Netflix Has One Last Surprise For Its Final DVD Customers
Netflix isclosing the original chapter of its movie rental businesswith a bundle of free DVDs that customers can keep as memorabilia. The company is shutting down its DVD rental business after a spell of over two decades, but it appears that loyalists will bid goodbye to the service with a sweet surprise at their doorsteps.
By the way, a happy clarification in response to all the news headlines out there:
We are not charging for any unreturned discs after 9/29. Please enjoy your final shipments for as long as you like! ❤️💿🍿https://t.co/lpSJHq29ZX
— DVD Netflix (@dvdnetflix)June 06, 2025
Netflix started its journey in 1997, banking on the idea that letting users order DVDs on the internet and delivering them to doorsteps would work. The idea famously stemmed from co-founder Reed Hasting’s frustration with late fee bills that came with the DVD rental business in those days.
Truly the end of an era
As the oral Silicon Valley legend goes, Netflix was birthed in a carpooling session between co-founders Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings. Netflix’s DVD-by-mail idea quickly caught on, challenging the established brick-and-mortar DVD rental businesses. A decade later, Netflix switched to the streaming platform that catapulted the company to its current status as the world’s top streaming service.
The streaming service originally had a very limited catalog, but it was the success of TV shows like “House of Cards” that encouraged the brand to go all-in on producing original content. Now, Netflix streaming covers everything from movies headlined by Hollywood A-listers and multi-season TV shows, to a stunning slate of award-winning regional content coming from markets like India and South Korea.
It was truly the end of an era, and it only seems fitting that Netflix is bringing down the curtains on its legacy DVD business with a parting gift.
