I signed up for Netflix in 2006 because I loved silent movies, especially the films of Buster Keaton. I was checking out movies at the public library but ran out of options, and I had to rush to watch the films I checked out because there was a shorter checkout timeframe for movies versus books.

So, when I ran out of options and did not want to pay any more fines for turning the DVDs late to the library, I decided to look online for movie rental options. That is when I learned about Netflix and decided to take a chance and try the service out.

I was excited about my first rental, which was The Love Nest (1923), directed by Buster Keaton.

From then on, I was a devoted fan of seeing a red envelope in my mail for the next 17 years. It opened my mind to Italian cinema, where I went deep and expanded my knowledge of the Criterion Collection. And it gave me nostalgia because I rented movies I haven’t watched in years.

So I was devasted when I heard that Netflix decided to terminate its DVD program this year. I guess it makes sense that most media is on streaming apps, but I will dearly miss seeing that red envelope in my mail. I opted into getting ten discs mailed out to me, but I feel it won’t be the same. I feel like am one of the very few groups of movie fans that was still part of the service, but at least I hung on until the end. Fortunately, I subscribe to many streaming services to feed my movie mind, but I will still miss this part of Netflix.

What do you think about this service ending? Comment below!!!