To celebrate Video Store Day 2024, actors and filmmakers share their favorite video store memories, from their VHS childhood staples to unexpected customer interactions. 

“VHS culture is why I started as a horror filmmaker myself,” says director Timo Tjahjanto, shouting out Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan as one tape that left a hockey mask-shaped impression. “I still remember how it looks. I remember the VHS. It has such a profound effect to me visually.”

Video Store Day is held annually on the third Saturday in October. In honor of this year’s celebration on October 19, 2024, Letterboxd spent the past few months asking actors and filmmakers about their favorite video store memories, including the VHSes they couldn’t help but rent over and over and over again. “When I was a kid, I think I rented Can’t Buy Me Love 35 times in a month,” Morena Baccarin admits. Adam Pearson’s childhood go-to? Child’s Play. 

At no surprise, some filmmakers have also worked behind video store counters doling out recommendations to customers, like directors Alex Ross Perry and James Ashcroft. “I rented The Mother and the Whore to Liv Tyler, and I talked her into it,” producer Robert Greene recalls. Elsewhere, Arian Moayed recounts a middle school scheme of copying tapes and renting them out to his friends for a dollar. “I’m pretty sure that’s illegal,” he says with a laugh. “I was twelve, but everyone wanted Pulp Fiction!” 

Watch the full video above for more physical media love, also featuring Sebastian Stan, Patrick Wilson, José Lourenço, Douglas Booth, Gretchen Mol, Edward Burns, Alexei Toliopoulos, Danielle Krudy, Bridget Savage Cole, Zoë Bell, Ariana DeBose and Tommy Dewey. Happy Video Store Day!