Blockbuster, the new series by Netflix chronicling the life of the last Blockbuster chain store in America, is set to give audiences a dose of nostalgia regarding the formerly-omnipresent video store. In the lead up to its release, Randall Park and other members of the cast spoke about their own nostalgic experiences with the chain.
Netflix offered up a first look at Blockbuster in a trailer released early in October. The series is set to star Park as Timmy Yoon, the main character and manager of the last Blockbuster store around. Joining him is Melissa Fumero as Timmy’s crush, Eliza Walker, who works at the store to afford rent following a divorce, Tyler Alvarez as Carlos Herrera, an aspiring filmmaker who wants to work at a video store to mimic Quentin Tarantino's rise to prominence, and Madeleine Arthur as Hannah Hadman, a young employee who is also Carlos' friend. Rounding out the cast of the Netflix series is Olga Merediz as Connie Serrano, an older employee at Blockbuster.
At the series’ Hollywood premiere, The Hollywood Reporter caught up with many of the crew and cast members of the show, who shared various nostalgic experiences at the store. Since Blockbuster is all about nostalgia in the face of grand changes (and about the last Blockbuster in existence), it was the perfect opportunity for the cast to reminisce. Park himself recalled, “I would spend all of Friday night in a Blockbuster because I could never decide what movie to get. I was one of those guys who would be there for hours and hours to the point where employees would ask me, ‘Are you sure you don’t need help?’ And eventually, I would choose the same handful of movies that I had rented time and time again, some that I’d seen a hundred times.”
Park was joined in his happy, nostalgic feelings by most of the cast, all of whom had stories about going to the store and renting some of its offerings. "My dad would come home early from work and pick up me, my mom and my brother. We’d get to pick out three movies at the Blockbuster by our house — one was for the whole family, one for my mom and dad to watch together and the other for my brother and I," recalled Blockbuster series creator Vanessa Ramos. "It was just a ritual of knowing that, as a family, we were going to go to Blockbuster, make some choices and head into the weekend feeling like heroes."
The series has revived some nostalgic memories for Blockbuster itself. Even the act of something simple like renting anime from Blockbuster is a beloved memory for many. For those above a certain age, the store was their version of Netflix - a place where they could go and find a film to settle in with for the night and enjoy with the family. Particularly for those who went to the store at a young age, the store represents a simpler time.
It is somewhat ironic that Netflix itself is making a comedy surrounding the store, which has resorted to many gimmicks to stay open, such as its campaign to have a sleepover in the last operating Blockbuster. It was the advent of Netflix (and Blockbuster's failure to buy the fledgling service) that spelled the end for video stores, which barely hang on in today’s market.
Blockbuster is now streaming on Netflix.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter