A VHS tape of James Cameron's 1984 science fiction film, The Terminator, has sold for $32,000 after being posted to Comic Connect three short days ago. The original 1984 VHS, undoubtedly an interesting piece of film history to own, has been kept in "nearly perfect condition."
The Terminator launched the career of famed director Cameron, who went on to direct such iconic films as Titanic and Avatar. Terminator spawned a franchise that continues almost 40 years later and launched the decades-long acting career of then-bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Comic Connect sells vintage comic, television, and film memorabilia online. The nearly pristine The Terminator VHS, sealed in a hard case, received high scores by independent experts for its overall condition. Per TMZ, The VHS was only on the site for three short days before being purchased by an apparent super fan a few days ago for over $30,000. At the time this post is being written, there is no information on the buyer's identity or why they felt the vintage VHS was worth so much money, but they are now the proud owner of a piece of film history that catapulted Cameron and Schwarzenegger to fame.
The originality and creativity behind The Terminator clearly still have a hold on fans of the series. The film franchise has continued to thrive across several decades and still brings fans to the theaters. While many argue the first sequel is the best film in the franchise, there is something about the original that catches attention and forever altered the landscape of science fiction films. The Terminator films continue to influence movies today and the news of this sale only proves the film is still loved by fans all these years later.
The figure attached to this sale will inevitably receive raised eyebrows from anyone who grew up with VHS tapes. They were a staple in any movie-watching home in the '80s and '90s, and it is highly likely some households still have bins somewhere of old VHS tapes they just can't stand to part with. There is a nostalgia and appreciation for not only the VHS tapes themselves, but for a simpler time before 4K televisions and the ability to stream virtually any movie or television show with the push of a button. While Cameron's Terminator films are iconic and a staple for any science fiction film fan, a part of the sale can likely be chalked up to the buyer's memories of the film and nostalgia.
The Terminator is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Source: TMZ