VHS Retro Art Round-up: The Thing, Ghostbusters, The Goonies, and more!

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

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 GOONIES

If THE GOONIES was not a part of your childhood, then you are over 40 or have no soul.  While it may not be the best movie, Richard Donner's kiddie version of INDIANA JONES holds a special place in the hearts of movie fans.  These classic VHS covers also make great use of the painted poster, the kind of which we just don't see often enough these days. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS

A personal favorite, this John Carpenter classic is a mash-up of Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft.  Never has there been a more disturbing movie about the power of the written word.  Plus, cameos from Charlton Heston and Viggo the Carpathian!. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

THE KINDRED

Almost impossible to find anywhere, THE KINDRED is not the greatest movie by a long shot, but as you can see from the bizarre covers below, it is about a mutant human/sea creature monster that wreaks havoc.  That should be enough to warrant your attention!  Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

GHOSTBUSTERS

This is one of those movies you would never mistake for anything else thanks to the iconic logo on the front cover.  The rest of the box art has changed over the years, but you will always know who you are gonnna call thanks to that classic red and white symbol. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

THE THING

Another movie with an iconic poster/cover image that has not changed much over the years, John Carpenter's remake is a movie that perfectly blends horror, science fiction, and action.  There are few movies as great as THE THING. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

In the public domain for decades, almost every distributor has released a version of George Romero's classic zombie movie.  So, with there being so many choices for VHS covers, I went with a pair that evoked the retro, B-movie style that NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD deserves.  A classic in every sense of the word. Click here to purchase on Blu-ray/DVD.

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 [email protected]