Hollywood is returning to VHS. But don’t be fooled – this is not new vinyl!

Do you remember the times of rewinding tapes, the characteristic "beeping" sound, and grain bigger than the actor's entire head? Well, Hollywood has decided to bring that vibe back. And we’re not talking about Netflix stylising intros to look retro – we're talking about real VHS tapes.

It all started in 2016 when Deadpool received a limited, one-hundred-copy version on VHS – more as a gadget for geeks than something actually worth watching. But by 2024, it got more serious. Suspiria, Alien: Romulus, V/H/S/Beyond, and Terrifier hit the market. The year 2025 kicked off with a bang – a VHS version of the classic They Live.

And now – it's time for the cult classic Escape From New York.

Escape from New York on VHS. Limited, collectible and... it really works

The VHS release of John Carpenter's film hit the market on 15 May in two editions:
– Slipcase Limited Edition – only 1000 copies,
– Standard Collector’s Edition – no limit, but still labelled as "collectible".

Both versions include the full film in widescreen, approximately 99 minutes in PAL format. And yes, these tapes really work. Price? £30 excluding shipping. Want a poster? Add another £100.

But before you fire up the VCR – it's not vinyl. And don't try to convince yourselves otherwise.

Vinyl has made a comeback because it sounds good. Analogue sound has character, depth, it's "warm" and still brings joy to audiophiles. VHS? Let's not kid ourselves – it looks awful. The resolution is effectively 240p, interlaced, with a 4:3 aspect ratio (or artificially stretched "widescreen"), an upscaled frame rate... In short – everything is not as it should be.

Is there some charm in this? Of course. For a generation that grew up on video rentals, rewinding and peeling labels – probably. But if you are counting on image quality or fidelity to the director's vision, then… you’re left with Blu-ray. Or better yet – a modern screen that doesn’t cost a fortune. Check out our ranking of the best budget televisions and see what true 4K looks like today without going bankrupt.

VHS is back, but probably only for the shelf...

This whole trend is more of a retro-style game than an actual resurrection of the format. It's like buying a Nokia 3310 but never making a call from it. The vibe? It’s there. The sense? None at all. But hey – if you want to have Alien: Romulus on your shelf in a round plastic case with a yellow sticker saying "To rewind" – go right ahead.

Hollywood knows how to play on nostalgia. And that’s precisely why this cassette fun isn’t over yet.