Ah, the smell of plastic, popcorn, and sweet, sweet nostalgia. Remember Blockbuster? Of course, you do. It was a veritable playground for any movie lover with discerning taste (or, let’s be honest, no taste at all). Back in the day, a Friday night wasn’t complete without a visit to the local video rental store. It was like walking into a library, but instead of dusty novels, you were surrounded by endless aisles of cinematic treasures. Or, you know, that random Adam Sandler comedy that everyone inexplicably rented every week.

The magic wasn’t just about the movies. No, no—it was about the experience. The ritual. That gentle panic of pacing through the aisles, desperately hoping no one else snagged the last copy of The Matrix before you could get your hands on it. You were a hunter. A movie-obsessed lion prowling for VHS prey. And the best part? You’d probably leave with something completely different, like Clueless, because that iconic yellow-and-blue logo had this unspoken rule: no judgment. You could be sophisticated or basic, and Blockbuster didn’t care—it just wanted you to go home happy, popcorn in hand.

Now, fast forward to today, where streaming is king and movie-watching feels a bit… clinical. There’s no anticipation, no “will they, won’t they” with that coveted VHS on the shelf. The spontaneity is gone. And quite frankly, it’s all a bit too convenient. Where’s the charm in scrolling endlessly through Netflix menus, only to surrender to some mediocre title Netflix swears “you’ll love”? Don’t get me wrong, I love instant gratification as much as the next millennial, but there was something magical about the hunt. About the tactile nature of picking up a VHS case, flipping it over, reading the synopsis, and maybe—just maybe—falling in love with something you never expected. Ah, the romance.

TikTok is teeming with videos of Blockbuster in its ’90s glory, and let me tell you, they hit hard—leaving millennials, Gen X, and even boomers clutching their hearts, aching for the good ol’ days.

And for all you young ones who’ve never tasted the true magic of the video rental era, allow me to break it down—because, darling, this was the real deal long before Netflix and chill became a thing.

For those of you seriously craving that Blockbuster fix, you’re in luck—there’s still one standing in Bend, Oregon. The moment you step through the door, you’re hit with that iconic Blockbuster scent (yes, they’ve bottled it up into a candle, because of course they have). The aisles are packed with all your favorite DVDs and even a few VHS tapes you can snag for a nostalgic $2. And get this—you can still roll up to the counter with your old membership card to check on those legendary late fees. But here’s the fun twist: those fees? You can use them to grab some retro Blockbuster merch. How’s that for a reward?

It’s wild how stepping through those unassuming Blockbuster doors can stir up all the feels—taking you straight back to your childhood, or for some parents, to those golden days when Friday nights meant a trip to the video store, picking out a few tapes for a cozy weekend in. Simpler times, no doubt.

The nostalgia is so real that the internet lost its collective mind when Blockbuster quietly rebooted its long-dormant website in early 2023. And, oh yes, they’ve even started a cheeky little social media presence—throwing shade at their old nemesis, Netflix, with the kind of sass we love to see.

The whole thing had everyone buzzing about a potential Blockbuster comeback. But so far? Nada. We’re all still waiting.

So, if Blockbuster were to rise from the ashes (and trust me, we can dream, right?), what would it look like in 2024? Well, one bold marketing team out of Pittsburgh, SPARQ, has taken the reboot fantasy to a whole new level—and let me tell you, they’re thinking big. We’re talking a full-on Blockbuster-themed motel where you’ll quite literally eat, sleep, and breathe the retro video rental experience. It’s a full-on sensory feast of nostalgia.

So, yes, Blockbuster may be gone for now, but its spirit? Still very much alive in our hearts—and in my humble opinion, it’s high time for a stylish reboot. After all, darling, everything old is new again. And this time, we’ll have Instagram stories to immortalize the experience.

Till next time, be wickedly wonderful.