So many options, so many choices — it’s enough to turn our heads into eggnog! Hence, your pals at Rotten Tomatoes have compiled this handy-dandy guide to being a good consumer this winter, sung to the tune of a classic Christmas song.
Band of Brothers/The Pacific Special Edition Gift Set
Have any war buffs in your family? Even if you don’t, these two award-winning HBO series are gripping entertainment, and they’re available in their entirety in this hefty double-pack.
Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy
Everyone remembers the first time they stepped foot in Steven Spielberg’s awe-inspiring world of Jurassic Park, and now you can snag all three films in one set, along with a ton of bonus features.
Citizen Kane 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition
A perennial contender for “The Greatest Movie Ever Made,” Citizen Kane makes a great gift for any cinephile, and this new 70th Anniversary Blu-ray comes packed with insightful bonus material.
Sure, George Lucas did a bit more futzing around with CGI and pieces of dialogue for this latest update on his iconic sci-fi franchise, but the chance to own every Star Wars movie on Blu-ray in one set is a pretty enticing opportunity for any fan.
The Lord of the Rings – Extended Edition Trilogy (Blu-Ray)
Earlier this year, the massively popular epic saga The Lord of the Rings trilogy was given the hi-def treatment for its famous extended editions, and this is what true fans have been waiting for. The wealth of special features makes this a surefire hit.
ESPN 30 for 30 Collector’s Set
Upon first glance, this may seem like a niche gift, but while sports enthusiasts will surely get a kick out of ESPN’s 30 documentary films, those who appreciate great storytelling and solid filmmaking will also find them to be a worthy addition to their collections.
Harry Potter: The Complete Collection
The saga may be over, but the Harry Potter franchise is one that fans will likely want to own for themselves. What better way to help them accomplish this than by purchasing the full box set of the series, complete with hours of bonus material?
Law & Order: The Complete Series
Law & Order is arguably one of the most influential television shows of this generation, spawning several spinoffs over 20 years and changing the face of police procedurals as we knew them. Now, the entire set is available, and though it sports a hefty price tag, most will tell you the show is worth it.
Charlie Brown and friends have been making holidays warm and fun for decades, and now every Peanuts holiday special is available in one convenient package. Perfect for those with young’uns or those who simply enjoy a bit of sweet nostalgia during the holiday season.
Pirates of the Caribbean Four Movie Collection
Yet another movie franchise ostensibly came to a close this year, and now the entire series is available as one set. The Pirates of the Caribbean four-movie collection features a wealth of extras and comes in a nifty treasure chest case.
Ben-Hur 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition
Know someone who loves the classics? This William Wyler epic is one of Hollywood’s most astonishing accomplishments, and it’s got 11 Oscars to prove it. Warner Bros. pulled out all the stops in compiling the most comprehensive collection of bonus materials for this one.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition
Gene Wilder as the eccentric titular chocolatier is a sight to behold, even decades after the fact. Funny, inventive, and, at times, peculiar, Willy Wonka has been transporting viewers to another world for generations, and this set includes lots of extras for fans to dig into.
The Coen Brothers’ oddball mix of Homer and Preston Sturges featured a soundtrack that kicked off a full-blown roots music revival; 10 years later, a deluxe two-disc reissue goes even deeper in to the strange world of American folk and blues.
With a haunting, ethereal score from Cliff Martinez, and some expert electro-pop from the likes of Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx and College, Drive‘s atmospheric soundtrack sounds great even when divorced from the movie’s sleek visuals.
Those electronic mischief-makers in Daft Punk let a bunch of folks like the Chrystal Method, M83, and Paul Oakenfold get their grubby hands on their 2010 film soundtrack.
The grunge heroes celebrate their 20th anniversary with a retrospective documentary from Cameron Crowe and a two-disc collection of live goodies from the vaults.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1
Bruno Mars, Iron & Wine, the Joy Formidable and a bunch more turn up on Bella and Edward’s wedding album; the deluxe edition features four deliciously mopey/swoony bonus cuts.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
After a successful collaboration on The Social Network, Oscar winner (!) Trent Reznor reteams with David Fincher to make some spooky soundscapes for the American version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
It’s time to play the music! The Muppets team up with Jason Siegal, Amy Adams, Joanna Newsom, Andrew Bird and a bunch more to put on a most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational soundtrack of the year.
For many, Breakin’ was a gentle introduction to the exciting world of hip hop culture; this spiffy reissue is not only an invaluable time capsule — it’s also certain to get your party bumpin.’
An eclectic mix featuring everyone from Glenn Gould to Blondie, John Coltrane to Chic, the Shame soundtrack also contains selections from the score by Harry Escott and star Carrey Mulligan singing “Theme from New York, New York.”
The soundtrack to Sigur Rós’s meditative, experimental concert film, Inni is sure to transport you to a phantasmagoric, blissful reverie, as the Icelandic quartet rocks out in a decidedly dreamy fashion.
Would you like to do the time warp again? Well, with the reissue of the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack, you?ll finally be able to listen to every song from the movie in one (Frankenstein?) place.
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Forget Colonel Mustard, the candlestick and the conservatory, because this time you’ll be solving the mystery of a missing student at Hogwarts. Was it Malfoy with a Sleeping Draught in the Owlery? Play this new version of the classic board game and find out.
The Big Lebowski Urban Achiever 8-inch Figures
Celebrate the Coen brothers’ cult classic with these figures of Walter and The Dude (or El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing). The two figures feature accessories like The Dude’s 80s-style phone, bowling balls, and a briefcase of Walter’s dirty undies.
Fight villainy with Mjolnir, Thor’s legendary hammer. Press the button to make the hammer flash with lightning effects and hear the sound of thunder. Would your Christmas be complete without this mighty weapon? Thor says “Nay!”
LEGO Black Pearl – Pirates of the Caribbean
Legos rule. Pirates rule, too. So it stands to reason that a pirate ship made of LEGOs is just too awesome to pass up, right? With over 800 pieces, the LEGO Black Pearl comes with 6 minifigures (including Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones), firing cannons, a working helm, and a detailed interior.
Toy Story 3 Evil Dr. Porkchop Spaceship
Will the evil Dr. Porkchop succeed with his dastardly plans of world domination? When pigs fly! This flying pig ship opens up to reveal a contral bay, a working elevator and an escape for a quick pig getaway.
The big guy is back, and madder than ever. Although, at 11-inches tall, he’s really only big enough to terrorize LEGO cities.
Terminator T-800 18-inch Figure
Worried about a resistance movement at your office? This 18-inch, fully posable action figure is sure to cower your workplace enemies into submission.
Teach your kids early about real vampires (not those silly sparkly ones), with this cuddly version of the legendary Dracula.
Chuck Norris Talking Bobblehead
Chuck Norris’s head doesn’t bobble. The world bobbles around his head.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Optimus Prime
Admittedly, the movie wasn’t very good, but don’t hold it against Prime. This latest version of the Autobot Leader comes with an arsenal of weapons, and is truly a force to be reckoned with.
Show your support of wildly Certified Fresh cinema with this Muppet line from Threadless!
We hear if you wear this shirt, Skynet will spare you from the apocalypse.
Adidas Hoth Skywalker Sneakers
These perfectly colored hi-tops look so comfortable and cool, we’d pony up the cash even without “Skywalker” embalmed on it.
Some hardcore shirts inspired by The Fighter.
Are you a bad enough dude to save the girl and wear a satin jacket?
Amazing shirts from the guys behind the now legendary Drafthouse theaters.
You bet your Tauntauns you need this!
Live long and prosper (and maybe even get some hipster nerd chanteuse numbers) with this stylish Star Trek hoodie.
Hawaiian shirts: John Lasseter-approved, modeled by George Clooney in The Descendants.
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The Oscar-winning Hollywood star of Annie Hall, The Godfather and Manhattan reflects on her renowned career before and behind the lens, including the stories of her famous romances with the likes of Woody Allen, Al Pacino and Warren Beatty.
Put your movie knowledge to the test — and humiliate your family over Christmas dinner — with TCM’s enduringly popular movie quiz tome. With 4,000 questions ranging from the dawn of cinema to classic Hollywood and beyond, it’ll give your movie brain a serious workout.
Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark
Who was Pauline Kael and why does she continue to be spoken of so reverently, even years after her death? Brian Kellow’s new book sets out to peel back the mystique of movies’ most influential critic.
Life Itself: A Memoir – Roger Ebert
America’s beloved movie critic Roger Ebert takes his audience on a personal journey through an eventful life, from his childhood through the early days of film reviewing, Siskel & Ebert and his recent health battles. Pretty much unmissable for movie fans.
The series may be over but you can keep the Potter flame burning with this enormous book that goes behind the scenes on the entire saga, with photos, curious production stories and much more charting the journey from Sorcerer’s Stone to this year’s Deathly Hallows.
Monsters in the Movies – John Landis
From man who knows a thing or two about horror — he directed An American Werewolf in London — comes a wide-ranging, sometimes personal, and always entertaining trip through a history of movies’ greatest (and occasionally not-so-great) monsters.
Have Yourself A Movie Little Christmas
Film critic and What the Flick?! co-host Alonso Duralde provides the essential guide to navigating the tricky terrain of Yuletide cinema — from the nightmares (and The Nightmare) to the classics. Don’t go near a TV on December 25 without it.
The Adventures of Tintin Collection
This box-set collects all 23 of Hergé’s classic Tintin adventures, from the Land of the Soviets right through the Picaros. An excellent companion piece to Steven Spielberg’s movie.
Dark stark original posters inspired by some of today?s most popular sci-fi and fantasy films.
Amazing posters from the guys behind the now legendary Drafthouse theaters.
Thousands of posters yours for the purchasing.
Cinemasterpieces Vintage Movie Posters
Another reputable poster warehouse with a focus on vintage.
This UK collector of fun stuff and knick knacks recently uncovered a few, extremely rare vintage posters.
Warm, minimalist posters inspired by classic 80s films.
Phantom City Original Horror Posters
Amazing original horror posters. Check out the one for The gate!
Apple has revolutionized the way we consume film and music. Stay on the front lines of developing technology with an iTunes card.
Movie fan? Movie gift certificate. Easy enough.
Amoeba Music Gift Certificates
Granting access into the greatest havens of film and music around.
Netflix may be down, but there’s no denying the appeal of its vast library and not to mention watching it on TV with your video game console.
A one-year subscription to Cineaste, America’s major high-end magazine for cinema.
This one’s strictly for the SoCal crew: at the popular Silent Movie Theater, you can purchase extremely generous membership cards granting free admission, free popcorn, first seating, and more!
Harry Potter Gryffindor Knit Cap and Scarf Set
Everyone knows a hardcore Pottermaniac or two, and this is the perfect way to keep warm and show where your Hogwarts loyalties lie. This set makes for a great stocking stuffer or office gift exchange idea.
Ever wondered what the members of the Federation smell like? Wonder no longer! Fans of the sci-fi series will appreciate the thought, and they’ll wake up on Christmas morning to the fresh smell of a Vulcan woman.
We all know how uncomfortable those one-size-fits-all 3D glasses can be, so why not have some that fit you properly and look stylish to boot? Look3D specializes in several different styles, so you’ll feel comfortable and look great.
Nerd is cool these days, and for evidence of that, you need look no further than New Era’s line of designer caps based on comic heroes. Wanna rep Batman while you DJ a set? The Beat Junkies already did it with Green Lantern, so why not?
The One Ring – Lord of the Rings
For the super LotR fan, a perfect replica of The One Ring (you know, the one that Rules Them All), otherwise known as the crux of the entire trilogy. Battles were fought and lives lost over this thing, so make sure the recipient steers clear of orcs, evil sorcerers, and slimy, mutated hobbits.
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This little box is the ultimate movie streaming device for your television — you can access content from your Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, and Crackle accounts. Plus, Roku has channels dedicated to documentaries, silent films, sci-fi/horror movies, and much more.
You probably don’t need us to sell you on these things, but in addition to all the other stuff they do, iPads are pretty great for streaming movies. (On a budget? The Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet will also get the job done.)
Logitech Harmony 900 Universal Remote
Want a universal remote that’s truly universal? The Logitech Harmony 900 pretty much works with any device you can think of, so you won’t have to fiddle with TV, DVD, CD, or MP3 remotes anymore.
Yeah, we know: most attempts to translate theatrical 3D movies to the home have been unsuccessful — until now, anyway, as the Sony Personal 3D Viewer comes the closest to creating a truly immersive cinematic experience.
A critically acclaimed Metroid-style thriller by American sprite masters, WayForward Technologies.
A huge world to explore and all the right actors make this is The Dark Night of super hero video game adaptations.
After a successful run with Back to the Future, the sweet nerds at Telltale get their hands on another Spielberg property: Jurassic Park.
Do you want to wear your very own Bad Santa costume, a pocket knife from Inglourious Basterds and some cheer buttons from Bring It On? (Yes, we did just put together our Christmas outfit.) There are hundreds of original movie pieces for sale at Premier Props; failing that, you can always search for lint from a Munchkin costume on eBay.
There can be few better ways to greet guests at your house than with a life-size bust of the Dark Lord of the Sith. He also doubles as a dinner table stand-in on those lonely nights in deep space.
Star Trek Enterprise Artisan Replica
What do you get for the movie geek who has everything (and price is no object)? How about a movie-accurate USS Enterprise from Qmx. Each one of these stunning models is made to order, and features an incredible level of detail. To be clear, this ready-for-filming model isn’t going to be cheap, but it is going to be one of the most impressive pieces of movie memorabilia you may ever see.