The Blockbuster website is live with a cryptic message — is it making a comeback?
It might be time to dust off the ol’ VCR.
The Blockbuster website recently went live and fans are speculating about a major comeback for the video rental store.
“We are working on rewinding your movie,” blockbuster.com reads.
Blockbuster
What could this mean? Is this hinting at a revival of sorts? Or is this just planting the seed for an April Fools’ joke?
Blockbuster, which has been owned by satellite TV provider Dished Network since 2011, still technically exists as an entity despite closing most of its brick-and-mortar stores in 2014.
It even has an active Twitter account that has been joking about reopening operations.
“Our 2023 New Year’s resolution was to reopen Blockbuster but it seemed like a lot of work so we quit,” a tweet from January 23 reads. “Should we start going to the gym instead?”
Our 2023 New Year’s resolution was to reopen Blockbuster but it seemed like a lot of work so we quit.
Should we start going to the gym instead?
— Blockbuster (@blockbuster) January 24, 2023
Daily Hive has reached out to Dished Network asking for confirmation on all of the questions surrounding the cryptic message on the site. It has yet to respond to our inquiry.
It seems to be a big year for ’90s nostalgia, with the return of the Canadian ’90s staple Zellers, and even sequels to hit sitcoms being set in that era.
If BlockBuster made a comeback, I’d lose it over the nostalgia.
— j-dub (@CptRedBeard68) March 24, 2023
Add this to peoples’ current frustrations towards certain streaming giants and it could make for the perfect environment for a comeback.
Fans are certainly here for it.
“Heard a rumour that Blockbuster could potentially make a comeback, 👀 please be true. I wanna relive my childhood again 📼,” tweeted one fan.
Heard a rumor that blockbuster could potentially make a comeback, 👀 please be true. I wanna relive my childhood again 📼
— Aaliyah (@aaliyyaahh_) March 20, 2023
“If they make a comeback in ANY way I will cry,” added another.
The blockbuster website is alive?? 😭 if they make a comeback in ANY way i will cry pic.twitter.com/V1xRCwfsaS
— Mia Mya/ミアミャ🌸✨VTUBER (@MiaMyaCh) March 21, 2023
Others are ready to drop streaming platforms for the possibility of walking into a Blockbuster store again.
If Blockbuster ever made a comeback I would happily cancel my Netflix Subscription.
— Hänsel (@UberHansen) March 24, 2023
I gotta pay for a subscription service to have the right….to pay to rent a movie lol
BRING BLOCKBUSTER BACK!
— Kail (@VivoTranquil0) March 24, 2023
But there are those who think the video rental store should stay in the ’90s.
No, it shouldn’t — go to your local library or, if you’re fortunate enough to have one, a local video store instead — Blockbuster wasn’t a good company then, and it won’t be a better company now https://t.co/4jYTmAMyY2
— Justin LaLiberty (@jlalibs) March 24, 2023
And Blockbuster has its own plans.
New business idea: We’re going to come back as a bank and use VHS and DVDs as currency. Time to go visit your mom.
— Blockbuster (@blockbuster) March 15, 2023
Either way, it would definitely be “the comeback of the century,” as one Twitter user put it.
The comeback of the century?! 👀@blockbuster pic.twitter.com/rawh0HNIno
— Ramin.eth.ada.wtf (@Ramin_delgato) March 22, 2023
What do you think of a Blockbuster revival?