The streaming revolution has its perks, but it's annoying when you want to watch the best sci-fi movies of all time and none of your subscriptions cover them, which is why Sci-Fi DVDs and Blu-rays are still worth chasing.
Renowned movie franchises like Star Wars are easy to stream on Disney Plus, sure, but the Force isn't with fans who seek hours of extras, too. If you're really into a long movie series, standalone classics and/or some of the best sci-fi TV shows ever made, physical media won't leave you hanging. We're also using this opportunity to dig up some killer box sets and limited editions you can still grab if you're fast, so this guide is pretty solid for your Christmas and/or birthday gift needs.
Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Whether you loved the entire ride or would rather forget about the sequels, the complete Star Wars movie experience is worth embarking on, especially for newcomers. With the absolutely massive Skywalker Saga 4K UHD box set released in 2020, the path of a Jedi has never been more complete.
The nine-movie ride alone is over 20 hours long, and the incredible offering of extras runs for even longer than that. Disney and Lucasfilm really went all out with this one, and Star Wars fanatics who aren’t strict purists won't find a better box set right now.
The whole saga and all the extras are spread across 27 discs, including 1080p Blu-rays, with stunning interior art pieces based on each trilogy and concept art, and a 'digibook' design which makes it feel extra special. Considering the high price tag on this one (it's only gone up due to scarcity of stock), it’s only for the biggest collectors around, but we think it'll be a good while before Disney puts out a Star Wars box set as complete.
Star Trek: The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
Much less pricey than the Star Wars entry above is the Blu-ray (1080p) release of the complete Star Trek original series, which runs for over 67 hours and is spread across 20 discs.
Considering it's still selling at around $70, it's one hell of a deal, no matter if this is your first attempt to get into Star Trek or you're a longtime fan looking to secure a clean and straight-to-the-point Blu-ray edition.
This release isn't just an 'enhanced for 1080p' remaster of the show as it was either. It also features 'enhanced visual effects' (purists may not enjoy this) and a 7.1 surround sound option on top of the preserved original mono audio tracks. As for special bonus content, the 'special features' run for over 9 hours, though the box clearly states that they're not presented in high definition. It may not be the definitive treatment for the series that started it all, but it's more than enough to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Stargate: The Blu-ray Collection (Blu-ray)
The absolute largest (but not priciest) Sci-Fi Blu-ray collection we've found so far is the complete Stargate collection, which includes Stargate SG-1, Atlantis and Universe. In total, you're looking at over 300 hours of old-fashioned TV goodness with this one.
It's safe to say you won't be rewatching the whole box set often, but you get a lot of content for your money. Only 1080p and English language in this one, but you're getting a lot of bang for your buck, especially as bonus features are included.
With Amazon MGM Studios now in ownership of the IP, we've been banging the drum of "Stargate should return" for a while now. If you only watched the original movie and would like to learn what the heck all the praise and online noise is all about, buckle up, prepare accordingly and enjoy a lengthy but delightful journey through TV shows that did a lot with minimal budgets. Just make sure to input the right coordinates when you make each space-bending trip...
Predator 4-Movie Collection (Blu-ray)
Before recent Dan Trachtenberg-directed entries like Prey and Predator: Badlands, the Predator movie series wasn't in super great shape, but the Predator 4-Movie Collection released in late 2018 packs Predator 1 & 2 (classics), Predators (a fairly underrated one) and The Predator (the one that nearly killed the franchise).
For roughly $30, it's a pretty great deal if you want to catch up with the series before the more recent installments or want to surprise a hardcore Yautja fanatic.
Of course, not everyone was a fan of the upscaling work done on the two older movies when they first made the jump to 1080p and above, but the following releases improved the image quality without sacrificing most of the original texture. While we believe the 4K UHD version of this 4-disc set is a bit too expensive considering it's not loaded with extras, the regular Blu-ray version is a fantastic deal. Additionally, you're also getting a digital copy of each movie.
Avatar – Collector’s Edition (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
Avatar: Fire and Ash is upon us, which means both Na'vi diehards and folks planning a more casual trip to Pandora might be looking to grab the first two movies in the sharpest possible quality.
Disney and 20th Century Studios have always been well aware of how much money these movies make in the domestic market, too, so it comes as no surprise we've seen countless different editions of the 2009 original released over the years.
At the time of writing, the late-2023 re-release of Avatar, dubbed 'Collector's Edition' is the most complete you can find if you're really into James Cameron's industry-shaking phenomenon. The delightful pack includes the movie in 4K UHD, 1080p Blu-ray and digital. It's also the first time the Special Edition and Collector's Extended Cut have been available to watch in 4K, plus two entire discs are dedicated to bonus materials. While we're expecting Disney to milk Eywa until it's dry in the future, this is the best Avatar Blu-ray deal money can buy at the moment.
Alien – 40th Anniversary (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
We've had plenty of physical media releases of Alien (1979) worth purchasing over the years, so it was unsurprising to see the 40th Anniversary Edition released in 2019, being a fantastic refresh of both cuts of the movie (theatrical and director's cut), which remains available due to continued success. That stylish cover is killer, and the no-BS approach to the overall presentation is exactly what you want out of a revisited classic.
At home, everyone can hear you scream, especially if you're easily startled; the crisp audio (DTS, DTS-HD and Dolby 5.1 options) pops alongside the sharper 4K image quality, and the high dynamic range's extra sauce (if you have a TV prepared for the full experience) is exactly what the Nostromo needed to come to life like never before. Not as impressive are the special features, but with great audio commentary by Ridley Scott and cast and crew members, plus a bunch of deleted scenes, the basics are covered.
Dune 2-Film Collection (4K UHD)
Denis Villeneuve's two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune somehow managed to please most fans while also captivating millions of casual moviegoers with no previous knowledge of the (admittedly dense) source material. That’s no small feat, and such a wondrous Sci-Fi epic deserves the biggest 4K screen you can fit inside your house. For now, our favorite domestic release of the two movies is the 2-Film Collection released in 2024.
As usual in Warner Bros. Pictures' domestic releases, the 4K UHD image and sound (Dolby 5.1, 7.1 and Atmos audio) quality is astonishing, making Arrakis' sights and sounds pop like in cinemas, which is exactly what you want from a 4K release of big Sci-Fi epics.
Sadly, this pack doesn't include regular 1080p Blu-ray discs like similar boxes, so it's a no-no for those still rocking a regular Blu-ray player but looking to future-proof their collection. The bonus features are also on the lighter side, but if you're looking to catch up ahead of Dune: Messiah while adding fantastic modern Sci-Fi classics to your physical media collection, it's an easy yes.
Blade Runner: The Final Cut (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
We thought it'd be weird to write this recap without searching for a great edition of the original Blade Runner, and we quickly came across the 4K UHD re-release of the Final Cut, regular Blu-ray and digital copy included.
It's yet another 'lean and mean' winner re-release from Warner Bros. and with a gorgeous cover to boot. Just make sure to buy it for the 4K UHD disc, as the encoding of the 1080p disc isn't the greatest, sadly.
When it comes to special features, it packs an introduction by Ridley Scott, three audio filmmaker commentaries, an entire documentary on the making of the movie and other extra bits (over 7 hours in total). Despite releasing in 2017 ahead of Blade Runner 2049, this release also has pretty great HDR support for the 4K disc; there's a good reason it's still kicking around. Ahead of the Blade Runner 2099 series, there's never been a better time to revisit the beginning of it all.
Event Horizon – Limited Edition Steelbook (4K UHD + Blu-ray)
2024's Limited Edition reprint of the 4K steelbook release of Event Horizon is amazing. There have been many versions of this space horror cult classic dropping over the years despite the mixed reception it got back in 1997, but its 4K UHD restoration was a huge one for fans, and the 25th Anniversary Edition was a killer package with a disturbing new cover to boot. It vanished quickly, which is why Paramount was pressed to push out a re-release last year. At the time of writing, you can still get it, but don't wait too long.
What if a spaceship vanished during its maiden voyage because the wormholes it used to cover great distances of space sent it through literal Hell? While all the potential of such an amazing (and horrifying) pitch wasn't realized in Paul W.S. Anderson's sci-fi horror flick, it remains a fascinating watch with a unique vibe and some of the gnarliest horror imagery in a wide theatrical science fiction release. We may never see all of the long-lost uncensored footage, but after all these years, this vision of Hell is still worth your time and money. You won't need eyes to see...
Star Wars: Andor – Season 1 (4K UHD)
Even if you haven't watched Andor yet, you might've heard the Tony Gilroy-created live-action series is among the best Star Wars TV shows. We totally agree; it really feels deep and textured in a way nothing else in the franchise has been.
If you're planning to grab one of the excellent physical releases of Star Wars series, Andor Season 1 in 4K UHD (no regular Blu-rays included in this one) is the absolute best credits can buy.
We'd read, watched and played through many takes on the Rebel Alliance's origins, but none captured the Empire's reign of terror in the way Andor does. The best praise we can give to spinoffs coming out of long-running franchises is that they feel like great original stories that happen to take place in established universes, and Andor is exactly that. Sure, this isn't exactly kid-friendly Star Wars, but as a more adult take on the IP, which fits in perfectly nonetheless, we couldn't have asked for anything better. Sadly, Season 2 hasn't locked a physical media release yet, but we'd be shocked if it didn't.
