19 things everyone who used to go to Blockbuster will remember

Going to Blockbusters was a cherished event for kids and parents alike. For many people in the '90s, a trip to the video store was the highlight of their weekends, and there's no doubt that Blockbuster Video was a pivotal part of American culture.

There might only be one Blockbuster left in the country, but there are certain things its loyal members will never forget.

Here are 19 things anyone who used to go to Blockbuster will remember.

You had to get a membership card.

Becoming a Blockbuster member felt like joining an elite club.

The store sold giant buckets of popcorn.

You could fill your own bucket with popcorn, which actually tasted like authentic movie theater popcorn.

It also had a huge candy section to make it feel like you were in a movie theater.

The candy section was expertly placed so you couldn't resist buying something before you checked out.

A lot of the videos and DVDs had Blockbuster logos instead of movie covers... Meaning you didn't know much about it besides the title.

The experience was like having a blind date with a movie.

Everyone wanted to avoid those strict late fees.

You had either two or seven days to return your rentals. Luckily, Blockbuster eventually got rid of the late fees.

You could also get fined for not rewinding a video.

Some VHS tapes had been rewound so many times that parts of the movie would get cut off with static.

Which is why they had those "Be Kind Please Rewind" stickers.

Rentals could be returned via slot drop-off.

In order to return your movie, you didn't even have to speak to a human.

You could buy DVDs.

If you wanted cheap DVDs, Blockbuster was the place to stock up.

You could also rent video games.

When you rented a game, you tried to get as far into it as possible before you had to return it. The whole experience was like a race against a time.

And video game consoles.

Renting an entire video game console was the height of childhood luxury at Blockbuster. It was also a way to make you more popular amongst your friends, if only for a weekend.

'90s kids will remember trying to get around the strict PG-13 and R-rated movie rules.

If you wanted an R-rated movie, you had to ask an older sibling or friend, or convince your parents that "The Matrix" was a film every nine-year-old must see.

And parents will remember dropping off their kids for hours while they ran other errands.

Blockbuster was the perfect place for parents to drop off their kids while they ran errands... or just needed some breathing room.

Especially since stores had video displays playing movies, as well as live performances to keep kids entertained.

The stores themselves had lots of cool features and cutting-edge technology (at the time). Some even had props from movies or toys you could buy.

Spending time browsing without a plan was the best.

Nothing beat wandering the aisles of Blockbuster without a specific movie in mind, and coming across something that piqued your interest. Streaming websites don't give you that same thrill.

The "New Releases" section was one of the most exciting parts.

New releases had a shorter checkout period, however.

Stores often had promotions, such as free popcorn on Tuesdays.

It was always a treat to come in to rent a DVD and find that you got something extra with your purchase.

Sometimes the movies were in the wrong cases, meaning you'd get home to a film you had no intention of watching.

The best part was that you wouldn't realize that it was the wrong movie until you got home.

For a time, they had a DVD-by-mail service to compete with Netflix.

Blockbuster had a brief stint with DVD-by-mail rentals to compete with Netflix, but it was short-lived.

For more great stories, head to INSIDER's homepage .

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyjsdKtZK2gmaO0tHnBpaaco5KqwLWx0WZpaWloYoU%3D