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[[File:Blockbuster membership card.jpg|right|thumb|Blockbuster membership card (c. 1990)]]

[[File:Blockbuster membership card.jpg|right|thumb|Blockbuster membership card (c. 1990)]]

'''Blockbuster Videos Inc.''', formerly '''Blockbuster Entertainment, Inc.''', (also known as '''Blockbuster Video''' and '''Blockbuster, LLC''') is an [[American]]-based rental service for movies and video games. Traditionally, they offered rented out this media on magnetic tapes (8-track & VHS) and optical disks (DVD & Blu-ray) from brick-and-mortar stores, as well as a DVD-by-mail service and a cinema theater. Later on, they also began offering media streaming and in-name-only on-demand video service.

'''Blockbuster Videos Inc.''', formerly '''Blockbuster Entertainment, Inc.''', (also known as '''Blockbuster Video''' and '''Blockbuster, LLC''') is an [[American]]-based rental service for movies and video games. Traditionally, they offered rented out this media on magnetic tapes (8-track & VHS) and optical disks (DVD & Blu-ray) from brick-and-mortar stores, as well as a DVD-by-mail service and a cinema theater. Later on, they also began offering media streaming and in-name-only on-demand video service.

Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Blockbuster Entertainment. (1987) When home console video games from the likes of Atari, Nintendo Coleco-vision, etc. boomed in popularity in the 1980s, Blockbuster rented specifically Nintendo games out to their customers, too. Gaining ground as the largest Video game manufacturer, Nintendo, sued Blockbuster for copyright infringement over copies of their video game manual booklets that came with each video game cartridge. Nintendo claimed Blockbuster was doing unauthorized rentals of Nintendo video games as a was a violation of federal law. Ultimately the two parties would eventually settle the matter out of court, with Blockbuster retaining the legal right to continue the practice. Nintendo won the case, based on the fact that Blockbuster had included photocopies of the original instruction manuals with its rental NES carts. Blockbuster unsuccessfully argued that it was only protecting its investment in the original manuals, as it would cost more to replace the originals than it would to photocopy replacements. In this particular part of the case, the courts found in favor of Nintendo, therefore Blockbuster was required to start providing the original manuals with its rental games. Blockbuster still wouldn't be forced into doing this practice so thy would only provide the manuals if a customer specifically asked for one form the back of the store or if one was available in a drawer. Still early on there were only 19 Blockbuster stores, and the upward potential attracted Wayne Huizenga's associate John Melk. Gaining Melk's attention due to Blockbuster's efficiency, business model, family-friendly image and he convinced Huizenga to have a look at it. Huizenga and Melk utilized techniques from their waste business and Ray Kroc's model of expansion to rapidly expand Blockbuster, and soon they were opening a new store every 24 hours. In 1987, Huzienga and the two partners purchased a controlling interest in Blockbuster Entertainment for $18.5 million and began setting out to acquiring video store competitors like the Las Vegas video-superstore chain Major Video and Movies to Go, a 29-store chain based in [[St. Louis]]. They took over many of the existing Blockbuster franchise stores as well, and Huizenga even spent much of the late 1980s acquiring several of Blockbuster's rivals.

Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Blockbuster Entertainment. (1987) When home console video games from the likes of Atari, Nintendo Coleco-vision, etc. boomed in popularity in the 1980s, Blockbuster rented specifically Nintendo games out to their customers, too. Gaining ground as the largest Video game manufacturer, Nintendo, sued Blockbuster for copyright infringement over copies of their video game manual booklets that came with each video game cartridge. Nintendo claimed Blockbuster was doing unauthorized rentals of Nintendo video games as a was a violation of federal law. Ultimately the two parties would eventually settle the matter out of court, with Blockbuster retaining the legal right to continue the practice. Nintendo won the case, based on the fact that Blockbuster had included photocopies of the original instruction manuals with its rental NES carts. Blockbuster unsuccessfully argued that it was only protecting its investment in the original manuals, as it would cost more to replace the originals than it would to photocopy replacements. In this particular part of the case, the courts found in favor of Nintendo, therefore Blockbuster was required to start providing the original manuals with its rental games. Blockbuster still wouldn't be forced into doing this practice so thy would only provide the manuals if a customer specifically asked for one form the back of the store or if one was available in a drawer. Still early on there were only 19 Blockbuster stores, and the upward potential attracted Wayne Huizenga's associate John Melk. Gaining Melk's attention due to Blockbuster's efficiency, business model, family-friendly image and he convinced Huizenga to have a look at it. Huizenga and Melk utilized techniques from their waste business and Ray Kroc's model of expansion to rapidly expand Blockbuster, and soon they were opening a new store every 24 hours. In 1987, Huzienga and the two partners purchased a controlling interest in Blockbuster Entertainment for $18.5 million and began setting out to acquiring video store competitors like the Las Vegas video-superstore chain Major Video and Movies to Go, a 29-store chain based in [[St. Louis]]. They took over many of the existing Blockbuster franchise stores as well, and Huizenga even spent much of the late 1980s acquiring several of Blockbuster's rivals.

[[File:Blockbuster-Store-Exterior-.jpg|thumb|right|The exterior of a Blockbuster store in Mankato, [[Minnesota]]]]

[[File:Blockbuster video storefront.jpg|thumb|right|The exterior store front of a Blockbuster location in Alaska]]]]

In 1990, Blockbuster bought Erol Video Club's mostly on the East coast totaling 250 stores from owner Erol Onaran. Shortly thereafter, Blockbuster acquired the Music Plus music retail chains and created Blockbuster Music in 1992. The same year Blockbuster acquired Sound Warehouse.  

In 1990, Blockbuster bought Erol Video Club's mostly on the East coast totaling 250 stores from owner Erol Onaran. Shortly thereafter, Blockbuster acquired the Music Plus music retail chains and created Blockbuster Music in 1992. The same year Blockbuster acquired Sound Warehouse.  

*1993, Blockbuster acquired control of Spelling Entertainment Group Inc. in a $141.5 million stock swap, expanding its reach in home entertainment programming. took a controlling interest in Spelling Television-Entertainment Group, The Spelling TV Group also owned 35% of Republic Pictures; that company merged with Spelling in April 1994.

*1993, Blockbuster acquired control of Spelling Entertainment Group Inc. in a $141.5 million stock swap, expanding its reach in home entertainment programming. took a controlling interest in Spelling Television-Entertainment Group, The Spelling TV Group also owned 35% of Republic Pictures; that company merged with Spelling in April 1994.

==International operations==

==International operations==

===Australia===

===Australia===

[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|left|75px]]

[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|left|75px]]