GameStop gets into films with MovieStop

By Danny King -- Video Business, 3/7/2008

MARCH 7 | GameStop has quietly gotten into the movie business.

The largest U.S. videogame retailer has opened about 40 stores under the MovieStop moniker in Mid-Atlantic and southern states. The stores buy, sell and trade DVDs, but do not rent. Locations either adjoin or are nearby GameStop stores.

GameStop, which has about 5,000 stores worldwide, is saying little about MovieStop. The company, which earlier this month said fourth-quarter earnings beat its forecast on higher per-store sales, doesn’t disclose MovieStop information in its public filings. Spokesman Chris Olivera declined to comment beyond confirming that GameStop owns MovieStop. MovieStop head Russ Howard declined to comment.