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Pre-VHS Versions Of Classic Films Will Take Over Your Weekend

Super 8 movies were short, grainy and weird—and that’s why they’re fun to watch now.

Though there’s a lot of nostalgia for VHS tapes today, before the ’80s movie buffs had few options when it came to watching films on demand. One of the more popular mediums for home hobbyists came in the form of abridged Super 8 versions of current releases. Fans could get specially made spools intended for use with a home projector rig. Though grainy and heavily edited, they were still better than nothing—like watching an extended trailer without the narration.

This archaic format has been mostly forgotten, but it lives on in an obscure corner of YouTube where fans upload these odd relics, which host versions of classics like Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Psycho and Alien. Watch some of our favorites below.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n86-uNmmLyY&t=724s

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