# Question about Netflix vs Blockbuster Online **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872 "2004-12-28T03:01:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/1 "2004-12-28T03:01:11Z")
A buddy of mine is debating which service he wants, either Netflix or the Blockbuster equivalent, which to the best of my knowledge is named Blockbuster Online. The reason he’s wondering is because Blockbuster’s plan is two bucks a month cheaper. However, we have both noticed that Blockbuster has a habit of stocking edited versions of its more controversial pictures. _Bad Lieutenant_ is one example. If he signs up for Blockbuster Online, will he be getting the actual release versions of the movies, or will he be getting the sanitized, Blockbuster versions? There’s an assumption in this question that Netflix offers the unsanitized versions. If they don’t, the decision becomes a no-brainer, so any feedback regarding either service is welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/2 "2004-12-28T12:35:19Z")
> [@Ellis Dee](#): > > There’s an assumption in this question that Netflix offers the unsanitized versions. If they don’t, the decision becomes a no-brainer, so any feedback regarding either service is welcome. I haven’t seen any sanitized versions on Netflix. The only version of _Bad Santa_ they have is the unrated one, and their _Bad Lieutenant_ is NC-17. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/3 "2004-12-28T12:43:15Z")
Netflix doesn’t carry Blockbuster-style mutilated films. Plus, Blockbuster just sucks on general principal. Stick it to the man, man. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/4 "2004-12-28T13:54:31Z")
I was only with Netflix for a month, but man, was it awesome. I don’t know about Blockbuster’s mail-order/online selection, but the Netflix selection put every Blockbuster store I’ve ever been to to shame. The turnaround time was fast, and I never had a problem with the quality of the discs that arrived (although apparently their customer service is good if you need them). I can’t recommend them highly enough–sign up for the free two-week trial to see for yourselves.\* \*Or do what I did: sign up for the free two-week trial, then tell them you liked it but you’re going to quit, and then they will offer you two more free weeks! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/5 "2004-12-28T16:41:35Z")
I’d go with Netflix. I’ve gotten unrated versions of every controversial or semi-controversial movie I’ve rented. Also their customer service and turnaround time are excellent. If a movie gets lost in the mail, even if you’re the one that mailed it, you don’t get charged. If I drop a movie in the mailbox monday morning I get the next movie on wednesday. (YMMV, I live near a distribution center.) Also their selection is phenomenal. If it’s on DVD and it isn’t straight up porn, they’ve got it. I don’t know about blockbuster, but I’m guessing Netflix is worth the extra two bucks; for the unrated movies alone, if nothing else. Plus Blockbuster sucks. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/6 "2004-12-28T17:46:23Z")
I’d also go with Netflix - they have been doing the by mail business longer than Blockbuster, so they are farther ahead in terms of the learning curve for this kind of business. I’ve been with Netflix before - cancelled only because I didn’t watch enough movies to justify it. I never had any issues with finding a movie I wanted - and from what I have heard, they have a lot of distribution centers, so turnaround is fast. Susan ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/7 "2004-12-28T22:04:37Z")
Let A = Netflix Let B = Blockbuster online A(price) \> B(price) A(quality) \> B(quality) quality \> price I choose A … God I am bored ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/8 "2004-12-28T23:03:01Z")
I’ve been debating the switch to Blockbuster from Netflix too. Blockbuster is cheaper as well as giving you two “free” rentals a month from a Blockbuster store, including video games. I don’t tend to watch too many controversial films so I doubt that anything I’m watching would get the neutered effect. The only thing holding me back is that Netflix has worked for me very well so far and I’m afraid that Blockbuster doesn’t have the same selection or service. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/9 "2004-12-28T23:38:55Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > If it’s on DVD and it isn’t straight up porn, they’ve got it. They even used to rent straight up porn, back in the days when you could pay per rental instead of per month. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-netflix-vs-blockbuster-online/281872/10 "2004-12-28T23:47:55Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > They even used to rent straight up porn, back in the days when you could pay per rental instead of per month. Okay, a followup question then. Is there any service that offers an extensive selection of movies like NetFlix and Blockbuster do, but _also_ offer straight up porn? Really, it’s for my buddy. I swear. hehheh.