New Jersey residents launch free movie sharing boxes

Residents in New Jersey are utilizing 'Free Blockbuster' inspired sharing boxes to exchange movies, drawing on nostalgia for the defunct video rental chain. The initiative follows a model similar to free little libraries, encouraging community members to “take a movie, leave a movie.”

Currently, three public sharing boxes are located in Monmouth County, with an additional box situated in Pitman. The movement taps into the cultural memory of Blockbuster Video, which was a staple in the state during the 1990s and early 2000s. At its peak, New Jersey hosted dozens of locations, including 84 stores within a decade of the first Linden branch opening in 1987. The rise of streaming services led to the closure of the final New Jersey stores in 2013.