News: 0179370710

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Paris DVD Rental Store in Last Stand Against Streaming Giants (reuters.com)

(Friday September 19, 2025 @11:01AM (msmash) from the dying-species dept.)


An anonymous reader shares a report:

> JM Video, one of only two remaining DVD rental stores in Paris, is a focal point for film lovers and visited by actors like Brad Pitt when they are in the city, but the ever-growing competition of streaming platforms means this Paris institution is fighting for survival. Choice is not the problem: JM Video has a library of more than 50,000 films, more than some 5,000 on offer at any time on Netflix and more than the catalogues of all the major streaming actors combined. "It's one of the few places in Paris with a real film collection, you can find things here that you cannot find anywhere else," said movie buff Virginie Breton, who rents DVDs several times a week. But [1]not enough to keep JM Video afloat .

>

> Sky-high Paris property rents and a dwindling customer base, combined with the arrival of ever-more streaming services like Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+ and Apple TV+ are squeezing the life out of the cave-like shop, where DVDs spill out from floor-to-ceiling racks. Founded in 1982, JM Video was one of around 5,000 video rental shops in France at the end of last century, well before Netflix switched from being a DVD rental outfit to a streaming pioneer around 2010. Now, France has only about 10 DVD rental shops, two of which are in Paris.



[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/paris-dvd-rental-store-last-stand-against-streaming-giants-2025-09-19/



Be brave as a rooster (Score:2)

by phantomfive ( 622387 )

I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere the French motto is, "Never surrender!"

Be brave you lone two Paris video stores.

Re: (Score:2)

by Valgrus Thunderaxe ( 8769977 )

the French motto is, "Never surrender!"

They were joking.

Everybody hates BluRay the name (Score:2)

by jacks smirking reven ( 909048 )

I know some people are still rocking 480p DVD's but its 2025 and most films are in HD resolution on BluRay but I do enjoy that DVD has remained the common parlance for disc based video. It'd just a better name.

Bluray may have won the format war but HD-DVD should have remained the name, it's just more natural. [1]Of course watching this years ago I still find myself saying "doovde" [youtube.com]

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QBHukn8Qm8

Re: (Score:2)

by bjoast ( 1310293 )

> Yo, wanna watch it at my place on eichdeedeeveedee ?

Yeah, great name...

Re: (Score:2, Funny)

by Gavino ( 560149 )

Given that it is French, maybe they call it, "Sacre Bleu-ray!"

USA as movie-rental places as well (Score:1)

by davidwr ( 791652 )

There's a chain with stores in Idaho, Texas, Tennessee, and most states in between that rents, sells, and buys DVDs, Blu-rays, and more.

Re: (Score:2)

by Valgrus Thunderaxe ( 8769977 )

Does it have a name?

Re: (Score:2)

by dbialac ( 320955 )

I've read that DVD is making a comeback. People can buy the movies they like on eBay for cheap and not have to pay a monthly fee or risk losing access to a movie they want to see that was previously included but now has to be purchased.

sad case (Score:1)

by noshellswill ( 598066 )

Parisians have seemingly slid (stumbled?) into the bog of content consumption. I presume France maintains public parks, sea-shores, woodlands and trekking venues. How does some overpaid illusionists fantasy compare to the immensity and beautiful savagery of native environs ? Don't go naming a few creative works of art ... as Picasso observed damned-near every art-form produced after 20-K BC is simple decadence. Create your own joy and endorphin-goading hi! If anyone the French ought to be held t

Re: (Score:2)

by necro81 ( 917438 )

Jeeze, and I thought Parisians were snobs. Not everything on streaming is devoid of value. Do you hold yourself to the same impossibly high standard ("Create your own joy and endorphin-goading hi [sic]!")?

Re: (Score:2)

by JaredOfEuropa ( 526365 )

The real sad case is that there's nothing in the vast collection of film and TV that suits your taste. There seems to be plenty for everyone else.

Sigh (Score:3)

by excelsior_gr ( 969383 )

So, you are telling me there is a place where the subscription costs nothing, you pay as you watch, and the catalogue is larger than everybody else's combined? Where do I sign up?

Re: Sigh (Score:2)

by Zero__Kelvin ( 151819 )

Paris

Re: Rental? (Score:2)

by Zero__Kelvin ( 151819 )

DVD rentals are like prostitutes. You don't pay to be able to have them. You pay for them to leave afterwards.

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