IMDb 0 2025 HD

Planet of the Tapes

Planet of the Tapes

2025
Documentary
6 min NR Australia
0 IMDB

A Deep Dive into the life of Stephen Zivkovic, the owner of the last DVD rental store in Adelaide.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Emily Nelson / Harrison Jacobs
Starring
Stephen Zivkovic / John Fitos / Peter Trasdos / Deniel Cross

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

nostalgic authentic poignant charming niche bittersweet observational leisurely melancholic warm dated reflective

Reviews

R
Rebecca Shaw
Feb 27, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

An utterly charming and insightful slice of life, this documentary captures the soul of a community hub with precision and heart. The camera acts as a silent customer, wandering the aisles and listening to the conversations that define…

D
David Chen
Feb 27, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

While the subject matter is inherently compelling, 'Planet of the Tapes' feels like a missed opportunity for deeper critique. The film is content to be a eulogy, warmly portraying Zivkovic and his cohort without sufficiently questioning the romanticism…

C
Chloe Bennett
Feb 27, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A masterpiece of micro-history, 'Planet of the Tapes' finds profound universality in a uniquely Adelaide story. Stephen Zivkovic emerges as a folk hero of film, his store a labyrinthine treasure trove against the sterile infinity of streaming menus.…

M
Marcus Thorne
Feb 27, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This documentary serves as a competent and affectionate time capsule. The access to Zivkovic and his clientele provides a warm, human-scale look at a dying industry. However, the film occasionally leans a little too heavily on its inherently…

E
Eleanor Vance
Feb 27, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Planet of the Tapes' is a tender and unexpectedly moving portrait of a cultural holdout. The film's power lies in its quiet observation of Stephen Zivkovic, a man whose dedication to his archive feels less like stubbornness and…

FAQs

The film naturally engages with themes of obsolescence and nostalgia, but it likely delves deeper. Expect exploration of entrepreneurial passion versus commercial viability, the definition of community in a digital age, and the archival importance of physical media. It may also pose subtle questions about what we lose in convenience-driven cultural consumption, framing the rental store as a site of human connection and serendipity.