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It's difficult to buy movies for movie buffs. What if they hate this director? What if they can't stand this actor? What if they've seen this movie before - and thought it was boring? Plus, without knowing what their collection holds, it's tough to buy DVDs and be sure you're not duplicating something in their existing library.

Getting a gift receipt can help ensure your DVD gift goes over smoothly (after all, they can always exchange a duplicate title for something they've been eyeing). Gift cards to nearby theaters or movie stores are always a welcome alternative. But what if you want to give your movie buff something different this holiday season? Here are some outside-the-DVD-box suggestions for your favorite movie lover.

Gift Ideas for Movie Buffs

  1. Home Projectors: Host your own in-home movie theater with a multimedia projector. There's no doubt that home theater projectors are on the pricy side, however, if you're looking for a splurge for your spouse, there's no better gift for a movie buff. If you're on a tight budget, the Optoma HD66 entry-level projector offers a solid picture and performance in addition to one of the cheapest price tags on the market (prices run around $500).
  2. Home Theater Speakers: Nothing adds to an immersive movie-watching experience like killer surround sound. The Energy Take Classic 5.1 offers huge sound at a tiny price; unlike other $1000 quality speakers, you'll find these for around $400. Budget speakers like Yamaha NS-SP1800 cost around $150.
  3. A Blu-Ray Player: Blu-ray players are the wave of the movie-viewing future. Snag a Panasonic DMP-BDT210 for around $200 or a Panasonic DMP-BDT110 for around $150. If you want to nab a player for under $100, check out Best Buy and Target Black Friday ads. Sometimes they're an off-brand, but if you do your research, you can find a good Blu-ray player at an affordable price
  4. Popcorn Makers or Popcorn Sets: Nothing says "movie night" like popcorn! Pick up a hot air popcorn popper or a set of popcorn bowls for around $20-30. Big theater-style popcorn poppers were also trendy in last year's Black Friday ads, so if you really want to make your gift a blockbuster, keep an eye out for those.
  5. Concession Stand Gift Basket: Collect concession classics like movie-size candy boxes, popcorn, nacho chips, and soda for a budget-friendly movie theater gift. If you want bonus points, pop and flavor your own popcorn!
  6. Books About Movies: There are plenty of movie-themed titles to choose from. Try Your Movie Sucks by legendary critic Roger Ebert. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die by Steven Jay Schneider is another great bet. If your movie fan would rather read about the motion picture industry itself, go for Picture by Lillian Ross. Many popular film titles and genres have coffee-table-sized books entirely about that specific subject. With a quick lurk on Facebook, you can find their favorite movies and see if there's a book that corresponds.

Of course, you could always turn your film lover into a filmmaker by outfitting them with a camera like the Sony HVRHD1000U Digital High Definition Camcorder. Who knows? Your next movie night could feature a home movie directed by your favorite movie buff.

For more, check out our Camcorder Buying Guide.