JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Murray Hill resident is bringing back the nostalgia of video rentals through a community exchange box painted in the iconic blue and yellow colors of Blockbuster Video, offering neighbors a free way to share and discover movies.
Aaron Bobby created the free Blockbuster box after noticing the popularity of Little Free Libraries in his neighborhood.
“That was a big inspiration, seeing all these different little libraries around town,” Bobby said. “I got to think about how I can contribute to the area, and this is right up my alley with the DVDs.”
The response has been immediate and enthusiastic, with people coming and going.
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“We got our first visitor within like 15 minutes of putting this thing up,” Bobby said. “It was as if people were just waiting for it in this neighborhood.”
The collection features a diverse range of entertainment options, including recent releases and classic films. Visitors can find everything from family favorites like “Enchanted” to action hits such as “Rush Hour 2” and “Star Wars.” The box even features VHS tapes, adding to its retro appeal.
Bobby introduced an innovative feature to enhance the experience: mystery movies.
“I made these little cases that say ‘Do not open till you get home,’” he said. “If you just don’t want to choose, you grab whatever movie is here, go home, pop the popcorn, and just pop whatever is in and watch it.”
Rick Shafer, a neighbor who discovered the box, appreciates its community-minded spirit. “Nobody’s making any money out of it. They’re just putting it out there,” Shafer said. “Hey, y’all looking for a video to watch tonight? There’s a whole bunch of them, borrow one and bring it back.”
The project has already inspired generous contributions from the community, with one person donating a trash bag full of movies to help stock the box.
Bobby plans to expand the concept beyond Murray Hill, with a second location planned for the St. Nicholas area outside his workplace. The initiative joins a growing network of free blockbuster boxes appearing across the country, reimagining movie rentals for the streaming era.
For updates on the Free Blockbuster box and its expansion, community members can follow their Instagram page at Free Blockbuster Jacksonville.
