Exclaim! Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Film and TV Presents of 2023

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation

BY Exclaim! StaffPublished Dec 7, 2023

Sure, we all enjoy marathon viewings of trash TV on streaming services — but for the true cinephile, nothing beats a great film on Blu-ray or 4K. For the movie buff on your holiday list, here are some great gifts to enhance your home viewing, including films, books and fun swag.

Beau Is Afraid


Director Ari Aster finds new ways to confound in this psychological mind-bender. Beau, played by Joaquin Phoenix, is indeed afraid. But is that fear justified, or is it just all in his head?

Die Hard advent calendar


Turn Hans Gruber's fatal fall from the Nakatomi Tower into a 25-day-long countdown with this advent calendar.

M3GAN


The latest in the killer doll genre (see also: Child's Play, Annabelle), M3GAN follows an AI-powered doll that gains self-awareness and becomes hostile to anyone who isn't its owner. Violence ensues!

A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch's Dune. An Oral History.


Takes readers on an exhaustive tour through David Lynch's adaptation of the sci-fi classic through interviews with almost everyone involved, including Lynch himself, making the argument for its place among the director's best. The limited first-edition features red foil gilded page edges and a satin ribbon marker.

Moonage Daydream


Director Brett Morgen's impressionistic journey into the world of David Bowie gives viewers a whole new way to look at the enduring artist's work and legend.

Past Lives


Celine Songs's debut feature, this romantic drama drew praise for its direction and acting (from Greta Lee and Teo Yoo, among others) and is heralded as one of the year's best.

Picard: The Final Season


This final season of Picard gives the much-loved captain a fitting send-off in what is most likely his last voyage through the stars.

Renfield


A look at the codependent relationship that has a hold on Dracula's long-suffering but fanatically devoted servant. It's based on a story from The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman and stars Nicolas Cage as the Prince of Darkness himself.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse / Across the Spider-Verse


A twofer that combines both of Phil Lord and Chrisopher Miller's wildly inventive takes on the web-slinger into one package. After introducing the world to Mile Morales and Spider-Gwen in Into the Spider-Verse, Across dives head first into the multiverse.

Weird: the Al Yankovic Story


Eschewing biopic norms, Daniel Radcliffe anchors this hilarious parody of the famed parodist's life and career.

Whoa! The Amazing Story of Keanu Reeves


This biography traces the unlikely story of the 21st century's greatest action heroes.

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