15 VHS Tapes That Are Worth a Small Fortune

Have you ever looked back at your expansive Video Home System (VHS) collection and wondered if it's worth anything? 

From about 1977 through the '90s, VHS was the main format to watch and record film. But since videocassette recorders, or VCRs, are not manufactured anymore, they probably aren't worth much.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, however, and they could make you a good chunk of extra money. Here are 15 VHS tapes that might be worth a second look.

If you have a copy of The Terminator, it might be time to find out what type of condition it's in. Even those marked "pre-owned" and not in mint condition are going for around $1,000. There is one mint condition, first edition up for $25,000 on eBay.  The most expensive copy of The Terminator to sell on VHS was a first edition that went for $32,500 in February 2022.

Cult classic The Return of the Living Dead made the idea of zombies eating brains mainstream. A brand-new VHS copy with watermarks is being sold for $4,500 on eBay, though there don't seem to be many copies on the secondhand market, new or used. 

If you have one, now could be the time to list it. In October 2022, a graded copy sold for over $18,000.

Ghostbusters went gangbusters at the box office, and everyone wanted the VHS once it dropped, even though it was priced around $80. This collectible regularly goes for five figures at auction when found factory-sealed. If you have a copy, this is your moneymaker. In June 2022, a certified, mint-conditioned copy of Ghostbusters sold at auction for $23,750.

Factory-sealed Ghostbusters VHS tapes are going for hundreds and thousands of dollars, with a first print edition up for $17,000 currently, though there are plenty of new options available for over $1,700.

Star Wars: A New Hope will get you the most money if it was distributed in the release year 1984. Brand-new, factory-sealed VHS tapes with specific watermarks from 1990 and before are going for over $2,000 on eBay. Others distributed after that date could get you a few hundred dollars if they're in mint condition, but the most expensive one went for $114,000 in 2022.

In 1984, Freddy Krueger was the stuff of nightmares. At the time of its 1985 release on LaserDisc and VHS, people were buying A Nightmare on Elm Street in droves. Now, copies are rare and can go for quite a bit of money. In October 2022, a sealed and graded copy sold for $15,000, though the most expensive eBay option is currently up for $349.99.

First Blood, the 13th highest-grossing film of 1982, is also worth money if you've got the VHS stored somewhere. Pre-owned, lightly used First Blood VHS tapes can go for about $400 on eBay, while the most expensive factory-sealed option is currently listed at $10,000. In June 2022, a sealed and graded edition sold at a $22,500 price point.

There is a sealed, first print 1986 Back To The Future VHS available on eBay for $100,000 currently. There are several brand-new options listed for around $10,000, but most factory-sealed options will go for around $500.

If you can believe it, a sequel landed on this list and it is none other than Back to the Future: Part II. The most expensive graded VHS copy went for $16,250 in a lot of collectibles. There aren't many copies listed on eBay, but brand-new ones are listed at $500 to $1,500.

Jaws is one of Universal Studios' classic gems. It is also one of its most sought-after resell VHS tapes. On June 9, 2022, a factory-sealed 1983 copy of Jaws sold for $32,500. On eBay, you can nab a brand-new copy between $800 and $4,000. Pre-owned options go for around $500.

The most expensive copy of The Goonies sold for $50,000 in an auction in the summer of 2022. If you have a brand-new VHS tape in mint condition, no matter the year, it can go for over $1,000 on eBay. The most expensive mint-condition VHS is a 1986 first edition listed for $5,000. The highest-listed pre-owned option is still in great condition but listed at $800.

Here's a sequel that hit the list whose first release didn't. Halloween II brought Michael Myers back to a crowd that was ready and waiting for his specific brand of terror. The movie received mixed reviews but is still widely considered a cult hit.

In October 2022, a sealed and graded copy went for $15,000 at auction. The $400-$500 price point seems to be trending online.

Stallone's Rocky in mint condition, in its original packaging, is a rare VHS find. Most new options are listed for $480 and up, but pre-owned versions still rake in some cash. In February 2023, a factory-sealed copy was sold at auction for $27,500, and a boxed set of Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky III sold for over $50,000 in 2023.

Perhaps Tom Cruise's most infamous franchise, Top Gun is a highly sought after VHS tape for collectors. It was one of the highest-grossing domestic films of the '80s, and has been a classic ever since.

While the most expensive Top Gun VHS to ever sell was a graded Pepsi Promo VHS for $17,500 in June 2022, there are several copies available on eBay, averaging about $2,500 to $3,000 for brand new copies.

Cult horror films are really taking their claim on this list. The Thing crashed and burned at the box office in 1982, but once it went to VHS, it took off among horror fans.

The Thing is now listed as one of the most expensive VHS tapes to ever sell at auction. It went for $37,500 in October 2022. You can find brand-new copies on eBay for over $400 to build wealth.

Disney/Pixar's 2006 movie Cars is worth money if you can get your hands on a VHS copy. Around that time, Disney was making the switch to digital video discs, or DVDs. But in 2007, if you were a member of Disney's Home Video Club, you received a limited, exclusive copy of the VHS.

These rare copies are now listed for $4,000 pre-owned and $12,000 brand new on the secondary market. The most expensive VHS copy sold for $16,280 on eBay in August 2023.

There are many different ways to supplement your income, but your best bet on getting a good resell price on any of the listed VHS tapes is if it's in the original factory seal. If it's lightly used and in the casing, you could still get some good money for it. Otherwise, it might just be worth donating to your local thrift shop.