Blockbuster Video store.Photo: AP PhotoIs Blockbuster Video making a comeback?The legendary movie-rental giant recentlyre-launched a websitefeaturing only the signature logo — “BLOCKBUSTER,” inside a slanted blue-and-yellow movie ticket — and a cryptic message.“WE ARE WORKING ON REWINDING YOUR MOVIE,” it read.The message is a nod to the functionality of VHS tapes, which required rewinding before returning them to the video store, lest members get hit with a fine for store employees having to do it before reshelving the movies for the next customer.Dish Network, the parent company for Blockbuster, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment Friday morning.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Blockbuster Video website message.Blockbuster videoAn ’80s and ’90s staple for renting movies and video games, Blockbuster was eventually forced to shutter its stores across the country due to the popularity of streaming services likeNetflixand Hulu.Located inBend, Oregon, the sole surviving location— which opened in 2000 — became the only remaining Blockbuster store in the world when the second-to-last location in Australia permanently closed its doors in March 2019.Back in 2020, the Bend store wastransformed into a limited-time Airbnbas a way to thank its supporters for keeping the business alive, offering locals the opportunity to enjoy a ’90s-themed sleepover between its shelves of videotapes.Regardless of its near-extinct brick-and-mortar locations, the chain remains a nostalgia-laced totem for many, and even inspired a 2020 documentary titledThe Last Blockbusterand a fictional series,Blockbuster, that ran for one season on Netflix in 2022.RELATED VIDEO: North Carolina Man Arrested For Not Returning VHS Tape 14 Years After Renting ItUpon the revival of the Blockbuster website, many took to social media to express their excitement over what could potentially be on the horizon.“So I just randomly typed in@blockbusterwebsite andit’s actually activedoes this mean we’re gonna be time traveling back to the 90s where Friday nights were lit? 😍,” one Twitter user wrote, sharing a screen shot of the mobile website.“Could this be true? Is@blockbustercoming back?” another fan tweeted. “Unless it’s just another streaming service, Fridays evenings will be lit. Something aboutgoing to a brick and mortar on a weekend eveningbrowsing their film selection.“The most recent tweet on the official Blockbuster account, from March 15, didn’t address the new website, but joked, “New business idea: We’regoing to come back as a bankand use VHS and DVDs as currency. Time to go visit your mom.”
Blockbuster Video store.Photo: AP Photo
Is Blockbuster Video making a comeback?The legendary movie-rental giant recentlyre-launched a websitefeaturing only the signature logo — “BLOCKBUSTER,” inside a slanted blue-and-yellow movie ticket — and a cryptic message.“WE ARE WORKING ON REWINDING YOUR MOVIE,” it read.The message is a nod to the functionality of VHS tapes, which required rewinding before returning them to the video store, lest members get hit with a fine for store employees having to do it before reshelving the movies for the next customer.Dish Network, the parent company for Blockbuster, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment Friday morning.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Blockbuster Video website message.Blockbuster videoAn ’80s and ’90s staple for renting movies and video games, Blockbuster was eventually forced to shutter its stores across the country due to the popularity of streaming services likeNetflixand Hulu.Located inBend, Oregon, the sole surviving location— which opened in 2000 — became the only remaining Blockbuster store in the world when the second-to-last location in Australia permanently closed its doors in March 2019.Back in 2020, the Bend store wastransformed into a limited-time Airbnbas a way to thank its supporters for keeping the business alive, offering locals the opportunity to enjoy a ’90s-themed sleepover between its shelves of videotapes.Regardless of its near-extinct brick-and-mortar locations, the chain remains a nostalgia-laced totem for many, and even inspired a 2020 documentary titledThe Last Blockbusterand a fictional series,Blockbuster, that ran for one season on Netflix in 2022.RELATED VIDEO: North Carolina Man Arrested For Not Returning VHS Tape 14 Years After Renting ItUpon the revival of the Blockbuster website, many took to social media to express their excitement over what could potentially be on the horizon.“So I just randomly typed in@blockbusterwebsite andit’s actually activedoes this mean we’re gonna be time traveling back to the 90s where Friday nights were lit? 😍,” one Twitter user wrote, sharing a screen shot of the mobile website.“Could this be true? Is@blockbustercoming back?” another fan tweeted. “Unless it’s just another streaming service, Fridays evenings will be lit. Something aboutgoing to a brick and mortar on a weekend eveningbrowsing their film selection.“The most recent tweet on the official Blockbuster account, from March 15, didn’t address the new website, but joked, “New business idea: We’regoing to come back as a bankand use VHS and DVDs as currency. Time to go visit your mom.”
Is Blockbuster Video making a comeback?
The legendary movie-rental giant recentlyre-launched a websitefeaturing only the signature logo — “BLOCKBUSTER,” inside a slanted blue-and-yellow movie ticket — and a cryptic message.
“WE ARE WORKING ON REWINDING YOUR MOVIE,” it read.
The message is a nod to the functionality of VHS tapes, which required rewinding before returning them to the video store, lest members get hit with a fine for store employees having to do it before reshelving the movies for the next customer.
Dish Network, the parent company for Blockbuster, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment Friday morning.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Blockbuster Video website message.Blockbuster video
An ’80s and ’90s staple for renting movies and video games, Blockbuster was eventually forced to shutter its stores across the country due to the popularity of streaming services likeNetflixand Hulu.
Located inBend, Oregon, the sole surviving location— which opened in 2000 — became the only remaining Blockbuster store in the world when the second-to-last location in Australia permanently closed its doors in March 2019.
Back in 2020, the Bend store wastransformed into a limited-time Airbnbas a way to thank its supporters for keeping the business alive, offering locals the opportunity to enjoy a ’90s-themed sleepover between its shelves of videotapes.
Regardless of its near-extinct brick-and-mortar locations, the chain remains a nostalgia-laced totem for many, and even inspired a 2020 documentary titledThe Last Blockbusterand a fictional series,Blockbuster, that ran for one season on Netflix in 2022.
RELATED VIDEO: North Carolina Man Arrested For Not Returning VHS Tape 14 Years After Renting It
Upon the revival of the Blockbuster website, many took to social media to express their excitement over what could potentially be on the horizon.
“So I just randomly typed in@blockbusterwebsite andit’s actually activedoes this mean we’re gonna be time traveling back to the 90s where Friday nights were lit? 😍,” one Twitter user wrote, sharing a screen shot of the mobile website.
“Could this be true? Is@blockbustercoming back?” another fan tweeted. “Unless it’s just another streaming service, Fridays evenings will be lit. Something aboutgoing to a brick and mortar on a weekend eveningbrowsing their film selection.”
The most recent tweet on the official Blockbuster account, from March 15, didn’t address the new website, but joked, “New business idea: We’regoing to come back as a bankand use VHS and DVDs as currency. Time to go visit your mom.”
source: people.com
