2018 Holiday Gift Guide: The best presents for the pop culture junkie in your life
The holiday shopping season is ready to go into overdrive. But fear not, dear reader. Yahoo Entertainment has you covered when it comes to the best pop culture presents around. From Avengers to Zelda, apparel to toys, wallet-busters to stocking stuffers — here are some suggestions for the entertainment lover on your list.
TOYS & GAMES
Marvel Legends Series Infinity Gauntlet Articulated Electronic Fist
No need to crisscross the Marvel Cinematic Universe tracking down those pesky Infinity gems — this wearable replica of Thanos’s snug gauntlet collects them all for you. Thankfully, when you snap your fingers, half of the universe won’t disappear … at least we hope not. (Hasbro, $99.99)
Stranger Things Action Figures
Perfect in this world or the Upside Down, these highly detailed figures let fans create their own Stranger Things storylines as they await Season 3. (McFarlane Toys; $10 for the squeezable Dart, $20 for the individual figures, $70 for the Ghostbusters 4-pack)
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The internet blew up with the release of the “World of Light” trailer (watch above), which basically established this brawler as the Nintendo world’s answer to Infinity War. We played the game at Comic-Con and couldn’t get enough. (Nintendo, $60)
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall
Sure, you could cast a spell to instantly assemble this 878-piece Hogwarts replica. But maybe give the Muggle way a try; you know that Arthur Weasley would approve. (Lego, $99.99)
Marvel’s Spider-Man
The best superhero game of the year really makes you feel like a web-slinger. ‘Nuff said. (Sony, $45)
Funko’s Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Accio Christmas countdown! Behind this 24-door advent calendar are all kinds of pocket-size Funko goodies from the Wizarding World. And if you’re looking for cool, standard-size Pops to pass out, Funko has you covered: Mix-and-match figures from beloved TV shows like Fraggle Rock and The Brady Bunch to such major motion picture favorites as Black Panther and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. (Funko, $55.99)
Star Wars Ultimate Co-Pilot Chewie
This awww-inspiring interactive toy brings Han Solo’s best buddy out of the Millennium Falcon and into your home. With over 100 programmed sound-and-motion combinations, he also provides a master class in Wookiee behavior. (Hasbro, $129.99)
Super Mario Party
Hands-down the best kids video game of the year. The Switch game lets players go head-to-head on a series of virtual board games as a variety of beloved characters. Party on! (Nintendo, $60)
Avengers Hero Inventor Kit
Budding Shuris and Tony Starks will love this app-enabled kit that lets kids construct and customize their own high-tech gear. (littleBits, $150)
Nerf Laser Ops Pro
Never worry about losing your darts again. Nerf’s new series of laser guns, the AlphaPoint blaster 2-pack and the giant Delta Blaster, are perfect for fighting in tight spaces and china shops. (Nerf; $30 for the AlphaPoint 2-pack, $35 for the Delta Blaster)
The C64 Mini
From Nintendo’s SNES Classic to Sony’s PlayStation Classic, all-in-one retro video games are all the rage. Now you can score major nostalgia points with this miniature version of the Commodore 64, which includes, yes, 64 classic games (more can be added via thumb drive) and BASIC programming. (Retro Games, $75)
VIDEO
DC Universe
The perfect gift for fans of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, the new subscription service, available on virtually every digital platform, offers on-demand movies, shows, cartoons and comics, as well as buzzy digital-only series like Titans. (DC, $7.99/month, $74.99/year)
Die Hard 30th Anniversary Holiday Blu-ray
The next time someone asks you to prove that Die Hard is a Christmas movie, just show them this holiday-themed Blu-ray. If the film itself doesn’t convince them — and it should — the seasonal holiday cards and ugly Christmas sweater packaging make it an open and shut case. (Fox Home Entertainment, $14.99)
The Big Lebowski 20th Anniversary Limited Edition
Channel your inner Dude with this amazing collection that includes the Coen brothers’ classic, a mini bowling bowl and bag. All that’s missing is the White Russians. (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, $60)
Mission: Impossible 6-Movie Collection
Tom Cruise’s death-defying action series seems to get better with every installment. This new set collects the entire franchise. (Paramount Home Entertainment, $60)
Batman: The Animated Series Deluxe Limited Edition
Holy holidays, Batman! This jaw-dropping 10-disc set includes every episode of the greatest superhero series of all time, along with the two feature-length spinoff movies and a trio of mini Funko figures. (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, $112.99)
BOOKS
The Star Wars Archives: 1977-1983
The Force is strong with this stunning book, which collects archival concept art, storyboards and photographs from the original trilogy. (Taschen, $200)
Beastie Boys Book
Written by surviving Beasties Mike D and Ad-Rock, this is the ultimate guide to the iconic party-hearty punk rappers. For an even more entertaining experience, check out the audiobook version, which features, in addition to the authors, the voices of Chuck D, Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, LL Cool J and Jon Stewart, among many others. (Random House; $30 hardcover, $17 audiobook)
Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War — The Art of the Movie
You saw the movie and survived the snap — now get a behind-the-scenes peek into the creative process in this lavishly illustrated tome, featuring concept art, alternate scenes and a hint of how the film evolved from the drawing board to the theater. (Marvel, $45)
From the Films of Harry Potter: Creatures — A Paper Scene Book
This delightful, multilayered 3-D paper-art book will captivate Potterphiles of all ages. (Insight Editions, $30)
Batman/Catwoman: The Wedding Album
The comic-book event of the year — minus its most controversial moment — has been collected in this deluxe hardbound edition. (DC Comics, $17)
The Coen Brothers: This Book Really Ties the Films Together
For more than three decades, Joel and Ethan Coen have brought their eccentric, uncompromising, inimitable vision to Hollywood, carving out a place in the contemporary pantheon of filmmakers. Fans will relish this deep dive into the siblings’ work. (Abrams, $40)
Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy
From Ahsoka to Leia to Rey, this lovingly illustrated collection profiles 75 leading ladies from across the Star Wars galaxy via dozens of brand-new artworks by female and nonbinary artists. (Chronicle Books, $30)
Walt Disney’s Disneyland
A deluxe visual history of the Happiest Place on Earth, loaded with vintage photographs and concept art guaranteed to mesmerize Disneyphiles. (Taschen, $60)
Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana — A Visual History
Assembled by superfans for superfans, this breathtaking volume is a must-have for the D&D lovers in your life, regardless of their class or alignment. (Ten Speed Press, $50)
DC Comics: Anatomy of a Metahuman
This beautifully bizarre book dissects some of your favorite supers, showing us mere mortals what makes them tick. (Insight Editions, $50)
APPAREL
Official Wakanda Baseball Jersey
Celebrate the year’s biggest movie with this sweet jersey from Mizizi filled with Black Panther Easter eggs. (Mizizi, $80)
Numskull Novelty Christmas Sweaters/Jumpers
When it comes to “ugly” holiday sweaters, none are finer than the offerings from Numskull. This year’s crop features 20 new designs, including Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Harry Potter and video-game characters. (Numskull, $50)
Black Manta Camper Cap
New Era’s line of hats inspired by Aquaman include this ode to the movie’s kick-ass supervillain. (New Era, $24)
Jonesy T-Shirt
Among the latest creations from the crafty artists over at Mondo is this T-shirt celebrating Alien‘s resident feline. It can be paired with the newly released book Jonesy: Nine Lives on the Nostromo, which tells the Alien story from the cat’s point of view. (Mondotees, $25)
Captain Marvel Faux Leather Jacket
Get ready for the arrival of the newest Marvel superhero with this stylish jacket that lets you tap into your inner Brie Larson answering Nick Fury’s call. (Her Universe, $80)
FOOD & BEVERAGE
TCM Wine Club
Bring a little Golden Age of Hollywood glamour into your living room with TCM’s curated crop of wines. Every shipment brings new flavors and fresh suggestions for which vintage wine to pair with which vintage film. (TCM, $79.99)
Mr. Rogers Sweater Changing Mug
The late, great PBS children’s host is having a moment. The documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is an Oscar favorite, Tom Hanks is filming a biopic and PBS has released the It’s a Beautiful Day Blu-ray, a collection of 30 classic episodes. But our favorite is this color-changing mug. (PBS, $14)
Stranger Things Candy
It’s Sugar introduced a line of candy themed to the Netflix show. There’s edible Upside Down slime fresh from the Hawkins Lab, along with an Upside Down chocolate bar, My Little Pollywog gummy and the Barb Missing Milk Carton filled with chocolate malted-milk balls. (It’s Sugar, $5.99-$9.99)
The Walking Dead Wine Collection
Slip one of these bottles into your go bag to make the zombie apocalypse a little more enjoyable. Choose between The Walking Dead wine from Skybound or Lot 18 in types ranging from Michonne Spanish Tempranillo to Blood Red Blend. (From $20/bottle to $200/12-bottle set)
Mickey’s 90th Anniversary Collection
To mark the celebrity rodent’s milestone, Sugarfina has created a line of beautifully packaged artisanal candies. In addition to the Mickey’s Collector three-piece Candy Bento Box (with candy ears, gloves and buttons), a series of chocolate bars makes the perfect stocking stuffer. (Sugarfina; chocolate bars $10 each, bento box $39)
