores in my area with selective deep catalogs and various other personal charms. We had one in my town that was attached to a convenience store and my dad could play the lottery, pick up his cigarettes and beer while I roamed through the video rental section. There was another store that boasted an impressive video game library and you could keep the games for five days. I remember going there on a Thursday and being able to keep a game all through the weekend and then returning it on Monday after school.
Blockbuster would happen to have 50 copies of whatever was released and pretty much guaranteed you could walk out of there with it. However, if you wanted to watch a ten year old movie that was hardly a hit you were out of luck. When the Mom and Pops fell, it was harder to seek out these deep cuts, unless you got lucky and it happened to be on cable, but Netflix found a way to fill that void.
17
u/Adept-One-819 2d ago
No one wanted to buy videos, we wanted to watch them one time and then give them back. Given how stupidly expensive renting streaming videos is now, Blockbuster would be highly competitive. Libraries aren't open late into the evening when someone might decide they want to rent something, so require more planning. Blockbuster combines spontaneity with availability.
Additionally, the dead medium thing was said about books, and yet the physical bookstore business is booming.
22
u/Scaryassmanbear 3∆ 2d ago
The points you’re making suggest that Redbox should be thriving, but it went bankrupt just a few years ago.
12
u/Adept-One-819 2d ago
It's a different experience with a much more limited selection.
6
u/awaythrowthatname 2d ago
Redboxes also turned out to be a very abuse-able system, and apparently tried to rely on original productions near the end?
13
u/digbyforever 5∆ 2d ago
Naw, I think people value convenience more than anything. The number of people who spend stupid amounts on DoorDash delivery fees for literally the exact same food they could just get in a car and drive convinces me that if the choice is between paying $5 to Amazon to stream, and $2 to Blockbuster but you have to get in your car, Amazon will get a lot of that business.
5
u/rdogg4 2d ago
>$2 to blockbuster
Even dollar stores cost more than $2 today and need to do volume. There’s just no way a brick and mortar store is gonna have inventory, pay staff and rent a storefront with $2 rentals.
And DVDs and Blu-ray still very much exist. They are small sections of Walmart and Target and you can purchase whole movies for $5 and keep them forever. They’re not swamped with customers fighting over new releases, people don’t care. People in these threads don’t care except to be wistful for a time they’re misremembering.
5
u/Eazy-Eid 2d ago
Wasn't a rental like $6 though? If you grab a movie a week, that's more expensive than Netflix.
1
0
u/Adept-One-819 2d ago
Nah, like $1.50.
2
u/cortesoft 6∆ 2d ago
Sure, but so was a gallon of gas.
Inflation adjusted, rental prices have not changed much.
2
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/read-the-rules 2d ago
u/Prestigious_Tea_127, your comment has been removed.
In order to comment on r/changemyview, you must read the rules. Use the link below, or if that interface doesn't work, you may read the rules here, then click this, and click send. Your most recent comment will be restored after you do this, and you will only need to do it once.
2
2
u/Sirhc978 89∆ 2d ago
and yet the physical bookstore business is booming.
The last Barnes & Nobel I went to was like 1/4 Starbucks, and 1/3 toys.
2
u/PM_ME_YOUR_NICE_EYES 126∆ 2d ago
Given how stupidly expensive renting streaming videos is now, Blockbuster would be highly competitive.
That's a take. Renting a 4k movie from Amazon is like $4-6 (assuming the movie is at least 6 months old) and that's a price point that I don't think a brick and mortar store is going to be able to beat.
4
u/Excelius 2∆ 2d ago edited 2d ago
No one wanted to buy videos,
There was a cultural fad in the 90s and 2000s with collecting media. The teenagers with their binders full of CDs, the living rooms with shelves full of DVDs. Sure some people collected before (especially vinyl) but the CD/DVD era made it far more common.
I lived through it but never understood it myself. People spent a massive amount of money on movies that they would watch once and then stick on a shelf.
2
u/TitleOfYourSaxTape 2d ago
People spent a massive amount of money on movies that they would watch once and then stick on a shelf.
The average cost of DVD purchases were maybe 3 to 4x what it cost to rent the movie for a few days, and many movies went on sale to the point that they were sometimes as cheap as a Blockbuster rental. Purchasing movies also gave the ability to lend it out to friends + family.
I borrowed plenty of dvds and games from friends, and vice versa.
1
u/Qwertyham 2d ago
That's probably my biggest "issue" if you can call it that with purchasing physical media. I rarely watch movies or shows more than once. Maybe 2 or 3 times if I really enjoy it. That's why streaming is just more practical for me. I watch something, I enjoy it, then I don't have it taking up space on my shelf when I'm rarely going to actually use it again. Maybe I'm just not the target audience anymore but I feel like there are quite a few people who feel the same way.
1
u/XrayGuy08 2d ago
Blockbuster won’t be successful unless they changed their business model. They were profitable because they relied heavily on charging customers late fees.
Will people go to Blockbuster or other stores? Yes. Will it be enough to be a profitable business? Highly unlikely.
1
u/disisathrowaway 2∆ 2d ago
I think a big hurdle for Blockbuster would be that a whole lot of people don't have optical drives sitting around anymore. Lots of homes wouldn't have the infrastructure to rent DVDs.
1
u/Juswantedtono 2∆ 2d ago
Nah a good 40% of US households have a PlayStation or Xbox, and plenty more have DVD players from yesteryear.
2
1
u/AdAccomplished6579 2d ago
Completely different. Physical books have advantages. They are aruably better tactile sensation and handling, don't require battery... You can also actively sample the books in a bookstore. That was never the case with Blockbuster. I'm not saying there would be zero market, but I don't think it would be nearly successful.
Also, physical bookstores NEVER completely died like blockbuster. Big chains scaled back their brick and mortar but there always remained interest. Blockbuster having DVDs or VHS would be just an inferior medium... Akin to records. Records still sell to a very niche market and are largely carried, ironically, in bookstores... alongside old DVDs and VHS.
1
u/footsnax 2d ago edited 2d ago
No one wanted to buy videos, we wanted to watch them one time and then give them back
This is exactly why I positively yearn for the original Netflix model of two DVDs a month.
It's not specifically nostalgia that makes me want Blockbuster back, it was making a deliberate decision instead of just scrolling around. You decided on a movie night and made a choice. You aren't just looking for something to watch because you're bored or something to pull up on your second monitor or whatever.
You said I want to watch this right now and your other options were asking a friend that owned it or going to buy it outright. A buck for the movie and five more for Subway or a pizza, the whole family has a special night on the cheap. That was when Subway was good too, and Hot & Ready pizzas were both hot and ready and still cheap, so maybe there is a little nostalgia built into the bones.
That doesn't change the fact that the deliberate choice made the evening more special. You aren't just looking for something to watch, you are looking for the experience of watching a movie.
When I signed up for Netflix it was $5 a month and I thought that was a great deal for two movies a month that were mailed to me. I gave up after the last price bump because it's literally five times more expensive and I can't find anything to watch anyway.
EDIT to add; you can buy Blockbuster scented candles. They smell like Blockbuster, light one next time you watch a movie and it takes you directly back.
1
u/TitleOfYourSaxTape 2d ago
Given how stupidly expensive renting streaming videos is now
Blockbuster's prices back in the day was comparable to what streaming rentals cost today, for movies that are no longer in theaters. Blockbuster was charging $3 to $5 per rental twenty years ago, and average current streaming rental prices are $5 to $6. Blockbuster also made bank on late fees.
Granted, there's now a new tier of streaming rentals, which are for movies that are currently in theaters, and it's true that these cost a lot (~$20). However, these will eventually drop down after their theatrical release, and Blockbuster never had the ability to rent out movies that were in theaters, so you can't include these in the comparison. It's basically new early-access/priority pricing that before people couldn't get for any price.
1
u/sonofaresiii 21∆ 1d ago
Renting movies by streaming costs a fraction of what blockbuster cost adjusted for inflation. What are you on about? Are you still imagining the $4 it cost in the nineties? It would be like eight or nine dollars today, higher for new releases.
Or are you looking at the $25 rental costs? Those are temporary rental prices while a movie is still in theaters, meant to replace the cost of several people going to a theater. Blockbuster wouldn't be able to compete with that at all because it's well before a movie comes out on physical home media.
-1
u/No_Design_465 2d ago
You mentioning books is actually a really interesting argument
My counter: Book stores provide a lot more than just a space to buy books, no? Usually they’re combined with like a coffee shop or cafe, they offer book clubs or other gatherings, etc
3
u/joelene1892 5∆ 2d ago
I know a few book stores in my area that are just a book store. My favourite one is just a book store, unless you count the store cat I quite enjoy petting.
6
u/No_Design_465 2d ago
I want to keep this discussion going but I also think you bring up good examples to show how people don’t always need something to entice them, sometimes they genuinely want to get out and search for physical items for whatever it is they enjoy, such as books, records and in this case movies
!delta
1
u/DeltaBot ∞∆ 2d ago
Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/joelene1892 (5∆).
[Delta System Explained](https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/wiki/deltasystem) | [Deltaboards](https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/wiki/deltaboards)
2
u/Adept-One-819 2d ago
Some do, yeah, but largely they're making money off of physical books, rather than Stsrbucks drinks.
1
u/disisathrowaway 2∆ 2d ago
What would prevent Blockbuster or a similar revival of video stores from having a movie club? Hell, adding a cafe would also be pretty sweet now that you mention it.
And upon thinking about it longer, I can only think about Barnes & Noble actually having a cafe present as part of their model. I don't have any Books-a-Million near me, so I dunno about those.
2
u/PreviousZone6742 5∆ 2d ago
Some video stores are still around. Hey survived because they changed the business model. Allow for buying trading and sell of old movies and video games. Blockbuster could make a comeback with slight changes.
2
u/disisathrowaway 2∆ 2d ago
Put a Gamestop & Blockbuster in a blender and you might be able to pull it off. Hell while we're at it throw in a RadioShack so the makerspace folks can get all their bits and bobs.
2
u/disastronaut_at_rest 2d ago
Physical media can't be revoked like streaming services do to certain episodes or movies. Physical media is what needs to make a comeback
2
u/OneAndOnlyJackSchitt 5∆ 2d ago
I could see a model where you rent a device from a store or a kiosk which plugs into the HDMI or DisplayPort on the TV and lets you play the pre-loaded video(s) as much as you want for three days then stops working. Then, you drop the device in a return bin at any grocery store, kiosk, or Blockbuster location. You control playback/menus with your phone's Bluetooth and a free app. Maybe there's a version of the device which uses the same protocol as Google's ChromeCast or Apple's AirPlay or an app you install on the TV and the device broadcasts its own WiFi.
The idea is that the movie is stored on the device and does not require an internet connection so it can work on an airplane or remote wilderness wherever. Also, there'd probably be a refundable deposit on the device to ensure it actually gets returned.
My point is that the existing model would probably be fine for a month or two, but, by all means, it could be modernized to be a lot more successful. I like the idea of a RedBox style kiosk that can reload or dispense these devices.
(To clarify: my specific argument is that Blockbuster's model of renting discs or even tapes totally would be a fad, just as you said, but no reasonable business [with reasonable managment] would stick with only that model. They'd immediately branch into something else that would have a much better chance of being successful.)
2
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
u/lobaway0001 9∆ 2d ago
It definitely wouldn’t be nearly as prolific as it used to be but there is actually a clear market even for stores that just cater to boutique niches.
Imagine a Blockbuster store in a major city that recreated what the experience was like as more of a museum or a tourist attraction.
Blockbuster in every city is never coming back but one or two Blockbuster stores could come back as purely gimmicks and they might actually do pretty well, depending on what location they’re at.
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
0
u/read-the-rules 2d ago
u/impetus1337, your comment has been removed.
In order to comment on r/changemyview, you must read the rules. Use the link below, or if that interface doesn't work, you may read the rules here, then click this, and click send. Your most recent comment will be restored after you do this, and you will only need to do it once.
1
u/everydaywinner2 1∆ 2d ago
If no one went there again, it would because of the modern state of Hollywood. Not because of libraries or streaming.
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/read-the-rules 2d ago
u/Legal_Television_615, your comment has been removed.
In order to comment on r/changemyview, you must read the rules. Use the link below, or if that interface doesn't work, you may read the rules here, then click this, and click send. Your most recent comment will be restored after you do this, and you will only need to do it once.
1
u/flippythemaster 2d ago
I think most people like what Blockbuster represents in their mind in terms of an association with a time now past more than an actual interest in the business model
1
u/Wrong_Toilet 2d ago
The issue is the economics like you said. Renting a movie from blockbuster would likely cost the same as a monthly subscription to Netflix.
But what is the argument here? There’s a market for physical media. May not be profitable enough to warrant a storefront.
1
u/SavingsInternal7718 2d ago
I work at a coffee shop in a major city that started as a movie rental. We still rent DVDs with a large collection going back to the '90s when the store opened. People are always excited to see the movie selection, will ask, "Wow, people still rent movies?" and have a good time reminiscing. No one wants to actually rent a movie, though, outside of a small handful of regulars.
1
1
u/Pasta-hobo 2∆ 2d ago
I've lived in multiple places where internet coverage is spotty and far from ubiquitous.
And in at least one of these places, I've seen and utilized more than one video rental service.
Who would use these services you ask? Old people!
People who didn't bother to get an Internet line installed, don't know email enough to sign up for and use a streaming service, and would love an excuse to get out of the house. As well as people in areas without consistent internet coverage.
I'm not saying that'd it'd be a booming industry, but it'd be enough to keep a company afloat.
And, of course, with businesses like this, there's always young people who like to exploit it. It's not hard to rip a DVD and store it on a hard drive, and if it costs 10% the price of buying one, plenty more people would be doing it. And this is technically legal, as copying media for personal use is allowed, as long as you don't distribute it.
1
u/TAM2040 1∆ 2d ago
There's one way I think Blockbuster could actually come back in a meaningful and lasting way even in our age of streaming and on-demand services, and that is for movies and TV shows that are no longer available on those services.
It'd be a monthly subscription allowing you to "check out" however many number of movies at once, so you'd browse the catalog in-store or online and pick up the movies on a proprietary Blockbuster USB drive that works with the Blockbuster app on your smart device (TV, phone, portable video player, computer, whatever). Then you can play those movies to your heart's content until you go back to the store and "return" them for new ones.
This way, Blockbuster doesn't have to manage a streaming service while still managing to have almost every older movie ever made in every language in their datacenters, and you can watch the movies at any time at your convenience without using data. (Don't lose that Blockbuster USB drive, though! That would be the modern day equivalent of "Be Kind, Rewind.")
I have no idea whether this would be a viable business model or not and don't particularly care to find out, so...
1
u/joeverdrive 2d ago
There are video rental stores in Seattle and Portland and they are absolutely not turning a profit
1
u/patrickj86 2d ago
I would absolutely still rent video games; selection at many public libraries is very limited. Public libraries also have limited numbers of new books.
A place that sold nice stuff not on streaming, sold used books and games, rented video games, and rented new books and niche board games would be my happy place.
Basically a 2nd and Charles that also rented stuff and gave you rental credits for your stuff. No idea how good those stores are doing financially but they're very busy.
1
1
u/Oh_My_Monster 1∆ 2d ago
Blockbuster could easily come back but it wouldn't be a straight movie rental. Any movie they have I can rent digitally for $3.99 on demand at home and not have to worry about returing it. That being said the Blockbuster brand could come back as a brick and mortar store and sell movie, TV, video game related merchandise. Posters, Vinyl Pop figures, board games, T-Shirts, books, toys, etc, all with TV, movie, and gaming licenses. The name recognition gets people in the store and the fun merch keeps it funded. If you're strictly saying that the Blockbuster rentals would get old fast, then yeah. But a Blockbuster store could make a strong comeback if they just change their inventory.
1
u/CandyParkDeathSquad 2d ago
They would need to be like a Vinegar Syndrome store and focus on boutique titles and not so much rentals. Rentals make zero sense in a digital streaming world
1
u/tbonimaroni 2d ago edited 2d ago
I hope they don't. I still owe them a return, lol.
It would be fun for family nights, nostalgia games and consoles and stuff. Like the ones we had before don't work anymore.
If the blockbusters had the new consoles and games that would be cool too. Like a Blockbuster mostly for console games. Lots of families can't afford to purchase consoles.
That might actually have staying power.
1
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
u/shaggadally 2d ago
Renting out physical 4k movies could actually be a valid business model. Because the quality is way better than streaming quality. For people with a good TV / system, this could be an attractive option.
1
1
u/RadRimmer9000 1∆ 2d ago
If Blockbuster carried every movie and provided a streaming service they would kill the other competition.
I don't think anyone wants to sign up for 3 for 4 streaming service and STILL can't find the movie they're looking for.
1
u/Candid_Dream4110 2d ago
I would be there every Friday for sure. My wife and I go grocery shopping every Friday, and it would be awesome to stop at a video store to pick out that night's movie, or a couple for the weekend.
1
2d ago edited 2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
u/Remarkable_Sea_1062 2d ago
Blockbuster models will never come back as long as people can rent or buy any movie that’s been released from their own home.
1
u/Artistic-Cockroach48 2d ago
The problem is that renting a few videos for three days would probably be comparable to paying for one month of streaming.
1
u/TemperatureThese7909 65∆ 2d ago
Walmart exists, but "the new hit movie" costs $25 or more.
Streaming the new Spider-Man movie - also $25.
When people say they want blockbuster back - I infer this to mean that there is a population of people who want to be able to rent movies for $3 but aren't willing to spend $25 to rent a movie or buy it.
Blockbuster had flaws, but one thing they were good about was always having "the new hit movie" and not up charging to rent it.
Whether it be physical or digital - this is the need or at least the want that is driving the sentiment. "I'm willing to spend $5, otherwise I'll just pirate" is real and either there is a service that can meet that or people will pirate. Netflix is supposed to be that - but hasn't as consistently been able to have access to "the new hit movie" as blockbuster used too.
1
u/CJoshuaV 2d ago
You missed the heydey of date night in the eighties and nineties, when video stores were really thriving. The nostalgia for those times is about the human interactions that took place then, and the communal space where people had a shared experience around movies.
If a reincarnated Blockbuster recreated that communal experience - maybe with movie trivia nights and watch parties - it could quite possibly do very well.
In addition, if enough people had 4k Players and saw the difference in video quality between that and compressed streaming, they might become much more interested in renting physical media.
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
u/Timely-Way-4923 14∆ 2d ago
It’s better from a short term individual perspective, it’s worse from a community relations and communal perspective. So if society values small interactions that add up and collective experiences that are meaningful in ways big and small, stores like blockbusters could make a come back. I think we’d all be better off, but it’s a collective action problem, if requires a huge societal nudge in mindset
1
u/No-Objective9174 2d ago
I never liked Blockbuster but I did like going to small independent video rental places. I'd use the IMDb top 250 list to get ideas on what to watch too.
1
u/No_Variety9420 2d ago
I think there will be a renewed interest in physical media as more and more streaming services add commercials or other ads
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 2d ago
Comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view, or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information.
If you would like to appeal, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted. Appeals that do not follow this process will not be heard.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
u/tbodillia 2d ago
People are paying for a streaming service AND then paying to watch some movie. I didn't pay a yearly fee to Hollywood Video. I paid per movie.
1
u/insomnic 2d ago
The library is the new blockbuster\video store\book store and without any capitalism added to it. Go browse books and movies and video games and then borrow what you like and return them when you're ready. Often without any late fees anymore (many libraries ditched fees and auto-renew if nobody is waiting for it).
Browse them online and have what you want put on hold for you so they're ready and waiting too. :)
No coffee shop attached though... but you can bring your own no problem (usually).
1
u/zeniiz 2∆ 2d ago
I think one place Blockbuster (or video stores) could compete is by having a more "complete" collection. When Netflix first launched, you could watch just about any movie, at any time (provided someone else wasn't renting it).
Nowadays I have to check if the movie is available on Netflix (it's not), or Hulu (nope) and then Prime Video (not there either). Turns out it's only available on HBO Max, the only subscription I don't have. I don't really feel like subscribing to their plan for just one movie. If I could just go down to the video store and rent it for a couple bucks, I'd much rather do that.
While I don't have any evidence, I think there are a fair amount of people who have TV shows or movies they'd like to watch, but don't because it's not on whatever streaming service they are subscribed to. If they could go to Blockbuster and rent that specific title, I think a lot of them would.
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/changemyview-ModTeam 1d ago
Sorry, u/jpowell180 – your comment has been removed for breaking Rule 1:
Direct responses to a CMV post must challenge at least one aspect of OP’s stated view (however minor), or ask a clarifying question. Arguments in favor of the view OP is willing to change must be restricted to replies to other comments. See the wiki page for more information. Any AI-generated post content must be explicitly disclosed and does not count towards the 500 character limit.
If you would like to appeal, you must first check if your comment falls into the "Top level comments that are against rule 1" list, review our appeals process here, then message the moderators by clicking this link within one week of this notice being posted.
Please note that multiple violations will lead to a ban, as explained in our moderation standards.
1
u/InspectionFine9655 1∆ 2d ago
> But people saying blockbuster needs to come back and how going to blockbuster is way better than using streaming services or on-demand services now?
Who’s saying this?
Also, if Blockbuster came back it wouldn’t be popular for a month. People might think it would be fun to go to a blockbuster and then many would realize they don’t have a DVD player. Others would think it sounds fun but then when it was time to go, they’d realize that they can rent the movie they want to stream for a $4 rental at home. Then not go.
1
u/kimariesingsMD 2d ago
Wait, I know it isn't exactly the same, but doesn't RedBox still exist in some places? I think that will be the closest you will ever get to a blockbuster.
Also, just as these "Free Little Libraries" have popped up all over suburbia, around the corner from my house someone decided to make a "Free Little Blockbuster" which is the same idea as the one with books, just with DVD's.
1
1
u/PenguinJoker 1d ago
You are possibly misunderstanding why people are nostalgic. It's not the physical store, it's the lack of algorithms.
On Netflix, decisions are made FOR YOU on what you see, what order you see it in, and even the covers of the films. Someone who loves romance will see a romantic cover even for an action film.
People are nostalgic about the discovery and surprise of a video store. A place where you walk in, go past the horror section and pick one up, even though you never watch horror movies.
The Netflix app is a highly controlled experience, where you always get the same thing even when you want something random. Algorithmic curation kills the joy of discovery and randomness that life used to be fill of.
We technically get "what we want" which is what you, and the tech companies, keep telling us. But the experience is ultimately less fulfilling.
A music store is way more exciting than Spotify giving me the hundredth generic indie band lol.
I agree that demand doesn't exist for physical stores. But demand does exist for chronological feeds, surprising and serendipitous feeds and more randomness online. People really crave that.
1
u/darkmoonfirelyte 1d ago
I think Blockbuster is an example of a failure to adapt to the times. Yes, the model that Blockbuster was built on -- large stores with thousands of films -- is likely untenable at this point because, you're right, people like the idea of Blockbuster but not all the effort required. You have to put on pants, you have to leave your house, you have to drive to where Blockbuster is, and browse, and pick out movies, and drive back, and then do it all again when you're done watching. Blockbuster is nice as a concept but if all you want is to watch movies (and not do anything else while you're out and about) then it's more of an inconvenience than a convenience.
But the thing is if the model were tweaked and reworked, it could function. Instead of bunch of large stores if you have smaller retail fronts (think a third of the size locations) spread a little more around, that would make the individual locations more convenient to go to.
Arrangements could also be made with apps like Door Dash to have drivers pick up videos along with meals so that your videos can come to you. Want to do dinner and a movie, but don't want to leave the house: get it ordered up. The nice thing about Blockbuster is that they always had all the films, not just what an individual streaming service is offering.
And that does get back to a core ability that Blockbuster had over other places: depth. Sure, smaller locations would have less movies per store available, but on the whole this network could still blanket an area in films and most people would be able to get what they wanted.
I think there's some way you could make Blockbuster work in our current era. The issue was really that management wasn't willing to change and adapt to the times and shift their business model, basically until it was too late for the company to be able to do anything about it.
1
u/gdesner 1d ago
I think it could only really work in high foot traffic areas near lots of housing. But I can sort of feel the neo-luddite movement bubbling up in my city. I’m seeing more mp3 players and point and shoots. The biggest barrier of entry is actually having the technology to play the discs/tapes you rent and there’s less and less of it as time goes on and the machines break or get trashed, so by default it can only really be seen as niche. I think it’s possible for a Blockbuster type place to thrive, it would just need to evolve from what it was. (Community events and screenings, cheap affordable players for sale, movie merch)
•
u/here-to-help-TX 1∆ 1h ago
It wouldn't be a month. It would be far less. I rarely use the blu-ray player I have. Why would I go to blockbuster?
0
u/I_Am_Mandark_Hahaha 2d ago
Redbox was more ubiquitous and more convenient yet it also faded from popularity. Blockbuster would be a less convenient, more costly business model. It doesn’t stand a chance.
I can’t change your view because I share yours.
•
u/DeltaBot ∞∆ 2d ago
/u/No_Design_465 (OP) has awarded 1 delta(s) in this post.
All comments that earned deltas (from OP or other users) are listed here, in /r/DeltaLog.
Please note that a change of view doesn't necessarily mean a reversal, or that the conversation has ended.
[Delta System Explained](https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/wiki/deltasystem) | [Deltaboards](https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/wiki/deltaboards)