Going for: $75 We’re moving on up with the scale of prices on our list of the most expensive DVDs and VHS tapes. E.T The Extra-Terrestrial is one of the most classic films of all time. It’s referenced in countless other shows, songs, and movies, and basically everyone on earth knows the phrase, “E.T phone home.” So, it only makes sense that the original version of this popular family movie can be sold for over $70 eBay. There are actually some rare, Black Diamond editions that are going for over $4,000, so someone can definitely swing $75 for a good copy.
The film was one of three Steven Spielberg films that broke box office records when it first came out in theatres. The director later revealed he shot most of the film from the level of a child’s eyes to give the audience more perspective and make us feel closer to E.T – and it worked! Anyone who says they don’t at least get a little teared-up at the end must not have been watching the same film as the rest of us.
Sleeping Beauty
Going for: $50 And, we’re back to Disney. Actually, there are a ton of Disney’s “Black Diamond” VHS tapes on our list. If you haven’t heard that term before, it refers to the original and rare versions of these classic films that can be found on sites like eBay for several thousand dollars. Of course, just the original versions aren’t worth that much in most cases, like with Sleeping Beauty, but you may be able to get around $40 for it.
Some people trying to sell the originals for much more than that – although that doesn’t necessarily mean anyone’s buying it. In fact, if you Google “Disney Black Diamond” you’ll find all of the naysayers that argue that you shouldn’t even dream of spending $2,000 on something that you can find elsewhere for $20. We’re going to have to agree with the naysayers on this one. But if you’re going to get in on the Black Diamond craze, make sure you’re on the winning team. That’s the team that’s making all of the money, not spending it.
Pinocchio
Going for: $50 Pinocchio is the best movie of all time. Okay, if I were Pinocchio, my nose would have just grown an inch. Although there are probably people out there who would argue that it is actually the best. The film is definitely a classic and one that taught us all about the importance of honesty as children. It also made us feel kind of bad for inanimate objects. I mean, all Pinocchio wanted was to be a real boy, and we all wanted it for him, too. In 2019, Disney decided to reboot the film in a live-action version which was directed by Oscar winner Robert Zemeckis.
If you’ve got an original copy of this Disney original tucked away in an old cabinet in the basement or something, you may want to dust it off and put it up on eBay. If it’s in solid condition, you can get around $50 for it. And, unless you’ve got a collection going, why not? It isn’t like you can’t find the movie on one of the many streaming services (most likely Disney+,) if you get the urge to watch it.
Song Of The South
Going for: $100 Hey look, we’ve hit triple-digit territory now, we’re really warming up (although you still haven’t seen anything yet.) That’s probably because this movie, which came out in 1946, is one of Walt Disney’s more controversial films. The movie received a ton of backlash and was even referred to as “one of the most racist films in history.” So, why one may want to own a copy of this film is beyond me, but apparently some do because there are sellers who have it listed on eBay for a cool $100.
Despite the controversy of the original film, there were some remakes and spinoff stories to emerge after the fact. One such spinoff was a newspaper comic strip that came out in 1986, created by Floyd Norman. Norman himself has several pieces listed on the online marketplace, including another comic strip he wrote for Disney titled, “The Funny Side of Walt’s World,” for $135.
My Neighbor Totoro
Going for: $120 My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese children’s movie written and directed by Hiyao Miyazaki. The year after it was released in Japan, the English-dubbed version hit the scene and started making its rounds. In 2010, Empire magazine listed it on their Top 100 Best Films of World Cinema list. And Totoro, the main animated character, made number 18 on their list of the 50 Best Animated Film Characters.
The movie follows a pair of young sisters who are living with their father as their mother recovers from an illness, and they have all kinds of adventures with spirits in the woods near their home. If you happen to have the DVD of this film, you may be able to get anywhere from $105-$120 for it. Of course, there are a lot of people selling it online for $100, so it may take a while to get the maximum for it unless you luck out and find someone who really wants it.