FEMAIL reveals the most popular Netflix DVD rentals of all time

Netflix announced earlier this week that it will be permanently ending its DVD-rental business after 25 years.

The movie giant thanked users who had supported the program which has seen more than 5.2 billion discs shipped since its inception.

Announcing its decision, Netflix listed a whole host of statistics including that The Blind Side was the most popular rental of all time – but what else were people watching?

Releasing a collection titled ‘DVD Netflix’s 50 All-Time Most Rented Movies,’ the brand said: ‘It’s been a wonderful quarter century of sending movies all across America.

‘Here are the 50 all-time most rented movies from the history of DVD Netflix.

‘These are the films that millions and millions of you have rented!’

Below, FEMAIL has picked out the highlights from the top 50 including the highest rated by users as well as the earliest and latest titles to feature on the list.

You can also scroll down to see the collection in full.

Most Rented: The Blind Side (2009)

The most rented film of all time from Netflix DVD was sports-based drama The Blind Side, released in 2009, starring Sandra Bullock.

Based on a true story, it follows affluent couple Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy as they take in homeless teenager Michael Oher.

Leigh Anne decides to help the youngster catch up academically before also nurturing his growth into a football powerhouse.

Unsurprisingly, the feel-good film, directed by John Lee Hancock, was given an impressive 4.3 stars out of five from Netflix DVD users.

Earliest Release: The Hurt Locker (2008)

The first rental DVD ever sent out by Netflix was Beetlejuice in 1998 – but The Hurt Locker, released in 2008, is the earliest title to feature on the all-time rentals list.

The hard-hitting drama follows a US Army bomb squad operating during the Iraq War.

It boasts an all-star cast including Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce and Anthony Mackie.

The film, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, sees the squad contending with ‘the pressures that arise from living in constant peril.’

Joint Most Recent Release: The Accountant (2016)

Ben Affleck stars in The Accountant as a financial forensics expert and trained assassin who goes to work for a dangerous criminal organization.

He is put through his paces with his employer is determined to eliminate those responsible for manipulating the company’s financial records.

But with a determined accountant – played by Anna Kendrick – hot on his trail and the Treasury Department closing in, the body count starts to rise.

The blockbuster, directed by Gavin O’Connor, is one of three titles to be released in 2016, which is the latest date of any film on the list of Netflix DVD’s most rented.

Joint Most Recent Release: Hidden Figures (2016)

Another of the most popular Netflix DVD films to be released in 2016 was biographical drama Hidden Figures, directed by Theodore Melfi.

It is set amid the ‘space race’ between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Mon?e assume the role of three female African-American mathematicians who were instrumental to NASA’s success.

With their assistance, the US space program as able to launch astronaut John Glenn into outer space, making him the first American to orbit Earth.

Joint Most Recent Release: Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Hacksaw Ridge, another 2016 release, is a World War II drama based on a true story.

It centers on conscientious objector Desmond T. Doss who becomes a hero while serving as an unarmed medic during the Battle of Okinawa.

He eventually becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.

The military movie, directed by Mel Gibson, boasted a high-profile cast including Andrew Garfield and Sam Worthington.

Highest Rated: Spotlight (2015)

Spotlight is a true story follows a team of reporters at the ‘Boston Globe’ uncover the massive scandal of child molestation as well as the cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese.

Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Stanley Tucci are among the famous faces that fronted the 2015 release.

The drama, directed by Thomas McCarthy, made quite the impact on the industry and even won two Academy Awards.

It was also popular among Netflix DVD users who awarded it as 4.5 out of five, making it the highest rated movie to feature on the list of all-time rentals.