15 Perfect Gifts for The Pop Culture Connoisseur in Your Life

Over the past year, most everyone has been marinating in all kinds of pop culture. More than any other era, this moment in time has revealed how much we as a society should value our creators and artists. From cinematic comfort food to walks down nostalgia lane, the holiday season is a perfect time to celebrate the pop culture moments and icons that have kept us happy, engaged, and awed.

Here are 15 perfect gifts the pop culture connoisseur in your life is sure to love.

1. A is for Auteur; $30

The same team that put out the delightful, surprisingly adaptable Cinephile card game ($18) is back with a new book perfect for the cineastes in your life who love Agnès Varda. This alphabet book goes from A (Paul Thomas Anderson) to Z (Fred Zinnemann) and celebrates the unique elements of more than two dozen filmmakers’ careers. It’s a tongue-in-cheek delight, and if you don’t actually want your child to know about Quentin Tarantino just yet, it makes a gorgeous addition to any adult’s coffee table.

Buy It: Amazon

2. Schitt's Creek Funko Pop! Figurines; $12-$55

Fans who miss the Rose family living in the fictional town of Schitt's Creek can now relive a memorable moment from the show with this Funko Pop! of Moira as Dr. Clara Mandrake from The Crows Have Eyes III. If you want to go the extra mile, grab the Amish David edition with hoodie, sunglasses, and rake. Individual figures of the Rose family like Alexis and Johnny run from $9-$30, and they all pair perfectly with a banana rosé.

Buy Them: Moira; Amish David; Alexis; Johnny

3. The Bruce Lee Criterion Collection; $63

This is a stunning collection showcasing the best of the best of a true master alongside Criterion’s usual insightful commentary. Enter the Dragon has never been released as part of a collection before, and it stands as the crown jewel among The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, and the infamous Game of Death—all digitally restored in either 2K or 4K. The collection also features documentaries about Lee; an interview with his widow, Linda Lee Caldwell; and a conversation about the “Bruceploitation” subgenre that blossomed following Lee's untimely death.

Buy It: Amazon

4. NES Cartridge Coasters; $12

For the entertainer who's happy to have guests place their IPAs on SM3, these stylish coasters are worth grabbing. These will protect tables from coffee rings, wine stains, and barrels thrown by kidnapping apes. Plus, you won’t have to blow into these if they’re not loading correctly.

Buy Them: Amazon

5. Van Buren Boys Tee; $20

Deep into its eighth season, Seinfeld was still making iconic, quote-worthy moments. Case in point: Episode 14 featured a fictional gang known as the Van Buren Boys. With this pre-shrunk, 100-percent-cotton tee, your favorite fan of the show about nothing can celebrate the comical crew named for the 8th president (and the first president hailing from New York). It’s a handsome, comfortable shirt that comes in four colors and goes great with a Lorenzo’s pizza.

Buy It: Amazon

6. This Television History Puzzle; $18

This pop collage of more than 250 stars and scenes from TV’s past is a 1000-piece puzzle from acclaimed artist James Mellett. It’s probably the only image in existence where Kunta Kinte is between Superman, Gumby, and Norm and Cliff from Cheers. A gorgeous walk down memory lane, it’s also a healthy challenge that, at 24x30, would make a fine wall hanging if you don’t want to toss it back into the box.

Buy It: Amazon

7. Pictures at a Revolution; $17

Entertainment Weekly veteran Mark Harris is one of the most respected film historians of this generation, and this book, which goes deep on five pivotal films, is a must-have for serious cinephiles. Exploring Bonnie and Clyde, The Graduate, Look Who’s Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, and the surprise box office bomb Doctor Doolittle, Harris explores how 1967 marked a tectonic shift in American cultural preferences. Pair it with Five Came Back for bonus gifting points (and a book you can watch together on Netflix).

Buy It: Amazon

8. The Art of Mondo; $38

This is high on the list of gifts you’ll end up keeping for yourself. This sublime book boasts 356 pages of gorgeous prints from everyone’s favorite films. Cult, classics, blockbusters, and buried gems, the Austin-based Mondo is world-renowned for limited release posters from the best artists on the planet. One-sheets typically sell for hundreds of dollars, so this book is the cheapest way to get them all. For your friend, of course. Right?

Buy It: Amazon

9. A Princess Bride Enamel Pin; $11

I do not think this pin means what you think it means. This playful piece features Vizzini’s shouting face above a stately “Inconceivable!” banner. It’s made of quality metal with vibrant enamel colors, and buying it should also send you down a rabbit hole looking for dozens of other pop culture pins.

Buy It: Amazon

10. Marvel’s Greatest Comics; $20

Someone in your life is bound to want three pounds of Marvel comics. This definitive tome showcases 100 issues that changed the world and built a powerhouse pop culture company, from Marvel #1 in 1939 to Avengers #6 in 2018. The eye-popping artwork is accompanied by smart commentary from industry trailblazers and experts, which makes it as informative as it is entertaining. Just remember to say “Pow!” when you gift it.

Buy It: Amazon

11. LEGO Ideas Friends Central Perk; $60

Thanks to streaming services, the 1990s show Friends has found a new life and fanbase in the 2010s and 2020s. If you know someone who loves the show and has a vast LEGO collection, this 1070-piece Central Perk studio set featuring cameras and minifigures of the characters will likely be a welcome addition.

Buy it: LEGO

12. The Golden Girls 2022 Wall Calendar; $14

Make way for 2022 with a wall calendar featuring this iconic quartet of ladies—Rose, Dorothy, Blanche, and Sophia—making the most of living in Miami, Florida. Each new month in this 16-month Golden Girls calendar features a famous moment and quote from the show.

Buy it: Amazon

13. The Office Customizable Chrome Funko Pop! Dundie Award; $14

You can now fulfill your friends’ dreams of pretending they worked alongside Pam and Jim at Dunder Mifflin by gifting them a Dundie Award. This golden Funko Pop! has a customizable plaque for you to write their name or a funny superlative, like Whitest Sneakers Award.

Buy it: Amazon

14. The Art and Soul of Dune; $59

Newly converted sci-fi fans that have already read the Frank Herbert 1965 novel (or those who enjoyed Denis Villeneuve’s latest film, Dune) will likely enjoy this behind-the-scenes art book authored by Tanya Lapointe.

Buy it: Amazon

15. The Nightmare Before Dinner: Recipes to Die For: The Beetle House Cookbook; $18

Those who consider The Nightmare Before Christmas a holiday film will love this cookbook created by the New York City-based, Halloween-inspired restaurant, Beetle House. It’s filled with over 60 recipes based on Tim Burton’s career and other gothic-themed films, with clever recipe names like Silence of the Lamb Chops and Big Fish Bowl.

Buy it: Amazon

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