Perfect Christmas Gifts For Movie Lovers

500 Days Of Film Looks At The Christmas Gifts That You Can Buy The Movie Lover In Your Life

Finding the perfect Christmas gift can be tricky.

However, the good news is that you can delight the movie lover in your life (or even treat yourself, we won’t judge) by selecting one of the amazing Christmas movie gifts below. Happy shopping!

While there is nothing a movie fan likes better than a trip to the cinema, sometimes life intervenes and films have to be watched at home. However, this is far from a chore with the development of 3D, 4K Ultra HD, smart, super-sized televisions. Why not bring the big screen home?  

If you are on a budget, you could choose a projector instead. These vary from novelty DIY smartphone projectors like the one in the bauble above from Not On The High Street.com to more advanced portable multi-media projectors like the one in the third bauble from Amazon.  

What better gift than a well-designed movie poster or piece of fun film art? I love the stunning (and affordable) designs available from Minimal Prints. In addition, I can’t stop looking at my Film Map. You can buy one of these from Dorothy. 

You may not be able to watch movies 24/7, but you can wear them. I love the clothing range from Last Exit To Nowhere. From t-shirts to hoodies, caps to mugs, there is just so much to choose from!

I am also strangely drawn to the awesome slippers in the third bauble above. What better way to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Donnie Darko than to pop your cold toes into these cosy/creepy Frank slippers? 

What better gift than a lasting memory? Why not treat the movie fanatic in your life to a special cinema event? Cinemas are popping up all over the world, each offering a slightly different movie experience. 

There are films accompanied by live orchestras (I love the Royal Albert Hall’s screenings), films on rooftops, or in secret locations, movies that you can watch under the stars or films that you see while eating movie-inspired food. The possibilities are endless. (Click here for more about special film events).

A film's soundtrack plays an essential role in establishing mood and atmosphere. Just try watching ET without John Williams' classic score and you will see just what I mean. Williams is a phenomenal composer - this year giving us the wonderful accompaniment to Steven Spielberg's The BFG.

2016 has been a great year for movie music. For example, while Batman Vs Superman may have been a disappointment, there is much to enjoy from Hans Zimmer's score. Meanwhile, I love Howard Shore's score for Spotlight, Clint Mansell's work for High Rise and, of course, Ennio Morricone's soundtrack to The Hateful 8.

In addition, I can't stop singing the songs from Disney's latest animation, Moana. Any of these movie soundtracks would make a fabulous gift for Christmas!  

Another great Christmas gift is a piece of movie memorabilia. You can now buy a 35mm film cell from your favourite film for as little as £12 on Amazon. Alternatively, you can purchase an original production used storyboard. Prop Store has one of these from Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park at £295.  

Or how about buying a rare Disney Beauty And The Beast gold medal - one that was given to the film’s cast and crew to recognise that it received an Academy Award Nomination and was Golden Globe winner for the best picture 1991. A snip at just £199 from The Monster Company. 

I don’t know about you, but I am addicted movie books. I buy them faster than I can read them. Some of my favourites include, 

• The Movie Doctors - by Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode
• 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die - by Steven Jay Schneider
• Oxford Guide To Film Studies - by John Hill and Pamela Church Gibson
• Monsters In The Movies - by John Landis
• How To Read A Film - by James Monaco
• Hitchcock Truffaut (also a fascinating documentary) by Francois Truffaut
• Harry Potter: Film Wizardry - by Warner Bros
• When The Shooting Stops The Cutting Begins - by Ralph Rosenblum and Robert Karen
• Cocktails At The Movies - by Will Francis and Stacey Marsh

I am also partial to reading the books that have been adapted by films. For example, after loving Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival, I am now reading Ted Chiang’s collection of short stories: Stories Of Your Life And Others.

Meanwhile, chances are that your favourite film fan reads one of the many movie magazines available. Why not buy them a year’s subscription for Christmas? I would recommend Sight & Sound, Empire and Little White Lies.

Watching movies at the cinema can be pretty expensive. Multiplex tickets typically

cost between £10-14 and you don’t get a refund if the movie turns out to be a turkey!

However, there is an answer. Buy your film buff a cinema membership. For example, Odeon launched its Limitless card this year. For a one off or monthly fee, you can visit the cinema as many times as you want. Click here for all you need to know about Odeon Limitless.

Film distribution is a tricky affair. It can often be quite a challenge to see a movie - particularly if that film is an indie, documentary or subtitled film. This is when VOD (video on demand) comes into its own. Some films are even available to stream at home on the day they are released in the cinemas.

As a result, online subscriptions such as Amazon Prime, Netflix and BFI make for wonderful Christmas gifts, allowing your movie obsessed pal to see all the films that their cine heart desires.

It may seem old school, but DVDs are still a great Christmas gift idea. There are a range of options from the common DVD (which can be cheaper to buy than online streaming options) to 4K Blu-Ray DVDs (which can be pretty pricey!).

I hope that these movie gift options help as you shop this Christmas!

I would also love to know if you have spied any brilliant film presents this festive season.

Do share your shopping secrets in the box below!