Going for: $2,000+ Even before the recent remake of The Lion King, it has always been a coveted family classic. It’s probably fairly difficult to find someone in North America who hasn’t at least heard of the film, if not seen it. We all cried at least a little bit when Mufasa died and Simba said, “Dad, we’ve got to go home,” okay, we bawled. But regardless of how sad some parts may be, it’s one of the greatest animated films of all time.
If you’ve got one of the rarer VHS versions from the mid-’90s, you’re looking at several thousand dollars of profit. $2,000 actually isn’t the highest people are selling it for, but it’s about the median range, so it’s reasonable to shoot for if you list your copy online. Some sellers have it listed for as high as $7,500 – but they also have no bids. If you put yours on eBay, make sure you check out your competition and see what has watches and bids and what doesn’t. That doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t sell eventually, but the same copies in good condition that are selling for thousands less will surely go first.
The Evil Dead
Going for: $1,100 The Evil Dead is one of the greatest supernatural horror films of all time – and especially the ’80s when slasher flicks were more common. The film follows five unfortunate college students that decide to spend their break from school vacationing in a cabin deep in the woods. But remember, they did so before we all knew what happened to the idiot kids who make that mistake. Now that there’s been a long string of horror films that feature people getting chopped to bits and pieces at the hands of madmen who don’t appreciate teenagers making out in their territory, anyway.
The film has gained a cult-like following, which is why eBay is full of movies and other Evil Dead gear that’s being sold for top dollar. This particular copy happens to be a limited edition, so if you’ve just got an original copy of the 81’ VHS, or a more recent DVD print, you won’t be able to claim that much cash for it. Those are all listed more around the $15-$12 range.
The Jungle Book
Going for: $1,200+ This family favorite may be able to put food on the table in your house for months to come. If you happen to have a Black Diamond version of the original Jungle Book VHS, you may be able to make some serious money off of it. Some limited-edition copies are selling from anywhere from $1,000-$8,000 online. The craziest part is the ones that are going for that much aren’t even sealed or in great condition.
This film’s brought tears to the eyes of many children (including my own when I was younger.) The adventures of Baloo and boy-cub Mowgli wrapped us into their world and took us with them on their heart-wrenching journey of self-discovery and evading trouble. The movie, which initially came out in 1967, was based on a collection of stories from 1984 written by Rudyard Kipling.
Star Wars
Going for: $2,300-$100,000 You knew that Star Wars was going to come upon our list eventually. With the type of fan base this franchise has, and the dedicated fans who dress up and flock to conventions, showings, and other events, it’s no wonder you can sell an original VHS version of the George Lucas film for around $2,300. At least, that’s what this seller is doing, and they’ve got 10 interested parties watching the sale already.
Of course, this person’s copy is a rare version that’s still sealed and in mint condition. Another seller has the same copy listed, only it’s opened and tattered, and they’re selling it for $888.88. But even if you’ve got the 1995 Star Wars Trilogy, you can get well over $1,000 for it, depending on whether or not it’s still in its package, etc. In fact, one seller has their Black Diamond version listed at an insane $100,000. Good luck with that, buddy. Though the seller includes that 60% of the sale is to go to The Salvation Army, it still seems like a big stretch from $2,300-$100,00.
Dumbo
Going for: $30,000 Dumbo is another heartwarming children’s classic about a young elephant who’s born into the circus world and made to perform dangerously and dress like a clown. And this was before everyone had started to realize how terrible it is for elephants and other wild animals to be made to perform and give rides at circuses and fairs, period. Poor Dumbo had unusually large ears and was made fun of by the other animals who were trapped in the circus with him.
Dumbo discovers that his large ears are actually his secret weapon which allows him to fly away from the hard life he’s endured since birth. The film is listed for up to $2,500, but if you’ve got one of the original movie posters, you may be able to earn a lot more. Some sellers have them listed for nearly $30,000!