The once-ubiquitous red kiosks of Redbox are now the target of a peculiar kind of looting. Following the company’s recent bankruptcy, people across the United States are taking advantage of the abandoned machines, emptying them of DVDs or even claiming the entire kiosks for themselves.
What happened to Redbox?
Remember those bright red kiosks at your local CVS or Walmart? Redbox, the once-popular DVD rental service, has been out of business for quite some time now.
Launched in 2002, Redbox quickly gained popularity by offering a convenient way to rent movies and video games. However, the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ eventually led to a decline in its business.
In a last-ditch effort to stay afloat, Redbox was acquired by Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (CSSE) in 2022. However, the acquisition proved to be a misstep. On June 28th, CSSE filed for Chapter 11 reorganization, listing total debts of $970 million and consolidated assets of $414 million as of March 31st. Creditors included several media businesses like Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate, and BBC Studios Americas, as well as retailers such as Walgreens, Walmart, and Vizio.
CSSE initially planned to raise funds by selling some of its assets and keeping around 100 employees. But on July 10th, the company ultimately filed to liquidate under Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Delaware bankruptcy court, resulting in the layoff of all its 1033 employees and the closure of all 24,000 Redbox kiosks, which are now just sitting around waiting to be raided by people.
People are raiding abandoned Redbox kiosks
On the Redbox subreddit, once a hub for rental reviews, users are now sharing photos of free DVDs collected from abandoned kiosks. After Redbox’s bankruptcy, some kiosks stopped charging or connecting to the internet, allowing people to withdraw DVDs for “free” until they froze or were asked to leave. While many stores have unplugged kiosks or posted warnings, some Reddit users strategize ways to gather movies under the radar.
“Fully functional machine inside a Walgreens. Only got 3 discs before I got yelled at and kicked out even though I tried to explain to them that Redbox doesn’t exist anymore,” posted one Redditor who attempted to raid a kiosk for “free” DVDs.
One individual managed to “saved” 99 movies from their local Redbox kiosk but had to pause as people continued using it, unaware of the company’s recent bankruptcy. Some stores have since placed warning signs and unplugged the kiosks. On the Redbox subreddit, discussions center on the legality of reconnecting these machines, with most advising against it. However, some users propose a covert approach: plugging in the machines after hours, taking a stack of DVDs, and then discreetly disconnecting them before leaving.
Tech enthusiasts and collectors show interest in neglected Redbox machines
Redbox’s abandoned kiosks have also become a new frontier for tech enthusiasts and collectors. Some individuals are acquiring these machines, either with permission or without, and repurposing them for various projects.
A dedicated Discord server has emerged, bringing together a community of about 300 hackers and tinkerers who are exploring the inner workings of Redbox kiosks. They’re developing custom software and firmware to unlock the machines’ potential, turning them into personalized entertainment centers or even novel art installations.
While most enthusiasts are focused on legal and ethical modifications, there are instances of individuals taking more extreme measures, such as breaking into machines or stealing them from public locations. However, the majority of activity involves simply taking advantage of the abandoned kiosks to collect free DVDs, repurpose the hardware itself, and sell the machine for scrap.