15 Brilliant Gifts for the Film Buff in Your Life

Can’t figure out what to give the cinephile in your life now that DVDs have pretty much bitten the dust? Here are 15 gifts for movie lovers that are sure to delight film buffs who know their stuff.

1. The Star Wars Archives; $170

Did you know that the stormtroopers from Star Wars (1977) were originally all going to wield lightsabers? Or that a lake of lava was going to surround the Emperor’s throne room in 1983’s Return of the Jedi? No matter how many times you’ve binged George Lucas’s iconic space opera, there’s always more to learn about the Star Wars universe. And in Taschen’s 600-page Star Wars Archives, you’ll be treated to a gorgeous trip through the original trilogy, complete with high-quality production photos, script pages, unused concept art, and storyboards, all detailing the mammoth production process behind each film.

Buy It: Amazon

2. Sony S100F Soundbar with Bass Reflex Speaker; $98

A talented cast of actors delivering lines from a well-written script may be among the first things that come to mind when you think about the most important elements of "a great movie." All the clever dialogue and George Clooneys in the world won't help much if you can't hear the film properly, though. This Sony sound bar brings the movie theater experience into your living room with a compact sound system that turns any movie (or television series, football game, etc.) into a totally immersive experience. You’ll never see—or hear—blockbusters like Jurassic Park (1993) quite the same way again.

Buy It: Amazon

3. Scratch Off Movie Bucket List Poster; $28

Think you’re a true cineaste? Prove it. Check out how many of the iconic films included in this poster you’ve already seen by scratching off the titles. Then, queue up the rest of them in order to complete your film education, and get the full aesthetic effect of this poster. The titles range from bona fide classics like Casablanca (1942) and The Graduate (1967) to newer titles like The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and Moonlight (2016).

Buy It: Amazon

4. AuKing Mini Projector; $90

This full high definition (HD) mini projector from AuKing is all about flexibility and is one of the best gifts for cinephiles. It’s small enough to easily be moved for both indoor and outdoor screenings, and its ports are compatible with laptops, smartphones, tablets, USB drives, and even the X-Box ONE. With projection displays reaching up to 170 inches, it pairs perfectly with the inflatable movie screen featured below.

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5. Studio Ghibli Socks; $18

Does the film fanatic in your life already have a Blu-ray collection full of Hayao Miyazaki-directed classics, or a shelf loaded with Totoro figurines? Then pick up this pack of Studio Ghibli socks, featuring designs inspired by Spirited Away (2001), My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), and Howl's Moving Castle (2004).

Buy It: Amazon

6. Fire TV Stick 4K; $50

Give the gift of unlimited entertainment with the Amazon Fire Stick 4K, which lets viewers watch more than a million movies and TV episodes across Netflix, Prime, Disney+, and other major streaming networks. Even the biggest movie buff is sure to find a new favorite with that many options to choose from. Plus, users can access Alexa through the device and use it to check the weather and control smart home features when they’re not watching TV.

Buy It: Amazon

7. The Awkward Family Photos Movie Line Caption Game; $36

You don’t need to be a film historian to win at the Awkward Family Photos Movie Line Caption Game—all you need to have is a little imagination and a taste for irony. The rules are simple: Basically, you’ll be pairing famous movie quotes with the hilariously awkward family photos included with the game, and the winner will be determined by whoever the game’s judge deems has the funniest pairing. It’s quick, simple, and always a good time.

Buy It: Amazon

8. KHOMO GEAR Inflatable Movie Screen With Storage Bag; $200

Turn any gathering into a movie party with this gigantic inflatable movie screen that can be blown up for either indoor or outdoor use. Stick it in the basement for your kid’s next sleepover party or, when the weather allows, set it up right next to the pool, have all your guests grab a raft or inner tube, and settle in for an immersive screening experience. The included blower makes setting it up easy. The screen measures 13 feet in height and 8 feet across, so there won’t be a bad seat (or flotation device) in the house.

Buy It: Amazon

9. Cinephile: A Card Game; $20

Now this is a game for people who really know their movies. Cinephile offers a variety of game types—including its own take on trivia and Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. But where Cinephile really stands out is in the fully illustrated cards themselves, which pay as much attention to blockbusters like 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road as they do to indie hits like 2016’s The Lobster.

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10. Cinemaps: An Atlas of 35 Great Movies; $15

Looking for a unique gift for film buffs? They can pour over the details and locations of dozens of great flicks with this book of original maps from artist Andrew DeGraff. They’ll be able to visit Kong Island (from 1933's King Kong), Hill Valley (from 1985’s Back to the Future), and many other movie-famous locales. Each illustration is accompanied by an essay from film critic A.D. Jameson.

Buy It: Amazon

11. Eat What You Watch: A Cookbook for Movie Lovers; $23

Featuring 41 recipes, Eat What You Watch teaches readers how to make themed dishes based on popular movie scenes, like fluffy dinner rolls inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s carb-heavy utensil dance in The Gold Rush (1925); the double New York pizza slice, as seen in the opening of Saturday Night Fever (1977); and some When Harry Met Sally (1989)-worthy pastrami. The recipes are all written by Andrew Rea, the personality behind YouTube’s Binging with Babish, so you know this is more than just gimmicky grub.

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12. Jaws Blanket; $30

As gifts for film buffs go, this 50-inch by 60-inch blanket featuring the iconic poster art from 1975’s Jaws is a cozy choice. It's made from polyester and micro-plush fleece, so it should be great for the next Spielberg binge watch your giftee partakes in, too.

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13. Elite Gourmet Electric Popcorn Maker; $30

There’s something about fresh, buttered popcorn that elevates any movie-watching experience. This countertop popcorn maker brings the classic cinema treat into the home. It pops 12 cups of kernels in 3 minutes, and there’s even a butter warmer on top of the cover to recreate the experience of drenching popcorn in melted butter before heading into the theater.

Buy it: Amazon

14. Monolith Action Figure From 2001: A Space Odyssey; $20

The Monolith from the opening scene of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) is iconic, so it was inevitable that someone would make an action figure out of the featureless slab. There isn't much you can do with the toy, but it does make a neat desk ornament.

Buy it: Amazon

15. Govee Envisual TV LED Backlights; $90

This clever device uses dynamic lighting to make your TV feel bigger than it really is. As the movie plays on screen, an intelligent camera analyzes the image and tells the LED backlights to display matching colors in real time. The result is an immersive, movie-watching experience that rivals what you get in the cinema.

Buy it: Amazon

A version of this story originally ran in 2018 and has been updated to reflect current pricing.