The Blockbuster Battle: A Historical Call to Action
Originally reported by The Digital Bits, this page documents one of the most intense consumer-led battles in the history of home video. In the early 2000s, Blockbuster Video—then the dominant force in movie rentals—shifted toward a policy of stocking only "Full Screen" (Pan & Scan) DVDs, effectively sidelining the original theatrical vision of thousands of films.
ARCHIVAL RECORD: Blockbuster's Official Corporate Response (Circa 2001)
"The movie studios determine whether or not to release their DVDs in standard (full-screen) or wide-screen versions. It is our preference... that because of the versatility and storage capacity of DVD technology, DVDs include both versions on one disc. In the past... separate versions caused confusion amongst our customers. To minimize dissatisfaction, we have chosen to carry only one version of a title on DVD, and our research has shown that more customers prefer the standard than the wide-screen version."
This response sparked outrage across the enthusiast community. Readers and actual Blockbuster employees reported that the "confusion" was largely due to a lack of consumer education. Ironically, Blockbuster's own television advertisements for titles like Jurassic Park III showed widescreen clips and cover art that were unavailable for rental in their stores.
The Community's Five-Point Plan
To combat this policy, Widescreen Advocate and the wider home theater community organized the following historical counter-strategy:
- Direct Pressure: Thousands of phone calls were made to Blockbuster's customer service hotline and their world headquarters in Dallas, Texas.
- The Widescreen Petition: An online petition gathered over 25,000 signatures to demonstrate the massive demand for OAR.
- Retail Education: Enthusiasts utilized resources like The Bits' "Anamorphic Guide" to teach local store clerks and customers why the "black bars" were necessary.
- Consumer Defection: Advocates actively encouraged the community to "Try another video retailer," hitting the giant where it hurt—the bottom line.
This battle highlighted a dangerous precedent: the possibility of studios abandoning widescreen support entirely if rental giants refused to stock OAR copies. The eventual victory (documented in our Victories Section) remains a testament to the power of a vocal and organized consumer base.
~ Wider is Better. ~