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!
The Lion King
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.
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.
The Great Mouse Detective
Going for: $10,000 Okay, it’s official, we’re in the five-digit territory now, but how far will we go? Well, for now, we’re making a stop at a whopping $10,000, which is how much one seller is asking for his Black Diamond VHS copy of the 1986 Disney film.
The storyline follows a mouse detective named Basil on his search for a missing toymaker. This is the film that is credited by many for sparking the Disney Renaissance, which is the period between 1989 and 1999 where the entertainment company really started cranking out some of their biggest hits, including several of the titles on our list. If you happen to be one of the lucky ones to have a rare VHS version of this one, you may consider listing it if you’re strapped for cash.
The Rescuers Down Under
Going for: $11,300 In this 1990 animated film, a boy named Cody travels through the Australian Outback on a mission to save his eagle friend who’s been captured by a poacher. The boy finds himself trapped too, and a few more friends have to come to his rescue. Did you happen to save your rare 1991 VHS copy of the film? If so, you can join the ranks of the sellers listing theirs for around $11,000.
There are several copies listed from everywhere between $8,000-$11,269. The latter is open, but it comes along with some rare inserts. Then, there are the sealed copies that seem to be going for $10,000. In either case, you can add some bulk to your bank account if you decide to part ways with this Black Diamond Disney film.