VHS makes a comeback for Alien: Romulus release

Time to break out that dusty VCR from your parents' basement.

Or maybe you can dig one up at your local pawn shop.

Because a classic sci-fi/horror series is bringing back that old school scary movie feel that children of the 80s know too well!

To celebrate Alien's 45th anniversary, 20th Century Studios recently announced a limited edition release of the latest instalment, 2024's Alien: Romulus, on VHS.

In this format, fans can watch the movie in a classic 4:3 aspect ratio (16:9 is the standard today). The special edition comes in a sleeve with box art reminiscent of other late 20th century horror classics.

Pre-orders opened up this week for the December 3rd release and have already sold out, with avid fans coughing up a hefty US$59.96 for a copy.

So why is VHS coming back?

If you're reading this, we assume you're old enough to know what VHS tapes are.

But just in case you don't - they're basically big, chunky rectangles containing magnetic tape. You chuck them into a VCR the way you stick a DVD or Blu-ray disc into a player.

If that wasn't enough of a hassle, you have to physically rewind the tape to play it again! It was exhausting. But, nonetheless, VHS tapes were the standard for home video media and started ruling the market in the late '70s, before DVDs took over in the early '00s.

The medium's been obsolete for over 20 years now. So this makes the limited edition Alien: Romulus VHS tape more special than any DVD or Blu-ray movie release.

The Alien franchise is actually following in the footsteps of another recent VHS release: 2022's Terrifier 2. This is a newer (and famously gorier) franchise, inspired by classic slashers like A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

VHS tapes are last century's news. So why did this promo do so well?

The biggest contributor to its success is likely nostalgia for older audiences.

The original Alien movie came out just as the VHS format was taking off. So the oldest fans today will remember being kids, taking home the earlier movies on tape and crapping themselves as Xenomorph wandered inside their box TV.

Alien may also be tapping into one of the past decade's biggest trends, 80s nostalgia, seen in the popularity of Stranger Things, The Goldbergs and It (2017).

But it’s not just original Alien fans who are excited for this special release.

For whatever reason, Gen Z loves anything that represents the end of the millennium.

That, of course, includes physical media like VHS tapes and all their charming quirks.

In the internet age, no Wi-Fi access can mean being completely walled out from most if not all creative media. When you stream music or movies, you never really 'own' them.

That's why we've seen a boom in 'outdated' physical mediums in recent years, such as DVDs, CDs, vinyl records and even cassette tapes - it's all for the sake of preserving art!

VHS tapes haven't been a part of this trend so much, but who knows?

Terrifier 2 and Alien came out on VHS only this year. They might just be the start of one great rewind!

-Devin, Copywriter