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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.

Founded in 1985 by David Cook, Blockbuster began to expand domestically and eventually on an international level into the the 1990s. When Blockbuster was experiencing "peak performance" of employees and profitability according to their public records, Fall 2004 was this time period. During this time Blockbuster employed 84K people worldwide, 31 percent of those employees were in the [[United States]], for a total of 9,094 stores.

Founded in 1985 by David Cook, Blockbuster began to expand domestically and eventually on an international level into the the 1990s. When Blockbuster was experiencing "peak performance" of employees and profitability according to their public records, Fall 2004 was this time period. During this time Blockbuster employed 84K people worldwide, 31 percent of those employees were in the [[United States]], for a total of 9,094 stores.

Competition from the mail-order video services, easily accessible automated kiosks, video on demand services were the publicly known reasons for the downfall of the video empire. Based upon new research more evidence shows the  single biggest mistakes is when Blockbuster spun off of [[Viacom]] taking an insurmountable $905 million loan to pay a special dividend to Viacom shareholders for the privilege, were major factors leading up to Blockbuster's eventual demise. Progressively, Blockbuster began to lose significant revenue during the 2000s. Blockbuster officially filed for bankruptcy protection in early 2010. In 2011, Blockbuster's remaining 1,700 stores were bought by satellite television provider Dish Network, eventually selling off its last corporate-owned Blockbuster stores in 2014 leaving a handful of franchise-owned stores and as of 2020, only 1 store left.  

Competition from the mail-order video services, easily accessible automated kiosks, video on demand services were the publicly known reasons for the downfall of the video empire. Based upon new research more evidence shows the  single biggest mistakes is when Blockbuster spun off of [[Viacom]] taking an insurmountable $905 million loan to pay a special dividend to Viacom shareholders for the privilege, were major factors leading up to Blockbuster's eventual demise. Progressively, Blockbuster began to lose significant revenue during the 2000s. Blockbuster officially filed for bankruptcy protection in early 2010. In 2011, Blockbuster's remaining 1,700 stores were bought by satellite television provider Dish Network, eventually selling off its last corporate-owned Blockbuster stores in 2014 leaving a handful of franchise-owned stores and as of 2020, only 1 U.S. based store left and 2 international stores left.  

==Slogans==

==Slogans==

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.

[[File:Interior of last Blockbuster Video.jpg|thumb|Blockbuster in [[Bend, Oregon]]]]

[[File:Interior of last Blockbuster Video.jpg|thumb|Blockbuster in [[Bend, Oregon]]]]

Blockbuster store closures aroused considerable nostalgia and "would draw crowds of more than 100, as customers came to buy movies in the store’s inventory they couldn’t find anywhere else and revisited memories of shopping at Blockbuster". Originally reported by the Blockbuster Fan Page, just one store was left open as of March 2019 in [[Bend, Oregon]]. The store houses [[Russell Crowe]] movie props which John Oliver had donated to an Alaska store. A documentary that was still currently in production by two Bend filmmakers, had a goal to get their film "on the shelf at Blockbuster while there still is one." The Bend store has attracted visitors from around the world as a "living history museum" as the video rental store was "once a mundane feature of everyday life [but] is now a retro novelty experience".

Blockbuster store closures aroused considerable nostalgia and "would draw crowds of more than 100, as customers came to buy movies in the store’s inventory they couldn’t find anywhere else and revisited memories of shopping at Blockbuster". Originally reported by the Blockbuster Fan Page, just one store was left open as of March 2019 in [[Bend, Oregon]], notably there's two stores still open in the country Italy. This last United States store houses [[Russell Crowe]] movie props which John Oliver had donated to an Alaska store. A documentary that was still currently in production by two Bend filmmakers, had a goal to get their film "on the shelf at Blockbuster while there still is one." The Bend store has attracted visitors from around the world as a "living history museum" as the video rental store was "once a mundane feature of everyday life [but] is now a retro novelty experience".

===The Last Blockbuster===

===The Last Blockbuster===

To this day there is still one stand alone Blockbuster Video store in business. The store for all intensive purposes looks like the real classic stores and has much of the same merchandise and of course movie, television, and video game rentals, but is privately owned, franchised.

To this day there is still one stand alone Blockbuster Video store in business in the United States, there's still two Blockbuster Video stores open in the country Italy as of today as well. The store for all intensive purposes looks like the real classic stores and has much of the same merchandise and of course movie, television, and video game rentals, but is privately owned, franchised.

A documentary on the last remaining Blockbuster Video in Bend, Oregon was released by Production Companies Popmotion Pictures and September Club on July 7, 2019.

A documentary on the last remaining Blockbuster Video in Bend, Oregon was released by Production Companies Popmotion Pictures and September Club on July 7, 2019.

==International operations==

==International operations==

===Australia===

===Australia===

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

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

===Super Bowl===

===Super Bowl===

One of Blockbuster's most well-known [[advertising]] campaigns was launched during the Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. It starred the voices of Jim Belushi and James Woods as Carl and Ray, a rabbit and a [[guinea pig]] in a pet shop located across the road from a Blockbuster store. The first campaign ended in 2003. The Carl and Ray campaign started again in 2007 starting with a high dollar thirty second commercial slot during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLI. The 2007 ad again had the same voices from actors James Woods and Jim Belushi along with the addition of Alec Baldwin in the voice-over promotion piece of the business. Primarily this Superbowl commercial promoted movies through the mail under the official name "Blockbuster total access" with an offer for a free trial.

One of Blockbuster's most well-known [[advertising]] campaigns was launched during the Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. It starred the voices of Jim Belushi and [[James Woods]] as Carl and Ray, a rabbit and a [[guinea pig]] in a pet shop located across the road from a Blockbuster store. The first campaign ended in 2003. The Carl and Ray campaign started again in 2007 starting with a high dollar thirty second commercial slot during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLI. The 2007 ad again had the same voices from actors James Woods and Jim Belushi along with the addition of Alec Baldwin in the voice-over promotion piece of the business. Primarily this Superbowl commercial promoted movies through the mail under the official name "Blockbuster total access" with an offer for a free trial.

===Misleading advertising===

===Misleading advertising===

*[https://campingworldbowl.com/history/ Camping World Bowl History of the Orgignal Sunshine classic college football]

*[https://campingworldbowl.com/history/ Camping World Bowl History of the Orgignal Sunshine classic college football]

*[https://www.chiefmarketer.com/blockbuster-canada-launches-loyalty-program/ Canada Loyalty rewards program]

*[https://www.chiefmarketer.com/blockbuster-canada-launches-loyalty-program/ Canada Loyalty rewards program]

[[Category:Business]]

[[Category:Business]]

[[Category:Television]]

[[Category:Television]]

[[Category:Movies]]

[[Category:Movies]]