People Are Dreaming of Blockbuster as Streaming Costs Keep Rising
People of a certain age remember the joys of physical media. Back before streaming was the norm, people either had to own a copy of the movie they wanted to watch, or else borrow it from a friend or a rental place.
For most folks, that meant heading out to Blockbuster. For a long time, the video rental company was the place to be on the weekend, especially for people who were looking for a fun way to spend a night in.
However, when newer rental services hit the market—like Netflix’s mail-order rentals, and later, Amazon’s streaming service—Blockbuster quickly became a thing of the past. That’s something that Millennials, Gen X, and even some Baby Boomers have found themselves missing these days, especially as costs continue to rise for streaming services.
One post about the two different rental methods recently went viral as someone with the handle xennial.kid posted about the good old days online, saying that they’d rather see Blockbuster reopen than continue paying high prices for movies they can’t even hold in their hands. It seems like they aren’t alone in this desire, either. That’s because thousands of people posted in agreement with the statement, with some even sharing their tips for getting the same vibes that used to be found on a Friday night at Blockbuster.
A Post About Blockbuster Has Gone Viral
The social media post was shared by Creepy Catalog, where it quickly received more than 167,800 likes and almost 3,000 comments.
“If I have to pay $7.99 to rent a 30-year-old movie on Amazon when I already have a Prime subscription, we might as well reopen Blockbuster,” the post said. “I’d rather spend 30 minutes wandering the aisles, reading the backs of VHS boxes, and picking out snacks.”
The Creepy Catalog post expanded on the complaint a little bit. “You can pay $14.99 a month for Amazon Prime and still reach movie night with another rental charge waiting for you,” the caption said in part. “That’s part of what makes the idea of a Blockbuster trip feel so appealing. You could make an evening out of choosing: taking your time, considering something unfamiliar, finding a snack to go with it. The anticipation belonged to movie night, too.”
People Agree They Want Blockbuster Back
Some posters wanted to see places like Blockbuster make a comeback. “It’s time to bring back video rental stores,” one person wrote. “I think they could really become popular and compete against streaming. Maybe not so immediately, but it would grow over time. People want experiences back.”
“I think they would make a fortune if they reopened,” another person wrote. “I remember my parents pulling into the parking lot. The excitement of walking towards Blockbuster, and the smell after walking in. I would just browse the game section and see what every system had available. I pass by what used to be one and just get lost in the outline of the old sign.
There Are Still Ways to Rent Movies
While some commenters got lost in the nostalgia of it all, others shared ways that people could easily (and inexpensively) get the same vibes today. “Did you know your local library probably has a selection of movies you can borrow for free,” one person wrote. “If there’s a title they don’t have, you can suggest purchase! Support your local library!”
“Fun fact, most libraries have a way bigger DVD selection than people realize (including new movies), and many even have DVD/Blu-ray players you can check out,” another wrote.
According to a 2025 Reddit post, libraries are an underappreciated resource for people looking to borrow physical media. “I love DVDs so much. I don’t like owning physical media due to simply not having space for it,” one person wrote. “But DVDs are better than streaming because of the bonus features. I’m a sucker for outtakes, deleted scenes, whatever.”
Streaming services are likely here to stay, but based on the comments accompanying the viral post about bringing back video rental stores, it’s clear that there’s a large group of people who long to be able to browse the aisles of their favorite video rental stores once more.
