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'Back to the Future' Breaks the Bank As Auctioned VHS Copy Nets Record $75K

ES Staff  |  Movie Biz & Buzz

At a recent auction, a factory-sealed VHS tape of Back to the Future from the year 1986 that was in nearly perfect condition sold for $75,000. This sets a new standard for a videotape in terms of its length.

Tom Wilson, who portrayed Biff Tannen in the fantastic movie that came out in the 1980s, was the owner of the VHS copy. After listing the tape and several others on eBay at first, Wilson removed them all after receiving a significant number of inquiries about purchasing them. After that, he made contact with Heritage Auctions in Dallas in order to ensure that the auction was successful.

Wilson's collection included factory-sealed and graded VHS cassettes of Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III, as well as the Back to the Future trilogy boxed set from 1990. This collection stands out due to Wilson's willingness to write a note for each cassette and sign each packaging. He did both of these things.

According to Heritage Auctions, the Back to the Future VHS copy was won in a bidding war by a New York collector, and the price tag of $75,000 was "the highest price ever paid at auction for a sealed, graded VHS tape." The sale was held in New York City.

The collecting of VHS tapes is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Films such as The Goonies, Ghostbusters, and Jaws all fetched very high prices when they were auctioned off by Heritage Auctions.

"We had no idea what was going to happen," Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, said in an interview with CNN. Nobody had ever attempted something like this before, and it's incredible to see how wonderfully it turned out. "When you're able to look at that, it gives you a tremendous sense of achievement. It is not even about the money; rather, it is simply the moment when you think to yourself, "I knew it! I should have known that vintage VHS tapes would be enjoyable.

According to Maddalena, he is hoping that the sale would rekindle people's interest in VHS tapes and encourage additional renowned people to part with their collections.