10 Movies Everyone Had On VHS

When VHS tapes were popular, almost everyone owned a collection of movies on them. Starting in the mid-1970s, formats like VHS and Betamax changed how long movies stayed available to watch. Before home video, if you wanted to see an older film, you had to wait for it to be shown on television or hope it would play in theaters again for a short time.

Early video tapes were very costly, so video rental stores became popular worldwide. VHS won the format war against the more advanced Betamax and remained the leading way to watch movies at home until DVDs came along. Because many people grew up watching VHS tapes, they hold a special place in a lot of people’s memories.

By the 1990s, VHS tapes had become affordable for most people to buy, not just rent. This led to a big increase in sales, with some movies selling as many as 20 to 30 million copies. Because of this, many families ended up owning the same films, creating a shared experience for movie lovers.

Shrek (2001)

Despite being released on both DVD and VHS, Shrek performed surprisingly well on VHS. This groundbreaking, computer-animated film from DreamWorks tells the story of an ogre who unexpectedly becomes a hero, and it stood out from other animated movies of its time. Many consider Shrek to be the end of Disney’s successful period of animated films.

Like many popular family movies of its time, Shrek did very well when released on DVD and Blu-ray. This success helped launch a long-running series that continues to this day. Shrek was ideal for home viewing because it was funny enough to watch again and again, and it included jokes that adults also enjoyed.

Independence Day (1996)

While not the greatest action movie of the 1990s, Independence Day was a huge cultural phenomenon. The Will Smith-starring alien invasion film updated the classic, low-budget B-movie concept with impressive special effects and over-the-top action. It also became a defining film for director Roland Emmerich.

Following its popularity in cinemas, people were eager to rent or buy the movie on VHS. While not the best-selling VHS tape of the 1990s, Independence Day was a huge hit with home viewers, far outperforming most other movies with real actors. Though disaster films are usually best experienced in a theater, that didn’t stop everyone from wanting a copy for home viewing.

Home Alone (1990)

Starting the 1990s with a bang, Home Alone quickly became a classic Christmas movie. Written by John Hughes, the funny and heartwarming film launched Macaulay Culkin to stardom and offered a lighthearted take on the usual home invasion story. It was a huge success in cinemas and continued to be popular when released on VHS.

According to Variety, Home Alone was the top-selling home video when it was released, but later films surpassed it in sales during the 1990s. Given its status as a beloved Christmas movie, it’s easy to see why people wanted to own a copy and watch it each year.

Batman (1989)

Tim Burton’s Batman revitalized superhero films, becoming a hugely popular title on VHS. He struck a perfect balance between dark thrills and playful energy, bringing Batman and his iconic enemy, The Joker, to the big screen. Given that action movies were already popular, Batman‘s success felt natural and well-deserved.

While Batman wasn’t a massive bestseller, one particular VHS copy consistently showed up in sales. Its black cover with the gold logo was very eye-catching. Because people loved big, exciting movies at the time, many couldn’t resist owning a copy to watch repeatedly.

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Robin Williams was a huge star in the 1990s, and films like Mrs. Doubtfire were incredibly popular. The heartwarming and funny story of a father who disguises himself as a nanny to spend time with his children really resonated with audiences. In fact, it was released on VHS while it was still showing in cinemas, according to Screen International.

The VHS tape came out only five months after the movie was released in theaters, which was incredibly fast for that era. This quick availability, combined with the excitement of owning the film, probably explains why it was such a big hit on VHS. It quickly became a staple in many homes, joining the video collections of millions of families.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Although it wasn’t released on VHS until 1988, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial revolutionized how movies were sold and watched. By the late 1980s, Steven Spielberg’s beloved film was already a classic, and fans eagerly awaited a home video release. A significant price drop quickly made E.T. available in nearly every video store.

As a huge movie fan, I remember when the New York Times reported that E.T. was suddenly selling for just $24 on VHS – a massive drop from the typical $89 price tag! It made the film accessible to so many more families, and it was a brilliant move, honestly. While that lower price eventually became the norm, it really helped E.T. dominate the VHS charts for a long time before newer movies came along and took its place.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump really captured the spirit of the 1990s, and its white VHS case was a common sight in many homes. The movie follows the life of Forrest, a kind but simple man who unexpectedly finds himself involved in major historical events and meets famous people along the way. Tom Hanks’ lovable performance helped solidify his status as one of the leading actors of his time.

Forrest Gump is one of those rare movies that almost everyone loves, making it a great addition to any film collection. It was a huge hit on VHS, selling millions of copies during the peak of the video rental era. Even now, you can almost always find a copy at thrift stores, which really shows how incredibly popular the movie was on tape.

Titanic (1997)

Following its initial success as the highest-grossing film of its time, Titanic gained even more popularity with the release of the VHS version. The movie tells a tragic historical story about the doomed Titanic ship, and features a captivating love story. Director James Cameron used all the filmmaking techniques available to vividly recreate the sinking of the Titanic.

When the VHS version of the movie came out in 1998, it broke all previous sales records. Released as a two-tape set, it’s still easily identified today, largely thanks to its distinctive sky-blue cover and memorable font, which reflect the film’s serious tone. It was incredibly popular, and so many copies were sold that collectors now have thousands of them, according to The Guardian.

The Lion King (1995)

I’m not surprised that so many of the best-selling VHS tapes are classic Disney movies from the 90s, and honestly, The Lion King is number one for a reason! It’s basically a fantastic retelling of Hamlet, with a young lion having to overcome his evil uncle to take back his rightful place as king. Everything about it is just amazing – the animation is gorgeous, and the music is unforgettable. To me, The Lion King really represents the best of Disney’s golden age.

Disney cleverly used a limited release strategy – often called ‘the vault’ – to encourage families and collectors to quickly purchase The Lion King. This resulted in impressive sales, reaching over 32 million copies (according to Entertainment Weekly). Because of this, The Lion King’s original packaging was common in many homes, and it remains a popular item for collectors, even though it’s not particularly rare.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Courtesy of MovieStillsDB

While it didn’t stay the best-selling video for long, Jurassic Park will always be remembered as a landmark home video release. Steven Spielberg’s exciting and scary dinosaur adventure revolutionized how movies were released and watched. Many people rushed to buy or rent the video after seeing it in theaters.

When Jurassic Park came out, it was a huge hit, and a widescreen version was released in 1997. This made it one of the few movies to be re-released multiple times during the VHS era. However, most families still have the original version from 1994. While newer releases look better, nothing beats the nostalgia of watching Jurassic Park on VHS.

2026-02-08 17:41