The Last Blockbuster (2020) Documentary

[JupiterMission]

I worked at a Movie Gallery back in the mid 00s. It had the worst selection of any video store I'd ever been in, but it was the only one I applied to that offered me a job. It was a fun job, and I got rentals for a quarter (not FREE, mind you), but the management was extremely annoying - constantly coming up with useless up-sells nobody wanted and hovering over us as much as they could. One regional manager actually sat in her car in the parking lot some nights just to make sure that if there weren't any customers around, we got out from behind the counter and dusted the shelves. She would call our manager and have him call the store if we weren't performing up to her standards, which I thought was extra ridiculous. Also, they wouldn't let us read or switch out the tape of ads/trailers that played on the monitors, but we regularly did anyways. I watched Elf and the SpongeBob movie many many times since I wanted to keep it family friendly.

Anyways, I do miss Movie Gallery, and Hollywood Video, and Blockbuster, but I really miss the non-chain local video stores, because they had way better selections and cooler staff. If I ever get ahold of a time machine, I know several stores I'm visiting.

[VeronicaSawyer]

Originally Posted by JupiterMission

I worked at a Movie Gallery back in the mid 00s. It had the worst selection of any video store I'd ever been in, but it was the only one I applied to that offered me a job. It was a fun job, and I got rentals for a quarter (not FREE, mind you), but the management was extremely annoying - constantly coming up with useless up-sells nobody wanted and hovering over us as much as they could. One regional manager actually sat in her car in the parking lot some nights just to make sure that if there weren't any customers around, we got out from behind the counter and dusted the shelves. She would call our manager and have him call the store if we weren't performing up to her standards, which I thought was extra ridiculous. Also, they wouldn't let us read or switch out the tape of ads/trailers that played on the monitors, but we regularly did anyways. I watched Elf and the SpongeBob movie many many times since I wanted to keep it family friendly.

Anyways, I do miss Movie Gallery, and Hollywood Video, and Blockbuster, but I really miss the non-chain local video stores, because they had way better selections and cooler staff. If I ever get ahold of a time machine, I know several stores I'm visiting.

I worked at an actual Blockbuster in the late 00s and my experience sounds pretty similar to what you describe (minus the over the top management tactics...though those pointless-yet-mandatory upsells were a big thing for us too). Though I discovered many a great film by use of my 10 free rentals a week, the movie selection was pretty crappy, as all of it was generated by stats and data as opposed to a human using logic and discretion. As such, we barely had anything from before 1990 in stock, and yet there was a TON of truly awful direct to video garbage from the 2000s. And most film series that we stocked were incomplete. If part 2 didn't rent as often as parts 1 or 3, it would be sold off. And if someone just never returned part 3, it would never be restocked. It was all automatic. There was so little care put into the movies we carried - something that you'd think should be a major consideration for a movie rental store - but there wasn't a damn thing anyone who actually worked there could do about it.

I can't speak for Blockbuster in its heyday, but by the end of its life as a mainstay, it didn't really seem to value or care about its customers and staff. I imagine in the 90s it was better. I remember going there as a kid and renting all kinds of movies, all from different eras and genres. Overall, I think the mom and pop stores did a much better job of legitimately curating their collections (even by the late 00s), and like you, those are the ones I miss the most.

As an aside, there is an absolutely fantastic rental place in Toronto called Bay Street Video that I make a point of visiting every time I'm in the city. They have an extremely comprehensive collection for both sale and rent, and it seems like they're doing quite well which makes me happy.

[8traxrule]

Blockbuster's refusal to carry NC-17 rated movies is the main reason why I hated them and was glad to see them die. The rating had hoped to allow legitimate (non-porn) movies to have stronger content, but Blockbuster killed that right away by saying they still would not carry them, so most studios would still not release them and required filmmakers to cut down anything that got an NC-17 rating. Ironically the uncut versions were later sold on video as "Unrated" editions, and Blockbuster did carry a few of those since having no rating meant they technically did not violate their policy.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

miss those days, of the video rental stores

[Cards_Fan_15]

I loved going to Blockbuster in the 90's. It'll be pretty ironic if this doc will be available to watch on a streaming service, particularly Netflix.

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by starman15317

My copy just came in from Blockbuster (God, there's something I never thought I'd say). Super fast shipping, I ordered it on Thursday I think. Looking forward to watching this one.

They're pretty good about customer service and shipping. I ordered a shirt from them and after a little delay the emailed me and said "Hey, we've been unexpectedly drowning in shirt orders. Please be patient, we're printing them as fast as we can!" - and once it did ship, it was really damn quick to arrive.

So yeah, thumbs up all around!

[dcx4610]

While I do have fond memories of Blockbuster, am I the only one cynical about this? Blockbuster and Hollywood video killed the mom & pop video shops.

As an adult, it's hard to see the appeal and I don't understand people fawning over a corporate monster that ate up tons of small businesses.

[El_Fez]

At this point tho, The Last Blockbuster is a mom 'n' pop video store, long since divorced from the corporate monster.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

At this point tho, The Last Blockbuster is a mom 'n' pop video store, long since divorced from the corporate monster.

From corporate monster to mom n pop. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

I was always more of a Hollywood Video guy.

[stantoine]

I got my copy last month...

Why is the release date for the DVD only? version listed as 2/2/21 on Amazon.com?
Shows a PREORDER button.

[HDTV1080P]

This might be a interesting rental Blu-ray. However the specs at Blu-ray.com are currently showing the legacy MPEG-2 codec with lossy 2.0 Dolby digital. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-L...lu-ray/278611/

Hopefully those specs are wrong and will be updated in the database, since the Passion River studios other Blu-ray releases use MPEG-4/AVC with 2.0 or 5.1 lossless audio and sometimes studio master 2.0 LPCM.

[GeoffOliver]

Originally Posted by 8traxrule

Blockbuster's refusal to carry NC-17 rated movies is the main reason why I hated them and was glad to see them die. The rating had hoped to allow legitimate (non-porn) movies to have stronger content, but Blockbuster killed that right away by saying they still would not carry them, so most studios would still not release them and required filmmakers to cut down anything that got an NC-17 rating. Ironically the uncut versions were later sold on video as "Unrated" editions, and Blockbuster did carry a few of those since having no rating meant they technically did not violate their policy.

You can also thank the big cinema chains, who similarly refused to play NC-17 films. I worked at a Regal for four years. We never played an NC-17 film, but the official policy was that any auditorium screening one had to have its own door person (ticket taker) at all times. At the very least, they heavily discouraged the studios from releasing such films, and in recent years have also low-key pressured them to limit R rated movies. The best part of the streaming/VOD revolution is that the MPAA isn’t as relevant as it used to be. The films with the kind of content that would get an NC-17 probably won’t get a wide theatrical release these days anyway (COVID or not).

[Jobla]

I owned a small "all cult" video store in Seattle throughout the 80's and 90's.

When Blockbuster finally opened a branch near my store, people thought it would drive me out of business. However, I had such a weird and eclectic collection of tapes that BB hardly made a dent in my business.

In fact, the manager of that BB became a customer of mine, because we had many tapes that Blockbuster wouldn't carry (and I don't mean porn).

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by Jobla

In fact, the manager of that BB became a customer of mine, because we had many tapes that Blockbuster wouldn't carry (and I don't mean porn).

A shocking amount of what they didn't carry.

Back when they were still around, I worked at a McDonalds right across the street from one. A friend of mine asked me to stop on the way home from work one day and grab a couple of movies for him. What I thought of was off the beaten path, but not super obscure either. Stuff like Enter the Dragon, Shaft and Evil Dead - and I remember striking out on each and every one of them.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by El_Fez

A shocking amount of what they didn't carry.

Back when they were still around, I worked at a McDonalds right across the street from one. A friend of mine asked me to stop on the way home from work one day and grab a couple of movies for him. What I thought of was off the beaten path, but not super obscure either. Stuff like Enter the Dragon, Shaft and Evil Dead - and I remember striking out on each and every one of them.

the local BB in the two places I lived were pretty good, rather extensive selections, they did good business until pretty late in the game for the company

[Junkmale]

Originally Posted by starman15317

Just got done watching it. This was a fun documentary overall. Certainly not fantastic by any means and the narration felt unnecessary, but I really enjoyed it.

Both the BD and DVD are real discs, not BD-R or DVD-R. No captions unfortunately, but there are chapters (no chapter menu or popup menu) and a nice little assortment of special features.

What are the special features like? How long do they run time wise? Is it worth buying the Blu-ray for the extras? The web site says it's loaded with extras. If you can givea run down on them and whether or not they're any good that would be cool. Thanks!

[vertigop1ayer]

Originally Posted by Cards_Fan_15

I loved going to Blockbuster in the 90's. It'll be pretty ironic if this doc will be available to watch on a streaming service, particularly Netflix.

Funny you mention that, because although it's not on Netflix specifically ...

[DaBargainHunta]

This is now available to preorder on Amazon for $19.99.

So much for it being a "Blockbuster exclusive" (lol).

I wonder if there are any differences, or if it will be the exact same release.

[strumdogg]

Originally Posted by Junkmale

What are the special features like? How long do they run time wise? Is it worth buying the Blu-ray for the extras? The web site says it's loaded with extras. If you can givea run down on them and whether or not they're any good that would be cool. Thanks!

The Amazon listing now shows the list of special features:

SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY + DVD COMBO INCLUDES BONUS FEATURES
Bonus Features included:

- Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee
- More with Kevin Smith
- Talking movies with David Mcabee
- JC from Scum and Villiany
- Our Chat with Coach Pete
- MTV's Matt Pinfield
- Ska-Punk Show at a Blockbuster

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

This is now available to preorder on Amazon for $19.99.

So much for it being a "Blockbuster exclusive" (lol).

I wonder if there are any differences, or if it will be the exact same release.

I was wondering too. The image on the Amazon listing is the exact same, and their website also just says "Special Edition."

[bigG71]

Originally Posted by strumdogg

The Amazon listing now shows the list of special features:







I was wondering too. The image on the Amazon listing is the exact same, and their website also just says "Special Edition."

I agree that it's probably the same version, the only thing that makes me still wonder is the phrase on the webpage's Blu-ray listing that says "features exclusively at Blockbuster".