Final answer:
The last movie rented from Blockbuster was 'This is the End' in 2013, as reported by Variety. The fall of Blockbuster and similar stores was due to the rise of streaming services like Netflix and convenient DVD rental kiosks like Redbox, which offered easier access to entertainment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2013, Variety reported that 'This is the End' was the last movie rented from Blockbuster, marking the end of an era for the once-mighty video rental chain.
The decline of physical media and the rental industry can be largely attributed to the convenience and rise of digital streaming services. Companies like Netflix and Redbox offered alternatives that made obtaining entertainment content easier for consumers, leading to a shift in the market and contributing to the downfall of traditional video rental stores like Blockbuster.
A key factor in the persistence of DVD rentals, despite the growth of streaming, was the convenience of services like Redbox. According to Jaime Weinman in Maclean's, Redbox kiosks were located within a five-minute drive for a significant portion of Americans, which many found more convenient than streaming.
Even Netflix, which had led the charge in streaming, encountered resistance from consumers who preferred physical DVDs.