21 must-have sci-fi Blu-rays and DVDs that'll make perfect holiday gifts
When it comes to holiday gift-giving, movies and TV are an awesome way to go. With a rare, limited or collector's edition of a beloved film or TV series, you're as good as gold. To kick-start the holiday shopping season, we found some of the biggest and most wanted DVDs and Blu-rays 2011 has to offer.
View Images
Smallville: The Complete Series Smallville: The Complete Series is the perfect gift for anyone who watched the show from the very beginning. Relive Clark Kent's journey with this awesome DVD set, which includes all 10 seasons (218 episodes) and 2 discs filled with bonus features. This is a great condolence prize for that Smallville fan who just can't let go! (Release date: Nov. 29) Amazon price: $199.99
Harry Potter: Complete 8-Film Collection Blu-ray After 10 years and eight films, Harry Potter's journey has come to an end. This fall, Warner Bros. is releasing The Complete 8-Film Collection on Blu-ray, which will contain the entire series in one convenient package. The studio recently announced that on Dec. 29 all Potter films would be pulled from stores and kept in a vault (similar to Disney with their animated classics) and re-released periodically. To avoid the Potter drought, pick up this collection ASAP. (Release date: Nov. 11) Amazon price: $79.99
Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray Star Wars is the franchise that keeps on giving—whether you want it to or not. Despite the controversy surrounding the latest Blu-ray box set, Star Wars: The Complete Saga managed to break records when it hit shelves last September. Some won't admit it, but this is a staple many fans still want in their DVD collections. Amazon price: $86.99
Giorgio Moroder Presents Metropolis: Special Edition Blu-ray Metropolis is required material for any legit sci-fi fan. This restored HD, special edition of Fritz Lang's 1927 film features the documentary "The Fading Image," which highlights Giorgio Moroder and his three-year restoration of the classic along with the original trailer, photo gallery and Moroder's liner notes written specifically for the 2011 special edition. (Release date: Nov. 15) Amazon price: $20.99
Super 8: Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo plus Digital Copy Speaking of old school, one of last summer's most anticipated films is heading to DVD and Blu-ray. Super 8, the collaboration between sci-fi gods J. J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg, takes us back to a simpler time with this story of innocence, exploration and aliens. It's like E.T.: The Extraterrestrial ... but with more lens flares. (Release date: Nov. 22) Amazon price: $24.99
Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Two-Disc Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo plus Digital Copy Give Caesar a good home this holiday season with the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. This blockbuster is a necessary addition to the collection of any avid follower of the Planet of the Apes franchise. Aside from the movie itself, the combo pack includes lots of extras, like a behind-the-scenes look at "The Genius of Andy Serkis" and the "Mythology of the Apes." What's not to love? (Release date: Dec. 13) Amazon price: $24.99
Pirates of the Caribbean Four-Movie Collection: Blu-ray and Digital Copy If you know someone who has a weak spot for Captain Jack Sparrow, this box set is for them. Disney pulled out all the stops for their Pirates movie collection, which features all four films tucked inside a mock treasure chest. The movies and the special features add up to 15 discs of high-seas fun! Amazon price: $98.49
Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy Gift Set: Blu-ray and Digital Copy—Limited Edition Almost 20 years after the release of the first film, Jurassic Park's still got it! That's why the Ultimate Trilogy Gift Set should have a spot on your shopping list. The set includes all three films plus their respective "Making of" documentaries and featurettes such as "The Jurassic Park Phenomenon: A Discussion with Author Michael Crichton" and "Tour of Stan Winston's Studio." Did we forget to mention the awesome packaging, which includes a mini-T-Rex bursting through the Jurassic Park gate? Amazon price: $79.99
Twilight Zone Season 1-5 Bundle: Blu-ray Scare your friends with this Blu-ray bundle of the classic Rod Serling series The Twilight Zone. This set includes all 156 episodes remastered in glorious HD for their viewing pleasure. It's the perfect gift for anyone who's a fan of classic suspense and heart-stopping plot twists. Amazon price: $287.49
Tron: Legacy / Tron: The Original Classic: Five-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy in Identity Disc Collectible Packaging This holiday season, enter the world of Tron with this five-disc combo pack, which includes a 3D Blu-ray version of the sequel Tron Legacy. If you've got a tech nerd friend who's really into visual effects, look no further than this box set. The special collector's edition features deleted scenes, "The Making of Tron" and exclusive photo Tronology. Amazon price: $169.99
Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray One of the most amazing sci-fi series to grace the small screen is heading to Blu-ray. All four seasons of Farscape, consisting of 88 episodes, is yours for the giving! With the HD re-release, there are more than 90 minutes of deleted scenes, a documentary called Memories of Moya: An Epic Journey Explored, countless commentaries from the cast and crew, and much more all on 20 discs. (Release date: Nov.15) Amazon price: $124.99
Doctor Who: The David Tennant Years Most people have their favorite Doctor Who, and if your friend loves David Tennant, we've got you both covered. The Doctor Who: The David Tennant Years box set highlights the actor's journey as one of the sci-fi's most beloved characters. In honor of Tennant's reign, fans can enjoy each of his seasons and every special with this 26-disc collection. This is the perfect gift for anyone still in denial about his exit. Amazon price: $105.99
Scream Five-Film Set (Scream 1-3 plus Two Documentaries) Blu-ray If Scream 4 left a bitter taste, your lucky friends can always go back to the originals. This Blu-ray set includes Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, and two documentaries entitled "Still Scary: The Ultimate Scary Movie Retrospective" and "Scream: The Inside Story." It reminds you of the series' humble begins and its origins as a satire of the slasher genre. Don't you miss those days? Amazon price: $20.49
Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory: Three-Disc 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo It's time to get magical! Willy Wonka hit stores in a big way this year with this 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition. The set consists of three discs that include a Blu-ray and DVD version of the fantasy film. It also has special features from previous releases as well as a few new ones like "Mel Stuart's Wonkavision" and "A World of Pure Imagination with author Roald Dahl." Amazon price: $44.99
Friday the 13th: The Ultimate Collection (Parts I - VIII + Jason Mask) Are your friends in the mood for some bloodshed? If so, you should invest in the ultimate Friday the 13th movie collection. The set includes the original 1980 film and its sequels leading up to the infamous (and somewhat hilarious) Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. Each entry is accompanied by its own special features including commentary and behind the scenes footage. This limited edition is part of 50,000-unit release that includes an 8-page Collector's Booklet as well as a replica of Jason's hockey mask. Get it while it's hot! Amazon price: $32.49
Stargate Atlantis: The Complete Series Blu-ray Get your Stargate Atlantis fix with this amazing Blu-ray edition of the complete series. The 20-disc set covers all five seasons and is filled with enough audio commentary to last a lifetime. Unlike most Blu-ray releases, it puts less thought into fancy packaging and more emphasis on HD quality. Amazon price: $113.99
Mimic: The Director's Cut Blu-ray and Digital Copy Guillermo del Toro's underrated horror fantasy Mimic has hit Blu-ray with a director's cut and digital bundle. The set comes with two copies of the film and special features that include a video prologue by Del Toro, his audio commentary and the featurettes "Reclaiming Mimic," "A Leap In Evolution - The Creatures of Mimic," "Back Into The Tunnels - Shooting Mimic," and even a gag reel. Amazon price: $14.49
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Blu-ray The original Buffy the Vampire Slayer is extremely campy but despite its flaws some people love Kristy Swanson's early take on the heroine. This Blu-ray is the perfect addition to any Buffy fan collection, which features Donald Sutherland getting punched in the nose, Hilary Swank's film debut, and Scream's David Arquette being turned into a vampire. Amazon price: $16.99
Babylon 5: Seasons 1-5 and Babylon 5: The Movie Collection Get (and give) a Babylon 5 fix with this ultimate TV and movie collection. The set contains all five seasons of the series, along with the movie specials spread across 35 discs. If you're not interested in getting or giving each season or film individually, this is a good way to get everything in one convenient package. Amazon price: $206.49
Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series Dark Skies was an underrated sci-fi series that gained a cult following during its one and only season. Almost 16 years after its cancellation, some people still can't let the show's conspiracy theories go. That's why the release of the complete series is so special. Your lucky friends can re-watch every episode and overanalyze each storyline however, and whenever they want. Amazon price: $25.49
Donnie Darko (10th Anniversary Edition) Blu-ray Disc Donnie Darko is considered Jake Gyllenhaal's breakout film. The actor played the title character in this horror-fantasy about a teenage boy with unsavory visions. It's been 10 years since the movie debuted and it's become somewhat of a cult classic. So if you know someone who has an unhealthy interest in Jake Gyllenhaal or demonic rabbits, the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray has their name on it. Amazon price: $15.99