Case Study

Blockbuster

Not every subject is a person. The same rise-and-ruin arc runs on companies — and the ending is just as brutal.

  1. 1985

    David Cook opens the first Blockbuster store.

  2. 1993

    After bulldozing its way across the country, Blockbuster has nearly 3,600 stores.

  3. 1998

    Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph debut the Netflix subscription service.

  4. 2005

    Blockbuster's bid to take over Hollywood Video fails. The same year, sales begin to decline.

  5. 2010

    Blockbuster files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a plan to reorganize and continue.

  6. 2011

    Dish Network buys Blockbuster out of bankruptcy with plans to keep some stores running.

  7. 2019

    The Bend, Oregon store becomes the last Blockbuster on Earth.

Current Net Worth: Bankrupt