If you find yourself with a huge stack of Disney VHS tapes stored away in boxes or in your parents’ attic, then this is definitely a story for you. If you find yourself wondering where to take your old VHS tapes to dispose of them at, you might want to take a step back and reconsider that decision. And if you no longer own VHS tapes, particularly Disney Black Diamond editions, then you honestly might not want to read this article.
Obviously, since VHS tapes are no longer in production, there’s value in them. After all, once anything is no longer in production or there’s a limited quantity of the object in the first place, its price immediately skyrockets. Disney released Black Diamond Editions of several of its beloved animated classics, and those re-releases themselves are worth a pretty penny. So let’s focus in on the most valuable Disney VHS tapes that are worth a fortune today.
Updated May 17, 2022, by Gabrielle Huston: Prices, and preferences, are bound to change! We’ve updated this article to detail the truly expensive VHS tapes. If you’ve been taking careful care of your own copy, you might be surprised to find you can earn a nice chunk of change!
15 101 Dalmatians (Black Diamond Edition)
101 Dalmatians is definitely one of Disney’s classic films. Sure, it might have a generic plot with a protagonist and antagonist, but it’s different from every other stereotypical, cute romance film. It’s about a Dalmatian couple named Pongo and Perdita, who end up raising 99 Dalmatian puppies together by the end of the film.
Currently, the Black Diamond Edition of the 101 Dalmatians VHS is valued at approximately $6,000.
14 The Fox And The Hound (Black Diamond Edition)
Let’s just continue the discussion on adorable animals with The Fox and the Hound, a Disney film that is highly deserving of more appreciation. Tod, a young fox, befriends a bloodhound named Copper. However, as the two grow older, they soon realize that hounds help humans hunt foxes. It’s a great but tragic story that ends with a good moral.
Currently, the Black Diamond Edition of The Fox and the Hound VHS is valued at approximately $600.
13 Aladdin (Black Diamond Edition)
Aladdin is a beloved Disney film for many reasons. It’s got Robin Williams (and, by extension, a great sense of humour), first of all. Plus, Jasmine is a wonderful female character in an age that tended to focus on male heroes. And her and Aladdin’s chemistry was undeniable!
Currently, if you have the Black Diamond Edition of the original film and its sequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, you’re looking at about $1,500.
12 The Lion King (First Edition)
The Lion King is an untimely classic that released around the same time that I was born. The film is a coming-of-age story about a young lion cub named Simba, who is destined to take over as king of the Pride Lands until tragedy strikes. Feeling as if his father’s demise is his own fault, Simba mysteriously disappears.
The first edition of this VHS tape is approximately $1,500, which is a lot of money for one film.
11 The Little Mermaid (Black Diamond Edition)
There is one discussion about the rare cover of the 1990 VHS tape for The Little Mermaid that we would absolutely love to discuss, especially since it relates to the shape of Atlantica’s castle. But that’s for another time.
The Black Diamond Edition of this princess movie is worth $1,000.
10 Bambi (Black Diamond Edition)
Bambi is known for one of the saddest character deaths in Disney history. Obviously, it doesn’t top Mufasa’s, but it’s still very sad nonetheless.
Bambi is more or less the tamer, laid-back version of The Lion King, and a Black Diamond Edition of the VHS is only worth about $250. But that amount in itself is pretty impressive since back in the day, the tapes themselves cost about $10.
9 Beauty And The Beast (Black Diamond Edition)
This movie is also a lot of people’s favourites, breaking away from stereotypical romance by creating a female protagonist who doesn’t need to constantly rely on others for help. Belle is headstrong and defiant, which is what makes her one of our favorite Disney ladies, certainly.
The Beauty and the Beast Black Diamond Edition VHS is worth approximately $600.
8 Cinderella (Black Diamond Edition)
In this classic fairy tale, a young woman named Cinderella is forced to cook and clean all day. But one night, with the help of her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella goes to the ball and falls in love with Prince Charming. And of course, like almost every other Disney ending, they live happily ever after.
In comparison to other movies on this list, Cinderella does not have as high of a value.The Black Diamond Edition of a Cinderella VHS tape is worth approximately $100.
7 Song Of The South
This is the only entry on this list that’s not either a Black Diamond Edition or a First Edition! Just owning this old, controversial VHS is enough to earn you some cash. It takes place right after the American Civil War and the abolition of Slavery, and follows a boy named Johnny who is visiting his grandmother’s plantation.
The VHS copy of the movie is valued at approximately $150, which is quite a bit for an old cassette.
6 Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (Black Diamond Edition)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was one of the very first Disney films ever created. Back in the day, this classic tale of a princess needing saved by a prince wasn’t stereotypical, as it was still a fresh story at the time.
Currently, the Black Diamond Edition of the movie is valued at almost $200. Hopefully you just so happen to be a collector of old VHS tapes and have this gem laying around somewhere. Thankfully, VHS cases are a lot more sturdier than DVD cases.
5 Dumbo (Black Diamond Edition)
What’s interesting about a lot of the Black Diamond Editions of Disney films is the artwork. The artwork for Dumbo was no exception. It’s simplistic, but also is a cool design that wraps around the entire case.
The VHS copy of this beloved tale about a young elephant who learns to fly is worth about $200, which, again, is a lot of money for a singular children’s movie.
4 Lady And The Tramp (Black Diamond)
The Lady and the Tramp is an adorable love story in which the titular Lady and Tramp are dogs who live in very different circumstances. Lady is a cocker spaniel who belongs to a happy couple. Tramp is a mutt who lives on the streets and feeds himself by eating scraps from a local Italian restaurant.
People must be desperately searching for this gem, because some people are willing to pay around $1,000. You could pay off a good chunk of your student loans with this one.
3 The Jungle Book (Black Diamond Edition)
If you have a copy of The Jungle Book lying around, now seems like a great time to attempt selling it if you’re in need of money. This story is about a boy who grows up in the jungle with some friendly (and some not-so-friendly) animals!
Listings for the VHS Black Diamond can go up to $1,200.
2 The Rescuers & The Rescuers Down Under (Black Diamond Edition)
The Rescuers and its sequel, The Rescuers Down Under, are both underappreciated films that both deserve more attention.
Together, both VHS tapes are valued at $2,500. Of course, this value only applies to Black Diamond Edition versions, so if you happen to have both of these together, now would be a good time to put them in a nice storage container where they won’t get ruined. Remember, folks. Protection is key to keeping items safe and valuable.
1 Fantasia (Black Diamond Edition)
The Black Diamond Edition of Fantasia has a gorgeous cover. Centring the classic masterpiece is Mickey Mouse himself, in his iconic sorcerer’s outfit. The Mickey Mouse section might be what we most remember from Fantasia, but there are so many wonderful scenes of dancing animals and twirling lights in this movie.
The Black Diamond VHS tape for Fantasia is valued at $500.
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