It's the Pictures 2023 Holiday Gift List
Looking for That Special Gift This Holiday Season? This Is a Good Start
Now updated for 2023! A brand new list of movies, books, video games, and fun miscellaneous stuff you can buy your loved ones. Finding a special gift for the person who has everything can be extremely difficult (that’s what my family tells me all the time!)
Now I know that not everyone wants to spend oodles of money on one gift, so I hope there is a good selection of some of my must-have choices below ranging in prices from understandable to crazy.
This newsletter will be going out a week earlier for paid subscribers to get started on their holiday shopping and will unlock a few days before Black Friday for everyone else. Please note that It’s the Pictures does not receive affiliated bonuses for purchases made using these links. If you’d like to support the newsletter please consider a paid subscription.
Movies
Barbie ($30, Warner Bros)
Easily the biggest surprise of 2023, Barbie ended up crushing box office expectations. But perhaps the best part of that was that Barbie was fantastic as well. If you haven’t seen it yet or you still haven’t found time to sit down and watch it with Mom, now is your chance to take home the biggest and one of the best movies of 2023.
Avatar: The Way of Water ($30, Disney)
I may not have loved Avatar: The Way of Water, but this is the best demo material for your new entertainment system if you’ve got a new 4K TV and a 4K UHD player. Director James Cameron took the technology that powered his groundbreaking original and brought it to another level. It has to be seen to be believed.
Get a copy of Avatar: The Way of Water
Oppenheimer ($30, Universal)
My expectations were low for director Christopher Nolan’s latest movie. Dunkirk left me cold despite its technical achievement and the less said about Tenet the better. Imagine how surprised I was when Oppenheimer was not only one of my favorite movies of 2023 but probably my favorite movie from Nolan. While the home video release will never replicate the stunning Dolby or IMAX presentations of the movie, the all-star cast, terrific score, and many other elements make Oppenheimer a must-own release.
Days of Heaven ($40, Criterion)
Few movies rival the visual splendor of Days of Heaven. Director Terrence Malick’s feature was shot primarily during the golden hour giving the footage this beautiful hazy glow. Now Criterion will be releasing a new 4K digital restoration supervised and approved by director Terrence Malick, camera operator John Bailey, and editor Billy Weber, with a 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. I can’t wait to see this on my big screen and it will certainly be a visual treat.
Get a copy of Days of Heaven in 4K UHD
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 ($30, Paramount)
The latest Mission: Impossible movie got eaten up at the box office thanks to Barbie and Oppenheimer, but now it can get a new lease on life on home video. Tom Cruise brings another exciting entry in the long-running franchise with some incredible stunts and a truly outrageous villain. If you enjoy action movies, this is the one to get this holiday season.
Get your copy of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1
Masaaki Yuasa: Five Films ($80, Shout! Factory)
Coming out right before the Holidays is an essential box set featuring five incredible movies from director Masaaki Yuasa. Yuasa is quickly becoming one of the predominant directors of Japanese Anime and his films Mind Game, Lu over the Wall, The Night is Short Walk on Girl, Ride Your Wave, and Inu-Oh show off his directing prowess and his memorable stories. If you’ve never seen one of Yuasa’s movies, this is the perfect box set to get started. The set will also include an exclusive bonus disc for fans to get breakdowns of the movies and short films from Yuasa as well.
Get your copy of Masaaki Yuasa: Five Films
COLUMBO: THE 1970s (Seasons 1-7) ($105, Kino Lorber)
If you want to watch the greatest murder mystery show of all time, look no further than this new box set from Kino Lorber. Featuring many of the classic episodes of Peter Falk’s Columbo, the new boxset features remastered video from Universal. I remember watching Columbo as a child during its many reruns and the show still holds up today. Some of the many guest stars include Dick Van Dyke, William Shatner, Vincent Price, Leonard Nimoy, Martin Landau, and Johnny Cash among many others. Can’t go wrong with this Columbo box set.
Get your copy of Columbo: The 1970s (Seasons 1-7)
Books
The Welcome Home by Amy June Bates ($19, Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books)
What they say: From the creator of The Big Umbrella comes another poetic and lushly illustrated picture book about the joy of companionship and there always being room for one more in this tale about the search for the perfect pet.
This one is for the children. I’ve come across a lot of children’s books in 2023 and while there are a few I enjoyed, The Welcome Home is my favorite. It has lovely drawings and your little ones will pick up the joke right away making everyone laugh as the family in the book tries to find the perfect pet. I’ve been buying copies for friend’s kids so that’s about the highest praise I can give.
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree ($14, Tor Books)
What they say: When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn't always what we seek. Set in the world of New York Times best-selling Legends & Lattes, Travis Baldree's Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.
This is a prequel to the cozy fantasy novel Legends & Lattes. Having read both books in 2023, I can’t recommend them enough. While they aren’t extremely long, they’re great for a weekend inside, and have some wonderful characters.
Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer ($26, G.P. Putnam's Sons)
What they say: Once upon a time, if you wanted to know if a movie was worth seeing, you didn't check out Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. You asked whether Siskel & Ebert had given it "two thumbs up."
I wrote a review of this title previously and I think anybody who reads It’s the Pictures will probably enjoy this informative story on Siskel & Ebert.
Buy Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever
Making it So: A Memoir by Patrick Stewart ($23, Gallery Books)
What they say: From his acclaimed stage triumphs to his legendary onscreen work in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, Sir Patrick Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations with his indelible command of stage and screen. Now, he presents his long-awaited memoir, Making It So, a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life
I’m certain that fans of Star Trek would love to dig into this book this holiday season.
Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America by Abraham Josephine Riesman ($18, Atria Books)
What they say: The definitive biography of Vince McMahon, former WWE chairman, and CEO, charts his rise from rural poverty to the throne of one of the world’s most influential media empires—and features never-before-seen research and exclusive interviews with more than 150 people who witnessed, aided, and suffered from his ascent.
If you know someone who is a fan of the WWE (who is old enough to enjoy this novel), then it’s a must-buy. Even if you think you know everything about McMahon’s reign over the WWE, you’re sure to learn something new.
Buy Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America
Games
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ($60, Nintendo)
The sequel to one of the greatest games of all time comes the newest game of all time. Right? I’m not so sure about that, but Tears of the Kingdom is another incredible game from the wizards at Nintendo, pushing the limits of the Nintendo Switch, simultaneously, expanding what is possible within their video games. It’s not as groundbreaking as Breath of the Wild, but as a sequel, it innovates enough to justify another journey through this version of Hyrule. It’s a must-own if you have a Nintendo Switch.
Buy The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 ($70, Sony)
The first impression you might get from looking at Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is that Sony spent a ton of money developing it. It looks the part of a next-gen AAA game featuring spectacular graphics and seamless loading times. This time players get to play as Peter Parker or Miles Morales using a switching system that Grand Theft Auto V revolutionised a decade ago. If you’re looking for that essential Playstation 5 game this year, this is the one.
Baldur’s Gate 3 ($60, Larian Studios)
This one is for mature gamers only, but it’s easily the best video game I played in 2023. Using D&D rules, Baldur’s Gate 3 throws players into a ridiculously customizable adventure. Results are determined by dice throws so while you might want to pet that friendly squirrel on the ground, you might end up punting it instead. With so many different things to see and outcomes, you’ll be playing this one for a long time. The game is currently available on PlayStation 5 and PC with an Xbox release coming soon.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription 1 Month ($15, Microsoft)
If you play video games on PC or Xbox, a subscription to Xbox Game Pass is a must-have. It continues to be the best value in gaming and not only does it allow you to play AAA titles like Forza Motorsport, Cocoon, Starfield, Sea of Stars, and many more. If you even play one game a month, it’s worth checking out. (Available for Xbox and/or PC)
Buy an Xbox Game Pass for 1 Month
Miscellaneous
Stuffed Animal Shrimp ($22.50, Jellycat)
I saw this championed in the latest New York Magazine Christmas list (fantastic gift list by the way), and wanted to share the glory of the shrimp with everywhere here. Now listen, Jellycat makes terrific stuffed animals (I think my child has a broccoli stuffed animal), but this shrimp takes the cocktail. It’s simply exquisite and I imagine it’d make a lovely gift for that White Elephant or Yankee Swap party.
Buy your stuffed animal shrimp
Sufjan Stevens - Javelin Vinyl ($27, Asthmatic Kitty Records)
Vinyl is back in a big way. Why you could easily buy the latest Taylor Swift rerelease or Olivia Rodrigo album, why not go with this fantastic new album from Sufjan Stevens? Javelin is one of his best records right up there in quality with all-time classic Illinois. If you aren’t sure you want to buy the vinyl right away, you could always sample the music on a streaming platform first.
Buy Sufjan Stevens Javelin on Vinyl
Anker Nano Power Bank ($50, Anker)
This is the second year I’m featuring a product from Anker and that’s because everyone could use an external battery for their phones. This latest version has a screen to show the charging progress and a built-in USB-C cable. If you own the latest iPhone 15 models or select Android phones, you won’t even need to carry a cable with your external battery anymore. I love crafty solutions!
LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant ($60, Lego)
This little Piranha Plant is already sold out on the Lego website, but I’ve found that Target is selling it as well. The Piranha Plant is already super adorable, but in this year’s new Super Mario Wonder video game they even sing! Note that this is graded for builders 18+ so your children might now have the patience for this one. At least I hope that’s why it’s rated 18+.
Buy a LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant
Spaceman Junior Backpack ($110, Jump From Paper)
This was another cool product I saw in the New York Magazine gift list. It’s a backpack, but it looks 2D to those who are looking at it. It’s a clever design for sure. While I’m not entirely sure of the quality of the bag itself, I would hope for the price you’re getting a worthwhile product. If nothing else you’ll be getting a nifty conversation piece.
Buy a Spaceman Junior Backpack
Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of The West Board Game ($120, Asmodee)
One of the hottest board games this holiday season is certainly going to be the new Legacy edition of Ticket to Ride. It has the same principles as a standard Ticket to Ride game, but like other legacy board games, this version changes each time you play it. By the time you’ve played your 12th game of Ticket to Ride Legacy, you’ll have your unique copy of the game. If you’re interested you can read this glowing review from Polygon before picking up the game for yourself or a friend.
Buy Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West
2300 PSI 1.2 GPM High-Performance Cold Water Corded Electric Pressure Washer ($329, Ryobi)
What happens when you borrow a pressure washer and it doesn’t work? You borrow another one from a family member. What happens when you kind of damage that one too? Well, you put Pressure Washer on your holiday gift list of course! This beautiful Electric Pressure Washer from Ryobi looks like the perfect gift for that homeowner who desperately needs to clean their walkways but has destroyed the last two available pressure washers. Maybe you find yourself in a similar position.
Buy an Electric Pressure Washer today
TheraGun Pro Plus 6-in-1 Deep Tissue Percussion Massage Gun ($600, TheraGun)
Do you have a toddler at home that likes to sit on your shoulders? Are you asked to put heavy boxes into the rafters of your garage? Do you know Kung Fu? Well, I have the perfect gift for you! The TheraGun Pro Plus promises full body pain relief for the low low price of six visits to expensive massage therapy. I have no idea how this is different than several over devices that promise the same thing, but if you want extravagance this is the way to go.
Sony QD-OLED 65-inch BRAVIA XR A95L Series 4K Ultra HD TV ($3,500, Sony)
From what I hear, this new 65-inch QD-OLED is the TV champ for 2023. It has all the features you’d expect from a TV in this class, but the picture quality is supposed to be the absolute best. You’ll want to read more about this TV here. This is the point of the Gift List the list gets stupid, so if you want to get yourself or your loved one a stupid good gift for Christmas, this is the one.
V2 Float Pod ($???, DreamPod)
Has 2023 been just a little bit difficult? Do you want to get away from it all without going on vacation? Well, this Float Pod from DreamPod will certainly do the trick. This Deprivation Tank Isolation Pod is one of the best on the market. It’s made from the best quality fiberglass and plastics, polished to the finest finish. You’ll be satisfied that it has maximum soundproofing to keep those demands for “more snacks” or “get me a seltzer” being things of the past. Need to do the dishes or put the laundry away? Once you’re in this Pod those worries will be things of the past. Spend a LOT and get some peace of mind this holiday. You deserve it.
Inquire about a V2 Float Pod today
If you’ve made it this far, you must’ve enjoyed the shopping list. It took a little while to put it together, but I’m glad you liked it. I’m running a special price on my newsletter over Black Friday and you can subscribe for a year at 50% off.