It's the Pictures 2025 Holiday Gift List
Now updated for 2025! A brand new list of movies, books, video games, and fun miscellaneous stuff you can buy your loved ones. Finding a special gift for the person who has everything can be extremely difficult (that’s what my family tells me.)
I know that not everyone wants to spend oodles of money on one gift, so I hope there is a good selection of some of my must-have choices below, ranging in prices from understandable to crazy.
This newsletter will be going out earlier for paid subscribers to get started on their holiday shopping and will unlock a few days before Black Friday for everyone else. Free subscribers can currently see the movie recommendations, while paid subscribers have access to books, video games, and miscellaneous gifts for the holidays. Please note that It’s the Pictures does not receive affiliated bonuses for purchases made using these links. If you’d like to support the newsletter, please consider a paid subscription.
This holiday season:
Try to buy movies from retailers like OrbitDVD or DiabolikDVD.
Try to buy your books from your local independent bookstores, Bookshop.org, or MZS.press (Arts Books).
Movies
2 Stanley Kubrick Essentials ($40, Criterion)
Two of Stanley Kubrick's beloved films have received 4K upgrades from Criterion this year. I think every Stanley Kubrick movie is essential, but Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut have really benefited from the jump to 4K.
Sinners ($40, Warner Bros.)
One of the best movies of 2025 is available on 4K UHD. If you haven't seen this one yet, the 4K disc represents the best way to view it. Expect this movie to be up for plenty of awards come the end of the year.
The Sound of Music ($30, Disney)
The Sound of Music has been released on 4K UHD in honor of its 60th anniversary, and it's never looked better. Besides maybe Disney's release of Tron, I think this is the best catalog release of the year. If you love this movie like I do, don't hesitate.
Get a copy of The Sound of Music
Hong Kong Classics in 4K ($40-$130, Radial)
Shout Factory! / Radial acquired an entire library of Hong Kong classics in 2025, and they've started releasing them on physical media. Some of the highlights are Hard Boiled and The Killer, but there are plenty of other gems as well.
Available for Purchase:
- The Jet Li Collection (Spines #1-5) Released Jul 29 | 129.98 USD | 4K UHD + BLU-RAY
- City On Fire (Spine #6) Released Aug 26 | 39.98 | 4K UHD + BLU-RAY
- Peking Opera Blues (Spine #7) Released Sept 23 | 39.98 | 4K UHD + BLU-RAY
- Hong Kong Gamblers & Gangsters (Spines #8-13) Released Sept 30 | 79.98 | BLU-RAY
- A Chinese Ghost Story Trilogy (Spine #14-16) To Release Oct 28 | 54.99 USD | BLU-RAY
- Hard Boiled [Deluxe Edition] (Spine #17) To Release Nov 4 | 64.99 | 4K UHD + BLU-RAY
- The Killer [Deluxe Limited Edition] (Spine #18) To Release Dec 2 | 64.98 USD | 4K UHD
- A Better Tomorrow Trilogy (Spines #19-21) To Release Nov 18 | 99.98 USD | 4K UHD
- Hong Kong New Wave Essentials (Spines #22-24) To Release Dec 16 | BLU-RAY
The Fall ($39, Umbrella)
For years, , was impossible to see. Thanks to Mubi, you can now watch it streaming. If you're looking for a physical copy, though, you'll have to import it. It's worth the effort.
Pee-wee's Big Adventure ($40, Criterion)
A perfect match with Director Tim Burton and Pee-Wee Herman, this Criterion Collection release is a stunner.
Get a copy of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy ($65, Arrow)
The classic live-action Turtles movies remastered for 4K UHD. The nostalgia is strong with this one.
Get a copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy
DAN DA DAN - Season 1 - Blu-ray - Collector's Edition ($60, GKIDS)
One of the best anime in the last decade, available in a beautiful Collector's Edition box-set? The only question I have left is when season 2 will be available to purchase as well.
Get a copy of DAN DA DAN Season 1
The Wes Anderson Archive: Ten Films, Twenty-Five Years ($400, Criterion)
This luxurious set collects TEN Wed Anderson movies and brings many of them to 4K for the very first time. Included in the box are Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, and The French Dispatch.
Get a copy of The Wes Anderson Archive
More recommended movies (all on 4K, unless noted):
- Tombstone
- Dirty Harry
- Sorcerer
- This is Spinal Tap
- Amadeus
- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
- Sneakers
- Tron
- Tron Legacy
- Kingdom of Heaven
If you need recommendations on where to buy movies on physical media, I wrote a post earlier this year that might be helpful.
It’s the Pictures