View source for Blockbuster (retailer)

{{Short description|American video rental corporation}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Other meanings|Blockbuster (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = BB Liquidating Inc. ''(since 2025)''
| logo = Blockbuster logo.svg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 1996
| image = Blockbuster in Clermont (2).jpg
| image_caption = A Blockbuster location in March 2007 in [[Clermont, Florida]], as seen from the [[Citrus Tower]]
| successor = [[Sling TV]]<br />Dish Movie Pack
| former_name = Blockbuster, Inc. (1985–2010)
| company_type = [[Subsidiary]] 
| founded = {{start date and age|1985|10|19|p=yes}}<ref name=CNNMoney/><br />[[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]]
| founder = David Cook<ref name=CNNMoney/>
| fate = [[Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 7 bankruptcy]] [[liquidation]] sale; brand still licensed in Denmark by Nuuday
| defunct = {{end date and age|2014|1|12}} (last corporate-owned stores)<br />{{end date and age|2020|1|31}} (last international retail stores)
| hq_location_city = [[Dallas]], Texas
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| num_locations = [[Blockbuster (Bend, Oregon)|1]] (privately owned, franchised) in [[Bend, Oregon]]{{efn|Down from 9,094 in 2004}}
| services = [[Video rental shop|Home video rentals]]<br />(VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc, DVD, Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray)<br />[[Video on demand|Video on demand streaming services]]
| revenue = {{decrease}} [[US$]]3.24 billion (2010)
| operating_income = {{decrease}} −US$78.8 million (2010)
| profit = {{increase}} −US$268 million (2010)
| assets = {{decrease}} US$1.183 billion (2010)
| equity = {{decrease}} −US$582.3 million (2010)
| num_employees = 84,300 (2004)<br />25,000 (2010)
| parent <!-- Per Template:Infobox company: "Do not add "independent" as parent company to designate times without a parent company." --> = [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]] (1994–2004)<br />[[Dish Network]] (2011–present)
| homepage = {{URL|blockbuster.com}}
}}
'''Blockbuster'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/29/17788212/blockbuster-last-video-store-bend-oregon-movie-selection-algorithm-discovery-netflix-hulu-amazon |title=The last Blockbuster: what we really lose when video stores shut down |last=Stephen |first=Bijan |date=August 29, 2018 |website=The Verge |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> or '''Blockbuster Video''' is an American multimedia brand which was founded by David Cook in 1985 as a single [[video rental shop|home video rental shop]], but later became a public store chain featuring video game rentals, [[DVD-by-mail]], [[streaming media|streaming]], [[video on demand]], and cinema theater.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hecht |first=John |author2=[[The Associated Press]] |date=April 28, 2007 |title=Blockbuster opening Mexico multiplex |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/blockbuster-opening-mexico-multiplex-2-135075 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[WordPress.com]] VIP |access-date=September 23, 2023}}</ref> The company expanded internationally throughout the 1990s. At its peak in 2004,<ref name="The Sad End Of Blockbuster Video">{{cite web |title=The Sad End Of Blockbuster Video: The Onetime $5 Billion Company Is Being Liquidated As Competition From Online Giants Netflix And Hulu Prove All Too Much For The Iconic Brand |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/sad-end-blockbuster-video-onetime-5-billion-company-being-liquidated-competition-1496962 |website=International Business Times |date=December 5, 2013}}</ref><ref name="nyt09">{{cite news |title=Other Retailers Find Ex-Blockbuster Stores Just Right |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/business/09blockbuster.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Stephanie |last=Clifford |date=April 8, 2011}}</ref> Blockbuster employed 84,300 people worldwide and operated 9,094 stores.<ref name="sec.gov">{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1085734/000119312505063510/d10k.htm |title=Form 10-K |website=www.sec.gov |access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref>

Poor leadership and the impact of the [[Great Recession]] were major factors leading to Blockbuster's decline, as was the growing competition from [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]]'s mail-order service, [[video on demand]] (including the Netflix streaming service), and [[Redbox]] automated kiosks. Significant loss of revenue occurred during the late 2000s, and the company filed for [[bankruptcy]] protection in 2010.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Blockbuster LLC Chapter 11 Petition |url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/PXDYCPY/Blockbuster_Inc.__nysbke-10-14997__0001.0.pdf |website=PacerMonitor |access-date=May 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602145416/https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/PXDYCPY/Blockbuster_Inc.__nysbke-10-14997__0001.0.pdf |archive-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Blockbuster Reaches Agreement on Plan to Recapitalize Balance Sheet and Substantially Reduce its Indebtedness |publisher=Blockbuster |date=September 23, 2010 |url=http://investor.blockbuster.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=99383&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1474126 |access-date=September 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003181215/http://investor.blockbuster.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=99383&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1474126 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The next year, its remaining 1,700 stores were bought by satellite television provider [[Dish Network]];<ref name="Fritz">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-apr-07-la-fi-ct-dish-blockbuster-20110407-story.html |title=Dish Network wins bidding for assets of bankrupt Blockbuster |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date= May 2, 2011 |first=Ben |last=Fritz |date=April 7, 2011}}</ref><ref name="DishNetwork.MediaRoom.com">{{cite web |title=DISH Network Completes Acquisition of Blockbuster Assets |url=http://about.dish.com/press-release/financial/dish-network-completes-acquisition-blockbuster-assets |date=April 26, 2011 |publisher=DishNetwork.MediaRoom.com |access-date=June 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717202917/http://about.dish.com/press-release/financial/dish-network-completes-acquisition-blockbuster-assets |archive-date=July 17, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> by 2014, the last 300 company-owned stores were closed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/blockbuster-close-remaining-300-stores-653802|title=Blockbuster to Close Remaining 300 Stores in U.S.|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 6, 2013|language=en|access-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref> 

Although corporate support for the brand ended, Dish retained a small number of franchise agreements, enabling some privately owned franchises to remain open. Following a series of further closures in 2019, only [[Blockbuster (Bend, Oregon)|one franchised store remains open]], located in [[Bend, Oregon]].<ref name="The Sad End Of Blockbuster Video"/><ref name="nyt09"/><ref name="sec.gov"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6711543 |title=Blockbuster to end late fees in 2005 |website=[[NBC News]] |date=December 14, 2004 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name="LastBlockbuster-Observer" /><ref name=bend>{{cite web|first=Annie|last=Zak|work=[[Anchorage Daily News]]|url=https://www.adn.com/business-economy/2018/07/12/the-last-two-blockbuster-stores-in-alaska-are-set-to-close/|title=Alaska's last 2 Blockbuster stores are closing, leaving just one in the U.S.|date=July 12, 2018|access-date=August 29, 2018}}</ref> As of 2025, the company remains in existence under the name '''BB Liquidating, Inc.''', which gained notoriety in the [[GameStop short squeeze]] in 2021.

==History==
===1985–1996: David Cook era and early growth===
[[File:2008-09-24 Blockbuster in Durham.jpg|thumb|right|A Blockbuster store in [[Durham, North Carolina]]]]
Blockbuster's beginnings can be traced back to another company, Cook Data Services, founded by David Cook in 1978.<ref name=CNNMoney>{{cite news|work=CNN Money|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2003/07/01/347314/index.htm|title=He Began Blockbuster. So What? David Cook created a household name, but he refuses to become one.|date=July 1, 2003|first=Joshua|last=Hyatt|access-date=January 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Cook Data">{{cite web|work=Reference for Business|title=Blockbuster Inc. - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Blockbuster Inc.|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/93/Blockbuster-Inc.html|access-date=January 1, 2017}}</ref> The company's primary goal was to supply software services to the oil and gas industries throughout [[Texas]], but it was very unsuccessful.<ref name="Cook Data"/> Sandy Cook, David's wife, wanted to get into the video business, and her husband would soon study the industry and future prospects.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UZEpBgAAQBAJ&q=Blockbuster+mid-80s%2C+Sandy+Cook+TV+VCR&pg=PT77|title=Dear Investor, What the HELL are You Doing?: Smart and Easy Ways to Fix the Mistakes You Make With Your Money|first=Ken|last=Weber|date=January 6, 2015|publisher=Greenleaf Book Group|isbn=9781626341623|access-date=July 13, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> Using profit he made from the sale of David P. Cook & Associates, the subsidiary of his company, he decided to buy into a video store franchise in Dallas known as Video Works. When Video Works would not allow him to decorate the interior of his store with a blue-and-yellow design, he departed the franchise and opened the first Blockbuster Video in 1985 under his own company Blockbuster Video Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2017/august/premiere-video-dallas-close-the-last-video-store/|title=Film Lovers Mourn Mockingbird Staple Premiere Video|website=D Magazine|date=August 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/710979/0000950144-94-000803.txt|title=SEC 10-K, 1999|date=March 24, 2000|website=SEC|access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref> When he realized the potential in video rentals, Cook abandoned the oil industry and began franchising the Blockbuster store.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/10867574/1/the-rise-and-fall-of-blockbuster-the-long-rewinding-road.html|title=Blockbuster's Rise and Fall: The Long, Rewinding Road|first=Jeanine|last=Poggi|date=September 23, 2010|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

The first Blockbuster store opened on October 19, 1985, in [[Dallas]], Texas, with an inventory of 8,000 VHS and 2,000 Beta tapes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/chapter/chap0009.htm |title=The Making of a Blockbuster |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=November 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113051837/http://www.businessweek.com/chapter/chap0009.htm |archive-date=November 13, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-blockbuster-store-opens|title=1985: First Blockbuster Store Opens|date=November 13, 2009|publisher=The History Channel|access-date=May 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30|title=Billboard|date=October 19, 1985|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|access-date=July 13, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> The chain's name is derived from the term ''[[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]]'', a Hollywood term for a successful film. Cook's experience with managing huge databases proved helpful in driving innovation within the industry.<ref name=CNNMoney/> Following early success from the company's first stores, Cook built a $6-million warehouse in [[Garland, Texas]], to help sustain and support future growth that allowed new stores to open quickly.<ref name=CNNMoney/> Blockbuster would often custom-tailor a store's inventory to its neighborhood, based on local demographics.<ref name=CNNMoney/>

In 1987, [[Waste Management (company)|Waste Management]] co-founder [[Wayne Huizenga]], who originally had reservations about entering the video rental industry, agreed to acquire several Blockbuster stores.<ref>{{cite book |last=DeGeorge |first=Gail |title=The Making of a Blockbuster |year=1997 |publisher=Wiley |location=New York |isbn=0-471-15903-4 |page=32}}</ref> At that time, there were 19 stores, attracting Huizenga's associate John Melk's attention due to its efficiency, family-friendly no-pornography image and business model. 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=DeGeorge |first=Gail |title=The Making of a Blockbuster |year=1995 |publisher=Wiley |location=Prologue |isbn=0-471-15903-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XKiGgl36bkgC&pg=PA200 |title=American Inventors, Entrepreneurs, and Business Visionaries |first=Charles W. |last=Carey |date=May 14, 2014 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=9780816068838 |access-date=July 13, 2018 |via=Google Books}}</ref> They took over many of the existing Blockbuster franchise stores, and Huizenga spent much of the late 1980s acquiring several of Blockbuster's rivals, including Major Video. In 1989, [[Nintendo]] attempted to halt Blockbuster's ability to rent video games, filing multiple lawsuits and lobbying the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] to ban the practice.<ref name="Nintendo lawsuit">{{Cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-09-19-1990262004-story.html|title=Video Rental Firms Win Round in Struggle with Nintendo|date=September 19, 1990|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=October 15, 2020}}</ref> Nintendo ultimately lost [[Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Blockbuster Entertainment Corp.|the battle]], which paved the way for future video game rental.<ref name="Nintendo lawsuit"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Tim Jr. |title=5 Legal Battles That Changed Video Game History |url=https://www.themodernrogue.com/articles/2018/6/13/5-legal-battles-that-changed-video-game-history |website=Modern Rogue |access-date=October 15, 2020}}</ref>

Blockbuster sponsored the [[Pop-Tarts Bowl|Blockbuster Bowl]] in [[American football]], which began in 1990<ref name="BlockbusterBowl">{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qv3gy101wnAC&pg=PA171|title=The Making of a Blockbuster: How Wayne Huizenga Built a Sports and Entertainment Empire from Trash, Grit, and Videotape|access-date=January 1, 2008|publisher=Wiley|year=1997|isbn=9780471159032 }}</ref> and was played at [[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]] outside [[Miami]]. The first three editions were played under that name before Blockbuster withdrew its sponsorship.

[[File:Blockbuster membership card.jpg|left|thumb|Blockbuster membership card (c. 1990)]]
In 1990, Blockbuster bought mid-Atlantic rival [[Erol's]] which had more than 250 stores.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1990/11/20/blockbuster-agrees-to-buy-erols-chain-curran-examining-antitrust-concerns/ |title=Blockbuster agrees to buy Erol's chain Curran examining antitrust concerns |author= David Conn |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=November 20, 1990}}</ref> In 1992, Blockbuster acquired the Sound Warehouse and Music Plus music retail chains and created Blockbuster Music.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/20/business/company-news-blockbuster-agrees-to-buy-music-store-chain.html |title=Blockbuster Agrees to Buy Music Store Chain |first=Eben |last=Shapiro |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 20, 1992}}</ref><ref name="lat-1993sep10">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-10-me-33692-story.html |title=Store Wars: Retailing: A busy intersection has become the battleground for three giant music and video outlets. And just up the street, a specialty store is trying to carve out a niche. |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 10, 1993 |first=Ted |last=Johnson}}</ref> In October 1993, Blockbuster took a [[controlling interest]] in [[Spelling Television|Spelling Entertainment Group]], a media company run by television producer [[Aaron Spelling]].<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SPELLING+ENTERTAINMENT+COMPLETES+SALE+OF+SHARES+TO+BLOCKBUSTER-a014212557 Spelling Entertainment Completes Sale of Shares to Blockbuster] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808033034/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SPELLING+ENTERTAINMENT+COMPLETES+SALE+OF+SHARES+TO+BLOCKBUSTER-a014212557 |date=August 8, 2017 }} thefreelibrary.com, Retrieved on May 27, 2013</ref> Blockbuster purchased Super Club Retail Entertainment Corp. on November 22, 1993, from [[Philips |Philips Electronics, N.V.]] for 5.2 million shares of Blockbuster stock. This brought approximately 270 [[Record Bar]], Tracks, Turtles and Rhythm and Views music stores and approximately 160 video retail superstores into the corporation.<ref name="blockbuster">{{cite web |title=Blockbuster Completes Super Club Acquisition |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 23, 1993 |access-date=October 6, 2018 |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/11/23/blockbuster-completes-super-club-acquisition/}}</ref> It also owned 35% of [[Republic Pictures]]; that company merged with Spelling in April 1994.<ref>"Orlando Sentinel" [https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1994/04/28/blockbusters-spelling-finishes-buying-republic/ Blockbuster's Spelling Finishes Buying Republic] OrlandoSentinel.com, Retrieved on May 27, 2013</ref>

Blockbuster became a multibillion-dollar company, but Huizenga was worried about how new technology could threaten their business, such as [[video on demand]] and the growth of cable television. In 1991, just three days after Time Warner had announced it would upgrade its cable system, Blockbuster's shares dropped more than 10 percent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/09/magazine/entrepreneurs-wayne-huizenga-s-growth-complex.html|title=ENTREPRENEURS; WAYNE HUIZENGA'S GROWTH COMPLEX|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 9, 1991|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> In 1993, he made an attempt to expand into other areas by investing in [[Viacom (1952–2006)|Viacom]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Sheridan|first=Mary Beth|title=Viacom-Blockbuster merges colorful moguls|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vDkfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4947,3465320 |access-date= February 10, 2012|newspaper=[[Spartanburg Herald Journal]]|date=January 10, 1994 |agency= Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/30/business/the-media-business-viacom-gets-help-from-blockbuster.html|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Viacom Gets Help From Blockbuster|first=Geraldine|last=Fabrikant|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 30, 1993|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> Huizenga also considered buying a cable company, but this was unknown territory for Blockbuster and he decided not to take the risk. He also had the idea of a 2,500-acre Blockbuster sports and amusement park in Florida, something Blockbuster was still considering as late as August 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1994/08/21/republic-of-huizenga-carved-out-of-florida-for-games/afb63fa7-a0cf-4de3-a3ab-dc270c2dcc5a/|title=REPUBLIC OF HUIZENGA CARVED OUT OF FLORIDA FOR GAMES|first=William|last=Booth|date=August 21, 1994|access-date=July 13, 2018|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> Unable to come up with a proper solution about how to face the growing threats to the traditional videostore, he made the decision to sell Blockbuster to Viacom and pull out.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2022624-6,00.html|title=How Blockbuster Failed at Failing|first=Stephen|last=Gandel|magazine=Time|date=October 17, 2010|access-date=July 13, 2018|via=content.time.com|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703083957/https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2022624-6,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Viacom acquired Blockbuster in 1994 for $8.4 billion to help finance its bid for [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] in the bidding war with QVC Network Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/02/16/viacom-captures-paramount/|title=Viacom captures Paramount|date=February 16, 1994 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/viacom-plans-blockbuster-split/|title=Viacom Plans Blockbuster Split|website=[[CBS News]] |date=February 10, 2004 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> Blockbuster's stock trade had been dropping steadily the months before the merger, with a small rise after the deal was announced,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/02/16/viacom-captures-paramount/|title=Viacom captures Paramount|date=February 16, 1994 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> and by the latter part of the decade, its worth was estimated to have fallen to just $4.6 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1997-05-04/viacoms-headache-its-a-blockbuster|title=Viacom's Headache: It's A Blockbuster|website=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=May 5, 1997 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

The Blockbuster Block Party concept was test-marketed in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], and [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], in 1994. It was an "entertainment complex" aimed at adults, containing eight themed areas housing a restaurant, games, laser tag arena, and motion simulator rides, and was housed in a windowless building the size of a city block.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19941219&id=mJgaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6486,4788762 |title=This block party is for adults only: Blockbuster opens 1st indoor center |agency=Associated Press |access-date=May 26, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1989 Blockbuster expanded in the United Kingdom, purchasing the country's Ritz Video chain. The stores were rebranded to Blockbuster.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-03 |title=When did Blockbuster close in the UK? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/11/03/when-did-blockbuster-close-in-the-uk-17692072/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref>

The original Blockbuster company, Blockbuster Video Inc., was merged into the parent company Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. which had earlier replaced the Blockbuster Entertainment Company. In 1996, Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. merged into a new Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation<ref name="BEinc1996">{{cite web|url=http://blockbuster.com/ |title=Blockbuster's Entertainment Store! |work=website home page |date=December 24, 1996 |publisher=[[Wayback Machine]] |access-date=November 7, 2013 |quote=Blockbuster name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. © 1987, 1996 Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. Developed by Blockbuster Technology – Online Group and Viacom Interactive Services. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025054228/http://www.blockbuster.com/ |archive-date=October 25, 2013 }}</ref> and the retail stores, then called Blockbuster Video, were renamed Blockbuster. The logo changed slightly, but retained the [[International Typeface Corporation|ITC Machine]] font.<ref name="fontsinuse">{{cite web|title= Blockbuster Identity - Fonts In Use|last=Martin|first=Garrison|date=13 May 2014|work=fontsinuse.com|url=https://fontsinuse.com/uses/6800/blockbuster-identity|access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> In November 1996 Blockbuster confirmed that it was moving its headquarters from [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], to the [[Renaissance Tower (Dallas)|Renaissance Tower]] in [[downtown Dallas]].<ref>"[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF90BCC96B3AB5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Blockbuster sets meeting on move Video rental chain preparing possible relocation to Dallas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018001834/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF90BCC96B3AB5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=October 18, 2015 }}". ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]''. November 1, 1996. 1 Business. Retrieved December 18, 2009.</ref> Most of the workers at the Florida headquarters did not want to relocate, so Blockbuster planned to hire around 500 to 600 new employees for its Dallas headquarters. The company had offered various relocation packages to all of its Fort Lauderdale staff.<ref>Kirkpatrick, John. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D8F8AA0E495C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Blockbuster to hire hundreds in Dallas office. Two-thirds of Florida workers not moving with headquarters]". ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. March 17, 1997. Retrieved December 18, 2009.</ref> The second Blockbuster Entertainment Corporation was later merged into Blockbuster, Inc.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

===1997–2006: John Antioco era, Netflix sale turndown, and financial peak  ===
In June 1997, [[Taco Bell]] president [[John Antioco]] resigned from the company to become CEO of Blockbuster.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-04-fi-65390-story.html|title = Taco Bell Chief Antioco are Moving to Blockbuster| website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date = June 4, 1997}}</ref> Also that year, [[Warner Bros.]] offered Antioco an exclusive rental deal, seeing as DVDs were emerging as the new home video medium. Blockbuster was to have rights to rent new DVD releases for a period of time before they went on sale to the general public. The studio was to receive 40% of rental revenues in return, which was the same deal already in place for VHS rentals. Blockbuster turned the offer down, and the studio responded by lowering its DVD wholesale price in order to compete with the rental industry. [[Walmart]] seized the opportunity and in a few years surpassed Blockbuster as the studios' single largest source of revenue. Other mass retailers soon followed suit, selling DVDs below wholesale price as a [[loss leader]] in hopes of drawing more customers to their stores and selling them more profitable items. Unable to match prices, Blockbuster's business model was severely affected.<ref name="Last days of Blockbuster">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_hollywood_economist/2006/01/hollywoods_new_zombie.html |title=Hollywood's New Zombie: The last days of Blockbuster. |last=Epstein |first=Edward Jay |date=January 9, 2006 |magazine=Slate |access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref>

In 1998, Blockbuster created [[DEJ Productions]], which acquired 225 films primarily to provide exclusive content to its Blockbuster stores prior to being sold off to [[First Look Studios]] in 2005.<ref>Hettrick, Scott. DEJ Deal to First Look. Variety. November 5, 2005.</ref> During that same year, Blockbuster bought the Irish video rental store [[Xtra-vision]], with over 200 stores in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In 2009, Blockbuster sold off its Irish operations to Birchall Investments, with the few Xtra-vision stores in the United Kingdom being rebranded as Blockbuster.

[[File:Stamford_Blockbuster.jpg|thumb|right|A Blockbuster sign in [[Stamford, Connecticut]], which stood until March 2023, when it was removed and listed for sale online<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2023 |last=Lederman |first=Jay |title=Blockbuster sign removed from Stamford plaza listed for $15K on Facebook Marketplace |url=https://connecticut.news12.com/blockbuster-sign-removed-from-stamford-plaza-listed-for-15k-on-facebook-marketplace |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=News 12 - Connecticut}}</ref>]]
In late 1998, Blockbuster launched a loyalty program called Blockbuster Rewards that allowed customers to earn free rentals, including one older title each month from the category of Blockbuster Favorites. After a 1998 test launch, the chain went nationwide with the program in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/blockbuster-loyalty-put-test-37266/|title=Blockbuster Loyalty Put To Test|date=November 2, 1998 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

In August the same year, Viacom sold the Blockbuster Music chain to [[Wherehouse Entertainment]], which was subsequently purchased by [[Kaspien|Trans World Entertainment]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stereophile.com/news/10237/ |title=Wherehouse Buys Blockbuster Music for $115 million |publisher=Stereophile.com |date=August 16, 1998 |access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref>

In mid-2000, the company partnered with [[Enron]] in an attempt to create a video-on-demand service.<ref name="Enron partnership">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2000/07/20/mu4.html#49a68eba3541|title=Enron, Blockbuster Partner For Movie Mania|last=Schiffman|first=Betsy|date=July 20, 2000|work=Forbes.com|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> The agreement was supposed to last for 20 years; however, Enron terminated the deal in March 2001 over fears that Blockbuster would not be able to provide sufficient films for the service ([[Enron scandal|Enron also filed for bankruptcy that year]]).<ref name="Enron">{{cite web |title=Blockbuster's Broadband-Video Deal Collapses |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-mar-11-mn-36306-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=March 11, 2001 |access-date=October 27, 2016}}</ref> Also in 2000, Blockbuster turned down a chance to purchase the fledgling [[Netflix, Inc.|Netflix]] for $50 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=50000000|start_year=2000}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref>{{cite news |title=Your late fees are waived: Blockbuster closes |first=Todd |last=Leopold |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=November 6, 2013 |quote=Even Blockbuster's late fees came back to bite the chain in an unlikely way. In 1997, a man named [[Reed Hastings]] returned a late copy of ''[[Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13]]'' to his local Blockbuster. He was assessed a $40 fee. Two years later, he founded Netflix. Blockbuster was caught flat-footed by many of these changes. It could have purchased Netflix for $50 million in 2000, but passed. As Netflix rose, Blockbuster's attempts to compete on Netflix's terms—especially through the mail—foundered. It also tried to compete with [[Redbox]] using standalone [[kiosk]]s. That didn't work, either.}}</ref>

In 2002, Blockbuster acquired Movie Trading Company, a Dallas chain that buys, sells, and trades movies and games, to study potential business models for DVD and game trading. Also that year, it acquired [[Gamestation]], a 64-store UK computer and console games retailer chain, and purchased DVD Rental Central for $1 million, an Arizona father-and-son online DVD-rental company with about ten thousand subscribers. DVD Rental Central would eventually become Blockbuster Online.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sodDcL2yhsIC&q=Blockbuster+Online+DVD+Rental+central&pg=PT67 |title=Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs |first=Gina |last=Keating |date=October 11, 2012 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=9781101601433 |access-date=July 13, 2018 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

On or around October 14, 2004, Blockbuster was spun-off from Viacom. Online DVD subscriptions were introduced on Blockbuster.com, also known as Blockbuster Online.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=563 |title=With Several Million U.S. Households as Potential Customers, Blockbuster Plans to Capture Substantial Share of Online Rentals |publisher=Blockbuster MediaRoom |date=December 31, 2003 |access-date=January 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201174655/https://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=563 |archive-date=December 1, 2008}}</ref> Blockbuster also rolled out its "Game Rush" store-in-store concept to approximately 450 domestic company-operated stores. Blockbuster began game and DVD trading in selected U.S. stores.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=574 |title=Blockbuster Launches National DVD and Game Trading Program |publisher=Blockbuster MediaRoom |date=October 25, 2004 |access-date=January 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201174710/http://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=574 |archive-date=December 1, 2008 }}</ref>

At its peak in 2004, Blockbuster had more than 9,000 stores worldwide.<ref name= nyt09/> In December 2004, Blockbuster announced its intention to pursue a hostile [[takeover]] of [[Hollywood Video]], its major U.S. competitor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/905895/000119312504220268/dex991.htm |title=Press Release |publisher=sec.gov |access-date=May 28, 2015}}</ref> After several extensions of the tender offer, Blockbuster withdrew due to [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] opposition.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/26/business/media/26movie.html |title=Blockbuster Ends Bid for Rival |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 26, 2005 |access-date=May 28, 2015|last1=Jr |first1=Tom Zeller }}</ref> To counter the Blockbuster offer, Hollywood Video agreed to a buyout in January 2005 by a smaller competitor, the [[Dothan, Alabama]]-based [[Movie Gallery]]. Since then, Movie Gallery has filed for bankruptcy twice and its entire chain of stores has been liquidated.

In May 2005, financier [[Carl Icahn]] waged a successful [[proxy fight]] to add himself and two other members to the board. Icahn accused Blockbuster of overpaying chairman and CEO John F. Antioco, who had served in that capacity since 1997, receiving $51.6 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=51600000|start_year=2004}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in compensation for 2004. Icahn was also at odds with Antioco on how to revive profit at Blockbuster. Antioco scrapped late fees in January, started an internet service, and decided to keep the company independent, while Icahn wanted to sell out to a [[private equity]] firm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nysun.com/business/carl-icahn-wins-seat-on-blockbusters-board/13719/ |title=Carl Icahn Wins Seat on Blockbuster's Board – May 12, 2005 – The New York Sun |publisher=Nysun.com |date=May 12, 2005 |access-date=June 16, 2011 |archive-date=June 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608122209/http://www.nysun.com/business/carl-icahn-wins-seat-on-blockbusters-board/13719/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also in 2005, Blockbuster began a campaign promoting its "No more late fees" policy.<ref name="fastcompanylatefee">{{cite web|last1=Carr|first1=Austin|title=Blockbuster Bankruptcy: A Decade of Decline|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1690654/blockbuster-bankruptcy-decade-decline|website=Fastcompany|date=September 22, 2010|access-date=October 27, 2016}}</ref> The campaign proved controversial, with [[Associated Press]] reporting that the new policy actually charged users the full price of the movie or game after eight days which they could cancel by returning the product in question and paying a fee.<ref name="APlatefees">{{cite web |title=Blockbuster Settles Over 'No Late Fees' |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1414947/blockbuster-settles-over-no-late-fees |website=Billboardbiz |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=October 27, 2016 |archive-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123162922/http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1414947/blockbuster-settles-over-no-late-fees |url-status=dead }}</ref> More than 40 states filed suit against the company for false advertising.<ref name="APlatefees"/> Blockbuster later settled the suit by agreeing to refunds, as well as promising to better explain the policy.<ref name="APlatefees"/>

[[Vintage Stock (retailer)|Vintage Stock]] acquired the Movie Trading Company name from Blockbuster in 2006, and continues to use the name for Dallas-area stores.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vintagestock.com/about-vintage-stock |title=About Us - Vintage Stock / Movie Trading Co. - Music, Movies, Video Games and More! |access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref>

===2007–2011: James Keyes era, financial decline, and bankruptcy===
[[File:Blockbenv.jpg|thumb|Blockbuster [[DVD-by-mail]] envelope]]
A billion-dollar campaign called "Total Access" was introduced in 2007 as a strategy against Netflix. Through Blockbuster Online, customers could rent a DVD online and receive a new movie for free when they returned it to a Blockbuster store. While it was a major success every free movie cost the company two dollars, but the hope was that it would attract enough new subscribers to cover the loss. Netflix felt threatened, and Netflix CEO [[Reed Hastings]] approached Antioco with a suggestion to buy Blockbuster's online business. In return, a new system would be introduced where customers could return their movies to a Blockbuster store. Before the deal could be realized, board member Carl Icahn intervened, refusing to let the company lose more money through Total Access. Antioco was pushed out in July and replaced with James Keyes, who rejected Hastings' proposal, raised the price of online DVD rentals and put an end to the free movie deal. As a consequence, Blockbuster Online's previously massive growth quickly stopped.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/14/how-blockbuster-almost-beat-netfilx.aspx |title=How Blockbuster Almost Beat Netfilx |first=Aaron |last=Sankin |date=November 14, 2013 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> Antioco's departure reportedly also involved continued controversy over his compensation. He left with a $24.7 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=24700000|start_year=2007}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) severance package.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2034688520070320 |work=Reuters |title=UPDATE 5-Blockbuster CEO to leave with lower pay package |date=March 20, 2007 |first=Gina |last=Keating}}</ref>

On June 19, 2007, after a pilot program launched in late 2006, Blockbuster announced that it had chosen [[Blu-ray]] over [[HD DVD]] format to rent in a majority of its stores. In the pilot program, Blockbuster offered selected titles for rental and sale in 250 stores. Blockbuster stocked Blu-ray titles in almost 5,000 stores across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvpredictions.com/blockbusterblu041008.htm |title=Blockbuster: Blu-ray In Almost 5,000 Stores |publisher=TVpredictions.com |date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=June 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720172603/https://www.tvpredictions.com/blockbusterblu041008.htm |archive-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref>

On July 2, 2007, the company named [[James W. Keyes]], former president and CEO of [[7-Eleven]], as the new chairman and CEO. He introduced a new business strategy that included enhancements to existing stores. The following month in August, Blockbuster acquired [[Movielink]] for $6.6 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=6600000|start_year=2007}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}), forecasting a shift to streaming video.<ref name="Digital strategy 2009">{{cite news |last1=Rayburn |first1=Dan |title=Blockbuster Still Doesn't Have A Digital Strategy |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/blockbuster-still-doesnt-have-a-digital-strategy-2009-7 |access-date=August 16, 2020 |work=Business Insider |date=July 16, 2009}}</ref> Movielink was an online video service that allowed customers to download movie rentals from a library of over 6,000 films, created in 2002 by five major studios including Warner Bros, MGM Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, and Universal Studios.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simons |first1=John |title=Don't count Blockbuster out |url=https://money.cnn.com/2008/03/05/technology/simons_blockbuster.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008030515 |website=CNN Money |access-date=August 16, 2020 |date=March 5, 2008}}</ref> The move gave Blockbuster the opportunity to move away from the unprofitable Total Access (DVD-by-mail) service in favor of online streaming. Despite growing competition from Netflix and Redbox, the company downplayed the threat, choosing instead to focus on Apple and Walmart as their primary competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/12/10/blockbuster-ceo-has-answers.aspx |title=Blockbuster CEO Has Answers |first=Rick |last=Munarriz |date=December 10, 2008 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

On September 14, 2007, Blockbuster GB Ltd bought a number of retail stores from ChoicesUK plc. ChoicesUK is an AIM-listed multi-channel distributor and retailer of DVDs, computer games, and CDs. The sale secured employment for approximately 450 employees across 59 stores in the United Kingdom. As part of the transaction, Blockbuster GB rebranded the stores as Blockbuster.{{citation needed|date=December 2009}}

On February 17, 2008, Blockbuster proposed a buyout of struggling [[Circuit City]]. However, following a [[due diligence]] review of Circuit City's financial books, Blockbuster withdrew its offer in July 2008. Analysts were not favorable to the proposed deal, viewing it as a desperate effort to save two struggling retailers rather than a bold turnaround initiative.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1436008820080414 |work=Reuters |title=Blockbuster-Circuit City deal gets thumbs down |date=April 14, 2008}}</ref> Subsequently, Circuit City filed for bankruptcy on November 10, 2008, and, after liquidating all of its stores, ceased operations on March 8, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Musil |first=Steven |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9982618-7.html |title=Blockbuster abandons Circuit City bid &#124; News Blog – CNET News |publisher=cnet.com |date=July 1, 2008 |access-date=June 16, 2011 |archive-date=June 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617052627/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9982618-7.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the beginning of 2010, Blockbuster had over 6,500 stores, of which 4,000 were in the United States—<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blockbuster.com/corporate/internationalOperations |title=retrieved 2009-10-04 |publisher=Blockbuster.com |access-date=June 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720065329/http://www.blockbuster.com/corporate/internationalOperations |archive-date=July 20, 2011 }}</ref> a number that fell to 3,425 in late October the same year.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/10/20/the-decline-of-video-stores-what-well-miss-the-most/ |title=The decline of video stores: What we'll miss the most |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=October 20, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> In the United States it planned to close between 810 and 960 retail stores, and instead launch as many as 10,000 "Blockbuster Express" video rental kiosks by the middle of 2010.<ref>Talley, Karen (October 1, 2009). [http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091001-714416.html "Blockbuster Plans Expansion To Counter Raft Of Competition".] ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref> It has been claimed that more than 43 million U.S. households had Blockbuster memberships.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=616 |title=Blockbuster Reports Fourth quarter And Full Year Results Revenues Top $6.1 Billion |publisher=Blockbuster MediaRoom |access-date=January 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201174856/http://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=616 |archive-date=December 1, 2008}}</ref>

On February 10, 2010, Blockbuster announced that it would cease all its operations in Portugal, closing down 17 outlets and leaving over 100 workers unemployed. Blockbuster representatives in Portugal blamed [[Online piracy|internet piracy]] and the lack of government response to it as the key factors to the company's failure in the country.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/02/10/blockbuster-files-for-bankruptcy-in-portugal-blames-internet-pi/ |title=Blockbuster files for bankruptcy in Portugal, and blames internet piracy. |publisher=Engadget |date=February 10, 2010 |access-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref>

In March 2010, Blockbuster began "Additional Daily Rates", or "ADRs", for rentals not returned by their due date in the United States, having already used this procedure in other countries such as the UK for many years. An ADR was charged for each day a member kept the rental beyond the rental terms. On March 12, 2010, [[PwC|PricewaterhouseCoopers]], Blockbuster's independent registered public accounting firm, issued its audit opinion disclosing substantial doubt about Blockbuster's ability to continue as a [[going concern]]. This report was included in Blockbusters's 10-K SEC filing. On March 17, 2010, Blockbuster issued a bankruptcy warning after continued drops in revenue threatened its ability to service its nearly $1 billion (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=1000000000|start_year=2010}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) debt load. By April 1, 2010, Carl Icahn had resigned from Blockbuster's board of directors and sold nearly all his remaining Blockbuster stock.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/globe-investor-blog/carl-icahn-unwinding-blockbuster-stake/article1521533/ |location=Canada |work=The Globe and Mail |first=Jonathan |last=Stempel |title=Carl Icahn unwinding Blockbuster stake |date=April 2, 2010}}</ref> Blockbuster paired up with [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]] to have [[Warner Bros.]] movies made available in Blockbuster stores on the DVD release date and not be subject to a four-week delay.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} Similar agreements were also made with [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] and [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]].

The liquidation of [[Movie Gallery]] began in May 2010, eliminating Blockbuster's primary competitor. During the same month a dissident shareholder, Gregory S. Meyer, in an effort to be elected to Blockbuster's board of directors, engaged in a [[Proxy fight|proxy battle]] with Blockbuster's board, alleging that the board had been responsible for significant destruction of value to shareholders. Meyer was elected to the board at Blockbuster's shareholder meeting in Dallas on June 24, 2010.

On July 1, 2010, the company was delisted from the [[New York Stock Exchange]] (NYSE) after its shareholders failed to pass a [[reverse stock split]] plan aimed at heading off involuntary delisting because of the stock's trading at well below $1 per share.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dobuzinskis |first=Alex |title=Blockbuster says to delist from NYSE |url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/32156/20100702/blockbuster-says-to-delist-from-nyse.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708072947/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/32156/20100702/blockbuster-says-to-delist-from-nyse.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |access-date=September 26, 2010 |work=Thomson Reuters |publisher=International Business Times |date=July 2, 2010}}</ref> The stock was then traded on the [[OTC Bulletin Board|OTCBB]] (over-the-counter bulletin board).

[[File:BlockBuster-Video-Store-Closed.jpg|thumb|left|A Blockbuster store in [[Midwestern United States|the Midwest]] (2012)]]
Blockbuster was unable to make a $42.4 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=42400000|start_year=2010}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) interest payment to bondholders and was given until August 13, 2010, to pay off the debt. The company hired Jeff Stegenga to be its chief restructuring officer (CRO) in an effort to satisfy bondholder demands and recapitalize the company. After failing to pay on August 13, bondholders gave Blockbuster until September 30, 2010.

On August 26, 2010, news media reported that Blockbuster was planning to file a pre-packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-September. In light of this news, the company's chief financial officer (CFO), Tom Casey, resigned on September 11. He was replaced by Dennis McGill, formerly CFO of Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. On September 23, 2010, Blockbuster filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]] due to challenging losses, $900 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=900000000|start_year=2010}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in debt, and strong competition from [[Netflix]], [[Redbox]], and video on-demand services.<ref>James Surowiecki, The Next Level, ''[[The New Yorker]]'', October 18, 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blockbuster Chapter 11 Petition |url=http://www.pacermonitor.com/view/PXDYCPY/Blockbuster_Inc.__nysbke-10-14997__0001.0.pdf |website=PacerMonitor |access-date=May 2, 2016}}</ref> [[Movie Gallery|Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video]] had filed for [[Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation]] earlier in 2010 for similar reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/blockbuster-files-for-chapter-11/ |title=Blockbuster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy |first=Thomas |last=Ricker |date=September 23, 2010 |publisher=[[Engadget]] |format=blog |access-date=February 19, 2011}}</ref>

At the time of its Chapter 11 filing, Blockbuster said it would keep its 3,300 stores open;<ref name=USATodayUpForSale/> however, that December it announced it would close an additional 182 stores by the end of April 2011 in attempts to emerge from bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blockbuster plans to close 182 stores by April |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40753485 |agency=Reuters |date=December 20, 2010 |access-date=December 29, 2010}}</ref> It was reported in February 2011 that Blockbuster and its creditors had not come up with a Chapter 11 exit plan and that the company would be sold for $300 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=300000000|start_year=2011}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) or more, along with taking over debts and leases.<ref name="USATodayUpForSale">{{cite news |url=http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110211/BUSINESS/110211010/1003/business/Report-Blockbuster-plans-put-itself-up-sale |title=Report: Blockbuster plans to put itself up for sale |work=[[USA Today]] |date=February 11, 2011 |access-date=February 11, 2011}}</ref> Blockbuster admitted that it might not be able to meet financial obligations required under its Chapter 11 filing, a circumstance which could mandate conversion of the bankruptcy filing to Chapter 7 (liquidation).<ref>{{citation |last=Ruth |first=Eric |date=February 18, 2011 |title=Blockbuster to close most Delaware locations: Liquidations to begin this month |periodical=[[DelawareOnline]] |publisher=[[Gannett]] |url=http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110219/BUSINESS/102190324/-1/NLETTER01/Blockbuster-to-close-most-Del.-locations |oclc=38962480 |access-date=February 19, 2011}}</ref> On March 1, 2011, the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] filed a claim disclosing that Blockbuster did not have the funds to continue reorganizing and should liquidate.

On March 28, 2011, South Korean telecommunications company [[SK Telecom]] made a surprise bid to buy Blockbuster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestreet.com/story/11061428/1/blockbuster-receives-surprise-bid-from-korea-report.html?cm_ven=RSSFeed|title=Blockbuster Receives Surprise Bid From Korea: Report|author=Jeanine Poggi|date=March 28, 2011 |publisher=TheStreet}}</ref> [[Dish Network]] had also expressed interest in bidding, as did Carl Icahn, despite calling Blockbuster "the worst investment I ever made".<ref>{{cite news |last=Spector |first=Mike |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703806304576244722306644968 |title=Blockbuster Auction Gets Under Way With Dish Bid |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=April 6, 2011 |access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref> Dish eventually won the auction on April 6, 2011, agreeing to buy Blockbuster for $320 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=320000000|start_year=2011}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) and the assumption of $87 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=87000000|start_year=2011}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in liabilities and other obligations.<ref name="Fritz"/> On April 19, 2011, it was announced that Dish would keep only 500 Blockbuster stores open. The acquisition was completed on April 26, 2011.<ref name="DishNetwork.MediaRoom.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dishnetwork.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=8778&item=31591 |title=Dish Network agrees to acquire blockbuster assets |publisher=Dishnetwork.mediaroom.com |access-date=June 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721175542/http://dishnetwork.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=8778&item=31591 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> In April 2011, Dish Network told the U.S. Bankruptcy Court that it needed more time to negotiate with landlords in an effort to keep more than 600 Blockbuster stores open.<ref>Maria Halkias, ''Dallas News''. "[http://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/20110421-dish-network-is-trying-to-keep-more-than-600-blockbuster-stores-open.ece Dish Network is trying to keep more than 600 Blockbuster stores open]". April 21, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2011.</ref>

In April 2011, Blockbuster's landlords objected to its assumption of leases that it sought to assign to soon-to-be-owner [[Dish Network]] Corp., claiming that they did not have adequate assurance that the new owner would honor those leases. Blockbuster signed a deal with [[ITV Studios|ITV Studios Global Entertainment]] to launch ITV Programmes released on DVDs, Blu-rays, etc.<ref>Joseph Checkler, NASDAQ. "[http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201104201431dowjonesdjonline000558&title=blockbuster-landlords-want-more-assurancemoney-for-leases Blockbuster Landlords Want More Assurance, Money For Leases]". April 21, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2011.</ref> On May 6, 2011, Keyes resigned as Blockbuster's CEO.

===2011–2015: Michael Kelly era===
Keyes was replaced by Michael Kelly under the new title of Blockbuster's president. On August 31, 2011, the liquidators announced the closure of the remaining 253 Canadian stores and shutting of the entire Canadian unit.<ref>{{Citation|title=Blockbuster Canada closing its doors|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/blockbuster-canada-to-close-remaining-stores-1.975766 |periodical=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|access-date=August 31, 2011|date=August 31, 2011}}</ref> In September 2011, it was announced that Blockbuster and Dish Network would launch a new service called Blockbuster Movie Pass that would compete with Netflix. For $10 per month the members would have access to both a streaming service and movies and games-by-mail. The package was only available for subscribers of Dish Network's pay-TV service, and it eventually folded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/09/23/blockbuster-movie-pass-dish-networks-answer-to-netflix-and-qwikster/ |title=Blockbuster Movie Pass: Dish Network's $10/Month Answer To Netflix|date=September 23, 2011 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/blockbuster-movie-pass-no-netflix-killer/ |title=Blockbuster Movie Pass no Netflix killer|date=September 23, 2011|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Blockbuster Store Closing, Ypsilanti Township, Michigan.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.1|A "now closed" Blockbuster store in [[Ypsilanti, Michigan]] undergoing a liquidation sale in 2013]]
On January 13, 2012, Dish CEO Joe Clayton announced that while Dish had planned to keep 90% of the stores in operation, meaning around 15,000 employees would remain employed, because of market factors "there are ones that aren't going to make it. We will close unprofitable stores. We will close additional stores." Clayton did not say when these additional closings would happen and only remarked that some stores were unprofitable. The Dish chief would not say which stores the company was planning to close, but that each potential closing was to be assessed on a "case by case basis".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57358556-17/dish-closing-more-blockbuster-stores-than-expected/ |title=Dish closing more Blockbuster stores than expected|date=January 13, 2012|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=CNET}}</ref>

On October 4, 2012, Dish Network announced that it was scrapping plans to make Blockbuster into a [[Netflix]] competitor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/10/5/3459536/dish-network-blockbuster-netflix-clone-streaming |title=Dish scraps plans to turn Blockbuster into Netflix competitor|website=The Verge|date=October 5, 2012|access-date=October 5, 2012}}</ref> On January 16, 2013, Blockbuster UK entered into administration and [[Deloitte]] was appointed to run the business while trying to find a buyer while some of the stores remained open.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="NewsPR2014">{{cite web |url=http://www.blockbuster.com/newspr.html |title=Blockbuster to End Domestic Retail, DVD By Mail Services |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170323105751/http://www.blockbuster.com/newspr.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 23, 2017 |access-date=July 28, 2017 |website=Blockbuster LLC}}</ref> Between November 6, 2013, and January 12, 2014, Dish Network closed all 300 remaining corporate-owned Blockbuster stores in the United States and the DVD-by-mail program was shut down.<ref>{{cite web |last=Whitney |first=Lance |date=November 6, 2013 |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/blockbuster-throws-in-the-towel/ |title=Blockbuster throws in the towel |website=[[CNET]] |access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hansen |first=Jamie |date=November 6, 2013 |url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2223393-181/last-sonoma-county-blockbuster-to?sba=AAS |title=Last Sonoma County Blockbuster to close doors |work=[[The Press Democrat]] |access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref><ref name=LastInTexas>{{cite news|url= https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/The-last-Blockbuster-Video-has-closed-in-Texas-12533281.php |title=The last Blockbuster Video in Texas has closed|last=Hlavaty|first=Craig|date=January 29, 2018|work=The Houston Chronicle|access-date=March 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/life-after-blockbuster-catching-up-with-the-owner-of-97752912042.html |title=Life After Blockbuster: Catching Up With the Owner of Some |website=[[Yahoo News]] |date=September 17, 2014 |access-date=May 16, 2018}}</ref> The Blockbuster official website identified 51 franchise locations remaining in operation in the United States in 2014.<ref name="OfficialList2014">{{cite web |url=http://www.blockbuster.com/franchise.html |title=List of franchise Blockbuster store locations |access-date=June 10, 2017 |website=Blockbuster LLC |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210303054449/http://www.blockbuster.com/franchise.html |archive-date=March 3, 2021}}</ref> Dish maintained its video streaming services, Blockbuster on Demand and Blockbuster@Home,<ref name="Decline-TimesTribune">{{cite news|url= http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/the-decline-of-a-video-rental-giant-provides-warnings-of-a-failure-to-adapt-innovate-1.1650268 |title=The decline of a video rental giant provides warnings of a failure to adapt, innovate|last=Kohut|first=Joseph |date=March 16, 2014|work=The Times-Tribune|access-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref> until they were replaced by a new subscription service in April 2015 called "DISH Movie Pack".<ref name="DISH Movie Pack">{{cite web|url=https://planetdish.com/blockbuster-at-home/ |title=Blockbuster @Home|date=April 17, 2015|work=planetdish.com|access-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="A Bust - Padden">{{cite web|url=http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/10/this-day-in-history-october-19th-a-bust/ |title=This Day in History: October 19th - A Bust|last=Padden|first=Kathy |date=October 15, 2015|work=TodayIFoundOut.com|access-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref> In May 2015, Michael Kelly retired from Dish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://about.dish.com/2015-05-29-Veteran-DISH-Executive-Michael-Kelly-announces-retirement|title = Veteran DISH Executive Michael Kelly announces retirement}}</ref>

Blockbuster's decline was attributed to poor leadership according to others in the industry. Franchise owner Ken Tisher said in 2015, "Blockbuster, if it isn't already, is going to go into the Harvard Business Review for how not to run a business, or how to run a business into the ground."<ref>{{cite web |last=Hamway |first=Stephen |url=http://www.bendbulletin.com/business/3095417-151/bend-blockbusters-among-last-in-country |title=Bend Blockbusters among last in country |work=[[The Bulletin (Bend)|The Bulletin]] |date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref> Keith Hoogland, owner of [[Family Video]], attributed poor decision-making as a primary reason the company did not survive.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2017/02/21/the-last-video-chain-the-inside-story-of-family-video-and-its-400-million-owner/#1c46899bda60 |title=The Last Video Chain: The Inside Story Of Family Video And Its $400 Million Owner |work=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] |last=Kirsch |first=Noah |date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref> Jonathan Salem Baskin, a former Blockbuster marketing communications executive, stated, "Digital would have changed Blockbuster's business, for sure, but it wasn't its killer. That credit belongs to Blockbuster itself."<ref>{{cite web |last=Baskin |first=Jonathan Salem |date=November 8, 2013 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathansalembaskin/2013/11/08/the-internet-didnt-kill-blockbuster-the-company-did-it-to-itself/#7aca37eb6488 |title=The Internet Didn't Kill Blockbuster, The Company Did It To Itself |work=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] |access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref> Commentators view Blockbuster as a main example of failing to change with the times.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Satell |first1=Greg |title=How Blockbuster, Kodak and Xerox Really Failed (It's Not What You Think) |url=https://www.inc.com/greg-satell/pundits-love-to-tell-these-three-famous-innovation-stories-none-of-them-are-true.html |website=[[Inc.com]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210126041118/https://www.inc.com/greg-satell/pundits-love-to-tell-these-three-famous-innovation-stories-none-of-them-are-true.html |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |language=en |date=July 7, 2018 |quote=the senior leadership came up with a viable strategy, but couldn't manage the internal networks of forces that derailed it |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=John Antioco |author1-link=John Antioco |title=How I Did It: Blockbuster's Former CEO on Sparring with an Activist Shareholder |url=http://hbr.org/2011/04/how-i-did-it-blockbusters-former-ceo-on-sparring-with-an-activist-shareholder/ar/1 |journal=[[Harvard Business Review]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210126041118/http://hbr.org/2011/04/how-i-did-it-blockbusters-former-ceo-on-sparring-with-an-activist-shareholder/ar/1 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |date=April 1, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Q|Q114357341|access-date=October 2, 2022|quote='I'm hellbent on not becoming the next Blockbuster Video,' said Vistra Chief Executive Curt Morgan. 'I'm not going to sit back and watch this legacy business dwindle and not participate.'}}</ref>

===2015–present: Post-Kelly era and continual decline===
{{Main|Blockbuster (Bend, Oregon)}}
[[File:Interior of last Blockbuster Video.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Blockbuster (Bend, Oregon)|The last remaining Blockbuster]] located in [[Bend, Oregon]]]]
Although Blockbuster stores had the option of remaining open by paying a licensing fee to Dish,<ref name="Bend - License Fees">{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Tiffany |last2=Bates |first2=Ian C. |title=Meet the Curiosity-Seekers and Die-Hards at the Last True Blockbuster |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/business/last-blockbuster.html |access-date=August 16, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=March 29, 2019}}</ref> a corporate entity was no longer available to provide supplies of branded products, forcing franchisees to design and produce their own.<ref name="Bend - Still Booming">{{cite news |last1=Powers |first1=Jenny |title='There's a reason we are the last ones': At the only remaining Blockbuster on Earth, business is still booming |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/last-blockbuster-video-store-survive-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-5 |access-date=August 16, 2020 |work=Business Insider |date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> Additional store closures continued.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ashley |last=Rodriguez |website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |url=https://qz.com/967907/at-the-edges-of-america-blockbuster-video-stores-still-exist-stocked-with-actual-dvds/ |title=At the edges of America, Blockbuster stores (stocked with actual DVDs) still exist |date=April 28, 2017 |access-date=June 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name=EagleRiver>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Tunseth |website=Chugiak-Eagle River Star |url=http://www.alaskastar.com/2017-06-28/closing-attraction-eagle-river-blockbuster-going-out-business |title=Closing Attraction: Eagle River Blockbuster going out of business |date=June 29, 2017 |access-date=July 2, 2017 |archive-date=June 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629071215/http://www.alaskastar.com/2017-06-28/closing-attraction-eagle-river-blockbuster-going-out-business |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=SouthAnchorage>{{cite web |url=http://www.ktuu.com/content/news/South-Anchorage-Blockbuster-set-to-close-478433393.html |title=South Anchorage Blockbuster set to close |website=[[KTUU-TV]] |date=March 30, 2018 |access-date=April 1, 2018 |first=Sean |last=Maguire}}</ref> By January 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blockbuster.com|title=The Magic of Blockbuster Video lives on with Dish|work=blockbuster.com|access-date=May 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125202247/http://www.blockbuster.com/|archive-date=January 25, 2018}}</ref> the company's website listed nine remaining franchise-owned stores in the United States, including six in Alaska, two in Oregon, and one in Texas.<ref name="Official site">{{cite web|url=http://www.blockbuster.com/|title=Blockbuster Video Stores & On Demand Movies|publisher=Dish Network|access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2017/12/blockbuster_in_sandy_one_of_10.html|title=Blockbuster in Sandy, one of 10 remaining in the world, to close|last=Kavanaugh|first=Shane Dixon|date=December 3, 2017|work=[[The Oregonian]] |access-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref> Eight of those nine had closed by August 2018, leaving only [[Blockbuster (Bend, Oregon)|one store]] in [[Bend, Oregon]].<ref name=bend/><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Abrams |first=Abigail |date=July 12, 2018 |title=There Will Only Be 1 Blockbuster in America Soon |url=https://time.com/5337725/last-blockbuster-america-oregon/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=August 29, 2018}}</ref>

In January 2020, the last remaining store outside of the United States, located in [[Dargaville|Dargaville, New Zealand]], closed its doors.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Credits roll on NZ's last Blockbuster video store |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2020/01/credits-roll-on-nz-s-last-blockbuster-video-store.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021165435/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2020/01/credits-roll-on-nz-s-last-blockbuster-video-store.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=2024-06-20 |work=[[Newshub]] |language=en}}</ref> The Bend location became the last remaining Blockbuster in the world;<ref name="LastBlockbuster-Observer">{{cite news |last1=Gourarie |first1=Chava |title=The Last Blockbuster on Earth Is Still Open |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2020/04/the-last-blockbuster-on-earth-is-still-open/ |access-date=May 3, 2020 |work=Commercial Observer |publisher=© 2020 Observer Media |date=April 15, 2020}}</ref> it serves as a tourist destination, housing Blockbuster memorabilia and [[Russell Crowe]] film props which [[John Oliver]] had donated to an Alaska store.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/6802898-151/the-top-stories-of-2018|title=The top local stories of 2018; Central Oregon saw news of the weird, scary and political|last=Spurr|first=Kyle|date=December 29, 2018|website=[[The Bulletin (Bend)|The Bulletin]]|access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308122927/https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/6802898-151/the-top-stories-of-2018|archive-date=March 8, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2020, the location was listed as an [[Airbnb]] rental for a 1990s-themed sleepover on three separate nights in September; each were limited to guests from the area in light of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="abcnews08112020">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/spend-night-worlds-blockbuster/story?id=72307310 |title=You can spend the night in the world's last Blockbuster - |website=ABC News |date=August 11, 2020 |author=Genevieve Shaw Brown |access-date= August 12, 2020}}</ref><ref name="nbcnews">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/world-s-last-blockbuster-transforms-90s-themed-airbnb-n1236476 |title=World's last Blockbuster transforms into '90s-themed Airbnb |website=NBC News |date=August 11, 2020 |author=Doha Madani |access-date= August 12, 2020}}</ref>

The entity that operated Blockbuster prior to the sale to Dish remains nominally active under the name BB Liquidating Inc., and trades as a [[penny stock]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/companies/BLIAQ.PK|title=BB Liquidating Inc|date=January 28, 2021|access-date=January 28, 2021}}</ref> However, it no longer has any assets or ties to the Blockbuster brand or its remaining franchise location.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1085734/000119312511258985/d238288d8k.htm|title=Current Report (Form 8-K)|author=BB Liquidating Inc.|publisher=[[Securities and Exchange Commission]]|date=September 28, 2011|access-date=January 28, 2021|quote=As a result of the Asset Sale, the Debtors have no further business operations nor assets to liquidate. DISH [Network Corporation] is the current owner of the "Blockbuster" brand, inclusive of its ongoing retail, internet, and by-mail distribution channels. It is the Debtors' understanding that such ongoing business operations are being managed by Blockbuster L.L.C. ("New Blockbuster"), which is an affiliate of DISH and a non-debtor entity. Accordingly, all inquiries concerning the ongoing business of New Blockbuster should be directed to DISH and the success or failure of New Blockbuster will have no impact on the recoveries anticipated in these chapter 11 cases for either creditors or equity interest holders of the Debtors.}}</ref> In activity related to the [[GameStop short squeeze]] of January 2021, the BB Liquidating stock surged, despite there being "no value for the common shareholders in the bankruptcy liquidation process, even under the most optimistic of scenarios."<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 27, 2021|title=Bankrupt Blockbuster Joins Reddit-Inspired Retail Rally|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-27/bankrupt-blockbuster-remnant-joins-reddit-inspired-retail-rally|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref>

On September 21, 2022, the Blockbuster [[Twitter]] account revealed the Blockbuster World Video Game Championship 3. The event was held during the Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title = Last Blockbuster Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/blockbuster/status/1572659540243681280 |access-date=September 21, 2022 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref> On March 23, 2023, the Blockbuster web page was re-activated, with the message "We are working on rewinding your movie".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blockbuster-website-reactived-comeback-is-video-rental-company-returning-after-being-bought/ |title=Blockbuster Website Reactivated |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=March 24, 2023 |website=www.cbsnews.com |publisher=CBS News |access-date=March 24, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

On June 6, 2025, it was reported that Dish Network's parent company [[EchoStar Corporation]] was preparing to file for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection after the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) suspended EchoStar's ability to plan out strategic decisions for its [[Boost Mobile]] subsidiary. In addition, other factors contributing to this decision included missing over $500 million in interest payments and the termination of the Dish Network acquisition by [[DirecTV]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/echostar-prepares-potential-bankruptcy-filing-amid-fcc-review-wsj-reports-2025-06-07/|title= EchoStar prepares potential bankruptcy filing amid FCC review, WSJ reports|date=June 6, 2025|access-date=June 7, 2025|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref>

==Business model==
The standard [[business model]] for video rental stores had traditionally been to pay a large flat fee per video, approximately $65, and offer unlimited rentals for the lifetime of the medium itself. [[Sumner Redstone]], whose Viacom conglomerate then owned Blockbuster, personally pioneered a new revenue-sharing arrangement for video. Blockbuster obtained videos for little cost and kept 60% of the rental fee, paying the other 40% to the studio, and reporting rental information through the global media measurement and research company [[Rentrak]]. In addition to benefiting from a lower initial price, Blockbuster also capitalized on the fact that movies were generally not available for purchase at affordable price points during initial release periods. Thus customers had a choice to rent, wait, or buy the film on tape at the much higher [[List price|manufacturer's suggested retail price]] targeted at other rental chains and film enthusiasts, which at that time ranged between $70–$100 per title.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

===Quantity and selection of titles===
Blockbuster stores followed a strategy of emphasizing access to the most popular new releases, obtaining early access and stocking many copies of the new-release titles, with a relatively narrower range of selections than traditional independent video stores.<ref name=Adams>{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Nathan |date=February 22, 2011 |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/anyone-want-to-buy-blockbuster-d8b5d4d0e8b7/ |title=Anyone Want to Buy Blockbuster? |access-date=April 1, 2018 |archive-date=April 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402035611/https://filmschoolrejects.com/anyone-want-to-buy-blockbuster-d8b5d4d0e8b7/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Much of the shelf space in the stores was devoted to popular titles that were placed relatively sparsely on the shelves with the entire front cover visible, so customers could browse casually and quickly, rather than having a more diverse selection with fewer copies of each title. Blockbuster sometimes contracted with studios to obtain earlier access to new titles than other companies could achieve. Examples of such contracts were those in which Blockbuster became the exclusive rental chain for new releases from [[WWE|WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment, formerly WWF, World Wrestling Federation)]], [[Funimation]], [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino]], [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], [[DreamWorks Pictures|DreamWorks]], [[DreamWorks Animation|DWA]], [[Universal Pictures|Universal]], [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]], [[Summit Entertainment|Summit]], [[Anchor Bay Entertainment|Anchor Bay]], [[Manga Entertainment|Manga]], [[The Weinstein Company]], [[Dimension Films|Dimension]], [[Miramax]], [[Hollywood Pictures|Hollywood]], [[Touchstone Pictures|Touchstone]], [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], [[Buena Vista Pictures|Buena Vista]], [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]], [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]/[[United Artists|UA]], [[Orion Pictures|Orion]], [[Sony Pictures|Sony]], [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]], [[TriStar Pictures|Tristar]], [[RLJE Films|Image]], [[Shout! Factory]], [[Warner Bros.]], [[HBO Home Entertainment|HBO]], [[New Line Cinema]] and Allumination FilmWorks.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2006-11-15-blockbuster-weinsteins_x.htm | work=[[USA Today]] |agency=[[Reuters]] | title=Blockbuster signs deal to be exclusive renter for Weinsteins | date=November 15, 2006 | access-date=April 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.times-news.com/news/local_news/agreement-gives-blockbuster-exclusive-access-to-new-release-warner-bros/article_b70de4b8-a4c7-5355-93be-e6c4ee46b57e.html|title=Agreement gives Blockbuster exclusive access to new release Warner Bros. films|first=Cory |last=Galliher|website=Cumberland Times-News|date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> As one commentator complained: <blockquote>Blockbuster was once an unstoppable giant whose franchises swept across the country putting mom and pop video stores out of business left and right by offering a larger selection of new releases, pricing them at a lower point due to the volume they worked in... Gone were the fragmented, independently owned shops that were often unorganized treasure troves of VHS discoveries. In their place were walls of new releases: hundreds of copies of a small handful of films. Everyone watching the same thing, everyone developing the same limited set of expectations... They put focus entirely on what was new rather than on discovering film history ...<ref name=Adams/></blockquote>

When a title was no longer a new release, each store would retain a few copies of it and typically sell off the rest as "previously viewed" for discounted prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fthismovie.net/2017/09/riske-business-do-you-dig-on.html|title=Riske Business: Do You Dig on Busterverses?|last=Riske|first=Adam|date=September 12, 2017|publisher=fthismovie.net|access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> Older movies would be re-categorized as "Blockbuster Favorite" titles and placed in a different area of the store.<ref>{{cite news|title=We Promise You Will Go Home Happy|date=November 6, 1997|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=75}}</ref> Most Blockbuster locations also accepted trade-ins of used movies, TV shows, and games.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.myce.com/news/Blockbuster-nationwide-DVD-and-game-trading-program-9332/|title=Blockbuster nationwide DVD and game trading program|date=October 28, 2004|access-date=April 26, 2010}}</ref>

Since Blockbuster's founding in 1985, the chain refused to stock [[Pornographic film|adult films]] in order to portray the brand as family-friendly.<ref name="Rise and Fall">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/10867574/1/the-rise-and-fall-of-blockbuster-the-long-rewinding-road.html|title=Blockbuster's Rise and Fall: The Long, Rewinding Road|last=Poggi|first=Jeanine|date=September 23, 2010|publisher=TheStreet, Inc.|access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> However, the company did carry [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system|R-rated]] and unrated films.

==Other ventures==
===Blockbuster Entertainment Awards===
{{Main|Blockbuster Entertainment Awards}}
Blockbuster Entertainment Inc. ran an awards show annually from 1995 to 2001 called the ''[[Blockbuster Entertainment Awards]]''. In November 2001, Blockbuster announced that it would cancel the 2002 award show following concerns about viewership and celebrity attendance following the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name=EW>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2001/11/22/blockbuster-cancels-awards-show/ |title=Trophy Case |last1=Susman |first1=Gary |date=November 22, 2001 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=May 15, 2013 |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711121948/https://ew.com/article/2001/11/22/blockbuster-cancels-awards-show/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Planet>{{cite web |url=http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2001-11-24/article/8505?headline=Viewership-uncertainty-causes-Blockbuster-to-cancel-awards--The-Associated-Press |title=Viewership uncertainty causes Blockbuster to cancel awards |date=November 24, 2001 |website=[[Berkeley Daily Planet]] |access-date=May 15, 2013}}</ref>

===Blockbuster Express===
Blockbuster Express was a movie-rental kiosk brand sublicensed for use by [[licensee]] [[NCR Corporation]]. In 2011, nearly 10,000 Blockbuster Express kiosks were in operation.<ref>{{cite web|title=NCR Exploring 'Options' for Blockbuster Express Including Sale|url=http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blockbuster-express/ncr-exploring-options-blockbuster-express-including-sale-25493|publisher=Home Media Magazine|access-date=October 28, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030162141/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/blockbuster-express/ncr-exploring-options-blockbuster-express-including-sale-25493|archive-date=October 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blockbusterexpress.com/ |publisher=Internet Archive |title=Wayback Machine: blockbusterexpress.com |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914072629/http://www.blockbusterexpress.com/ |archive-date=September 14, 2010 }}</ref> Apart from the license to use the Blockbuster brand name, Blockbuster Express kiosks are unrelated to Blockbuster LLC, its stores, its DVD-by-mail service, or its online streaming service.

The names ''Blockbuster Express''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1608945 |title=Blockbuster Express - Cold Bath Road |access-date=November 4, 2014 |date=December 5, 2009}}</ref> and ''Blockbuster Video Express''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/10165554.display/ |title=Blockbuster goes into administration |access-date=November 4, 2014 |date=January 16, 2013}}</ref> had also been used for smaller Blockbuster retail stores in the United Kingdom.

===GameRush===
[[File:Blockbuster Blue Ash OH USA.JPG|thumb|GameRush store at a Blockbuster in [[Blue Ash, Ohio]]]]
In 2004, Blockbuster opened store-within-a-store video game rental and sales stores called GameRush inside Blockbuster locations in limited markets.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Sarah |last=Hale Meitner|title=Blockbuster Video Gets Into the Game With Game Rush|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2004-11-29-0411270156-story.html|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|date=November 29, 2004 |language=en-US}}</ref> Blockbuster also acquired [[Rhino Video Games]], a chain of video game stores in the Southwest, and operated it alongside GameRush.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fabrikant|first=Geraldine|date=July 26, 2004|title=MEDIA; Showdown Begins in Movie-Rental Business; Blockbuster Tries a Remake (Published 2004)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/26/business/media-showdown-begins-in-movie-rental-business-blockbuster-tries-a-remake.html|access-date=October 23, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> These stores sold and bought DVDs, games, game consoles, and accessories. GameRush was positioned as a direct competitor to stores such as [[GameStop]] and [[GameCrazy]]. Blockbuster used its location status to get instant coverage; it also promoted these stores by hosting video-game tournaments, special trade-in offers, and a more 'hip' look to the selection and staff. However, when Blockbuster introduced the discontinuation of late fees, GameRush was put on the chopping block. In January 2007, Blockbuster sold Rhino Video Games to GameStop Corp.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 6, 2007|title=(PRN) Blockbuster Reaches Agreement to Sell Rhino Video Games to GameStop|url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/PRN-Blockbuster-Reaches-Agreement-to-Sell-Rhino-1576798.php|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=Chron|language=en-US}}</ref> According to the Blockbuster Twitter account, GameRush was to be part of the "new Blockbuster" in 2016<ref>{{Cite web|date=August 23, 2016|title=Gamerush is becoming part of the new Blockbuster|url=https://twitter.com/blockbusterhq/status/768086952360964100|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> and even had its own Twitter profile, however the GameRush Twitter account has not been active since January 2017.

===Discovery Zone===
In 1993, Blockbuster invested in the indoor kids' play restaurant [[Discovery Zone]].<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.richmond.com/from-the-archives/from-the-archives-discovery-zone-a-short-lived-indoor-play/article_050aca99-1b36-5367-96e6-ac6d462d3274.html |title=From the Archives: Discovery Zone; a short-lived indoor play zone enjoyed by kids in the 1990s |last=Kappatos |first=Nicole |date=November 15, 2018 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |access-date=December 17, 2018}}</ref> In 1995, Blockbuster bought more stock to take control of the company. Discovery Zone filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 26, 1996, after changes in management & aggressive expansion put them in heavy debt. DZ was emerged a year later under Wellspring Associates ownership, with Blockbuster no longer have control of the chain.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=July 30, 1997 |title=DISCOVERY ZONE BOUNCES BACK |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-07-30-9707290399-story.html/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 24, 2023 |website=Sun Sentinel |language=en-US |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328014412/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-07-30-9707290399-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Discovery Zone abruptly closed half of its locations in 1999 and sold thirteen others to the parent company of [[Chuck E. Cheese|Chuck E. Cheese's]].<ref name=":0" /> The rest of the Discovery Zone locations closed in December 2001. The chain was revived as a single location in [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]], on February 7, 2020. It remains in operation, but it is not owned by Blockbuster.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wkdq.com/discovery-zone-is-making-a-comeback-this-month/|title=Discovery Zone Is Making A Comeback This Month!|first=Travis|last=Sams|website=99.5 WKDQ|date=February 3, 2020 }}</ref>

==International operations==
===Australia===
[[File:Blockbuster Video Wagga Wagga.jpg|thumb|right|A Blockbuster Video store in [[Wagga Wagga Marketplace]], [[New South Wales]], Australia]]
[[File:Blockbuster Hobart Australia b.jpg|thumb|right|A Blockbuster store in [[Sandy Bay, Tasmania|Sandy Bay]], an inner suburb of [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], Australia]]
In Australia, the first Blockbuster store was opened in 1991 in [[Melbourne]]. In 1992, the [[Virgin Group]] and Blockbuster Inc entered into a joint venture to set up Australia's first [[Virgin Megastores]] in [[Sydney]], Melbourne, and [[Adelaide]]. This lasted until Virgin sold its interest in the six stores to Blockbuster, which promptly rebranded them in 1993 as Blockbuster Music. In 1994, Australian store numbers rose to 54 with the acquisition of Major Video and Focus chains in both [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and [[South Australia]]. In 1995, the growth continued with the opening of the 100th video store in the country. By the end of 1998, Blockbuster Australia opened over 125 stores. In July 1998, Blockbuster Australia launched into [[franchising]] with the conversion of the former Video Flicks franchise group in [[Queensland]], and the former Movieland group in [[Western Australia]] six months later. Also in 1998, the company sold its last two Australian Blockbuster Music stores in [[Pitt Street]], Sydney, and [[Chapel Street, Melbourne|Chapel Street]], Melbourne to Brazin Limited, which incorporated them under its [[Sanity Entertainment]] brand. Throughout 1999 and 2000, Blockbuster Australia quickly expanded its franchise store network through the conversion of smaller groups and the granting of individual franchises. Before 2005, this was done through the acquisition of the Movies Plus Group and the conversion of some individual Movies 4U and Movieland outlets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlysydney.com.au/shopping-services/music-video-dvd/rental-outlets/blockbuster |title=Blockbuster Australia: New South Wales stores |publisher=Only Sydney |access-date=March 26, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327131536/http://www.onlysydney.com.au/shopping-services/music-video-dvd/rental-outlets/blockbuster |archive-date=March 27, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/116624/brazin_acquires_brashs/ |title=Brazin acquires Brashs |first=Ellen |last=Cresswell |work=[[International Data Group]] |date=April 22, 1998 |access-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731135408/http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/116624/brazin_acquires_brashs/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/blockbuster-inc-history/ |title=Blockbuster Inc. History |publisher=Funding Universe |access-date=March 29, 2013}}</ref>

In February 2007, Blockbuster sold its entire Australian store network to [[Video Ezy]]. At the time, Blockbuster Australia comprised 370 outlets nationwide—29 owned by the company and 341 owned by franchisees. Video Ezy had 518 Australian outlets, all of them being owned by franchisees, pushing the combined group's [[market share]] to 40% of the country's video rental sector. Video Ezy committed to the [[master franchise]] agreement with Blockbuster for 10 years operating the brand with the possibility of renewal for a further 10 years after that. As a consequence of the deal, the company changed its name from Video Ezy to Franchise Entertainment Group (FEG).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/seeking-nerdvana/9862-video-ezy-to-acquire-blockbuster-as-rental-stores-prepare-for-video-download-onslaught |title=Video Ezy to acquire Blockbuster as rental stores prepare for video download onslaught |first=Adam |last=Turner |work=iWire |date=February 23, 2007 |access-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101091300/http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/seeking-nerdvana/9862-video-ezy-to-acquire-blockbuster-as-rental-stores-prepare-for-video-download-onslaught |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smartcompany.com.au/strategy/video-ezy-takeover-of-blockbuster-gets-green-light.html |title=Video Ezy takeover of Blockbuster gets green light (19 September 2007) |publisher=Smart Company |access-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-date=April 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413024756/http://www.smartcompany.com.au/strategy/video-ezy-takeover-of-blockbuster-gets-green-light.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/video-ezy-fast-forwards-with-blockbuster-buy/2007/02/23/1171734021454.html |title=Video Ezy fast forwards with Blockbuster buy |work=[[The Age]] |date=February 24, 2007 |access-date=March 26, 2013 |location=Melbourne}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/consumerproducts-SP/idUSN2217493920070223 |title=Blockbuster to sell Australian business to Video Ezy |first=Gina |last=Keating |date=February 23, 2007 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> In October 2010, FEG transferred control of the Video Ezy Australia and Blockbuster Australia online businesses to its newly acquired and reorganized company, [[Elan Media Partners]], leaving FEG to manage the franchise relationships with individual Video Ezy and Blockbuster outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elanmediapartners.com/media/584/elan_release_6_oct_2010.pdf|title=Media Release: New Name, New Business Opportunities As Stomp Becomes Élan Media Partners|date=October 6, 2010|work=[[Elan Media Partners]]|access-date=September 13, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417035701/http://www.elanmediapartners.com/media/584/elan_release_6_oct_2010.pdf|archive-date=April 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcn.com.au/News/Detail.aspx?IdDataSource=1116|title=MCN Joins Forces With Élan Media Partners To Strengthen Entertainment Offering|date=August 28, 2012|work=MCN|access-date=September 15, 2013}}</ref>

Despite the two brands coming together, Video Ezy and Blockbuster franchises closed 270 stores across Australia in the four years to August 2011. Additional store closings would go on for several years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au/story/4966205/last-chance-to-score-a-bargain/|title=Blockbuster Mount Annan is closing down|first=Kayla|last=Osborne|date=October 4, 2017|website=Camden Advertiser|access-date=July 13, 2018|archive-date=July 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714110723/https://www.camdenadvertiser.com.au/story/4966205/last-chance-to-score-a-bargain/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.4bc.com.au/australias-oldest-video-store-is-shutting-up-shop/|title=Australia's oldest video store is shutting up shop in QLD|date=January 18, 2018|journal=4Bc 1116|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/streaming-kills-the-video-store-as-brisbane-s-last-rental-shop-closes-20180204-p4yzdp.html|title=Streaming kills the video store as Brisbane's last rental shop closes|first=Tony|last=Moore|date=February 4, 2018|website=Brisbane Times|access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/29/17788212/blockbuster-last-video-store-bend-oregon-movie-selection-algorithm-discovery-netflix-hulu-amazon|title=The last Blockbuster: what we really lose when video stores shut down|date=August 29, 2018|last=Stephen|first=Bijan|website=The Verge|access-date=October 24, 2018}}</ref> until all the stores in Australia had closed, although vending kiosks with the Blockbuster logo were still in operation until early 2021.<ref name="Morley">{{cite web |last=Hastie |first=Hamish |date=January 4, 2019|title=And then there were two: Morley Blockbuster one of the last in the world |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/and-then-there-were-two-morley-blockbuster-one-of-the-last-in-the-world-20190103-p50pia.html |website=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=January 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.communitynews.com.au/eastern-reporter/news/morley-blockbuster-video-store-defies-the-odds-and-still-going-strong/|title=Morley Blockbuster video store defies the odds and still going strong|date=March 12, 2018|access-date=October 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.973fm.com.au/local/the-last-two-blockbuster-video-ezy-kiosks-to-be-closed-after-being-hit-hard-by-covid-19/|title=The Last Two Blockbuster & Video Ezy kiosks To Be Closed After Being Hit Hard By COVID-19|first=Bradley|last=Bell|date=January 6, 2021|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-date=June 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625095649/https://www.973fm.com.au/local/the-last-two-blockbuster-video-ezy-kiosks-to-be-closed-after-being-hit-hard-by-covid-19/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Australia's last Blockbuster store, in [[Morley, Western Australia]], was closed at the end of March 2019.<ref name="MorleyClosing">{{cite news |date=March 1, 2019 |title=Australia's last Blockbuster store in Morley, WA closing its doors |url=https://thewest.com.au/business/retail/australias-last-blockbuster-store-in-morley-wa-closing-its-doors-ng-b881122768z |access-date=March 1, 2019 |journal=[[The West Australian]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/06/business/last-blockbuster-on-the-planet-trnd/index.html|title=There's only one Blockbuster left on the planet|last1=Lou|first1=Michelle|last2=Ahmed|first2=Saeed|date=March 6, 2019|website=[[CNN]] |access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref>

===Brazil===
Blockbuster was the largest video rental chain in the country, but finances were not good enough due to high rental prices. [[Lojas Americanas]], the largest Brazilian department store, acquired half of the shares and now it is named under "Americanas Express Blockbuster". The store layout was similar to a regular American store with a Game Rush, but instead of games it offers electronics goods like computers and DVD players, groceries like candies and microwave popcorn, and even toys from [[Mattel]] and [[Hasbro]]'s board games. In January 2007, when Blockbuster had 127 stores across Brazil, it sold its Brazilian stake for $87.4 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=87400000|start_year=2007}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) and gave Lojas Americanas exclusive rights to the Blockbuster brand in the country for 20 years. The average store has an interior of about 400 m{{sup|2}}, where 80-100 m{{sup|2}} is dedicated to movies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/brazil-americanas-acquisition/retailer-americanas-buys-brazil-blockbuster-stores-idUSN2435322120070124|title=Retailer Americanas buys Brazil Blockbuster stores|website=[[Reuters]] |date=January 24, 2007 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varejista.com.br/cases/5676/lojas-americanas|title=Lojas Americanas|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714021600/http://www.varejista.com.br/cases/5676/lojas-americanas|archive-date=July 14, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Canada===
[[File:BlockbusterMoncton b.jpg|thumb|right|A Blockbuster store in [[Moncton]], New Brunswick, Canada, which featured the 1985–1997 logo.]]
In Canada, Blockbuster Canada (established in 1990) had operated independently, and it initially remained financially stable.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shaw|first=Hollie|title=Business as usual for Blockbuster Canada|url=https://vancouversun.com/business/fp/Business+usual+Blockbuster+Canada/3568643/story.html|access-date=September 26, 2010|work=Vancouver Sun|date=September 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926120746/http://www.vancouversun.com/business/fp/Business+usual+Blockbuster+Canada/3568643/story.html|archive-date=September 26, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In contrast to international Blockbuster franchises, Blockbuster had sold mobile phones when it began a partnership with [[Wind Mobile]] in December 2009 at all stores in cities where Wind's service was available. Phone sales began in [[Toronto]] and [[Calgary]], later expanding to other cities with Wind coverage. Some stores even featured a full Wind "store-in-a-store" for postpaid activations and a larger selection of devices.<ref>{{cite news
| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/wind-mobile-to-partner-with-blockbuster/article1399427/
| location=Canada
| work=The Globe and Mail | title=Wind Mobile to partner with Blockbuster
| date=December 14, 2009}}</ref> However, on May 3, 2011, it was announced that the company had gone into receivership.<ref>{{cite news|last=Berkow|first=Jomeson|title=Blockbuster Canada goes bust|url=https://vancouversun.com/business/Blockbuster+Canada+goes+bust/4737781/story.html|access-date=May 9, 2011|work=Financial Post|date=May 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509063838/http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Blockbuster+Canada+goes+bust/4737781/story.html|archive-date=May 9, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

On May 25, 2011, it was announced that 146 stores, accounting for approximately 35% of the company's stores in Canada, would be shut down effective June 18, 2011. On August 31, 2011, Blockbuster Canada announced that no buyer could be found for its remaining stores that were acceptable to the court-appointed bankruptcy receiver, and that it would wind down operations and close all stores by December 31, 2011.<ref name="Strauss-Marlow" /> The company had acted as a guarantor towards Blockbuster's remaining debt.<ref name="Strauss-Marlow">{{cite news |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blockbuster-to-pull-plug-in-canada/article2149222/ |title=Blockbuster to pull plug in Canada |first1=Marina |last1=Strauss |first2=Iain |last2=Marlow |date=August 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121073037/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blockbuster-to-pull-plug-in-canada/article2149222/ |archive-date=November 21, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

A location in [[Owen Sound]], Ontario which was vacant after its closure, had it signs remained intact as of 2025. This location has cemented its status as the last Blockbuster standing in Canada and was featured in [[Chandler Levack]]'s 2022 film ''[[I Like Movies]]''.<ref>{{cite web | first=Rob | last=Gowan | title=Movie director finds 'goldmine' at former Blockbuster near Owen Sound | website=Owen Sound Sun Times | date=2023-03-09 | url=https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/news/local-news/movie-director-finds-goldmine-at-former-blockbuster-near-owen-sound | access-date=2025-07-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Iantorno | first=Rob | title=REWIND: Retro Cars and Culture at Blockbuster Video | website=Rrampt. | date=2024-09-11 | url=https://www.rrampt.com/rewind-retro-cars-and-culture-at-blockbuster-video-44116 | access-date=2025-07-31}}</ref>

===Denmark===
Blockbuster came to Denmark in 1996 with the acquisition of 29 [[Christianshavn]] video stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://politiken.dk/kultur/filmogtv/art5487402/Milliardg%C3%A6ld-truer-verdens-st%C3%B8rste-filmudlejningsk%C3%A6de|title=Milliardgæld truer verdens største filmudlejningskæde|date=August 16, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> In 2009 they were on its peak with 72 stores across the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business.dk/detailhandel/nu-lukker-blockbuster-butikker|title=Nu lukker Blockbuster butikker|date=July 17, 2012|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> Blockbuster Video Denmark sold the rights for the Blockbuster brand to the Danish telecommunications corporation TDC in 2013, excluding the 46 remaining brick and mortar stores which continued as RecycleIT A/S, diversifying in refurbishing and reselling consumer electronics in addition sale and rental of games and movies.<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://detailfolk.dk/detailnyheder/tdc_koeber_danske_blockbuster.html?prsrc=3|title=TDC køber danske Blockbuster|website=detailfolk.dk|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> The original goal was to rename all the stores before July 1, 2014, when TDC would get the exclusive rights to the brand name in Denmark, but only 12 of them had been renamed at the end of June and RecycleIT A/S filed for bankruptcy the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flatpanels.dk/test.php?subaction=showfull&id=1404203885|title=TDC: iTunes bliver største konkurrent til Blockbuster test - FlatpanelsDK|website=flatpanels.dk|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flatpanels.dk/nyhed.php?subaction=showfull&id=1406269924|title=Fra Blockbuster til RecycleIT til Bluecity - FlatpanelsDK|website=www.flatpanels.dk|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> The 12 RecycleIT stores were bought by the company Blue City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recordere.dk/2014/08/blue-city-viderefoerer-blockbuster-koncept/|title=Blue City viderefører Blockbuster-koncept - recordere.dk|date=August 2, 2014|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> The new owners planned to gradually phase out game and movie sales and rental within 2016, but due to the fast changes in the market it happened almost immediately after the takeover, and seven of the stores, therefore, closed in 2015. In 2017, the five remaining ones had started to make some profit, and focus exclusively on second-hand consumer electronics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.retailnews.dk/article/view/468696/blue_city_er_tradt_ud_af_blockbusters_skygge|title=Blue City er trådt ud af Blockbusters skygge|website=RetailNews|date=May 9, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

However, the Blockbuster On Demand service is still active in Nordic Countries, offering both unlimited streaming and 48-hour rental of films online. Several [[Smart TV]]s have the Blockbuster app pre-installed out-of-the-box, and it is available on a variety of streaming devices such as Google's Chromecast.<ref name="blockbuster.dk">{{Cite web|url=https://blockbuster.dk/om|title=Om Blockbuster &#124; Hvem er vi? Fra butik til online streaming|website=blockbuster.dk|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511142228/https://blockbuster.dk/om|url-status=dead}}</ref> The rights to the Blockbuster brand are now in hands of Nuuday.<ref name="nuuday">{{Cite web|url=https://nuuday.dk/|title=nuuday|website=nuuday|language=da|access-date=April 17, 2020}}</ref>

===Germany===
Blockbuster opened 20 stores in Berlin and Munich and announced plans to open 250 more.{{When|date=July 2018}} Blockbuster left the German market in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/videotheken-blockbuster-ist-pleite/5682592.html |title=Blockbuster ist pleite |publisher=[[WirtschaftsWoche]] |date=September 23, 2010 |access-date=April 28, 2017}}</ref>

===Hong Kong===
In 1998, after the closure of [[KPS Video Express]], Blockbuster saw an opportunity to enter into the Hong Kong market, and entered into negotiations with KPS's receivers [[Ernst & Young]] to buy the KPS operations. Blockbuster re-opened 15 of 38 former KPS stores by February 16, 1998,
<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Ann |title=Blockbuster to reopen 15 KPS stores in deal with receivers. |newspaper=[[South China Morning Post]] |location=Hong Kong |date=January 8, 1999 }}</ref> and re-employed 145 former KPS staff.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blockbuster re-employs 145 former KPS staff |newspaper=Hong Kong iMail (Currently The Standard) |location=Hong Kong |date=February 22, 1999 }}</ref> KPS members were given special offers to join Blockbuster, but the video pre-paid coupon system was not retained.

Blockbuster pulled out of the market in 2004 after high operating costs and losses to copyright infringement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Michael |first=Peter |title=Blockbuster sunk by pirates, say patrons. |newspaper=South China Morning Post |location=Hong Kong |date=January 30, 2004 }}</ref>

===Ireland===
<!--<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tommytoy.vox.com/library/post/blockbusters-financial-situation-worsens-bankruptcy-filing-very-likely.html |title=TypePad Redirector |publisher=Tommytoy.vox.com |access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=De La Merced|first=Michael J.|title=Blockbuster woes in US only |url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/blockbuster-woes-in-us-only-20100925-15rkh.html|access-date=September 26, 2010|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=September 26, 2010}}</ref> --->
In March 2010, Blockbuster announced that it intended to sell all operations in Europe. The company once had an Irish subsidiary, [[Xtravision]], which did not operate under the Blockbuster [[brand name]]. Blockbuster sold Xtravision at a loss in August 2009 to Birchhall Investments Limited. All remaining stores were closed in 2016, leaving only its online business and vending machines. In June 2021, Xtravision Xpress was placed into voluntary receivership.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/xtra-vision-killed-by-christmas-sales-collapse-court-told-1.2512923|title=Xtra-vision killed by Christmas sales collapse, court told|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/no-sequel-as-final-credits-roll-for-xtra-vision-1.2515757|title=No sequel as final credits roll for Xtra-vision|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

===Israel===
In the late 2000s at its peak, Blockbuster Israel had 40 branches and more than 260 automated video rentals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ima.org.il/yahadclub|title=מועדון יחד - מועדון צרכנות לרופאים -|website=מועדון יחד - מועדון צרכנות לרופאים - ההסתדרות הרפואית בישראל|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name="globes.co.il">{{cite news|url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000730869#|title=14 סניפי טאוור רקורדס נסגרו; בלוקבסטר הפסיקה לפעול|first=אילנית|last=חיות|website=Globes|date=March 6, 2012|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> In December 2011, Blockbuster closed off its last branch store, and had only 80 automated video rentals left.<ref name="globes.co.il"/>

===Japan===
In March 1991, [[Den Fujita|Fujita Den Trading]] (which was the [[master franchise]] owner of [[McDonald's]] in Japan) and Blockbuster Inc. entered into a joint venture to establish Japan's first Blockbuster Video stores. By October 1992, Fujita and Blockbuster opened 15 stores in the country – four of them next to McDonald's outlets and most being located in the [[Greater Tokyo Area|greater Tokyo area]]. Unlike Blockbuster's U.S. stores, each Japanese outlet only occupied about half the floor space at 5,000 square feet due to the country's more limited available real estate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-10-05/business/9002170929_1_blockbuster-wally-knief-den-fujita|title=Blockbuster Plans A Move Into Japan|first=Lane|last=Kelley|work=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|date=October 5, 1990|access-date=April 7, 2013|archive-date=June 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602033652/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1990-10-05/business/9002170929_1_blockbuster-wally-knief-den-fujita|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="They Don't Call It Blockbuster For Nothing">{{cite news |last=Degeorge |first=Gail |date=October 19, 1992 |title=They Don't Call It Blockbuster For Nothing |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1992-10-18/they-dont-call-it-blockbuster-for-nothing |url-status=deviated |work=[[Bloomberg.com]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930055442/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1992-10-18/they-dont-call-it-blockbuster-for-nothing |archive-date=September 30, 2022 |access-date=September 29, 2023}}</ref> By June 1996, 32 stores were in operation with a public aim for 150 by 1998. Blockbuster Japan faced heavy competition from [[Osaka]]-based video rental chain, [[Tsutaya (video store)|Tsutaya]], with its 817 outlets, but the company saw opportunity in the population having high [[VCR]] ownership levels (at around 75%), low satellite TV penetration (at around 27%), and well-ordered store layouts (unique for most local video stores).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-18-fi-16261-story.html |title=Blockbuster Moving In on Japan's Video Market |first=Yuri |last=Kageyama |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 18, 1996 |access-date=April 7, 2013}}</ref> However, Blockbuster's business strategy of "wholesome home entertainment" saw it refuse to stock [[adult entertainment]], which accounted for 35% of the Japanese video market, or the extreme [[horror films]] that were also popular. All of which meant Blockbuster was unable to fit adequately into the Japanese market, and was immediately put at a disadvantage compared to competitors that had no such ethical stance. Blockbuster handed its remaining shares over to Fujita Den Trading in 1999, and exited the Japanese market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gcrossinc.com/en/info_exampleFailure.htm |title=Examples of Failure for Market Entry into Japan |publisher=G-Cross Inc. |access-date=April 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104003641/http://www.gcrossinc.com/en/info_exampleFailure.htm |archive-date=November 4, 2012 }}</ref>

===Mexico===
In September 2015, all remaining Blockbuster retail stores (263 in total) in Mexico had been converted to "The B Store", and the floor space dedicated to video rentals reduced from 70% to 20%, the remaining space being used for general technology and electronics sales. The re-branding occurred with the owners not renewing their license with Blockbuster and the imminent expiry of the existing license.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://expansion.mx/negocios/2015/09/18/blockbuster-desaparece-en-mexico-conoce-su-nueva-imagen |title=Blockbuster desaparece en México, lo sustituye The B-Store |website=[[Expansión (Mexico)|Expansión]] |date=September 21, 2015 |access-date=August 26, 2016}} (in Spanish)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/farewell-blockbuster-here-comes-b-store/ |title=Farewell Blockbuster, here comes The B-Store |date=September 21, 2015 |access-date=July 13, 2018 |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620141435/https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/farewell-blockbuster-here-comes-b-store/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> All remaining B-stores closed by July 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://expansion.mx/empresas/2016/10/28/grupo-salinas-cierra-su-tienda-de-peliculas-the-b-store |title=Grupo Salinas pone fin a su tienda de películas The B Store |date=October 31, 2016 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

===New Zealand===
The chain also operated for many years in New Zealand,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10477644|title=Sounds, Blockbuster firm's survival bid a first|date=November 22, 2007|last=Eriksen|first=Alanah|newspaper=[[New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=October 16, 2018}}</ref> but over the years lost customers to other retailers like [[United Video]] and [[Video Ezy]], as well as the rise of streaming services. While the store in Bend, Oregon was generally regarded as the last Blockbuster store, there was one in [[Dargaville]], north of [[Auckland]], that managed to stay open until finally closing at the end of January 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Kim |last=Moodie |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12301650|title=Final credits: Dargaville's 'Blockbuster' DVD and video rental store Blue 2 Video is closing|date=January 19, 2020|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=March 6, 2020|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref>

===Norway===
In December 2002 the first Blockbuster store opened in Norway, and was followed by another store some months later in 2003, both located in Oslo. The hope was to acquire an already existing video chain. When that failed, it was made an attempt to build a Norwegian blockbuster chain from scratch. But both stores closed in the spring of 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.videomagasinet.no/artikkel/blockbuster-stenger-129-butikker/|title=Blockbuster stenger 129 butikker|date=January 20, 2013 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

===Peru===
Blockbuster opened its first store in Peru in 1995, and by 2002 it had ten stores in Lima. However, in 2006, Blockbuster announced that it planned to shut down its stores in Peru due to poor revenues, which it blamed on the effect of movie [[copyright infringement|piracy]].<ref>{{cite news
| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN0341210720070105
| title=Blockbuster shuts down in Peru, piracy blamed
| date=January 3, 2007
| work=Reuters}}</ref> The last store in Peru was closed on January 3, 2007. The company had already closed down its stores in Ecuador, Portugal and Costa Rica. El Salvador followed in 2010, and Argentina in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latintimes.com/blockbuster-closing-all-its-stores-us-what-will-happen-few-stores-left-latin-america-132656|title=Blockbuster Closing All Its Stores In US; What Will Happen To The Few Stores Left in Latin America?|date=November 6, 2013|access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
[[File:Blockbuster, Moor Allerton District Centre.jpg|thumb|right|A Blockbuster store in [[Moor Allerton]], [[Leeds]]]]
[[File:Blockbuster Express - Cold Bath Road - geograph.org.uk - 1608945 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|A "Blockbuster Express" shop in Harrogate, Yorkshire, typical of the smaller UK stores often located in established urban and suburban areas]]
In March 1989, Blockbuster opened their first store in the United Kingdom on [[Walworth Road]], [[London]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/help/aboutus.aspx |title=About Us |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Blockbuster |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=September 29, 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115221240/http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/Help/aboutus.aspx |archive-date=January 15, 2013}}</ref> Prior to its opening, there were several other video stores in the United Kingdom with the name Blockbuster, many of whom Blockbuster bought out before opening their first store in the country. One chain that they could not buy out was the Blockbuster chain based in Portsmouth, founded in 1984, which claimed to be the third largest video chain in the United Kingdom and meant that Blockbuster avoided the Portsmouth area.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=25 February 1994|page=23|title=The name game}}</ref>

In February 1992, Blockbuster purchased Citivision PLC, the biggest home-video company in Britain, for $81 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=81000000|start_year=1992}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}). At the time, Citivision operated about 775 stores in Britain branded as Ritz.<ref name="They Don't Call It Blockbuster For Nothing"/>

Blockbuster UK operated trade functions in all their stores, buying and selling pre-owned DVDs, console games, and gaming accessories. Stores offered either store credit or cash for trade-ins, and would price-match with competitors. At its height in 2002, Blockbuster UK operated out of over 800 stores.

In early 2013, the company had 528 locations in the United Kingdom. On January 16, 2013, Blockbuster placed its United Kingdom subsidiaries in [[Administration (law)|administration]], putting over 4,000 jobs at risk. Non-UK stores were unaffected by the administration, and continued to trade as normal. On February 1, 2013, a large number of Blockbuster stores in the UK were closed, and the UK business was purchased out of administration by restructuring firm [[Gordon Brothers Group|Gordon Brothers Europe]] on March 23, 2013.<ref name="UK buyer">{{cite news |title=Buyer found for Blockbuster stores, say administrators |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21912508 |newspaper=[[BBC News]] |date=March 23, 2013 |access-date=March 22, 2013}}</ref>

Blockbuster UK then traded as TS Operations, with only 264 branches retained. On October 29, 2013, Blockbuster UK announced it was to go into administration for a second time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24730726 |title=Blockbuster back in administration |work=[[BBC News]] |date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref> On November 14, 2013, 72 store closures were announced,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24938668 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Blockbuster's administrator will close 72 stores |date=November 14, 2013}}</ref> with another 62 made on December 5.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25232069 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Blockbuster to close more stores as 427 more jobs go |date=December 5, 2013}}</ref> A week later, with no success in finding a buyer, it was announced by Moorfields Corporate Recovery that all remaining stores in the country would cease operation on December 16, 2013, with stock to be cleared the day before this.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blockbuster to close remaining stores |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25345257 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=December 13, 2013 |date=December 12, 2013}}</ref>

In September 2018, to coincide with the digital release of ''[[Deadpool 2]]'', a [[pop-up retail]] store in the style of an original 1989 Blockbuster outlet was opened for two days in [[Shoreditch]] in [[East London]]. The store gave away 1,989 copies of the film in reference to Blockbuster's entry year into the UK market.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://londonist.com/london/film/blockbuster-reopens-london-deadpool |title=Blockbuster Video Reopens In London... Well, For Two Days Anyway |website=www.Londonist.com |date=September 12, 2018}}</ref>

In 2019, Blockbuster lent its name to a [[Blockbuster (party game)|party game]] published by [[Big Potato Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-03 |title=There’s a New Blockbuster Party Game That’ll Make ’90s Kids Go Crazy |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a27699637/blockbuster-board-game/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DiValentino |first=Ariana |title=You can now buy a Blockbuster card game and it even comes in a VHS case |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-blockbuster-party-game-where-to-buy-2019-6 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Online rentals==
===Brazil===
In January 2006, Blockbuster Brazil also introduced an online rental service now featuring both DVD and Blu-ray plans. There were four Block plans available with prices ranging from R$34.90 to R$79.90. The 3-disc plan with unlimited exchanges was R$49.90/month. Unlike the U.S. service, there was no in-store disk exchange.<ref>[http://www.blockbuster.com.br Blockbuster Brazil] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929034802/http://www.blockbuster.com.br/ |date=September 29, 2018}}. Retrieved October 25, 2012.</ref>{{failed verification|date=October 2012}}{{failed verification|date=October 2012}}

===Movielink acquisition===
On August 8, 2007, Blockbuster announced that it had reached an agreement to purchase [[Movielink]]. According to the [[Form 8-K|8-K]] filing by Blockbuster, the total purchase price was $6.6 million.

===The Nordics===
Blockbuster streaming service is still active in Nordic Countries, offering both unlimited streaming and 48-hour rental of films online. Several [[Smart TV]]s have the Blockbuster app pre-installed out-of-the-box, and it is available on a variety of streaming devices such as Google's Chromecast.<ref name="blockbuster.dk"/> In 2020, the rights to the Blockbuster brand moved to Nuuday,<ref name="nuuday"/> and to SF Anytime AB in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blockbuster |url=https://www.blockbuster.dk/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |website=Blockbuster |language=da}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
[[File:"BLOCKBUSTER" video shop, Northwood - geograph.org.uk - 976027.jpg|thumb|right|A Blockbuster store in [[Northwood, London]] in June 2008]]Rentals cost £3.50 to £4.50 and lasted for five nights, usually from Monday to Friday due to the postal service. Late fees of £0.70 to £0.90 per disc applied if a disc was not returned on time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/Help/PayPerRentQuickStart.aspx |title=Help – Pay Per Rent Quick Start Guide |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720023158/http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/Help/PayPerRentQuickStart.aspx |archive-date=July 20, 2011 }}</ref>

In May 2004, Blockbuster also introduced an online subscription service. The unlimited three-disc plan cost £14.99/month but did not allow in-store exchange, contrary to the U.S. service. Partial support for in-store exchange was added in April 2005 with the launch of an "OnlineXtra" service. This service cost £2 per month, required an online subscription to a disc plan, and added two extra discs sent by mail. The OnlineXtra discs could be exchanged in store, but the non-OnlineXtra discs could not. The program was discontinued in 2006 with no [[Grandfather clause|grandfathering]], but an in-store-only variant of it resurfaced in early 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/bandsignup/all-rental-plans.aspx |title=Band Signup – All Rental Plans |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628224148/http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/bandsignup/all-rental-plans.aspx |archive-date=June 28, 2011 }}</ref> A "Click & Collect" service launched in September 2010 allowed the reservation of Blockbuster movies in store, but the store's regular rental fees applied until the company added in-store exchanges in May 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2010/09/the-new-way-to-rent-click-collect/ |title=The new way to rent – Click & Collect |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017014151/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2010/09/the-new-way-to-rent-click-collect |archive-date=October 17, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2012/05/service-update-introducing-in-store-exchange-total-access/ |title=Service Update – Introducing In-Store Exchange / Total Access |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=May 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715050650/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2012/05/service-update-introducing-in-store-exchange-total-access |archive-date=July 15, 2012 }}</ref> Support for game reservations was added in November 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/11/service-update-click-collect-games/ |title=Service Update – Click & Collect Games |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=November 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126153920/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/11/service-update-click-collect-games/ |archive-date=November 26, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2008, Blockbuster UK's website underwent an overhaul, with an online store; a retail store stock checker; improved search functionality; and a critically acclaimed layout.<ref name="Blockbuster.co.uk About Us">{{cite web |url=http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/Help/aboutus.aspx |title=Blockbuster.co.uk About Us |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628225056/http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/help/aboutus.aspx |archive-date=June 28, 2011 }}</ref> In-store pickup and exclusive titled were added in 2009. Some of the titles which had an exclusivity period at Blockbuster include Gran Torino, Changeling, Taken, and Knowing. Additionally, online rental downloads of Universal Pictures in the United Kingdom remains exclusive to Blockbuster. This provides an advantage to the rental company compared to its competitors HMV, Play, and LoveFilm.<ref name="Blockbuster.co.uk About Us"/>

In January 2010, Blockbuster UK launched an online blog.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/ |title=Blockbuster Blog |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812140922/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/ |archive-date=August 12, 2011 }}</ref> Improved search algorithms, product pages, and social network links were added to the site in April 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2010/04/service-update-new-site-features/ |title=Blockbuster Blog – New Site Features |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326025300/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2010/04/service-update-new-site-features/ |archive-date=March 26, 2012 }}</ref> Blockbuster UK aired a monthly ''BB Insider'' online video show from May 2010 to January 2011<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2010/05/bb-insider-video-01%20may%202010-pilot |title=Blockbuster Blog – BB Insider Video 01 |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608234836/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2010/05/bb-insider-video-01%20may%202010-pilot |archive-date=June 8, 2012 }}</ref> and launched an iPhone App in September 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2010/05/service-update-iphone-app-mobile-app/ |title=Blockbuster Blog – Service Update – iPhone App / Mobile App |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326025310/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2010/05/service-update-iphone-app-mobile-app/ |archive-date=March 26, 2012 }}</ref> Throughout the year 2011, Blockbuster UK announced several price cuts along with a new Blockbuster loyalty card program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/02/service-update-stores-great-nights-in-start-with-blockbuster/ |title=Service Update – Stores: Great Nights In Start with BLOCKBUSTER! |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228080908/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/02/service-update-stores-great-nights-in-start-with-blockbuster/ |archive-date=February 28, 2011 }}</ref>

These price drops were followed by a price drop of the Blockbuster UK online pay per rent service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/04/service-update-pay-per-rent-price-drop/ |title=Service Update – Pay Per Rent Price Drop |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423082015/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/04/service-update-pay-per-rent-price-drop/ |archive-date=April 23, 2011 }}</ref> Although some Blockbuster UK advertisements claim that the company no longer charges late fees, the fine print and/or voiceover clarifies that rentals will be charged an extra pound for every additional night.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXGeOgLyffU | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/GXGeOgLyffU| archive-date=October 30, 2021|title=The Fighter and True Grit, Exclusive to Blockbuster only £2.99 – YouTube | date=May 24, 2011|publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> A "Top Ticket" feature was added in April 2011, allowing monthly subscription customers to rent an additional movie at no extra charge and to receive it before other movies they request.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/04/service-announcement-introducing-blockbuster-top-ticket/ |title=Service Update – Introducing Blockbuster Top Ticket |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423081256/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/04/service-announcement-introducing-blockbuster-top-ticket/ |archive-date=April 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/rent/top-ticket.aspx |title=Blockbuster UK Top Ticket |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628224441/http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/rent/top-ticket.aspx |archive-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref> Support for online sales of used movie and game discs was added in July 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/07/service-update-introducing-the-blockbuster-marketplace/ |title=Service Update – Introducing Blockbuster Marketplace |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=July 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719102131/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/07/service-update-introducing-the-blockbuster-marketplace/ |archive-date=July 19, 2011}}</ref> The Blockbuster UK website was enhanced in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/09/service-update-the-new-blockbuster-experience/ |title=Service Update – The New Blockbuster Experience |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=September 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115201705/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/09/service-update-the-new-blockbuster-experience/ |archive-date=January 15, 2013}}</ref> During the following month, a new TV section was added to the website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/10/service-update-full-tv-genre-launch/ |title=Service Update – Full TV Genre Launch |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=September 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110185339/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2011/10/service-update-full-tv-genre-launch/ |archive-date=November 10, 2011}}</ref>

3D Blu-rays were added to Blockbuster UK in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2012/02/service-update-february-2012/ |title=Service Update – Top Ticket, £1.50 Rentals, 3D Blu-rays, Click & Collect & Marketplace |publisher=Blockbuster UK |access-date=January 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115202215/http://blog.blockbuster.co.uk/2012/02/service-update-february-2012/ |archive-date=January 15, 2013}}</ref> In May 2012, Blockbuster UK partnered with IGN to launch a new Blockbuster VIP Gamer loyalty program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/blockbuster-partners-with-ign-to-promote-vip-gamer-scheme/095921 |title=Blockbuster partners with IGN to promote VIP Gamer scheme |publisher=MCV |access-date=May 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514022348/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/blockbuster-partners-with-ign-to-promote-vip-gamer-scheme/095921 |archive-date=May 14, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 16, 2013, Blockbuster UK entered [[Administration (law)|administration]], appointing [[Deloitte]] as company administrators, casting doubt over the future of their 528 stores in the country.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21047652 |title=Blockbuster goes into administration Blockbuster said that it was shutting 129 of its 528 stores in the UK |work=[[BBC News]] |date=January 16, 2012}}</ref> An announcement was then made by Deloitte that 160 UK stores would close.

On February 13, 2013, Deloitte announced a further 164 store closures, leaving 204 stores trading in the UK. The business was sold to restructuring firm the [[Gordon Brothers|Gordon Brothers Group]] on March 23, 2013.<ref name="UK buyer"/> On October 29, 2013, Gordon Brothers filed notice of intention to appoint an administrator. On November 28, 2013, Blockbuster UK officially entered administration for the second time, and by December 2013, all stores were closed, as no buyer for the chain was found.

===United States===
In 1997, [[Enron|Enron Corporation]] had entered the broadband market, constructing and purchasing thousands of miles of fiber optic cables throughout the United States.<ref name="NYT1999">{{cite news |last1=Schiesel |first1=Seth |title=Jumping Off the Bandwidth Wagon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/11/business/jumping-off-the-bandwidth-wagon.html |access-date=February 17, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 11, 1999}}</ref><ref name=PRNEWS>{{cite news |title=Montana Power, Williams Communications, Enron Units Announce Fiber Providers for Portland-to-Los Angeles Network |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/montana-power-williams-communications-enron-units-announce-fiber-providers-for-portland-to-los-angeles-network-77921802.html |access-date=February 17, 2017 |work=[[PRNewswire]] |date=December 17, 1997 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217071349/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/montana-power-williams-communications-enron-units-announce-fiber-providers-for-portland-to-los-angeles-network-77921802.html |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2001, Enron and Blockbuster Inc. attempted to create a 20-year deal to stream [[Video on demand|movies on demand]] over Enron's fiber optic network.<ref name="WPjan01">{{cite news |last1=Behr |first1=Peter |title=Broadband Strategy Got Enron in Trouble; Bid to Create Market for Fiber-Optic Space Included Aggressive Accounting |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |issue=E01 |date=January 1, 2001}}</ref> However, the "heavily promoted" deal fell through, with Enron's shares dropping following the announcement.<ref name="WPjan01"/>

On August 11, 2004, Blockbuster introduced a [[DVD-by-mail]] service in the US to compete with the established market leader, [[Netflix]].<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2004/08/11/technology/blockbuster_rental/ Blockbuster going after NetFlix] CNNMoney. August 11, 2004. Retrieved July 25, 2013.</ref>

Blockbuster's US online operation started with around 10 warehouses; further expansions every year brought that number to 41, plus more than 1400 stores in the Blockbuster Online network. Most Blockbuster independent franchises did not honor the Total Access program. The company had 1.5 million subscribers at the end of the third quarter of 2006.<ref name="vb">{{cite web|url=http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6387895.html |title=Blockbuster reports narrowed Q3 loss |publisher=Video Business |date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=June 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216082434/http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6387895.html |archive-date=February 16, 2009 }}</ref> Blockbuster's move to follow the business pattern with its online rentals as was established by Netflix prompted Netflix to sue Blockbuster for patent infringement. Blockbuster counter sued with a counterclaim alleging deceptive practices with its patent which it alleged was designed to maintain an illegal monopoly. The suits were eventually settled, and while the terms were not disclosed it was later reported that Netflix recorded a settlement payment from Blockbuster of $4.1 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=4100000|start_year=2007}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in the second quarter of 2007.<ref>{{cite news|agency=The Associated Press|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/technology/24netflix.html |title=NetFlix Outlook Gloomy Despite A Profitable Quarter |work=The New York Times |date=July 24, 2007 |access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref>

Blockbuster offered several online movie rental plans. In some cities customers could add games to their movie rental queue as if they were included in their plan, but game rentals resulted in a separate additional fee which was not displayed or charged until the end of the billing cycle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Answers|website=blockbuster3.custhelp.com|url=http://blockbuster3.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1497/kw/game%20rental/r_id/106342}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Until July 26, 2007, Blockbuster offered and advertised unlimited free in-store exchanges of online rentals with all plans. Since then there were several changes back and forth with regard to this policy; in March 2010 customers were allowed a limited number of in-store exchanges.

At the end of 2006, Blockbuster Total Access had 2.2 million customers, exceeding their original goal of 2 million, according to its website.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=706 |title=Blockbuster Achieves Year-End Goal of 2 Million Online Subscribers |publisher=Blockbuster MediaRoom |location=DALLAS |date=January 3, 2007 |access-date=January 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201174903/http://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=706 |archive-date=December 1, 2008 }}</ref> After an aggressive media campaign that accounted for much of Blockbuster's $46.4 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=46400000|start_year=2007}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) net loss in the first quarter of 2007, the Total Access subscriber base surpassed 3 million customers in total, marking the company's highest subscriber growth quarter ever.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.franchising.com/news/20070502_blockbuster_reports_first_quarter_2007_results.html|title=Blockbuster Reports First Quarter 2007 Results |publisher=Blockbuster Inc. |website=Franchising.com|date=May 2, 2007 |access-date=June 16, 2021}}</ref> By 2009, however, the company was declining to provide figures when asked by ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mcbride |first=Sarah |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125303731573912777 |title=Wall Street Journal, "Blockbuster to Shutter More Stores" |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=September 16, 2009 |access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref>

On January 5, 2007, Southern Stores Inc., one of Blockbuster's largest franchise operators in the United States, filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that, by introducing Blockbuster Online and Blockbuster Total Access, the rental chain has undercut the group's franchise agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.memphisdailynews.com/Editorial/StoryFocus.aspx?&id=95692 |title=Blockbusted! Local franchisee sues Blockbuster Inc., alleges Dallas company 'undercut' its business – 1/5/2007 |work=Memphis Daily News |access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref>

On August 6, 2010, Blockbuster By Mail subscribers gained access to Blockbuster's library of console games, in addition to movies and television shows.

On March 31, 2012, Blockbuster On Demand removed support from set-top box media players, including [[Vudu]], [[Western Digital Media Center|WDTV]], and [[Roku]]. Supported devices now only included computers, Blu-ray players, select television sets, and cellular phones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9391/p/208,393/session/L3RpbWUvMTM0MDA1NzI3OS9zaWQvX2VQTURfLWs%3D |title=Accessing the Blockbuster On Demand service on a WD TV Live Product |publisher=Wdc.custhelp.com |date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=November 7, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121070955/http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9391/p/208,393/session/L3RpbWUvMTM0MDA1NzI3OS9zaWQvX2VQTURfLWs%3D|archive-date=January 21, 2013}}</ref>

On February 26, 2013, [[Roku, Inc.]] announced that Blockbuster On Demand was being launched on Roku's channel store. Supported devices now included computers, Blu-ray players, select television sets, cellular phones, and the Roku set-top box.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.roku.com/blog/2013/02/26/blockbuster-on-demand-launches-on-roku/|title=Blockbuster On Demand launches on Roku &#124; The Official Roku Blog|date=February 26, 2013|access-date=November 7, 2013|archive-date=November 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109024758/http://blog.roku.com/blog/2013/02/26/blockbuster-on-demand-launches-on-roku/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 2013, Dish Network said its DVD-by-mail service would shut down by mid-December.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2013/11/06/blockbuster-closing/3456271/|title=Blockbuster to close U.S. retail stores, mail DVD operation|work=[[USA Today]]|date=November 6, 2013|access-date=November 7, 2013|first1=Roger|last1=Yu}}</ref>

==Advertising==
===Super Bowl===
One of Blockbuster's most well-known [[advertising campaign]]s was launched in 2002 during [[Super Bowl XXXVI]]. It starred the voices of [[James Woods]] and [[Jim Belushi]] as Carl and Ray, a [[rabbit]] and a [[guinea pig]] in a [[Pet store|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 commercial in the first quarter of [[Super Bowl XLI]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16996195 |title=Best Super Bowl ad? Readers pick a Blockbuster |last1=Neill |first1=Rob |date=February 5, 2007 |work=[[NBC News]] |access-date=November 21, 2014}}</ref>

===Misleading advertising===
In 2005, Blockbuster launched a marketing campaign describing changes in its late fees policy and offering "No Late Fees" on rentals. The program sparked investigations and charges of misrepresentation in 48 states and the District of Columbia: state attorneys general including [[Bill Lockyer]] of California, [[Greg Abbott]] of Texas, and [[Eliot Spitzer]] of New York argued that customers were being automatically charged the full purchase price of late rentals and a restocking fee for rentals returned after 30 days. In a settlement, Blockbuster agreed to reimburse the states the cost of their investigation, clarify communication to customers on the terms of the program, and offer reimbursement to customers charged fees prior to the clarification. New Jersey filed a separate lawsuit and was not a party to the settlement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blockbuster-sued-over-late-fees/ |work=CBS News |date=February 18, 2005 |title=Blockbuster Sued Over Late Fees}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7327309 |work=NBC News |date=March 30, 2005 |title=Blockbuster settles "no late fees" claims}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36767-2005Feb18.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Blockbuster sued over return policy |date=February 19, 2005 |author=Caroline Mayer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/adtrack/2005-02-27-track_x.htm |author=Michael McCarthy |date=February 27, 2005 |work=[[USA Today]] |title='No late fees' ads cause a stir}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-30-fi-blockbuster30-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 30, 2005 |author=Lorenza Munoz |title=Blockbuster Settles State Probes Into Late Fee Ads}}</ref>

The 2005 controversy came after a related lawsuit settled in 2002 in Texas. That lawsuit, alleging exorbitant late fees, led the company to pay $9.25 million in attorney fees and offer $450 million in late fee refund coupons (which were rent-one get-one-free coupons, and thus required the customer to make an initial expenditure). The company estimated that the coupons would ultimately cost about $45 million depending on the redemption rate; an attorney for the plaintiffs estimated the final cost at closer to $100 million at a redemption rate of about 20% (calculated based on a similar case in Michigan).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/topic/sns-blockbuster,0,5496993.story|date=June 6, 2001|author=Sarah Hale|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|via=[[Hartford Courant]]|title=Blockbuster to settle lawsuit over late fees|access-date=March 25, 2009|archive-date=March 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306190935/http://www.courant.com/topic/sns-blockbuster,0,5496993.story|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/blockbuster-customers-to-be-reimbursed-for-late-fees |publisher=Fox News |date=January 11, 2002 |title=Blockbuster customers to be reimbursed for late fees |access-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518232511/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,42827,00.html |archive-date=May 18, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Such corrections were also sent to international stores such as those in Canada to prevent further lawsuits.

Blockbuster reintroduced late fees in the United States in 2010 under the name of "Additional Daily Rates". With this pricing scheme, rentals were once again limited to a certain number of days and accrued pay-per-day rates after the days allocated are exceeded.

== Presidents and CEOs ==
* [[John Antioco|John F. Antioco]], CEO: 1997–2007
* [[James W. Keyes]], CEO: 2007–2011
* [[Michael J. Kelly|Michael Kelly]], president: 2011–2015<ref name="KellyRetires">{{cite press release |url=http://about.dish.com/press-release/veteran-dish-executive-michael-kelly-announces-retirement |title=Veteran DISH Executive Michael Kelly announces retirement |access-date=December 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220094235/http://about.dish.com/press-release/veteran-dish-executive-michael-kelly-announces-retirement |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |url-status=dead |publisher=[[DISH Network]]}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Companies}}
* [[Circuit City]]
* [[GameStop]]
* [[Dish Network]]
* [[Family Video]]
* [[Gamerang]]
* [[Hollywood Video]]
* [[Movie Gallery]]
* [[Netflix]]
* [[Retail apocalypse]]
* [[List of retailers affected by the retail apocalypse]]

==References==
'''Informational notes'''
{{Notelist}}

'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Blockbuster}}
* {{official website|http://www.blockbuster.com}}

{{Blockbuster}}{{Dish Network}}{{Video rental shops}}
{{Video digital distribution platforms}}
{{ViacomCBS}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Blockbuster LLC| ]]
[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:American brands]]
[[Category:Home video companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Video rental services]]
[[Category:Defunct retail companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct retail companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Texas]]
[[Category:Companies based in Dallas]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1985]]
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[[Category:Canadian companies established in 1990]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1985]]
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[[Category:2011 disestablishments in Canada]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
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[[Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies that have filed for bankruptcy in Canada]]
[[Category:Companies that have filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy]]
[[Category:Dish Network]]
[[Category:1994 mergers and acquisitions]]
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[[Category:EchoStar]]
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[[Category:Entertainment companies based in Texas]]