Are we in the twilight of physical media? It seems so: the MPAA reported earlier this year that sales of discs have dropped 50% over the past 5 years, while DVD (gasp) still accounts for nearly 60% of all disc sales worldwide… with 4K Blu-ray at a piddling 5.3%. Yikes! Plus, Samsung dropped out of producing new 4K Blu-ray players… and we’re starting to see digital-only 4K releases for catalog titles like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Lawrence of Arabia.

Meanwhile, this year saw the introduction of streaming services from big hitters like Disney and Apple, joining an already crowded field filled with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, CBS, Paramount and more. Even boutique label Criterion now has a streaming service. HBO is coming out with a beefed-up new service called HBO Max that will be WarnerMedia’s spearhead into the streaming wars. The studios are betting big on digital media, the new cash cow.

If you’re a home theater enthusiast, you know physical media still offers the very best in picture and sound. We probably won’t ever see 8K on disc, but studios will continue to make these discs if fans like you keep buying them. Criterion and Scream Factory are still producing titles loaded with bonus features, and retailers like Best Buy and Target are selling “exclusives” like SteelBook editions and special gift sets like the epic MCU Infinity Saga set (see below).

And now, without further ado, here are our top thirty 4K and Blu-ray gift ideas this year. Watch for price drops and deals on Ben’s in the coming weeks (set deal alerts here)!

Lavish Box Sets

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series Limited Edition

All 279 episodes of Sheldon, Leonard and friends plus 12 hours of bonus footage, collector’s pop-up book and episode guide. [Blu-ray + Digital] 11/12

($200) $180 | Buy on Amazon

The Infinity Saga Collector’s Edition

All 23 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from Iron Man (2008) to Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) are collected here in this individually numbered mega box set, exclusive to Best Buy. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] 11/15

$550 | Buy at Best Buy

Scooby-Doo Where Are You! The Complete Series 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

Includes all 41 episodes of the original cartoon show that premiered back in 1969, plus a 32-page encyclopedia and Pocket Pop! vinyl figure keychain. [Blu-ray + Digital]

($90) $70 | Buy on Amazon

Godzilla: The Showa Era Films (1954-1975)

Criterion has collected all 15 original Godzilla films from the Showa era in this 8-disc set, stuffed with the usual bevy of new interviews and special features, plus a hardcover book.[Blu-ray]

($165) $112 | Buy on Amazon

 

Twin Peaks: From Z to A

The entire Twin Peaks universe is here on 21 discs: the original 1990s series, the 2017 Limited Event series, the movie Fire Walk with Me plus its deleted scenes The Missing Pieces. Other goodies include bonus features, 5 x 5 printed cards and die-cut acrylic figure. [Blu-ray + Digital] 12/10

($156) $133 | Buy on Amazon

  

Monty Python’s Flying Circus: The Complete Series: Norwegian Limited Edition

Years in the making, this 7-disc set is a meticulous, uncut HD restoration of the entire original Monty Python’s Flying Circus sketch comedy show that first aired on BBC in 1969.[Region-free Blu-ray]

($140) $115 | Buy on Amazon

New Release Hits

 

Alita: Battle Angel

This imaginative and innovative “cyberpunk” adventure from Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron is based on the 1990s Japanese manga series of the same name. [4K + Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + Digital]

$27 | 4K on Amazon$20 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Avengers: Endgame

Marvel wraps up the saga with a 3-hour panoply of every single character in the MCU, tear-jerking moments, goofy humor and big budget CGI. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + Digital]

$29 | 4K on Amazon$24 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum

Keanu Reeves embellishes his Charles Bronson / Liam Neeson vengeance phase in this violent saga that’s captured audiences worldwide. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$24 | 4K on Amazon$18 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Joker

Joaquin Phoenix’s original performance as the titular Batman villain has already generated Oscar buzz in this semi-homage to gritty 1970s movies like Taxi Driver. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + Digital] 12/17

$30 | 4K on Amazon$25 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Feeling a bit like a fun diversion after the doom and gloom of Endgame, this second MCU Spidey outing has a clever villain and inventive set pieces. Also, audiences were introduced to Night Monkey (aka Spidey’s stealth suit)! [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$20 | 4K on Amazon$19 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino’s “love letter” to Hollywood has major Oscar buzz and gets an extra 20 minutes of additional scenes as bonus. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital] 12/10

$28 | 4K on Amazon$25 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Late last year, Sony Pictures released an “alternate” non-MCU animated take on Spider-Man that quickly shot onto the short lists of people’s favorite superhero movie of all time. It also revived the long-lost Spider-Ham who originally appeared in the 1980s. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$19 | 4K on Amazon$13 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Chernobyl

HBO released this 5-episode miniseries depicting the events surrounding the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster to near universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike. [Blu-ray + Digital]

$35 | Buy on Amazon

Anniversaries & Restorations

 

It’s a Wonderful Life (4K Restoration)

The original 35mm camera negative of Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmastime classic was scanned in 4K for this meticulous restoration, which also has a featurette about Paramount’s restoration work. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$20 | 4K on Amazon

 

The Wizard of Oz: 80th Anniversary Edition (8K Restoration)

Warner newly scanned the original Technicolor camera negative in 8K resolution for the 80th anniversary with additional digital restoration. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$23 | 4K on Amazon

 

Moon: 10th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

Moon is one of the best sci-fi movies of the 21st century, and for its 10th anniversary, the original camera negative was scanned in 4K with visual effects upsampled from the original 2K. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital]

$18 | 4K on Amazon

 

The Karate Kid: 35th Anniversary (4K Restoration)

Sony spruced up this ’80s classic and pop culture phenomenon, scanning the original camera negative in 4K and adding some new interviews with surviving cast members. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital]

$19 | 4K on Amazon

 

Gremlins: 35th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

Another ’80s pop culture phenomenon gets the 4K treatment, with Warner scanning the original camera negative in 4K. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$22 | 4K on Amazon

 

Alien: 40th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

For its 40th anniversary, the original theatrical version of this terrifying sci-fi classic was scanned in 4K, plus the 2003 Director’s Cut (in non-native 4K) is available via seamless branching. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$15 | 4K on Amazon

Apocalypse Now Final Cut: 40th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam fever dream was treated to a year-long restoration, with the camera negative scanned in 4K plus a new Dolby Atmos sound mix. Coppola oversaw this “Final Cut,” removing 20 minutes from 2001’s “Redux,” which is included here along with the original theatrical cut. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$23 | 4K on Amazon

 

Glory: 30th Anniversary Edition (4K Restoration)

One of the finest war movies ever made, this 1989 civil war story was remastered in 4K from the original camera negative. [4K HDR + Blu-ray + Digital]

$21 | 4K on Amazon

 

War and Peace (2K Restoration)

Boasting a cast of literally thousands, this Soviet-era equivalent of Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia rolled into one required over 10 years of painstaking restoration, assembling multiple partial negatives into the final 2K form. [Blu-ray]

$28 | Blu-ray on Amazon

Family Time

 

The Lion King (2019)

It’s been 25 years since Disney’s original Lion King ruled the box office to the tune of $1 billion, and this CGI remake surpassed the original’s box office take in less than 3 weeks. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$26 | 4K on Amazon$25 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World

The story of young Hiccup the Viking and his pet dragon Toothless reaches its satisfying conclusion in this popular and well-made series from DreamWorks Animation. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$13 | 4K on Amazon$15 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

The Secret Life of Pets 2

In unlikely casting, Harrison Ford plays his first-ever animated voice role in this sequel from Illumination, the same animation company that did the Despicable Me movies. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$28 | 4K on Amazon$21 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Shazam!

DC Films finally took a lighthearted approach to one of its comic book characters and it paid off, with Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) playfully chewing the scenery (and gum) in the title role. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$22 | 4K on Amazon$15 | Blu-ray on Amazon

 

Toy Story 4

9 years after Toy Story 3 (and 24 years after the original), Pixar once again brought its Midas touch to the franchise, but not without upsetting some viewers with its story choices. [4K + Blu-ray + Digital] or [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital]

$29 | 4K on Amazon$24 | Blu-ray on Amazon

Check the latest Ultra HD / Blu-ray deals on Ben’s

2019 Gift Guide: Top 30 4K & Blu-ray Gifts for Movie and TV Fans