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This is a comparison of Blockbuster and Netflix online/mail DVD rental service with Japanese Anime as the focus.

First the basics:

• Both offer unlimited rentals within the paid month and both have various subscription plans, we’ll look at the 3-at-a-time plans.
• Price of three at a time; Netflix $17 vs. Blockbuster $20* per month.
• Both have various warehouses throughout the US where movies are shipped and received, the closer a warehouses is to you the quicker the turn around.

*Blockbuster includes 5 in store movie exchanges per month

Minor differences:

• Mailer packing; Netflix’s mailer is larger and is more likely to damage during shipping. The Blockbuster mailer is small, feels sturdier, and is slightly easier to open. Overall Blockbuster has a better design.
• In store rentals; if you want a popular movie right away then you’d have to go to a video store. With Blockbuster, you get 5 free exchanges* of your mailed movie for an in-store movie. Unfortunately, you still have to comply with the stores rules and penalties (late fees for example).
• Watch on your computer; Netflix offers (often free) video on demand for many titles.

*with above plan.

Key differences:

Selection (Anime, see (click) image below):

Netflix is far superior to Blockbuster in its Anime/niche title selection. Not only does Blockbuster not receive new titles as soon as Netflix but they do not purchase certain titles of various series.

An example of this is Air TV volume 1. Blockbuster does not have this title available but does have volume 2 and 3 on waitlist. Netflix not only has Air TV volume 1 but all the volumes without the waitlist!

Another example of this would be the popular new releases ‘When They Cry’ volume 2 and 3. Blockbuster did not get these when they came out. As a result, they will never get these titles as the producer has gone out of business. Netflix has all the volumes in stock and available.

Availability (All titles, see (click) image, availability may change with region)

Again, Netflix runs laps around Blockbuster when it comes to availability of their titles. And this is not only with Anime but new releases too.

Usability

Yet again, Netflix wins here. Netflix groups titles with multiple volumes and allows you to add all volumes to your queue with one click. Blockbuster simply adds titles to their library individually as they get them so different title formatting are common and could cause confusion. A primitive system, however they are able to group volumes and some titles are grouped (such as Burst Angel, however they don’t have volume one).

Examples:

Full Metal Panic: FUMOFFU, Vol. 2

Full Metal Panic? FUMOFFU - Vol. 1: Full Metal Pandemonium!

-and-

Trinity Blood, Vol. 1

Trinity Blood, Vol. 6: Chapter VI

Trinity Blood, Chapter 6

Turnaround

For me, Blockbuster slowed down to a 5 business day turnaround from day-shipped to day-received. I tried different mailboxes but the turnaround was still slow. Netflix is as quick as Blockbuster used to be with an about 3 day total turnaround.

In Summary:

If you are an Anime fan, Netflix has a far better selection, availability, and is easier to navigate then Blockbuster.

If anything has changed with Blockbuster or Netflix since the publish date of this article or if you have a different opinion, please leave a comment. I read them all and will adjust this post accordingly.