Twenty-five rare VHS tapes and their value
Although not a format used today, the rarest VHS tapes sell rather well. Years after the tapes were removed from regular circulation in the 2000s, there is a subculture of collectors preserving the VHS video format in the modern era of streaming. From the delight of permanently owning a film to honoring technological artifacts from a bygone era, collectors of physical media do so for many reasons; the VHS tape was the media that started the physical media collecting explosion.
From those that are obscure owing to low circulation to copies that exist with misprints and typos on the sleeve, there is a sizable group that likes hunting for rare VHS films even if they are outdated by today's standards. Usually for less than a dollar, many VHS cassettes may be purchased really reasonably readily. Some, nevertheless, are poor in availability and highly expensive for one reason or another. From beloved classics to obscure titles, VHS cassettes worth money differ in value; these rare videotapes are among the most sought-after and costly.
Tammy and The T-Rex
By most people's definition, a movie is not a good one just because it is costly on VHS. When Tammy & The T-Rex first came out in 1994, neither fans nor reviews particularly welcomed it. But due in large part to its limited original run, the movie may sell for about $100 on VHS. The odd sci-fi comedy centers on an experiment whereby scientists place a slain high school graduate's brain into a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
VHS versions of Tammy & The T-Rex were not mass-produced following the theatrical run since the movie did not acquire its cult reputation until many years later. The studio had already moved on and the tape was out of print by the time the film showed promise as a cult favorite. This alone explains why copies of Tammy & The T-Rex have become a collectors item most certainly and probably helped to contribute to their cult following.
Let's Be
Although several films have had Beatles songs, they also produced some unforgettable films themselves. When the Fab Four first burst on the scene in the 1960s, they revolutionized the music business and have been praised as among the best bands of all time. Throughout the height of Beatlemania, John, Paul, George, and Ringo made a number of videos; the last was an inside view of their 1970 last album, Let It Be.
The film is well-known for presenting the renowned rooftop concert, the last public appearance containing all four members. First released on VHS in 1981, the movie had a mixed reception and few copies were manufactured. Since authentic copies of the initial release have gone for less than $100 in the past, let it be's VHS tapes have become a coveted commodity for Beatles fans.
There has been a lot of curiosity in the documentary as outside of the VHS tapes there were none available. First time being introduced to a digital platform, the documentary is now accessible to stream on Disney+.
An Ancestral History Of Violence
Early in the 2000s, VHS tape sales were declining; A History of Violence in 2006 was the final big Hollywood film ever put on VHS. Although the film starring Viggo Mortensen is somewhat easy to find on other media, collectors see this release as a must-have since it is the last big VHS release. Though extremely seldom for less than $100, VHS copies of A History of Violence have been available for a range of rates.
As was custom in the last years of the format, the VHS of A History of Violence was published the same day as the DVD. DVDs sold far more than the VHS variant of the film by margin. This meant that, by the time VHS tapes worth money became collector's item, there weren't many copies left in circulation, so they became a must-have for people engaged in the hobby.
Batman Forever 'For Your Consideration' Tape
Over the long run of Batman films, Batman Forever is probably the one viewers remember the least. It was the first and last performance of Val Kilmer as the Caped Crusader and signaled the change from Tim Burton's gothic and dark portrayal to Joel Schumacher's vivid and campy take. Batman teamed with his teenage ward Robin to confront Two- Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and The Riddler (Jim Carrey) two new foes in Gotham City.
Batman Forever, with a particularly special edition sold for $150, is on record as one of the most valuable tapes in the franchise even if it is regarded as a lesser movie among the Batman films. Comicbook.com claims that a "For Your Consideration" Batman Forever cassette sold for that much. Oscar voters received these tapes, so they were in limited supply.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1982 Publication
Although the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series has had highs and lows, the original is still a quite powerful film. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one of the Movies that pushed the growing horror genre in the 1970s. Several firms decided to premiere the then-controversial film when it was released on VHS some later. These rare early 1982 Texas Chainsaw Massacre VHS tapes are collector's item since circulation was so small.
Among the more pricey versions of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, several of the 1982 VHS copies have sold for hundreds of dollars; one by Wizard Video went for almost $300. Certain modern listings on websites like eBay have sold for about $500 and more. Although the film is readily available on other media, many viewers say that the graininess of VHS accentuates the grindhouse mood the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre provides.
Releases of Walt Disney Home Video 1981
The Walt Disney Company was dubious when it became obvious that home video was the future. The business wanted to avoid losing money by having fans own their hit Movies as it earned good money re-releasing them in theaters. Their answer was to release a limited capacity, rent-only selection of their most highly rated films.
Released in 1981, these first VHS Disney films became quite popular right away. Disney ceased making their direct-to---rental videos after some time, then later unveiled a fresh batch of house videos. With the price often over $300, these original 1981 Disney VHS releases go for different rates online and at auctions depending on the particular title, sure to make any VHS or Disney collector eager to get their hands on them.
1981 Release UK Variant Cover for The Evil Dead
Classic horror films have often been banned in other nations, not unusual. When the Evil Dead arrived in the United Kingdom. It met the same destiny in 1981. The movie was released but soon taken off for being too terrifying, and it was under discussion in court for possible prohibition. The original movie follows a group of friends visiting a cabin in the woods only to be targeted by an evil force.
When the film was deemed to be appropriate and the ban on The Evil Dead, it was re-released with a banner over the cover saying, "Not Guilty." This variant cover has become the rarest copy of the film to date, and while there are various reports on the price, it isn't uncommon for the 1981 UK re-release VHS of The Evil Dead to go for around $300.
Sealed Copies Of The Fast And The Furious With A Watermark
The first entry into the Fast and Furious franchise was released in 2001 and became a surprise hit. While the franchise has exploded in popularity and scale since then, making this first movie seem quaint in comparison, the first movie was still considered a success. The Fast and the Furious was released on VHS and DVD in January 2002 and the DVD sales broke records, highlighting the immense popularity of the movie.
However, decades later VHS copies of The Fast and the Furious can fetch prices of $400 and up on auction sites like eBay for a sealed tape with a watermark. Unsealed copies often go for considerably less, but can still sell for sums far beyond the value of the VHS when it was released in 2002 and the format still just about existed. It could remain a popular collector's item for fans of the mega-franchise for years to come.
WCW Bash At The Beach 2000
The last Bash At The Beach before WCW was bought by WWE was in 2000, and the WCW swan song's physical release is now among the many VHS tapes worth money. The event was released on VHS for a short time before the purchase when the tapes were discontinued. With so few copies in circulation VHS copies of Bash At The Beach 2000 are a collector's item over two decades later.
While many wrestling tapes demand high prices, the final Bash At The Beach is among the rarest. Anything involving Hulk Hogan is valuable for collectors, but his final match with the WCW will be a grail for many. Hulk Hogan went off-script when he left with the belt when he should have lost it, ending his WCW relationship. This match alone adds to the price of the tape, which has gone up as high as $500.
Halloween 1978 Release With Uncorrected Typos
John Carpenter's original Halloween is easy to come by on home video, with several cheap VHS releases. Those purists who want true originals, however, have to be willing to dig deep into their pockets. The movie was first released on VHS in 1978 by Media Home Video and with a typo. Like many VHS tapes worth money, this is a collector's item not just because the movie had a relatively low number of video copies produced, but also because of an error meaning now-valuable and ultra-rare variants of an already uncommon item exist.
The Media logo on the cover of the most valuable 1978 Halloween VHS tapes is misspelled as Meda, and this is a key reason the tape is so sought after. Media later re-released the movie with an updated logo, and while some of the corrected versions are worth a fair sum in their own right, none have come close to the true original with the subtle typo in the bottom right of the cover which has been known to fetch prices as high as $500 or more.
Tales From The QuaDead Zone
One of the rarest VHS tapes worth money is a relatively unknown anthology film called Tales From The QuaDead Zone. The film itself is easy to watch online, but the VHS was released in a small quantity, being manufactured independently. The film has never been released on any other physical medium, and odds are, it never will be.
The film is nothing to write home about, but video copies of Tales From The QuaDead Zone have quickly become the most sought-after tape in VHS collecting circles. The film was extremely underground, but after the tape was featured in the VHS collecting documentary, Adjust Your Tracking, the hunt was one to find the elusive tape. In the rare instances the tape does show up for sale, it isn't uncommon for it to cost upwards of $700.
Sealed Copies Of The Twister 1997 Release
The disaster movie Twister was seen as a fun popcorn movie in the 1990s even if critics were not as enthusiastic about it as the audience was. However, its reputation and appreciation have only increased over the years, with many praising the fun action and spectacle of the throwback blockbuster, as well as an enjoyable cast. The movie is a wild ride following the daring lives of storm chasers attempting to figure out a way to better predict devastating hurricanes.
That lasting affection for the movie can perhaps account for it going for $2,000 on eBay for a sealed copy (via USA Today). Indeed, Twister was a unique VHS as it was the first of the format to be certified for THX sound quality. Perhaps with the upcoming sequel Twisters, the VHS will become worth even more.
Sealed Copies Of The 1982 Star Wars Release
It's no surprise that one of the most expensive VHS tapes ever sold is a copy of Star Wars that predates the many subsequent re-releases and the alterations that came with them. When Star Wars was released in 1977, it was a cultural phenomenon and was released on video for the first time in 1982. The entertainment market was very different in the early 1980s, and it would be far too expensive for families to buy the film. This reality led to one of the rarest VHS tapes worth money currently in existence.
Because there wasn't yet a mass market for VHS ownership, Fox first released Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope on video as a rental exclusive. This original release is not cheap by any means, regardless of the condition. But when a rare, mint condition tape still in the shrink wrap surfaced, fans flocked to bid on this piece of film history, with the final bid an astounding $3,500 (via ScreenCrush).
The Little Mermaid Banned Cover
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 Walt Disney animated film written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. It stars the voices of Jodi Benson, Pat Carroll, and Christopher Daniel Barnes, with music from Alan Menken. The plot follows a young mermaid named Ariel that wishes to abandon her life underwater and join the humans on land.
One of the things that can really increase the value of a VHS tape for collectors is if a specific printing of the item ends up being banned. One Disney animated family favorite’s first run of VHS releases actually features cover art that ended up being banned after parents protested the phallic nature of some of the columns of the underwater palace.
As a result of the banning, new cover art was created on subsequent releases of the VHS for The Little Mermaid and the original was recalled. That means there are far fewer copies of that version of the VHS and its case than there are others. The tape has been priced as high as $33,000 on auction sites like Ebay, but it’s most often listed around $10,000 as a way to entice collectors to buy it instead of outright selling it for such a hefty sum.
Original Wrapped Back To The Future Tape
Back to the Future is seen as one of the quintessential movies of the 1980s as well as one of the greatest time travel movies ever made. Michael J. Fox became a star with his role as Marty McFly, a typical high schooler in the 80s who finds himself traveling back to the 1950s where he has to be careful not to alter the past in any way while also trying to get back to his timeline.
There have been many talks of rebooting the movie over the years, but those talks have been met with a lot of resistance from those who consider it a perfect movie that should remain untouched. That kind of reputation also inspires fans to hand over big money for rare VHS tapes with a particular tape in its original wrapping selling for nearly $10,000 in 2023 (via Daily Mail).
Beauty And The Beast Black Diamond Label Release
Another one of the classic Disney animated movies is a hot ticket for VHS collectors. Beauty and the Beast is often regarded as the peak of the Disney Renaissance era and is even regarded as the best Disney animated movie of all time by many people. It was a huge box office hit and became the first animated movie to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
With its acclaim and limited release of a very specific version, the rare clamshell Disney VHS copy of Beauty and the Beast — especially one featuring the classic Black Diamond label — is an immensely valuable VHS collector's item. As a result, the Beauty and the Beast VHS value reaches into the thousands of dollars, and it's not uncommon for the Black Diamond labeled copies to sell for as much as $10,000 and upward on auction sites like eBay.
Cars Disney Movie Club Release
Though not seen as one of the great entries into the collection of Pixar movies, Cars was a hugely popular animated adventure that launched a huge franchise. Set in a world populated entirely by vehicles of different kinds, Owen Wilson provides the voice of Lightning McQueen, a successful and arrogant race car who finds some humility when he becomes stranded in a small town.
Cars is a more recent movie than many of the other rare VHS tapes, but there was a special release on video cassette that has proven rather valuable for collectors. A copy of Cars that was released as part of the Disney Movie Club sold for $14,000. The Disney Movie Club meant that there were fewer tapes sold. To add to the rarity, Cars is the last Disney movie to do a VHS release.
Top Gun Pepsi Variant
In this classic action flick, Tom Cruise stars as daring young pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Among the other students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school, he competes to be best in the class, and learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.
Another case of the specific print edition of a VHS making it worth more to collectors - and making it harder to find - is Top Gun’s so-called Pepsi variant. This version of the VHS release was not a copy sold to retailers, but instead a promotional copy for screenings.
Top Gun was sponsored by the Pepsi company, and in this case, the movie is noted to be sponsored by Diet Pepsi on the 1987 promotional copy. That makes it a rare find for collectors, and it’s been graded by professionals at $18,000. It’s much more likely, however, that those just looking for a copy of the VHS for nostalgia purposes will find the actual first release for retailers at thrift stores or on auction sites.
It’s entirely possible that with the Top Gun sequel released more than 30 years later, the value of both versions of the VHS could continue to go up.
First Edition Fantasia
Fantasia is an animated musical film from Disney that tells eight different stories set to the compositions of Leopold Stokowski. The core story follows Mickey as an apprentice of the powerful sorcerer Yen Sid, with Mickey disobeying him as he finds his hat, bestowing him with incredible power. Attempting to harness it for himself, Mickey loses control of the power, beginning an anthology of visually striking performances while he tries to set things back to normal.
Because Disney used to release VHS tapes in limited quantities for specific collections and then put them “back in the Disney vault,” there are actually quite a few animated movies that people grew up watching that are incredibly rare and valuable today.
Fantasia, Disney Animations' third movie to be released in theaters in 1940, didn’t get a VHS release until 1990. It’s now one of the most valuable animated Disney movies on VHS if a fan can find one. The movie, which includes eight animated shorts with no dialogue and an impressive soundtrack, has captivated audiences for decades.
What makes the 1990 release so valuable though is that when the movie was released on DVD for the first time, not all of the soundtrack was original. In restoring the movie and transferring it to the new format, the original sound had actually deteriorated. Parts of the soundtrack had to be rerecorded for DVD, so it’s not the original 1940 sound. The 1990 VHS has been listed on auction sites for upwards of $20,000.
First Print Ghostbusters Tape
Ghostbusters is another beloved movie of the 1980s that has continued to maintain a lasting legacy decades later. The movie stars Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson as a group of scientists who begin a new business as paranormal exterminators who capture ghosts that have been terrorizing New York City. However, they find themselves facing a real threat when an evil spirit attempts to take over the world.
With Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire coming out earlier this year, there is still a lot of interest in the Ghostbusters franchise. However, it was a very specific and special VHS release that fetched the massive price of $24,000. The tape sold at an auction in 2022 was the first print that included a rare cover that was the iconic "no ghosts" symbol rather than the cover depicting the main characters.
