You can still find new or refurbished players online, with many players being under $200. I personally enjoy my Pioneer player, which switches from sides A to B for me. Yes -- you need to switch the side of a LaserDisc to watch movies or shows in their entirety.
As it is the most frightful time of the year, let's take a look at some of the more horrific LaserDiscs you could add to your own collection.
Scream
The hilarious take on slasher films is still hugely successful today, with a new Scream sequel having just been released in 2022. The movie has been released in various regions worldwide, and many fans across the globe can enjoy the NC17 director cut on BluRay or DVD. In America, we only got the director cut on LaserDisc.
Despite LD being discontinued, the uncut Scream has still not been released stateside in any other format. While you can easily find it online now, for Scream fans that want to be the ultimate collector, this is one of the pieces to own.
On eBay, copies of Scream on LD routinely sell between $30 - $50. It is possible the price on them will continue to go up as they become harder to find, so this could be a good piece to sit on for the long haul. But if you're a Scream fan like I am, spending $30 on a copy isn't bad.
Sleepy Hollow
LaserDisc was sadly phased out in America in the early 2000s. By then, DVD had won the media wars, and even VHS was feeling the squeeze. Movies that were being published on LD didn't have large print runs, making them more desirable to collectors.
Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow was one of the last movies released on LD, so finding one is truly a grail for collectors. In September of 2022, a Very Good copy sold for $179 on eBay.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon
The Creature from the Black Lagoon is a personal favorite, though the LD release is not rare or uncommon. The Encore Edition LD features the Gill-Man on the cover, with an appropriate green border. Copies for this LD fall between $20 - $40, making this a very affordable item for collectors. Sadly this is not in 3D as the film was originally intended.
Akira
Akira is one of the most genre-defining anime and manga of all time. While this may not necessarily be a horror film, it does contain some horror elements and deserves a spot on this list. First released in Japan in 1988 and then in America in 1989, Akira was a gateway anime for many American fans.
Akira had been released on LD in both Japan and America, but the most notable LD release is the Criterion Collection release in 1992. Akira was the first animated film released by Criterion. It would be another 20+ years before Criterion would release another animated film.
In September of 2022, a Criterion copy of Akira sold on eBay for $162.50. That same month another copy sold for $140. By comparison, the Japanese Pioneer 3 disc release sold for $119.80 in September of 2022, while regular Japanese copies of Akira sell for under $50.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
If you collect VHS, then you're aware of the rare Killer Klowns VHS tape. The cover features a clown spinning the Earth on its fingertips. The VHS routinely sells for between $150 - $200, and the LD version goes for a good chunk of cash too. The extended play format and scarcity make this a must for collectors and investors alike. A copy sold for $341.66 on eBay in August of 2022. With prices going up across the board for many Killer Klown collectibles, VHSs, and even BluRay, now is the time to start collecting.
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Do you collect LaserDisc? Tell us about your collection in the comments below!
