14 Gifts to Cheer Up Your Favorite Cinephile
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
A Great TVTCL 6-Series 55-Inch 4K TVRead more
An Audio UpgradeVizio 2.1 Sound Bar with Wireless SubwooferRead more
Home CinemaOptoma UHD50XRead more
Stream AwayRoku Streaming Stick PlusRead more
Movie theaters are still inaccessible because, you know, there's a raging pandemic or something. But that doesn’t mean the magic of cinema is lost. A world of safely accessible media is available for film buffs, and it’s easy for you to offer them a piece of that. These gifts will help your favorite cinephile revel in the glory of the silver screen, no matter where they may find it this year.
Check out our many other gift guides for more recommendations, including Gift Ideas for Xbox Gamers, and Gift Ideas for People Working From Home.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
- Photograph: TCL
A Great TV
TCL 6-Series 55-Inch 4K TVFor three years running, TCL models have been our top pick for the best TVs you can buy for not a lot of money. That's still true with its latest 6 Series, which has a beautiful 4K Dolby Vision screen with quantum dot technology—great for bright colors. Plus, it has a built-in Roku interface for all your giftee’s streaming needs. Read WIRED writer Parker Hall's review (9/10, WIRED Recommends) for more details.
- Photograph: Vizio
An Audio Upgrade
Vizio 2.1 Sound Bar with Wireless SubwooferSoundbars really enhance the at-home viewing experience. This is the top pick in our Best Soundbars guide, and it gets you the best bang for your buck. It outputs great sound, and the included wireless subwoofer has the low end covered. It’s easy to set up and also features Bluetooth that can pair with just about any device.
- Photograph: Optoma
Home Cinema
Optoma UHD50XIf you’re willing to really splurge on your favorite movie buff, then this projector is fantastic. It has a 4K cinema-quality picture that will make your giftee feel like they’re right back at the movies. For something more affordable (and portable), try the LG CineBeam PH30N for $350. You can find our other projector picks here.
- Photograph: Roku
Stream Away
Roku Streaming Stick PlusThis little dongle is our best pick for streaming devices. It plugs right into a TV’s HDMI port, connects to Wi-Fi, and voilà, your giftee will get a clear 4K picture and the thousands of apps available on Roku (including the big ones like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video). Read our Roku guide to see what other devices we recommend if you're unsure.
- Photograph: Criterion
The Classics
Criterion CollectionCriterion is a film powerhouse for a reason, and with this subscription ($100 a year, $11 per month), cinema enthusiasts will have on-demand access to more than 1,000 classics, as well as a rotating selection of modern movies and weirdo art flicks. If the person you’re buying for prefers physical media, the Criterion Collection also sells gift cards they can use to purchase that copy of Robinson Crusoe on Mars they’ve always wanted.
- Photograph: Annapurna Pictures
An Untame Thing
"Sorry to Bother You"This delightfully bizarre satire came out in 2018, but if your giftee hasn’t seen it, they're in for a treat. WIRED’s Jason Parham called the movie “a deliciously untame thing,” and it's exactly that. It’s a hilarious and heartfelt look at class struggle, deception, and labor exploitation that feels pitch-perfect for the dark times we’re in. It’s best to go into the film without knowing as much as possible, both for you and your recipient. If you’ve seen it, you know what we mean.
- Photograph: DJI
Amateur Cinematographer
DJI Osmo Mobile 4If your pal loves to watch movies, they may have a desire to make them as well. For the budding filmmaker, or really just anyone looking to get a smooth, clean take, this lightweight gimbal will do the trick with a smartphone. It’s foldable, has a magnetic grip, and gets 15 hours of battery life. It may be pricier than its predecessor, but it’s still rather affordable for a gimbal. Read WIRED writer Scott Gilbertson’s review (8/10, WIRED Recommends) for more.
- Photograph: Harper Collins
You Are What You Eat
"Eat What You Watch: A Cookbook for Movie Lovers"Characters in movies can never have a normal meal. They’re always either munching on a gourmet feast or getting grossed out by something foreign. If your movie buff is anything like us, they’ve watched a film or two on an empty stomach and been curious about what some of the onscreen grub tastes like. This cookbook is here to answer that question. Andrew Rea hosts the YouTube channel Binging with Babish, where he recreates dishes from movies and TV shows. He's compiled the greatest hits into this book.
For more modern takes with some TV shows thrown in, check out Rea’s latest book, Binging with Babish: 100 Recipes Recreated From Your Favorite Movies and TV Shows.
- Photograph: Syncopy Inc.
A Summer Blockbuster
"Tenet"For fans of time/interdimensional travel, this Christopher Nolan flick is a must-see. Despite the pandemic, it did come out in theaters, garnering critical acclaim and dismal box office returns. But it’s out on Blu-ray now, available for (safe) home viewing. If your giftee (wisely) stayed put to avoid risking exposure to the coronavirus, this is a great way for them to catch up on a would-be summer blockbuster.
- Photograph: Quirk Books
Movie Minimap
"Cinemaps: An Atlas of 35 Great Movies"This beautifully illustrated book reimagines the most pivotal scenes of movies as elaborate maps. It’s more artistic than accurate (nothing is to scale, exactly), but it still helps give a sense of the geography of a film. The illustrators have also plotted the main characters’ paths on each map, so you can trace out the footpaths of the cliff-top sword fight in The Princess Bride or follow the Jurassic Park scramble around the dino-filled island.
- Photograph: Amazon
Catch Up on Film History
Alfred Hitchcock: The Ultimate CollectionHave they never seen Vertigo, Rear Window, or North by Northwest? If not, they’re missing three absolutely essential pieces of film history (and the chance to see Jimmy Stewart go nuts). This collection has 15 of the best Hitchcock films in HD along with storyboards and other fun production goodies. There are also two discs of highlights from the master of suspense's long-running TV show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
- Photograph: Abrams Books
Behind the Scenes
"The Wes Anderson Collection"Is your giftee a big fan of Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Owen and/or Luke Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman? Well, they’re probably well aware of Wes Anderson films then, which often feature all of those actors. The title of this pick may make your recipient think you're giving them all of Anderson's movies, but they'll quickly discover this is in fact a book, complete with genuine, 100 percent turnable pages. Structured as a conversation between Anderson and author/critic Matt Zoller Seitz, the pages feature enlightening stories about Anderson’s life and filmmaking process. It’s filled with photos and illustrations that feel just as colorful and quirky as the director's films. (Once again, this is not a collection of movies. It is a book.)
- Courtesy of Disney
House of Mickey
Disney+ SubscriptionIf your discerning film aficionado is eager to watch High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, then you're in luck. Give them the gift of the Disney+ streaming service. Inside this magical walled garden is a cornucopia of nearly every Disney film and show. And because Disney bought 21st Century Fox, there are a whole host of action and comedy movies like X-Men, Avatar, and Home Alone as well. Think of this as the gift of future-proofing: If your friend has the service, they’ll eventually have access to all the movies and shows ever made, once Disney finally devours every single other company.
Extra 20% off sitewide - Dyson promo code
GoPro Promo Code: 15% off Cameras and Accessories
Get Up To Extra 45% Off - April Secret Sale
10% Off Everything w/ Dell Promo Code
VistaPrint Promo Code: $10 Off $50+
50% off Select Products - Newegg Promo Code