CGC Home Video Announces First VHS Graded! Cult Classic 'Blade Runner'

After months of anticipation, CGC Home Video™ officially began accepting submissions on May 25, 2023. Now, the newest division of Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) announces its first graded VHS — a 1983 “Blade Runner” videocassette graded CGC 9.0 Sealed A++. After authentication and grading, CGC Home Video encapsulated it with a certification label that contains a notation recognizing it as the first VHS graded by CGC Home Video.

“Blade Runner” is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. Set in a dystopian future Los Angeles in 2019, the story follows Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a retired police officer known as a “Blade Runner" who is tasked with hunting down and "retiring" (but really just killing) rogue artificial beings known as replicants.

When a group of replicants led by Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) escapes from an off-world colony and comes to Earth seeking extended lifespans, Deckard is reluctantly brought back into duty to track them down. The film's ambiguous ending leaves open the possibility that Deckard himself might be a replicant, blurring the line between human and machine even further. The film was first released on VHS in 1983.

"Since its release, 'Blade Runner' has become a cult classic and has had a significant influence on the science fiction genre, known for its philosophical themes, intricate world-building and iconic visual style,” said CGC Home Video Expert and Finalizer Paul Zamarelli. "Because of its place in early home video history, it's the perfect film to kick off our certification services at CGC Home Video."

If you'd like to own the first VHS graded by CGC Home Video, it is being offered in an upcoming Heritage Auctions sale.

You can also submit your own home video collection. Simply become a CGC Home Video member (memberships start at just $25 per year), complete the user-friendly CGC Home Video online submission form and send in your VHS and Betamax videocassettes. Dealers are encouraged to apply to become a CCG Authorized Dealer by emailing CGC Home Video Customer Service at Service@CGChomevideo.com.

For questions about CGC Home Video, call (+1) 855-GRADE-10 or email Service@CGChomevideo.com.