4 Unforgettable Things About Renting Movies

While Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon now dominate our screens and pretty much dictate how we spend our weekends, back in the early ‘00s, Blockbuster and Hollywood videos were the answer to an otherwise boring night at home.

There’s nothing quite like the experience of going to the shop, choosing from a wide variety of films, and then curling up on the couch with the remote control and some popcorn to get some relaxation time.

Video Rentals Were Very Cheap

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: General view of the exterior of the Blockbuster store hosting a press conference announcing The Weinstein Company — Andrew H. Walker/GettyImages

New releases were bound to cost you more than older flicks but compared to going to the theater to see a film, it still ended up much cheaper. Besides, video stores almost always had deals if you borrowed several videos at a time, allowing you to rack up killer movie marathons for some epic weekend bingeing.

Coming Across a New Release Was Akin to Finding Gold

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 11: Joe Webber of Wilsonville, OR searches for a rental at a Blockbuster Video store on November 11, 2004 in Wilsonville, Oregon. Blockbuster Inc., offered to buy Hollywood Video today at a price of about $1 billion. (Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images) — Craig Mitchelldyer/GettyImages

Back then, there was no way to tell if a new release would be available for rent in the store or if you would have to wait endlessly to see a movie you missed in theaters. Apart from the unpredictability of their release dates, such popular releases were bound to get snatched up fast, leaving you very slim chances of getting a copy. If you were lucky enough to find one, it was almost the same feeling as finding gold and striking it rich.

Being There Was Somewhat of a Social Experience

NEW YORK - MAY 25: A man looks at DVD — Spencer Platt/GettyImages

Nowadays, we get less and less face-to-face interaction with other people thanks to the rise of social media and the internet. Going to the local movie rental shop was a good place to come across acquaintances or even meet new people looking for the same movie titles as you. Of course, there was also the chance of meeting a cute boy or girl.

That Coveted Blockbuster Card

GLENDALE, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: A UPS driver makes a delivery at Blockbuster store on September 23, 2010 in Glendale, California. The video-rental business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, facing rigorous competition and reportedly more than $1 billion in debt. Some of its stores are planned to remain open during the process of reorganization of the business. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) — Kevork Djansezian/GettyImages

If there was one thing that made going to the store to rent a movie more fabulous, it was the chance to get to show off your laminated Blockbuster card at the checkout line. Usually popped onto a keychain or into the wallet, this card was the first membership card most of us ever owned.