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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Blockbuster started as a small video rental store in 1985. Learn how it quickly became an industry giant.
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At its peak, Blockbuster had over 9,000 stores worldwide and was valued at $3 billion.
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Late fees and rentals were Blockbuster’s main revenue streams. Find out how they built their business model.
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In 1997, Netflix introduced a DVD-by-mail service that challenged Blockbuster’s dominance.
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In 2000, Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix for $50 million but passed on the deal.
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As Netflix shifted to streaming in the mid-2000s, Blockbuster struggled to compete.
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Blockbuster launched its own subscription service and killed late fees—but it was too late.
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By 2010, Blockbuster was bankrupt, closing thousands of stores across the U.S.
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The last Blockbuster store in Bend, Oregon, became a nostalgic landmark.
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Learn from Blockbuster’s mistakes—why innovation, adaptability, and leadership matter.
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Though it failed, Blockbuster remains a pop culture icon and a lesson in business history.
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