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.
TROLL 2
A cult favorite of many JoBlo staffers, TROLL 2 is the best worst movie ever made. This is such a poorly acted movie that shares virtually nothing in common with the original TROLL, you cannot help but love it as an unintentional comedy. While the second cover is the one many of us are used to seeing, the first is nightmare fuel of the highest order. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com.
HOLLOW MAN
Paul Verhoeven needs to direct more movies. HOLLOW MAN is chock full of violence and nudity, especially from a young Kim Dickens. Yes, you see Kevin's Bacon as well, but that is another story entirely. Both of these covers vaguely indicate this is an invisible man movie, but both showcase some of the best spine art I have seen. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
SOULTAKER
I have never heard of this movie but it has Joe Estevez and Robert Z'Dar, so I have to check it out. It looks like a low rent cross between WISHMASTER and WARLOCK but both of those are cult favorites of mine so I will have to find this movie somehow. The first cover is a bit of a mess but the second somehow looks like an album cover and a video game box simultaneously. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
JUST BEFORE DAWN
George Kennedy somehow keeps making appearances on this list but finally it is for a movie I have seen before. These covers make JUST BEFORE DAWN look like THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE and THE HILLS HAVE EYES and it actually shares a lot in common with both of those movies. I still like the recent Blu-ray cover, but both of these are pretty cool. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
THE RUNNING MAN
I love that the second cover here had to put Arnold's name sideways to fit on the box. That is just great. Both of these covers are alternates from the commonly seen VHS boxes here in the USA. But, both of these are so much better in so many ways. I love painted art and these just up the ante on an already awesome movie. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Tim Burton's stop motion animated movie is a masterpiece for Halloween and Christmas fans alike. The music has become a part of many holiday traditions that many don't even realize it wasn't directed by Burton at all. The box art has not changed much over the last two decades, but these two variations showcase the iconic font and lead characters in different but very effective ways. Click here to purchase on Amazon.com.
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
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed