This digital Blockbuster clone is a beautiful nostalgia trip

Compared to other “what to watch” sites like JustWatch and Reelgood, BingeBuster is more joyful to navigate. But it’s also a reminder that some elements of physical media aren’t so easy to replicate.

Perusing the digital aisles

Jared Newman / Foundry

BingeBuster does at least manage to capture the serendipity of browsing a video store’s shelves.

Each shelf seems to be arranged at random, with B-movies appearing alongside films with critical acclaim. There’s no way to refine the options within each genre, and the store provides no ratings or reviews. In a way, the lack of any algorithmic recommendations is refreshing.

Jared Newman / Foundry

Still, the site does offer a few modern accommodations: Each movie includes a link to its trailer on YouTube, and you can add any movie to one or more watchlists. If you’re unsatisfied with the films on the shelf, clicking the “Restock” button swaps them out for new picks. There’s also a basic search function, which is helpful when one movie reminds you of another.

Once you’ve settled on a movie, BingeBuster lists all the streaming services where it’s available, and you can jump directly to the corresponding page on each service’s website. BingeBuster doesn’t cover every service, but it supports the major ones including Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV, and Tubi.

Jared Newman / Foundry

Other “what to watch” sites are much more thorough in their recommendations. JustWatch, for instance, lets you narrow results down by Rotten Tomatoes scores, age ratings, and release year, while Reelgood lets you dig into subgenres such as Supernatural Drama and Parodies.