VHS tapes ruled supreme from their invention in 1976 until the DVD takeover in the late 1990s. But these days, we're spoilt for choice. At the click of a button, you can pick and choose from hundreds of movies and TV shows on streaming.
However, anyone who still has their collection of VHS videos from the 70s and 80s could be sitting on a blockbuster treasure trove. The most collectible "classic" VHS movies — like Back to the Future, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Ghostbusters — could be worth $25,000 or more on vintage movies auction sites. A sealed copy of The Goonies 1986 release sold for a shocking $125,000, according to ScreenRant.
So, if you have any unopened videos still in their wrapper tucked away in the attic, or in storage, it's worth checking how much they're going for at auctions these days. You're far more likely to get a better price for an unopened, packaged videotape than for a used one.
VHS auctions are still pretty rare, but as our sister site MoneyWeek discovered, the few that are around are worth looking into — especially if you're sitting on a pile of hit movies like Star Wars, The Goonies, Superman and Rambo.
Why are VHS tapes collectible?
There's a rise in collectors in their 30s, 40s and 50s who grew up watching these movies and are now driving the value up, in a similar way to the increase in popularity of vinyl in the music industry.
Part of the recent trend is driven by a desire to own media again. As convenient as a streaming service is, viewers are at the whim of ever-changing licensing rights. Your favorite movies and shows could disappear or move to a service you don't subscribe to. The only way to make sure you'll always be able to watch what you want to watch is to own it.
As a result, formats that had been overlooked for years have become part of popular culture again. And because VHS tapes are no longer being produced, certain copies have become increasingly rare — especially if they're unopened and in mint condition.
Is your old VHS movie worth money?
The most sellable VHS tapes are the ones that were released between 1977 and 1990 and are still in their original factory shrink wrap.
What's valuable
- Blockbuster films from the late 1970s - 1980s, released on VHS prior to the 1990s
- 1980s horror films
- Sealed tapes with a studio watermark
- Some early Disney copies that were released in the early to mid-1980s like Tron , The Black Hole and collections of early Disney cartoon shorts
What's not valuable
- Most Disney animated films, e.g. The Lion King, Aladdin and Snow White
- Most opened, used VHS tapes.
- DVDs and Blu-Rays
So, if you're thinking about selling your childhood memorabilia, check with auction outlets what they will buy and what the current selling prices are. Perhaps your "old junk" might just turn out to be worth a fortune.
