TECHNOMALIST
TechRadar reports that two separate projects are reviving the Blockbuster video-rental experience in the United States. The first is a physical, free movie-exchange initiative called Free Blockbuster, which began in 2019 when an unnamed former Blockbuster employee converted a Los Angeles Times newspaper dispenser into a shareable movie box. According to the article, the first person to borrow and return a film from that box was Andrew Kevin Walker, screenwriter of the film Seven. Since then, the article says, the boxes have spread across the country, and people can find locations or get information on starting their own at freeblockbuster.org. The boxes carry VHS tapes, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs rather than charging fees.
The second project is BingeBrowse, previously called Bingebuster, which offers a 3D virtual video store built from the catalogs of streaming services including Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video. TechRadar describes the experience as similar to walking through a video rental store: users drag the screen to change their view, zoom in to read covers, and click a title to see more information or to launch the movie on its streaming service or watch a trailer on YouTube. The site can also be visited through a browser on an Oculus Quest headset.
The article notes that news of the Free Blockbuster boxes recently circulated on the UpliftingNews subreddit. Some Reddit users said the appeal comes from the social and emotional experience of visiting a rental store, even one that was often mocked or criticized for late fees in its original run. One user described the pleasure of hoping a movie was available and having to choose a different title when it was not. The writer adds a personal memory of renting from a small gas station selection, which made Blockbuster seem like a much better option by comparison.
A separate Reddit commenter quoted in the article said that standing in a Blockbuster store and making a choice felt easier and quicker than spending an hour scrolling through a streaming watchlist. The article suggests that using BingeBrowse's virtual storefront can feel different from browsing the same services directly, even though the underlying catalog is identical.
TechRadar also points out that the original Blockbuster brand has not disappeared entirely. While most stores closed in 2013 and 2014, the last remaining Blockbuster is still open in Bend, Oregon. According to the article, that location earns far more money from merchandise sales than from movie rentals. A documentary about the store is available to stream on Tubi or rent on Apple TV, and TechRadar's article includes a trailer.
TechRadar frames both projects as nostalgia-driven and notes that the Free Blockbuster boxes have existed for a few years but have recently reached a wider audience through social media. The article recommends checking out the BingeBrowse website for those feeling nostalgic. The piece also includes unrelated tools and follow prompts.
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