Holiday Gift Guide: 25 DVDs & Blu-rays We Want This Year

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As today's kids grow older, they'll one day realize that the holiday season is a real pain in a faux Santa Claus' ass. Buying everyone gifts, wrapping paper, and, hell, even tape and scissors is financially devastating, so once December 26th rolls around, it's not uncommon to find people who'd usually be out partying and splashing cash instead laying low indoors until New Year's Eve.

The best thing you can do to repay these generous peeps is hit them off with a few movies and/or television programs in home video formats. That way, they can conserve funds, remain at home, and kill several hours per day catching up with some quality acting, slick direction, and superior visual storytelling.

For the best movies and TV shows to bless them with, click through our list of 25 DVDs and Blu-rays We Want This Year.

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Written by Matt Barone (@MBarone)

Marvel's The Avengers

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $49.99 (DVD/Blu-ray combo pack)

Sorry to break this to comic book movie fans, but it's the truth: Marvel's The Avengers was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Skeptics expected it to be a giant clusterfuck, while optimistic folks kept their fingers crossed in hopes that writer-director Joss Whedon could really nail one of the biggest superhero movies of all time. In the end, a domestic gross of $623 million (on an already whopping $220 million budget), endless merchandising, and outstanding reviews from critics proved the naysayers wrong.

Celebrate Whedon's massive achievement with this jam-packed home video set, featuring extended scenes, an alternate opening and ending, a gag reel, and the exclusive short film Marvel One-Shot: Item 47 (starring Lizzy Caplan).

Men in Black 3

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $55.99 (DVD/Blu-ray combo pack)

In Hollywood, the third time is rarely a charm. For proof, go rent The Godfather Part III, Spider-Man 3, Scream 3, or damn near every other third entry into a previously flawless franchise.

The Men in Black trilogy, however, has gone a different route, derailing a bit with the 2002 disappointment Men in Black II but returning to the original movie's austerity for Men in Black 3. The keys to director Barry Sonnenfeld's success here are flexing some of the year's best visual effects and cleverly casting a spot-on Josh Brolin to play the younger Agent K (played as an older man by Tommy Lee Jones).

Moonrise Kingdom

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $29.98 (DVD), $34.98 (Blu-ray)

So what if writer-director Wes Anderson always makes the same kind of incessantly quirky little comedies? When they’re as superbly made as Moonrise Kingdom, there should be no reason to complain, haters—especially since this one is arguably the best movie of Anderson’s illustrious 16-year career.

Set in 1965, the dreamlike Moonrise Kingdom feels more like a fable come to life than a traditional movie. The perfectly cast young duo of Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward play an orphaned boy scout and an eccentric dreamer, respectively, who, guided by a shared first-time love, run away from their homes and cause a formidable cast of grade-A actors (including Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, and Bill Murray) to drop everything and search for them.

Bizarre shenanigans, tender (and somehow not creepy) kiddie romance, and unpredictable storytelling ensue.

Pitch Perfect

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $34.98 (DVD/Blu-ray combo pack)

Pitch Perfect is the quintessential Christmas list movie. With a mostly female cast, the fall 2012 sleeper hit is about a collegiate a cappella singing groups trying to out-croon one another, which, yes, doesn't exactly make it the kind of flick dudes generally enjoy paying for at retail stores, out in public.

Convince someone else to buy it for you, however, and you'll be afforded as many home-bound opportunities as humanly possible to rap along to Anna Kendrick's rendition of Blackstreet's "No Diggity," or Brittany Snow's version of the David Guetta/Sia EDM hit "Titanium." Trust us, you'll be helpless against Pitch Perfect's contagious energy, oddball sense of humor, and hilarious performances from Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, and Workaholics star Adam DeVine.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $29.98 (DVD), $39.99 (Blu-ray)

If you pay close attention to this here website (as you should), then you're familiar with Beasts of the Southern Wild, either from our in-depth, behind-the-scenes feature or its standing as our pick for the best movie of 2012's first half.

Since its theatrical release was so limited, though, it's been difficult for interested folks to see indie first-time feature filmmaker Benh Zeitlin's self-made sensation about a hard-as-nails little girl named Hushpuppy (the amazing Quvenzhane Wallis) dealing with a sick, similarly hard-nosed father (the equally impressive Dwight Henry) and a storm that's approaching her Louisiana bayou home.

Well, that's what DVDs and Blu-rays are made for, curious film lovers. See what all the hype is about by transporting yourselves to Hushpuppy's "Bathtub" home via the film's emotional performances, rousing score, metaphorical dialogue, and general sense of inspirational wonder.

The Dark Knight Trilogy

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $52.99 (Blu-ray)

It's inevitable: Eventually, whether it's before the in-development Justice League movie or after, DC Comics' movie division is going to see dollar signs and once again re-reboot the Batman film franchise. And, sadly, smart money says the next Caped Crusader saga won't hold a candle to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, which ended in dazzlingly epic fashion this summer with The Dark Knight Rises.

Here's the best chance to own the entire trilogy along with all of the bonus features you'd get from the individual Blu-ray releases. And if that's not enough, there's also a 64-page, shortened version of the book The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy.

Marley

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $26.98 (DVD), $29.98 (Blu-ray)

Perhaps you're casually aware of reggae icon Bob Marley's legacy but don't know much more than his spiritual connection to marijuana smokers worldwide. If that's the case, Kevin Macdonald's sprawling, intimately revealing documentary Marley is the perfect tool to immerse yourself in the complete life story of one of the music industry's most important figures ever. Macdonald leaves no stones unturned, and the assortment of candid interviews, with Marley's family members and colleagues, paint a vivid portrait that no amount of online research could usurp.

Impressively, though, Marley works just as well for Bob enthusiasts. Commendably unbiased, Macdonald's avoids being a pro-Marley fluff piece by spending long periods of time investigating children born of infidelity through the accounts of his wife, Rita. Altogether, Marley provides the most insightful look into the legend's entire history that we're ever likely to receive.

Prometheus (4-Disc Collector's Edition)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $49.99 (DVD/Blu-ray combo pack)

Even the film's many haters can't deny one thing about Ridley Scott's incredibly divisive Prometheus: It's certainly not the kind of movie anyone can quickly dismiss once it's over. Rooted in clunky religious mythologies and overt references to its spiritual cinematic predecessor, Alien, the year's most ambitious science fiction flick provokes thoughts (both positive and befuddled) while also bombarding eyes with intense gore (self-administered C-sections, anyone?), gorgeous special effects, and Charlize Theron's physical hotness.

And by owning a copy of Prometheus, fanboys of all opinions can debate the film's merits for years to come. This 4-disc collector's edition allows said fanboys to pick and choose between formats, whether they're itching to wear cheap glasses and watch the 3D Blu-ray version or the traditional 2D Blu-ray and DVD transfers. There's even a Blu-ray bonus disc crammed with a behind-the-scenes featurette, storyboards, and pre-production artwork.

Ted (Unrated)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $29.98 (DVD), $34.98 (Blu-ray)

Even if you’re not totally up on director/voice actor Seth MacFarlane or his animated mega-hit Family Guy, his directorial debut, Ted, should make you laugh more than any other 2012 comedy not titled 21 Jump Street (which, come to think of it, would also make a fine Christmas gift).

Thanks to Mark Wahlberg’s best comedic performance yet (as John, a 35-year-old slacker who pals around with a potty-mouthed teddy bear) and MacFarlane’s voice work as the titular bear with a taste for weed, booze, and flesh-and-blood women, Ted is a laugh machine with plenty of filthy humor. And, for Family Guy purists, MacFarlane’s signature knack for welcomed, obscure pop culture jokes (see: Tom Skerritt and the 1980 superhero bomb Flash Gordon).

What lifts Ted above your typical R-rated comedy, however, is its palpable sweetness. Firmly establishing the 27-year bond between John and Ted, the film is actually a rather sweet buddy comedy; albeit, one that’s aided by the peripheral presence of an unsurprisingly radiant Mila Kunis and a prostitute unable to control her bowels. Bet you never thought you’d hear those two things mentioned in the same sentence.

Pixar Short Films Collection 2

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $29.99 (DVD), $39.99 (Blu-ray)

You've got all the time in the world to get disturbed re-watching Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, so why not devote other moments to sitting down with the kids in your life—younger brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, or annoying cousins—and enjoying some wide-eyed optimism in the form of Pixar Short Films Collection 2?

Especially during the holiday season, when it's totally acceptable to give this disc—which includes the shorts Burn-E, La Luna, Your Friend the Rat, and Dug's Special Mission, amongst others—as a present to a youngster only to watch it more than they do. They'll be too busy playing their new Nintendo DS games, anyway.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Complete Series

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $99.98 (DVD)

First off, it's cool enough to have all 10 seasons of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the greatest Saturday morning cartoon ever) at your disposal. With this diesel box set in one's possession, one can relive their childhood while watching Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, and Leonardo devour pizza and kick the shit out of Shredder and his foot soldier cronies.

But here's the real kicker: Check out that sweet toy car. It's the best way to travel back in time to the days when your pee-pee first reacted to Ms. April O'Neill. Yes, 'twas a time of important self-discovery.

Rosemary's Baby (Criterion Collection)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $29.95 (DVD), $39.95 (Blu-ray)

Rosemary's Baby is one of those undeniable film classics that can never be over-saturated in one's DVD collection. So what if you already own one or two different versions of Roman Polanski's claustrophobic, paranoia-drenched horror knockout about a neurotic woman (Mia Farrow) who may or may not be pregnant with Satan's love seed?

Per usual, the Criterion Collection wizards have given you several reasons to add one more Rosemary's Baby edition to the home library; specifically, you'll now have all-new interviews with Polanski and Farrow and a vintage 1997 radio interview with novelist Ira Levin, the writer who penned the lean, mean best-seller that inspired the film.

Following (Criterion Collection)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $39.95 (Blu-ray)

Chances are, you've seen at least one of Christopher Nolan's recent Dark Knight movies, and, more than likely, you're a big fan. Well, here's the movie that started the Nolan's impeccable legacy: Following, the then-28-year-old British filmmaker's independently made, black-and-white debut that's equal parts crime noir and psychological thriller. The concept is fascinatingly creepy: A hard-up writer (Jeremy Theobald) spends his days walking anonymously behind people and watching their every moves, which leads him to randomly follow someone who leads him into a world of robbery and murder.

Nolan completists, stand up. The Criterion Collection's Following release includes an audio commentary from Nolan, a lengthy interview with him, and Doodlebug, the director's very rare 1997 three-minute short film (also starring Theobald).

Rashomon (Criterion Collection)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $29.95 (DVD), $39.95 (Blu-ray)

It's time to discover why the late, great Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic Rashomon is one of the most influential films of all time. And thanks to the Criterion Collection, the iconic Japanese filmmaker's crown jewel is now all the more enticing.

Not that the movie itself needs any bonus goodies. Centered around the enigmatic murder of a samurai, Rashomon presents the differing recollections of various witnesses, a nifty storytelling tactic that's since been employed by directors working on courtroom thrillers, crime dramas, and even forgettable junk like 2008 assassination flop Vantage Point (forgive Kurosawa for that unfortunate aftereffect).

This fresh Criterion package is crammed with first-rate features, including a new digital restoration, a video introduction from acclaimed director Robert Altman, a booklet featuring a critical essay and reprints of two adapted short stories, and the new hour-long documentary "A Testimony as an Image."

They Live! (Collector's Edition)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $19.93 (DVD), $29.93 (Blu-ray)

Does it get any better than hearing WWF legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper call an old woman "formaldehyde face"? Sure it does, and that "better" is the entirety of John Carpenter's 1988 satirical sci-fi gem They Live, which the good folks at Scream Factory recently re-packaged a load of cool bonus features.

With the movie itself, you get Mr. Piper playing a blue-collar brute who finds a box full of special sunglasses that allow him to spot aliens and their subliminal messages hidden on earth and concealed by human skin and everyday advertisements. Ripe with hilarious one-liners, wonderfully cheesy makeup effects, and a sharp underlying intelligence, They Live is one of the most underrated genre flicks of the 1980s.

As for Scream Factory's excellent set here, there's fresh audio commentary and on-camera interview anecdotes from Carpenter himself, a gruff, no-bullshit veteran who matter-of-factly retorts "Fuck no" when asked if he'd shorten the film's nearly 10-minute-long brawl between Piper and Keith David. Respect the man's gangster.

Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $119.99 (Blu-ray)

Psyched for Django Unchained? If not, you damn well should be, and here's the best way to generate that much-needed excitement. Though it's crazy to think about this fact, Quentin Tarantino has been making amazing movies for 20 years now, and the Blu-ray-only set Tarantino XX: 8-Film Collection assembles every one of the prolific writer-directors movies except, strangely, From Dusk Till Dawn.

That 1996 vampire flick's (written by, and starring, Tarantino) absence is more than compensated for, thankfully, by over five hours of special features, including an exhaustive documentary comprised of interviews with his films' stars, fellow directors, and various other colleagues.

Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $299.99 (Blu-ray)

Within circles of passionate movie buffs, the question of who's the best James Bond actor of all time will undoubtedly rage on for years to come. The dynamite combination of Casino Royale and this year's Skyfall (let's just forget about Quantum of Solace) has people bestowing the honor upon current 007 embodier Daniel Craig, but is it fair to make such in-the-moment judgments?

Before you definitively join Team Craig, get your hands on Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection and get acquainted (or reacquainted) with sirs Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Christopher Cazenove, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan.

To assist the decision-making process, also check out Being Bond, the bonus documentary in which Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig all discuss how they've each approached the character. And try not to let all of those sexy Bond girls distract you.

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $159.98 (Blu-ray)

Nothing says "I love you" to a horror movie fanatic better than a significant other who's generous enough to drop $160 on something as epic as the new Blu-ray must-have Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection. It's the perfect gift for anyone who blacks out whenever that Hugh Jackman-led disgrace Van Helsing airs on cable or is merely spoken about in their presence.

Here, lovers of irreplaceable monster flicks get crisp, pristine transfers of the following genre staples: Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula, the critically preferred Spanish Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, Phantom of the Opera, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon.

That's not enough? How about an additional collectible book and over 12 hours of bonus features? That $160 price tag seems like a five-finger discount now.

Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $299.98 (Blu-ray)

For a crash course in Alfred Hitchcock's revered filmography, first consult our recent list of the legendary director's 25 best movies. Then, ask a friend or relative to crack open their piggy banks and get you Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection, a 15-disc Blu-ray set that's out in a limited edition release.

Each film—including treasures like Rear Window, North by Northwest, Vertigo, Shadow of a Doubt, and The Man Who Knew Too Much—has been digitally remastered and paired with reflective, interview-heavy featurettes, production photos, and, in some cases, commentaries from notable Hitch fans like director William Friedkin (The Exorcist).

Blade Runner (30th Anniversary Collector's Edition)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $64.99 (DVD/Blu-ray combo pack)

Thirty years after its theatrical debut, Ridley Scott's futuristic action thriller Blade Runner continues to influence directors both visually and thematically (Read: People just won't stop ripping the damn movie off.). Sometimes, it's for the best, as in the Wachowski's recent grandiose sci-fi flick Cloud Atlas; other times, though, it's disastrous, like in this summer's awful Total Recall remake.

Regardless of the biters' respective quality, very few modern films will ever match the original Blade Runner's eye-popping wizardry, all of which is presented in this new 30th anniversary edition. In addition to the classic film itself, the reasonably priced box includes a 72-page art production book, several featurettes, and a photo gallery with more than 1,000 new images.

Jaws (Universal 100th Anniversary)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $29.98 (DVD/Blu-ray combo pack)

Oddly enough, Steven Spielberg's seminal 1975 blockbuster Jaws (i.e., the movie itself) isn't even the biggest draw here. In fact, don't be surprised if you hardly ever watch the film via the copy included within this recently released special edition.

It's all of the bonus supplements included that make the latest home version of Spielberg's killer shark thriller such a no-brainer purchase, with its five highly informative and immensely entertaining documentary features. Best of all is "The Shark is Still Working," a newly produced reflection piece about the film's making featuring interviews with Spielberg, co-stars Richard Dreyfuss and the late Roy Scheider, and several others.

American Horror Story: The Complete First Season

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $49.98 (DVD), $59.99 (Blu-ray)

We'd say that there'll never be another TV show as batshit insane as FX's first American Horror Story installment, but this year's asylum-set edition is already 10 times nuttier. Still, the inaugural season was an invigorating free-for-all of blood, sex, and sadomasochistic thrills.

So, naturally, American Horror Story: The Complete First Season is an ideal stocking stuffer. There's nothing like sitting around the yule log fire while watching a psycho kill people while wearing skintight black latex, a spectral hottie in a French maid's outfit playing with herself, and Jessica Lange verbally decimating every weakling in her sight.

The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $399.98 (Blu-ray)

On anyone's holiday wish list, there's always that one expensive dream gift that's included just because, since the listmaker knows well enough that they aren't going to receive it. Unless, that is, they have a wealthy family member who could care less about spending $400 on a bunch of TV show episodes.

To those rich relatives, we suggest blessing the genre junkies in your lives with The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series, a one-stop shop for all 156 episodes of Rod Serling's groundbreaking sci-fi/horror/fantasy anthology TV series. The best way to justify dropping so much change on one present: Just keep reminding yourself that someone you love now owns the greatest genre TV show of all time in its best available quality.

Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season (Collector's Edition)

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $99.97 (DVD/Blu-ray combo pack)

Even the most obsessive of Game of Thrones fans can't admit to knowing every single detail and fact about the fantastic and hugely popular HBO series. Trying to discern who's a Baratheon and who's a Lannister is sometimes more difficult than trying not to daydream about playing with Daenerys Targaryen's (Emilia Clarke), um, dragon.

Which is why this collector's edition is the ideal present for those who adore the small-screen adaptation of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice book series. Included are featurettes that break down the ins and outs of the Dothraki language, how the show's producers pick and choose what makes it from Martin's novels and what doesn't, and seven informative commentaries that dissect episodes.

For the most confused Game of Thrones viewers, the set's Blu-ray bonuses include a "Complete Guide to Westeros," which should finally give reason to stop using the show's Wikipedia rundown as one's laptop's homepage.

The Story of Film: An Odyssey

 

Click here to buy it now at Amazon, $69.95 (DVD)

It's always fun to impress friends, colleagues, and potential love interests with one's vast knowledge of pop culture trivia—nothing gets a chick all hot and ready to hook up like a guy who knows that Marilyn Monroe's birth name was Norma Jeane Mortenstern. And with filmmaker Mark Cousins' 15-part, five-disc documentary opus The Story of Film: An Odyssey, cinephiles will be armed with more random information and factual tidbits than can probably fit inside their Fellini-loving minds.

Cousins literally covers everything, starting with "Birth of the Cinema (1900-1920)," staying in the Hollywood area before shifting overseas for "European New Wave (1960s)," "New Boundaries: World Cinema in Africa, Asia, Latin America (1990s)," and concluding with "Cinema Today and the Future (2000s)."