Ok, so this isn't exactly in the great tradition of stolen layout stories on this blog, but still I present to you, the frontpage comparison: Blockbuster Online and Netflix.com. Consider this more of a service comparison, since I subscribe (or have in the recent past) to both services. Blockbuster has improved over time, matching the 1-day it takes for DVDs to reach me through Netflix. Anyway, let's start with Netflix:

This has been Netflix's default frontpage for quite some time now. The only thing that has changed overtime is their dropping rates and increasing DVD collections. But a more detail analysis of the photo reveals a lot: the couple haven't even opened their Netflix envelops, they live in suburbia, eat lite unbuttered popcorn with wine and are enjoying the last season of friends on TBS. Oh and they just signed up for a 3-DVDs-at-a-time free trial, and received the first three just today! Now let's take a look at Blockbuster Online...

Ok, there seems to be a clear inspiration here, although compared to Neflix's clean-new-web look, the inspiration seems to have shot up the web designer's ass. The text is almost the same, same $9.99 deal with free trial. The only different is Blockbuster has 40,000 DVDs compared to Netflix's 45,000. But that doesn't mean shit because most of those are C grade foreign flicks or movies I wouldn't even buy at the dollar store. As far as the picture is concerned, Blockbuster seems to be targeting an urban audience, who can't afford wine and prefer heavily buttered popcorn. Oh, and they had to photoshop in the dvd envelops... cheap bastards.