The feeling of nostalgia can cause people to spend hundreds on trinkets and collectibles, even if they are outdated and virtually useless. It’s true that bygone technology like VHS tapes is being sold for shocking prices to collectors and movie buffs.
These VHS tapes are no longer manufactured; those still in good shape command high dollars among enthusiasts. It makes you wish you had told your parents not to sell those Disney tapes at a garage sale for a quarter apiece.
Still, if you have any of these tapes in your home theater, you might want to dust them off. They could be your ticket to your next vacation.
1. Let It Be
The legendary Beatles have appeared in many movies, but when they allowed the cameras into the studio as they recorded what would be their final release, it was something special. You might be familiar with the iconic rooftop concert, which sadly was the last time all four members were together in a public appearance.
Released on VHS in 1981, the movie received mixed reviews, which led to a limited release. Today, Beatlemaniacs will gladly shell out $100 for a piece of rock n’ roll history.
2. A History of Violence
In the early 2000s, DVDs made older VHS tapes obsolete. By 2006, VHS tapes were just taking up space while DVDs were flying off the shelves. This led to movie studios finally deciding to nix the making of future VHS tapes.
The Viggo Mortensen hit, A History of Violence, became the last film in wide release to have a VHS version. Collectors will gladly pay $100 for this particular piece of entertainment history.
3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1982 Release)
Horror movie buffs will agree that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, originally released in 1974, greatly influenced the evolving horror genre. However, the somewhat controversial movie was re-released several years later because several companies wanted to avoid being associated with it. The result was a minimal release of VHS tapes.
Several of these tapes have fetched over $100 at auction, while one by Wizard Video went for nearly $300. The film has since been released on DVD and on streaming platforms, but true fans agree that the graininess of the VHS adds to the gruesomeness of the plot.
4. Walt Disney Home Video 1981 Releases
In the early ’80s, when the trend of at-home movies was becoming more common, Disney struggled to accept the future. They were making a fortune by re-releasing their older catalog in theatres and didn’t want to lose that revenue. Their solution to the problem was to provide VHS tapes as rentals only.
The results were a hit, and soon, they began selling the tapes instead of renting them. Still, the original VHS tapes of Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, can sell for more than $300.
5. The Evil Dead (1981) Release U.K. Variant Cover
It’s not uncommon for foreign countries to ban American horror films. This was the case when The Evil Dead, about a group of friends visiting a cabin in the woods only to meet their demise, was distributed in the United Kingdom. It took nearly two years before our friends across the Atlantic allowed the film to be sold in their stores.
Still, they had to modify the cover. The new movie cover has a banner over it saying, “Not Guilty.” This is the rarest version of the product, and collectors have bid over $300 to own a copy.
6. Halloween
Compass International Pictures.
It seems that horror fans, in general, are more likely to collect items and artwork from their favorite films, but finding a rare piece makes it even more exciting. Not only was this a rare VHS release, but it also had a misspelling on the original releases.
The Media logo on the cover of the first copies of VHS tapes is misspelled as Meda. Of course, collectors want the misspelled copy because it confirms that it is the first off the production line, making it super rare. This little blemish puts those tapes in the $500 range for serious film fans.
7. Twister
I would have never thought that the action movie about storm chasers would become a collector’s item. The film was entertaining and has sparked a sequel over 25 years in the making, but I wouldn’t say it has a strong foothold in cinema history.
Still, when a sealed copy appeared on an eBay auction in 2023, it sold for $2,000. Twister was the first format to be certified for THX sound quality.
8. Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope
The first release of the Star Wars franchise was such a cultural phenomenon that it’s no surprise that the original VHS might cost a small fortune. When VHS tapes were finally produced in 1982, they were too expensive for most families, so they were usually rented.
Most of these surviving tapes are worth money. But if you came across an original, factory-sealed tape, you could be looking at an item worth $3,500.
9. Back To The Future
The Back to the Future trilogy was one of the most iconic movie series of the 1980s. The films made Michael J. Fox a bonafide Holywood A-lister and made a generation of teenagers wish they could rip on the electric guitar and have a best friend who could create a time machine out of an old Delorean.
Collectors go crazy over memorabilia from the franchise. A pristine copy of the 1985 hit sold for $10,000 at a 2023 auction.
10. Beauty and the Beast
During the ’80s and ’90s, Disney experienced a renaissance, churning out hit after hit. The 1991 version of Beauty and the Beast was no different, and many regard the film as one of the best Disney animated movies of all time. The story spurred a Broadway musical and a live-action remake in 2017.
VHS tapes are still valuable, but the rare clamshell Disney VHS copy, particularly one featuring the classic Black Diamond label, is the most sought-after. The rarity makes this product sell for as much as $10,000 at auction.
11. Ghostbusters
Very few movies can spark a franchise that lasts almost 50 years. With the recent release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, it’s evident that fans will go crazy for memorabilia from the movies. The original cover of the VHS release featured the legendary “No Ghosts” logo instead of the more common one with a picture of the main characters.
Don’t be surprised to see these original tapes sell for over $20,000 online. Hopefully, they don’t have a spirit attached to them.
12. Rocky
The original Rocky is considered one of the most inspirational movies of all time. It is so loved that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, built a statue to pay homage to the fictional character. The film pushed Sylvester Stallone into the limelight and generated a film franchise that’s still alive and relevant in 2024 due to the recent Creed movies starring Michael B. Jordan.
Still, the original sealed copy is a treasure for collectors. Celebrity collector Pete Davidson recently admitted in an interview he collects VHS tapes and sold his sealed copy for over $27,000, which is on par with other auction sites.
13. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was the most profitable film until Steven Speilberg outdid himself in 1995 with his masterpiece Jurrasic Park. Still, the film is a classic, thus making it collectible, yet a certain edition is worth well more than the basic one.
Based on similar auctions and current demands, the movie’s 20th Foil Holographic Anniversary Limited Edition VHS in a blue clamshell case is estimated to be worth about $40,000.
14. The Goonies
Before the world was introduced to the Netflix hit series Stranger Things, Gen X and millennials were mimicking the truffle shuffle and eating Baby Ruths while watching The Goonies.
Some of those kids grew up to be wealthy and wanted to hold onto their childhood because this is the most expensive VHS tape on the public market. One sealed copy sold on eBay for $125,000. That’s probably worth more than the treasure that the kids were after in the movie.
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