This is an artsy film rental place, please don't ever compare it with the tasteless Blockbuster DVD rental store. I'm not speaking of its interior design, but of its content. First off, videotheque has all the films arranged by country, directors and genres. The entire collections are emphasized on independent, foreign, classic, documentary, rare and cult film favorite, both old classic and new releases. Even this store is not that big (4 main aisles vertically), you'll find yourself spending endless time browsing through its amazing collections. What are the new releases from this director? from Germany? What are the films that relates to the current political topics? What's the current trend for this genre? One helpful tip is that sometimes, staff will write a personal review at the DVD package. I've found myself getting lost in this little store numerous times. The friendly staff are very knowledgeable and will help you to pick the right one. This is a great place to venture out with different kinds of independent and unique films, when you're sick of all those mainstream Hollywood movies like I do. Since it's located in the heart of South Pasadena, I'll usually stop by this place after visiting Buster's coffee shop across the street. Goldline station and farmer's market is next to it, and there's a really cute make-up boutique that just recently opened next door as well. read more

Few other establishments within 15 minutes of me could allow me an Edgar Wright marathon. Thank you. read more

Videotheque - I parked here. . .(thumbs up). - Music & DVDs Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Criterions on sale the second you walk in the door. this place slaps

Videotheque is a welcome escape from the rat race with its chill atmosphere and dozens of DVD and blu-ray-filled shelves. Parking on the street is easy and the hours are late enough that I was always able to visit post-rush hour. Their rental selection is better than iTunes and costs about the same per movie. I was able to find gems such as Jacques Demy's "Model Shop," discs from the normally unaffordable Borzage Murnau and Fox DVD boxset, Ken Russell's OOP "Women in Love," and an imported DVD of 1968's "Isadora." (There is yet to be an American disc release of "Isadora," so I was impressed they had a region 1 DVD at all, despite its so-so picture and sound quality.) It's really nice to be able to rent movies for more than a day, so you can really take your time with rewatches or special features. Rentals are 3 days for New Releases and 7 days for the rest of the catalogue. Also, you can buy bundles of rentals to save money. I usually would buy a pack of five rentals, so I could rent a couple movies and swap them for different titles when I returned them the next week. I've seen other reviews that criticize the employees' attitudes. Now, I never asked for help, but the employees were never rude to me and always let me browse in peace. No complaints here. I definitely recommend Videotheque to movie lovers who want a quiet place on the east side of the Los Angeles area to search for their next New Favorite Movie. read more

What gal wouldn't want Videotheque as their neighborhood video store? Whenever I feel like staying in and watching a good old classic, foreign language, indie, or hard to find flick, I head on over to Videotheque. The rentals are cheaper than any chain, the employees are extremely helpful, and they have movies that you can't find at places like Blockbuster. They have even waived my late fees a couple of times- need I say more? I read more

I love this place. I try to stop here just to just to browse the isles. They usually have whatever weird foreign title that your trying to scope. What I really like about this place is that they aren't afraid to stock bootlegs of titles that might not be available or not on DVD. Todd Hayne's first film Superstar, one he made with Barbie Dolls about Karen Carpenter. Tell your friends. read more

I love videotheque. Their french sections are amazing. They have great film related t-shirts as well. Long live videotheque.

LOVE that we still have a videostore around. Just like a good bookstore, there its so awesome to go in and browse. In a day of netflix I truly enjoy doing this, something much more fun about picking out a video in the store. They have pretty much every title you could wish for...And the owner is a doll!!!!!!!! read more

My favorite place to get DVDs. They have many of the best movies ever made -- the stuff on the shelves will blow your mind, make you weep like a baby, or scare you out of your wits! Don't know where to start? Ask one of their in-house experts. They are sure to find something you'll like. read more

I love the place itself. It's got some great selections. Good records as well. BUT. Customer service isn't always the best. Some of the younger workers can be off putting in different ways. One person mumbled the entire transaction. Another was harsh and rude and covered in hickies. Like I said, it's a great, fun nostalgic experience up until you go and check out your videos. Also was given a wrong movie last time I went there. read more

Vidéothèque is simply the best. Even if I can find a title on a streaming service I'd always rather get it from Mark's store because a) Blu-ray and DVD always look better than streaming and b) it feels great to support this local business. Mark is extremely knowledgeable about cinema history, as his friendly staff. I love that this place sorts films by director, actor and region rather than simply by genre; it's a cinephile's dream. They've also been very helpful during COVID, taking extra precautions and being lenient with a couple of my late fees my favorite store in LA!!! read more

They have some rare, hard to find movies here. I hear its run by film students so they definitely know the ins and outs of the movies they rent. There's tons of movies I've never heard of. The best thing is that foreign films are organized by country. There were so many to choose from but we were in a hurry so we chose one of Almodovar's films. Beware of hipsters. read more

The best video store in town. They are friendly and helpful and have the best selection of hard-to-find titles.

My wife and i both love this place. Sometimes the selection is very overwhelming, but in a good way. You can find some very obscure titles and genre's at videotheque that you wouldn't find anywhere else. The staff is always friendly, and i think the prices are reasonable. Consider it a boutique video rental, and appreciate it for its worth. Videotheque makes me want to go to the discotheque! read more

What a gem! If you're looking for something unique to watch, this is definitely the place to go. They also have new releases before streaming. read more

So freaking amazing. A dead media wonderland. Besides their incredible collection of videos that actually matter (ie not a ton of mainstream garbage) they have a surprisingly good heap of vinyl for sale, as well as some cool shirts and posters. If this place sold more books I'd move in. Just as an example, if you want to watch Jacques Demi's "Model Shop" there's nowhere else to get it. You can't stream it or rent it online, it's out of print on dvd. Yet they had it. And where else could you rent "Pierrot Le Fou", Ozu's "Good Morning" and buy a copy of Johnny Thunders' "So Alone"? No where. Long live Videotheque! read more

Could this place get better? I didn't even have to finish saying the title of a film I was looking for before the owner bustled on over to exactly where it lived with a little smile. So completely wonderful. I needed to wander around and get inspired. I needed to see some new-to-me movies. I could easily have spent the entire night in there reading the backs of every case. Please do give yourself a gift and go support a wonderful, local, lovely business. read more

I'm more than happy each time I take myself to Videotheque. It's exciting for me. It's nice to get back into the physical world of movie rentals. They've had everything I could think of so far. At first it was a little trying getting around their framework. They like to go by directors, nationalities, actors, what not, but you get the hang of it after a while. I go mad in there. I love it. They actually manage to break up their collection in inspiring ways for the customers. The people there are nice enough, helpful. They actually have a pretty big staff. They carry it all. It's not just an auteur/art house haven. It's a movie haven. They work hard to keep the place up and running for the next person through the door. I waited over 4 years to take my ass to Videotheque. All the wonders and distractions of alternative movie renting was just too much to take. read more

I love Videotheque!! I hope they stay around for a long time. I'm so sick of the poor selection on Netflix. Videotheque has a great collection, and I like how they're organized, such as by director! You can also buy movie memorabilia and records. read more

Mark was so sweet and accommodating when I needed to remotely get a gift card for a friend. It's rare to find this kind of customer service in LA. I highly recommend this unique gem of a spot. Thanks Mark! read more

A rare jewel on a nice street near the South Pas (Mission St.) Goldline station. This is the place where movie lovers congregate and rejoice in one of the few remaining rental stores that hasn't become a cafe/video-game/potato-chip purveyor. The owner and staff know their movies. The foreign collection is outstanding and organized by country. Other features are organized by genre or director. Support this independent business that is dedicated to movie lovers! read more

We used to be big fans of this place !! Extremely disappointing and upsetting. I while back, Not only were we falsely billed $76 for two movies, My wife was embarrassingly kicked out of the store when She went in to fix the problem. We were billed $76 for supposedly not returning two movies which I personally did via the outside return slot. (A Breath of Scandal and Gilda) The extremely rude employee told my wife that she must not be looking for them well enough at my home. Really? $76 in late fees and replacement fees because they didn't account for them when they were returned. NOT OK. read more

While I am a Netflix junkie, there are some things you cannot rent on iTunes or find on Netflix -- like Last Picture Show. Absolutely found it at Videotheque! Thanks for a great selection and awesome staff. I have always had great customer service there. read more

I love this video store, even if they have a crappy, expensive overdue policy that no other video store in their right mind has. I can find titles here that I cannot in any competitor's store. However, you have to be careful. Sometimes the staff just doesn't care, and doesn't keep the DVDs clean. Sometimes the customers don't care, toss around the DVDs and return them gouged and scratched. And so you can rent a title and take it home with great anticipation, only to find that it skips intolerably even after a proper cleaning. I have learned now to inspect the platter before I leave the store, to save myself the hassle of having to complain to get at least a store credit, if not a refund, for an unplayable title. read more

Found a nice little selection of vinyl here. Cool repressings.

hands down, this is the best video (or DVD) rental place in the area. they organize by actor, director, new releases & category. they have a ton of international, art and indie films (which i'm into), as well as your standard new releases (which inevitably the person i'm with is into). what i used to think was their porn section, is really their DVDs for sale section, dividing the room by a rack of movie posters...i was just so scared to look in there, until i thought i'd write a review! the store is accross the street from buster's coffee shop, so it's easy to spend the afternoon checking out movies while sipping on a cafe con leche. read more

Looking for a Russ Meyer, Dario Argento, Jim Jarmusch or Takashi Miike flick? Exactly. For those that aren't moved by that Forest Gump-Titanic bullshit, this is for the true cinema freak. read more

I should begin this review by saying that it will be very biased in favor of Videotheque. As well it should for after all, I work there! I stumbled upon Videotheque about two years ago. Any store that has sections for Seijun Suzuki and Abbas Kirostami and where you can find Godard poster after Godard poster staring at you from every conceivable space is OK with me. So I became a customer there. Later, my brother and I became very happily employed there. In agreement with a previous review, one of Videotheque's great virtues is that while it caters to the cineastes, there is no air of stuffiness or snobbishness. If you're looking for a copy of 'Closely Watched Trains' or 'Chimes at Midnight,' we got them. But we also carry a dozen copies of Norbit or Apocalypto just in case you're in the mood for something less "artsy." On top of possessing a wide selection of films for rental, we also have a great many deal of films for purchase. Finally, we have a unique selection of film themed t-shirts available. I still remember the tears that welled in my brother's eyes the day he bought his Ozu shirt from there. Finally, I have a retort to the previous reviewer regarding our customer service. I have never worked in a place where the staff was so willing and eager to help customers find what they need. As for what that other reviewer heard, keep in mind that anybody who has worked in the retail or service industry know all too well the threat of the occasional jerk that can walk in through your business' door at any time. I am quite certain that the guys cracking the joke were just letting off some steam. Believe me, we get some wild ones coming in every now and then. And while it would be nice to adopt the temperament of a good natured doormat in such situations, sometimes you just need to say a little quip. At least to yourself so as to preserve a tiny shred of your sanity and dignity in the face of some jag-off mouthing off about why he has to pay a late fee event though he was several weeks late (yes, this has happened). In fact, I would say that the staff is by far the friendliest I've ever seen at a video store and I'm not saying that because I'd like to keep getting a check from this place. Good luck finding this kind of help at your precious Netflix! So come on down and say hi to Paul, Grace, Erin, Mark, the other Mark, and all the rest! We'll make sure to put aside a copy of 'Sisters of the Gion' or 'White Chicks' just for you. read more

This is my favorite place to go to rent movies! They have a great selection of films that range from mainstream to rare. I usually go here to rent French films, which they have a wide variety of. Sometimes I go without having any idea of what I want to rent. I just go, browse, and pick out a few titles. Videotheque categorizes their films by country, director, and genre. If you can't find something, one of the friendly staff members will help you. Everyone there is so nice. I never feel uncomfortable asking a question or chatting with one of them. Recently, I called in about a film, which they gladly set aside for me. I also like that there are rental packages. While I think their prices are already reasonable, these packages help save you money. There are also things available for purchase. I've never really looked through this section, but I've seen some nice posters and shirts. I will probably buy something here one day. One feature of the shop that never fails to impress me are the drawings on the whiteboard. They change occasionally and I check the whiteboard every time I'm there to see if there's something new. I live a lot closer to many Blockbusters and other chains, but I prefer to go to Videotheque. If I lived closer, I would be there every day. read more

Places like this give me hope that not every good thing will be subsumed into devices and clouds. Tucked into a small space near the Mission Gold Line Station, Videotheque is the perfect antidote to the tired resignation I feel cycling through Netflix's handful of movies I might like (...or not). The music was good, the staff was helpful and funny, and the selection of classics, indy, and foreign films is impressive. Now if only there were one in Pasadena proper... read more

i really dig this place but i have to knock a star off for the queer films being in the experimental section, kinda lame :~( but otherwise this is a cool spot read more

The best. The the last unicorn. Videotheque, never go away.

The best DVD store I've seen in LA. The videos are arranged by series/director/genre rather than title (thank god). It's small and not annoying and the people who work there seem to like movies. It's not just for film snobs (in fact, it doesn't have a snobby vibe), it's for people who want to see good movies. read more

Brightly lit, very well stocked video store. Not dingy like the other independent video stores in other parts of LA. Great service, knowledgable staff. I'll be back. I mean, in a week to return my movie, but also in the future. read more

This place is my new favorite discovery! I feel like a kid in a candy shop. There are some candies here by the way. It's a beautiful library of film. There are many international selections of classics and pop. I love the way the owner organizes his films as well. He'll have them listed by director, actor, or country of origin in many cases. I love this, it creates a more connected experience to film. I can discover an entire collection at my finger tips. From obscure selections, to current television series, there is a lot to choose from at a great price. You get a week on most movie rentals for around $4. Anyone who loves film, is looking for something they can't find, or looking for an engaging way to discover some great cinema should check out Videotheque. read more

This is a great place for movies because of their selection. Blockbuster, when it was around, carried popular movies. Videoteque carries hard-to-find foreign, indie, and documentary films. LOVE the selection at Videoteque. read more

Great selection! They have the stuff you can't find anywhere else and they staff is very helpful and knowledgeable.

Great throwback. Too bad I don't get there often enough. I found "Street Fight", the amazing documentary about the Baltimore mayoral race. Couldn't find it anywhere else! The store is packed with great titles and friendly service.. read more

I second what everyone else said! This is an incredible shop. Sometimes you just feel like watching Future Shock with James Brown. Well, this is where you go to rent it!!! Blockbuster won't even know what you are talking about. They're all Nights in Rodanthe over there. I had to stop frequenting Videotheque because I don't know how to return videos on time. It's not their fault. It's my fault. They didn't ban me. I banned myself!! And when I get my act together and buy a calendar and a clock and realize what Wed before noon means....well, then I'll go back to frequenting this shop. Until then, I highly recommend Videotheque to all the responsible renters out there!! read more

I could spend hours and hours in this store dreaming of all the movies I'd like to rent. The categorization of the videos makes it easy for you to browse. Clean store, tons of selection. Unfortunately, it is just a dream. 4.75 for a video is more expensive than chain stores and even at the discount, which you have to pay a lump sum per # rentals upfront, is twice as much as I would pay at an independent video store, i.e. Interact in Pasadena. I just bought a subscription to Netflix so I'll use this store to help pick out my selections. The prices here really need to be more competitive since these days you can't really afford to throw money around on rentals. read more