Real movie lovers want to own their movies, not just buy access to them on digital streaming platforms. Besides, it’s hard to wrap a download. Fortunately the home video market hasn’t been put out of business yet. It’s evolving into a specialty medium for true cinephiles, it’s going to keep pumping out impressive films, boxed sets, restorations and more to keep the art form we all know and love alive.
Related: Crave’s 2015 Gadget Gift Guide
This year saw fewer amazing collections than the last, but that’s mostly because Blu-ray has been around for almost a decade, and many of the most exciting films and series have already been released by now. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some impressive collections to buy this holiday season, for yourself of for the film fans on your shopping lists, and of course there are always new and amazing motion pictures coming out every year that either broke box office records or slipped completely under your radar.
Crave’s 2015 Home Video Gift Guide has them all, so take a gander, and let’s start shopping!
Crave’s 2015 Home Video Gift Guide
Top Image: Criterion Collection / 20th Century Fox
William Bibbiani (everyone calls him ‘Bibbs’) is Crave’s film content editor and critic. You can hear him every week on The B-Movies Podcast and watch him on the weekly YouTube series Most Craved and What the Flick. Follow his rantings on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
The 2015 Home Video Gift Guide
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The Apu Trilogy
Two decades ago, the negatives for three of the most acclaimed motion pictures ever produced were lost in a fire. Now, the Criterion Collection brings us the restored Apu Trilogy in a gorgeous Blu-ray set. The films Pather Panchali, Aparajito and Apur Sansar tell the story of a child growing up in rural India and becoming a young man, and heavily influenced the works of Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Elia Kazan and many others. In typical Criterion fashion, this set comes with an impressive assortment of special features, including interviews, documentaries and more.
Image: Criterion Collection
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Big Game
If you only saw the giant blockbusters that came out this summer, you missed one of the best action movies of the year. Big Game stars Samuel L. Jackson as the President of the United States, and pre-teen Onni Tommila plays the pipsqueak who saves him from terrorists after Air Force One crash-lands in the wilds of Finland. Big Game is a ripping PG-13 action movie that's perfect for kids, and for those people on your shopping list who buy all the big movies like Jurassic World and Avengers: Age of Ultron themselves. They probably don't own this one, and once they do they will thank you for it.
Image: Starz / Anchor Bay
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The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki (Amazon Exclusive)
We have already reviewed this disc, and extensively, so we'll make this brief. Hayao Miyazaki is one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the world. His many animated classics have inspired the films that an entire generation of westerners grew up with, whether they realized it or not. Now every single one of his films is available on high-definition Blu-ray, and they are all "must see" movies that could very well change your life too. For animation fans, anime fans, movie lovers of all kinds and children of all ages, this set is a perfect gift.
Image: Walt Disney Studios
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Forbidden Zone: Special Edition
One of the greatest cult films ever made finally has a special edition Blu-ray, and we should all be rejoicing. Written and directed by Richard Elfman, scored by Danny Elfman and serving as a hallucinatory version of the Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo stage show, this comedy musical now features an audio commentary, a documentary and outtakes and deleted scenes. Every cult movie lover will want this in their collection, so...
Image: MVD/VSC
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Mad Max Anthology
Sure, you could get your loved ones a copy of Mad Max: Fury Road, the best movie of the year (so far). Or you could really prove you love them by getting the complete Mad Max Anthology, which includes all four films in George Miller's exhilarating post-apocalypstic fever dream. Whether they've seen all these films before or got their first taste of Mad Max this summer, they're going to want to own all of the beautifully restored action classics, including Mad Max, The Road Warrior, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and, of course, Mad Max: Fury Road!
Image: Warner Home Video
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail Limited Edition Castle Catapult Gift Set
There are some movies that everybody owns, and probably aren't willing to buy again, even if there's a fantastic upgrade available. But that's exactly what the holidays are for, so for the comedy lover on your list be sure to pick up the Monty Python and the Holy Grail Limited Edition Castle Catapult Gift Set, which includes the 40th Annviersary Blu-ray of the classic film and - you guessed it - a catapult, complete with farm animals to chuck around the house. Best of all, unlike many fancy-packaged re-releases, this set sells for a very reasonable $29.99.
Image: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
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Nakatomi Plaza Die Hard Collection
Another great example of an upgrade that the movie lover in your life probably won't buy for themselves. The Nakatomi Plaza Die Hard Collection not only features Blu-rays of all five Die Hard movies, which you and your loved ones might already own, but houses them in a scale model of the Nakatomi Building where the original Die Hard took place. Why simply own some of your favorite action movies when you can also have an excuse to show them off in style?
Image: 20th Century Fox
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The People Under the Stairs: Collector’s Edition
The horror community is still mourning the loss of the late, great master of horror Wes Craven, who died earlier this year. You can honor Craven's passing by bestowing one of his most underrated films on the movie lovers in your shopping list. The People Under the Stairs is a terrifying home invasion story, in which the invader winds up trapped in a house full of shocking horrors that they could never have anticipated. Exciting, scary and poignant, this long underrated gem is now available as a classy Collector's Edition from Scream Factory, with a gorgeous transfer and tons of special features.
Image: Shout Factory
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The Quay Brothers: Collected Short Films
Art house and animation lovers alike will thank you for this impressive Blu-ray collection dedicated to the master stop-motion animators, The Brothers Quay. Don't know who they are? Die hard Quay fan Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) will help you appreciate their nightmarish films with a documentary short that he directed himself, which is included in this very affordable set.
Image: Zeitgeist Films
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Shaun the Sheep Movie
The kids on your shopping list are probably already getting the biggest family films of the year, like Inside Out and Minions, so it falls to you to give them the very best. Shaun the Sheep Movie is a fall down funny comedy from Aardman Animation, the creators of Wallace and Gromit, and although it was somewhat overlooked at the box office over the summer, you're going to discover that it's not just a classic kids movie, it's a classic comedy that everyone can enjoy. Watch it with the kids on your list, and you'll have an even happier holidays.
Image: Lionsgate
