Blockbuster

Companiesvideo-rental

The video rental chain built by Wayne Huizenga, sold to Viacom and then killed by mail and streaming; one dedicated history, with the endgame told inside the Netflix books.

4 books

Start here

  1. Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's EyeballsGina Keating, 2012
  2. The Making of a Blockbuster: How Wayne Huizenga Built a Sports and Entertainment Empire from Trash, Grit, and VideotapeGail DeGeorge, 1996
  3. That Will Never WorkMarc Randolph, 2019

Books 4

Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eye
T2 Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs
Gina Keating · 2012 · The Netflix-Blockbuster fight, including the declined acquisition.
Open Library
Balaji S. Srinivasan
The Making of a Blockbuster: How Wayne Huize
T3 The Making of a Blockbuster: How Wayne Huizenga Built a Sports and Entertainment Empire from Trash, Grit, and Videotape
Gail DeGeorge · 1996 · The one dedicated book: Huizenga's roll-up and the sale to Viacom.
Open Library
Mohnish Pabrai
A Passion to Win
T3 A Passion to Win
Sumner Redstone, Peter Knobler · 2001 · Owner's memoir; Redstone's own case for buying and then shedding Blockbuster.
Open Library
That Will Never Work
T3 That Will Never Work
Marc Randolph · 2019 · Insider account: Netflix co-founder, including the Blockbuster pitch.
Open Library
Reed Hastings