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

Do you remember the days of rewinding tapes, the characteristic "beeping," and grain larger than the actor's entire head? Well, Hollywood has decided to bring that vibe back. And we're not talking about Netflix styling an intro in retro – we're talking about real VHS tapes.

It all started in 2016 when Deadpool got a limited edition, one-hundred-copy release on VHS – more as a gadget for geeks than something you could actually watch. But in 2024, things got 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 cassette. Limited, collectible, and… it really works

The VHS release of John Carpenter's film hit the market on May 15 in two editions:
– Slipcase Limited Edition – only 1000 copies,
– Standard Collector’s Edition – unlimited, but still with the label "collectible".

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

But before you fire up the VCR – this isn’t vinyl. And don’t try to convince yourselves otherwise.

Vinyl has made a comeback because it sounds good. Analog sound has character, depth, it’s “warm,” and still brings joy to audiophiles. VHS? Let’s not kid ourselves – it looks terrible. The resolution is practically 240p, interlaced, with 4:3 aspect ratio (or artificially stretched “panoramas”), a rescaled frame rate… In short – everything is not as it should be.

Is there some charm in this? Sure. For the generation that grew up on rental shops, rewinding, and peeling labels – probably. But if you’re counting on image quality or fidelity to the director’s vision, then… you’re left with Blu-ray. Or even better – 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 play than an actual revival of the format. It's like buying a Nokia 3310 but never making a call. The vibe? It's there. The sense? None. But hey – if you want to have Alien: Romulus on your shelf in a chunky plastic case with a yellow sticker saying "To rewind" – go ahead.

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