Blockbuster Video: From empire to extinction

Discover the fascinating journey of Blockbuster Video—how it rose to power, dominated video rentals, and ultimately lost to the digital revolution.

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The birth of Blockbuster Video

Blockbuster started as a small video rental store in 1985. Learn how it quickly became an industry giant.

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Blockbuster’s golden years

At its peak, Blockbuster had over 9,000 stores worldwide and was valued at $3 billion.

Image source: Photo by An Open Blockbuster Video Store in Fairbanks, Alaska, licensed under CC BY-ND, via flickr.com

How Blockbuster made money

Late fees and rentals were Blockbuster’s main revenue streams. Find out how they built their business model.

Image source: Photo by Blockbuster Golden Grove, licensed under CC BY-ND, via flickr.com

The arrival of Netflix

In 1997, Netflix introduced a DVD-by-mail service that challenged Blockbuster’s dominance.

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Blockbuster’s big mistake: Not buying Netflix

In 2000, Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix for $50 million but passed on the deal.

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Digital disruption: The decline begins

As Netflix shifted to streaming in the mid-2000s, Blockbuster struggled to compete.

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Desperate measures: Blockbuster tries to adapt

Blockbuster launched its own subscription service and killed late fees—but it was too late.

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The fall of Blockbuster

By 2010, Blockbuster was bankrupt, closing thousands of stores across the U.S.

Image source: Photo by Blockbuster pole sign, licensed under CC BY-ND, via flickr.com

The last Blockbuster

The last Blockbuster store in Bend, Oregon, became a nostalgic landmark.

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Business lessons from Blockbuster’s failure

Learn from Blockbuster’s mistakes—why innovation, adaptability, and leadership matter.

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The legacy of Blockbuster

Though it failed, Blockbuster remains a pop culture icon and a lesson in business history.

Image source: Photo by Blockbuster Video, licensed under CC BY-ND, via flickr.com

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Image source: Stu pendousmat at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons