Every child of the 80s will remember going to the video store and trying to find a movie to rent. Back before the days of Blu-ray and On Demand, selecting a movie usually meant finding the flick with the coolest box art. Like modern posters, classic VHS art has been lost but thanks to the Internet there are countless reminders of these cool creations. This column will be dedicated to bringing you reminders of a bygone era and a look at how cool some of these movies looked on store shelves.
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
A movie that was released almost as many times on VHS as it has been on DVD and Blu-ray, Rob Reiner’s classic fable is going to be one of those movies in constant reissue. These two covers maintain the iconic title font but offer very different looks at the movie within. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
PULSE
PULSE was a very 80s style horror movie about killer electricity. These covers use the same signature poster image, but the surrounding artwork and design is very different. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
THE LAST STARFIGHTER
Another 80s classic, THE LAST STARFIGHTER wanted to be STAR WARS meets Nintendo. These two boxes share similar styles but also play off of the normal Earth teen becomes intergalactic hero plot element in the way they dress the character. Still, either cover makes you really want to watch this. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
BLOOD DINER
So many 80s horror movies, so little room. BLOOD DINER has a great title but these covers take very different approaches to the material. One shows a horrific monster while the other plays off of the typical diner neon sign. Both are effective in their own way. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
THE VIDEO DEAD
There is nothing that people born in the 21st century will understand less than VCRs, VHS tapes, or TVs with dials. This movie may not resonate the same way with younger viewers as it did for those growing up back in the day, but it doesn’t make it any less scary. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.
URBAN WARRIORS
There is only one VHS cover available for this 1987 schlock masterpiece of garbage cinema. Just look at that cover. That is one of the best VHS jobs I have ever seen. Everything is crammed onto one box and just screams “watch me”! This is why I love this column, for box art like this. Click here to purchase on VHS.
Feel free to pop us your favorite VHS box art and come back for each future column. You can send your finds or photos of your own VHS tapes to alexmaidy@joblo.com
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