LazerDisc and Betamax might have won a few battles, but VHS won the war over the home video market. If you remembered to be kind and rewind, your old VCR tapes might be worth some serious money. From 1980s classics to Disney phenoms, these are the most valuable VHS tapes to hit the auction block.
9 Most Expensive VHS Tapes Worth Money
It’s hard to believe that vintage VHS tapes are worth anything, let alone thousands of dollars when two decades ago I was violently rewinding mine with a half-chewed pencil dug into its grooves. While none of my grubby childhood VCR tapes (which I frequently opened the lids of and stuck my fingers to the slightly sticky Mylar) would draw an auction crowd, these wildly expensive VHS tapes totally did.
| VHS Tape | Sales Price |
|---|---|
| Back to the Future | $75,000 |
| The Goonies | $50,000 |
| Beauty and the Beast | $37,777.77 |
| The Thing | $37,500 |
| Jaws | $32,500 |
| Star Wars | $32,500 |
| Rocky | $27,500 |
| Ghostbusters | $23,750 |
| Top Gun | $17,500 |
Back to the Future (1986) VHS Tape: $75,000
We’re taking things back to the past with this 1986 Back to the Future VHS tape. One of the earliest VHS tapes you can find, this copy with a double-stamped MCATM tape and wraparound MCA Home Video watermark came from Tom Wilson’s (the actor who played antagonist Biff Tannen) personal collection.
This behind-the-scenes connection catapulted the VHS movie into the auction stratosphere where it sold for $75,000 in 2022.
The Goonies (1986) VHS Tape: $50,000
VHS tapes from the 1980s are notoriously difficult to find because of how expensive the home video market was at the time. A near-mint 1986 VHS tape of The Goonies came up for sale in 2022, and performed as well as is expected for these rare tapes. One collector snatched it up for $50,000.
In the 1980s, Betamax and VHS tapes fought over winning the American home video market. While VHS won the battle, Beta tapes are rare commodities that do really well at auction. For example, a sealed Superman (1980) Beta tape recently sold for $40,000.
Beauty and the Beast (1991) VHS Tape: $37,777.77
If you know anything about Disney, it’s that it’s a money-making machine. Unsurprisingly, they had huge success with the home video market, and their Black Diamond VHS tapes are frequently sought after by Disney collectors today.
One of the most expensive recent Disney VHS sales went for an eye-watering $37,777.77 on eBay. This Black Diamond copy of Beauty and the Beast was sealed — a rare feat for any ‘90s Disney tape.
The Thing (1982) VHS Tape: $37,500
John Carpenter knew how to make a memorable villain, and it’s no surprise that his film The Thing is such a cult classic today. One 1982 VHS copy of The Thing is another prime example of these early, sealed VHS tapes performing well at auction. Boasting wraparound MCA watermarks (and featuring the rare ‘rainbow’ watermark), it sold for $37.500 in 2022.
Jaws (1983) VHS Tape: $32,500
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is the film that invented the summer blockbuster. It’s no wonder that a mint condition sealed VHS tape of the movie would sell for an impressive $32,500 in 2022. Featuring the typical wraparound MCA watermarks and iconic cover art, this early VHS tape was almost guaranteed to draw quite an audience.
Star Wars (1983) VHS Tape: $32,500
Before Disney fans cornered the market on obsessively buying merch, Star Wars fans were picking up any and everything related to the famous franchise. Naturally, the first film in the original trilogy was released on VHS as soon as possible, and it’s exceedingly rare to find one at auction in the 2020s.
Yet, a drawer box 20th Century Fox VHS copy of Star Wars popped up on Heritage Auctions in 2023. This VHS is extremely rare — only two copies of this edition are known to exist — and drew quite the buzz, eventually going for $32,500.
Related: 70s & 80s Gadgets That Made the Future Feel Just Within Reach
Rocky (1982) VHS Tape: $27,500
Though Sylvester Stallone’s Academy Award-winning film Rocky debuted in 1976, the franchise was still going strong into the 1980s. An early VHS tape of the original film would perform well at auction regardless, but this rare 20th Century Fox Video drawer box edition was destined for five figures.
In 2023, the sealed Rocky VHS sold at auction for $27,500.
Ghostbusters (1985) VHS Tape: $23,750
Ghostbusters was a massive hit in the 1980s, with new films still being added to the franchise. An original VHS copy of Ghostbusters isn’t outrageously valuable in its own right. But just like with first edition books, first print copies can add some serious value.
Combined with the rare rear RCA Columbia Home Video watermarks, this near-mint VHS tape sold for an appropriate $23,750 at auction.
Top Gun (1987) VHS Tape: $17,500
Perhaps the most interesting VHS to grace this list is a 1987 Pepsi-promo copy of Top Gun. On the cover’s back is a front-and-center Diet Pepsi logo and the words “This cassette courtesy of” above it. The unique cover makes it particularly rare and valuable, with this sealed copy selling for $17,500 at auction.
Just Like Vinyl, VHS Is Back in Business
After perusing the most expensive VHS tapes on our list, you’re probably regretting the time you donated (or threw out) your childhood tapes. But, if you were enough of a sentimental packrat like us, then today might be your lucky day.
