Back in the day (which we’ll call the 80s and 90s), the video store was, like TV before it, seen as the greatest threat to cinema by way of inviting you to stay home. Now, thanks to Netflix and other streaming services all but killing the notion of leaving the house at all, or interacting with human beings for your entertainment, the beloved Video Rental Store is all but endangered, but remembered fondly. Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, etc have created a tunnel vision where algorithm’s push you to ‘more of the same’ from a highly limited amount of titles, or spread what’s available across ever more expensive services.
Also the risk factor is gone. Don’t like it? Screw it, flick to something else. With streaming, gone too are tens and tens of thousands of movies that will never reach one of these platforms, forcing movie fans toward illegal downloading. Couple that with highly unimaginative ‘thumbnails’, and even the spectacular VHS cover art (itself diminished somewhat with the advent of DVD) is being lost.
Cinephiles are a devoted bunch, and are finding new creative ways to hold on, and introduce a new generation, to the simple joy of hunting down a movie, and making a choice based on cover art and your gut. No algorithms, no intrusive privacy invasions to skew your viewing habits. Best of all, video stores allow you to engage with other movie fans, and you may end up with a film you’d never otherwise discovered.
Below is our partial list of favorite video stores we like, some that now incorporate cafes and screening rooms.
BLACK LODGE VIDEO (Memphis, TN)
Striving to be the what they bill as ‘the greatest video store in North America’. The Black Lodge (named for the creepy place in Twin Peaks) is an expansive video library of DVD, VHS and Blu Ray, a performance and live music space, and just a good spot to meet up. Black Lodge is the last video rental store in Memphis Tennessee.
FILM-SHOP (Germany)
Opened in 1975, this is the world’s first movie rental store, and holds the world record of the longest running video rental store that started with Super 8mm rentals.It has an enthusiastic following and incorporates small cultural events.
CASA VIDEO (Tuscon, AZ)
Using a model that should have been adopted long ago by video stores, Casa offers a service to search their directory online for in store pickup or like the Netflix DVD model, have it delivered by mail. Casa also has a bar upstairs from the store plus screenings and a rotation of events.
20TH CENTURY FLICKS (Bristol, UK)
Home to over 20,000 titles, 20th Century Flicks also houses screening rooms where you can view movies. Like London’s Prince Charles Cinema, it’s a movie fan institution and run by cinephiles.
BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO (Oregon)
Bend, Oregon is home to the last Blockbuster in the world and still thriving. It’s become a tourist attraction with plenty of merchandise to take home (including a coveted membership card) and the subject of a feature length documentary.
RECLAIM VIDEO (Virginia)
As per their straight out of the 80’s ‘About Us’ page: Reclaim Video is a cutting-edge video rental store in Fredericksburg, Virginia housing a wide selection of VHS, Laserdisc, Betamax and more. A membership with Reclaim Video will give you access to unlimited tape rentals and the newest game consoles like the prized Atari 5200 and a laminated membership card. Be sure to check out their AWESOME home page. Super fun!
MOVIE MADNESS (Portland, OR)
One of the greatest video stores out there, Movie Madness is not just a video store with countless movies, but also a movie museum with original pieces of movie memorabilia. It’s a paradise for movie fans as their titles are not only arranged by genre, but also by film makers or actors. Also has quite the backing of famous faces like Bruce Campbell and director Alex Cox.
SCARECROW (Seattle, WA)
Scarecrow is a vibrant indie video store that has a staggering back catalogue of over 130,000 titles. They even have plentiful merchandise and free screening nights.
FILM NOIR CINEMA & VIDEO (Brooklyn, NY)
Also listed on our cinema page, Film Noir moved to a larger store front (an old funeral home) to accomodate a screening room in the back. Film Noir is stacked with cult classics and hard to find, out-of-print DVD’s. They also sell VHS and vinyl. A great place to browse.
BEYOND VIDEO (Baltimore, MD)
A volunteer-run home-video library based in Baltimore. Growing from 9000 titles in 2018 to over 31,000, thanks to a robust membership-support group and crowd-sourced collection via donations of DVDs and Blu-Rays, Beyond Video fills a much needed void of community that once surrounded independent video rental stores.
VISART VIDEO (North Carolina)
VisArt is a local non-profit, devoted to sharing education and the love of movies and videos, with over 30,000 titles for rent, and used movies for sale, plus movie memorabilia, t-shirts, action figures and posters. VisArt is primarily supported by people who love movies and videos as an art form and as a part of our culture.
PICTURE SEARCH (Melbourne, Australia)
The last video rental store in the city of Melbourne, Picture Search recently expanded to sell vinyl to help keep the doors open. An absolutely massive library of DVD and VHS is frequented by many film students and nearby residents for the simple fact they stock so many movies that are unavailable on streaming, and lost to time due to streaming rights never being acquired. A great short video piece can be viewed HERE.
ODD OBSESSION MOVIES (Chicago)
AA store that is the product of true passion for movies, Odd Obsession in Chicago is a movie lovers dream, sporting countless movies that you’ll never see on streaming across all formats including VHS. The in-store music comes via a turntable, and paintings of the store’s former mascot cat (now deceased) feature near the entrance. Dubbed ‘Chicago's Library of Film’, it has a focus on rare titles, foreign, indie, exploitation, B movies, plus groupings by great and lesser directors.
EDDIE BRANDT’S SATURDAY MATINEE (Los Angeles, CA)
Self proclaimed ‘Best Video Store In The World’, Eddie’s spot looks like a road side attraction. He also sells an extensive catalogue of movie stills, the type that used to populate entire movie poster / photos stores.
WHAMMY! ANALOG MEDIA (Los Angeles, CA)
A VHS video store by day and event space by night Whammy! Analog Media is housed in an unmarked warehouse accessible through an alley behind an accounting office, and fast becoming a beloved local cinema with screenings proposed and curated by VHS collectors and customers of the store. The catalog is accessible online as well as info on their VHS digitization services.
CINEFILE VIDEO (Los Angeles, CA)
Billed as the last video rental store in Los Angeles, with a proud boast of unto 30,000 titles you can’t stream online. Their catalog is online for easy choosing with titles available on DFVD, Blu Ray and 4K. They also sport a fantastic retail store and they buy DVD, Blu-ray, Vintage Posters, Memorabilia, and Vinyl LPs. VHS and Laserdisc is also accepted, but on donation.
VIDIOTS (Los Angeles, CA)
Vidiots now resides in Eagle Rock and has become a vital hub for movie fans. As well as a massive video rental store, there's a full calendar of cinema screenings, special programs, concessions, and a light menu with beer and wine. Their 'Eagle Theatre' seats 271 people and runs, 35mm and DCP projection, as well as a smaller, flexible community and event space.
VIDEODROME (Atlanta, GA)
Being named after a David Cronenberg classic should be indication enough of how great this place is. Videodrome is the type of place you’ll find stacks of movies you never thought you’d love and they keep their New Arrivals walls stacked with the commercial stuff, but also plenty of cult and obscure. Home to plenty of film maker sections too.
THE DVD COLLECTION (MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA)
We’re cheating a little, as this a movie retail store, but it’s a gem and a Melbourne institution that stocks incredible rare and hard to find titles. When your only other option is the retail giant JB-HiFi (that is still great for movie collectors) this place is a blessing for true cinephiles. You can also email to request a title.