Best DVD/Video Store

Sure, Netflix has outstanding original programming, but when it comes to discovering independent movies curated by people with intelligent taste in films, you can't beat Videodrome. Open since 1999, the DVD rental store specializes in new releases of critically acclaimed major studio offerings, offbeat art-house films, foreign-language classics, music documentaries, great American directors' catalogs, and those really weird skin-flick horrors in the side room. And they're open seven days a week till midnight in case you get a late-night craving. less...

A video store with thousands of titles isn't worth much if it doesn't have anything you want to see – or if you have to sort through loads of straight-to-video crap to find the good stuff. That's why VIDEODROME is such a treasure. It's got the latest indie, Euro, documentary, TV series, Hong Kong, anime and underground releases and re-releases. But the real value of the shop is in its carefully curated back catalog, broken down into sections for schlock, gay, Danish, martial arts, cult, etc., with a healthy dose of Criterion films – and without the usual Adam Sandler and teen rom-com dreck. You've got to respect any video store that gives equal treatment to Frank Capra and Lucio Fulci. less...

Don’t let some nationwide chain — or your Netflix queue — dictate which films you check out next. If you really want to broaden your horizons, head to VIDEODROME. Like some kind of bizarro-world version of Blockbuster, here it’s the “mainstream” films that get pushed into the back corner. Tarantino himself would be impressed by its Shaw Brothers section, and nearby shelves are exclusively dedicated to the finest in Hong Kong, Korean, German and Russian cinema. It also has a stand-up comedy section with every special Eddie Izzard has ever recorded. That alone is reason to stop by. It’s also probably the only place in town you’ll find Dementia 13 (a cheapo, B-movie horror flick that happens to mark the directorial debut of one Francis Ford Coppola) sitting right next to The Godfather trilogy. less...

Bless you, VIDEODROME, for not requiring cards when we rent movies. It's so liberating - boldy being cardless in an age when even grocery stores demand you attach those stupid fobs to your keys. Your counters are free from the landslides of candies and pre-packaged popcorn as if to say, "No, we rent movies. We're so good at it we don't need that other crap." And you don't, with an ever-growing DVD collection of art house, cult and midnight movie selections, as well as a few certifiably cool mainstream choices. Plus, the selection of TV shows from HBO and BBC rock our world. "617 N. Highland Ave. 404-885-1117." less...

The proliferation of DVD commentaries and extras has transformed casual, recliner-borne viewers into an armada of armchair critics. And as every movie geek knows, it's not "what" you know so much as "how much". Stepping in to feed the need is VIDEODROME. It straddles the line between art house and cult, but also stocks the cutting edge, with classics of anime and gore, as well as more traditional cinema of all genres. Foreign films are categorized by country, and auteur films are categorized by director. There are healthy anime and documentary sections, too. They even stock VHS for those still partying like it's 1999. "617 N. Highland Ave., 404-885-1117." less...

It's facing competition from young upstart stores, but MOVIES WORTH SEEING, with nearly 9,000 titles, remains Atlanta's finest source of cult classics, art flicks, schlock oddities and the kind of foreign titles that your neighborhood Blockbuster has never heard of. The store's organization makes it truly a place for those with celluloid in their blood, as it groups films by director, genre, country of origin and "upgrades," conveniently collecting restored or refurbished editions in one place. "1409 N. Highland Ave. 404-892-1802." less...

1409 N. Highland Ave. 404-892-1802 If you ever needed a reminder that Blockbuster sucks, this place is it. Classic Hollywood, French New Wave, cult flicks, silent films, mind-expanding documentaries, current foreign releases, reissues and special editions - all grouped by director, by country, by sub-genre. Now with an ever-expanding DVD selection, this store has spent more than a decade living up to its name. less...

1409 N. Highland Ave. 404-892-1802 They're the best in terms of foreign films and in terms of the quality of their films. I tend to navigate toward independent films, and the selection there is better than at a larger chain. The staff is knowledgeable about their movies, and they're generally able to recommend other films in the same genre as what we're looking for. less...

Hate to be nitpicky, but there's just one problem with the readers' choice for DVD store (besides the fact that it ain't a store): They don't sell DVDs! But they do carry a larger selection of DVD hardware than any two stores could hope to stock, from basic $199 DVD players to a $22,000, 50-inch, wide-screen plasma TV. less...

Granted, Blockbuster and Hollywood have huge selections of videos, particularly new releases, and they're steadily building their DVD collections. As their names indicate, Hollywood blockbusters are their stock-in-trade, so if you always wanted to see Top Gun and never quite got around to it, Blockbuster or Hollywood are the places to go. But if foreign films, cult flicks, truly independent releases, obscure documentaries and Japanese anime are more your speed, Atlanta is blessed with three excellent sources of non-mainstream video viewing. For 15 years, Atlanta's singular go-to place for intelligent video viewing has been Movies Worth Seeing (1409 N. Highland Ave., 404-892-1802). Besides the requisite sections devoted to children's movies and new releases (which is sure to include titles you've never heard of, much less seen), the store is divided primarily into sections devoted to directors, countries and genres. Always wanted to see the entire oeuvre of Jim Jarmusch? It's all there in one handy area. Want to bone up on '50s crime drama? Just hit the Film Noir section and find classics you never knew existed. Been longing to check out that naughty '60s flick that had your parents' panties in a wad, I Am Curious (Yellow)? Check out the Swedish section. Having set the standard for intown video stores, Movies Worth Seeing is finally getting some competition in the marketplace. Videodrome (617 N. Highland Ave., 404-885-1117) opened two years ago and is designed much like Movies Worth Seeing, Velcro pull-tabs and all. But Videodrome has it all over Movies Worth Seeing, aesthetically speaking. Not only does the carpeting and tasteful lighting look brand-spanking new, but so do the videos. In addition to a huge foreign film section, there's an excellent selection of anime and Asian action flicks, as well as horror and exploitation films in the Midnight Movies section. Though not in the same league as the previous two stores, The Village Vidiot (543-B Stokeswood Ave., 404-880-0052) in East Atlanta is sure to fill in your movie-viewing gaps. This small, dimly lit store has an eclectic selection that no doubt reflects the owner's personal viewing habits. Much of the space is devoted to Asian action flicks, horror/gore and anime, but it also boasts a small, unusual foreign film section and an entire section devoted to Women in Prison. If you're looking for classic American movies or new releases, though, you'd best go elsewhere. less...

This is a dangerous place for a videophile to visit, financially speaking. The former Access DVD is a credit card company's wet dream: After watching The Fifth Element in one of the store's kick-ass home theaters for even five minutes, you begin to calculate how your food and shelter budget can be slashed so you can bring home one of those wide-screen TVs and a THX surround sound system. And the DVD selection? They sell 'em, they rent 'em, they buy 'em. And they've got special sections for Japanese animation and Criterion classics. One warning: It's closed on Saturday. less...