There are two things we all love about the holiday season: binge watching our favorite films and of course, gifts. Whether you’re shopping for a special token for your beloved, or finding the perfect gift for your best friend – gifts have a way of making everything better. The other is creating a cocoon under a layer of blankets and inhaling seasonally appropriate TV shows that may have us crying at our screens. So, in celebration of this pop culture tradition, we’ve created a list of iconic gifts in movies and TV.
Screenshot from: Valentine’s Day. Marshall, Gary. Warner Bros. Pictures. 2010.
The Big Bang Theory: The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis
Sheldon is angry when Penny announces that she got him a Christmas present. To him, this isn’t a thoughtful gesture, but an obligation that now requires him to reciprocate with a gift of equal value. Sheldon undergoes an obsessive preparation to match her gift. He visits a bath and body shop which he describes as a “cacophonous assault of eucalyptus, bayberry, cinnamon and vanilla”. Eventually arriving at the apartment carrying several huge gift baskets, Sheldon announces his plan to open Penny’s gift first, then excuse himself with unexpected “gastric trouble”. He will pick one that matches the value of Penny’s present and return the rest.
Footage from: The Big Bang Theory, Season 2, Episode 11. Lorre, Chuck. Warner Bros. Television. 2007
When the moment arrives, Penny Chirstmas gift goes beyond Sheldon’s wildest dreams. It is a napkin autographed and used by Leonard Nimoy – one of Sheldon’s idols. The napkin reads “To Sheldon: Live long and prosper…”. Stunned and touched beyond measure, Sheldon gives Penny all the gift baskets he purchased. Thinking it still does not equate to the value of his gift, Sheldon then gives Penny something he rarely gives anyone..A hug. Leonard considers this a Christmas miracle.
Bones: The Man in the Fallout Shelter
Footage from: Bones, Season 1, Episode 9. Hanson, Hart. FOX Network. 2005
In a holiday episode full of unusual circumstances, the Bones team find themselves unexpectedly quarantined over Christmas. It begins when Booth presents Brennan with a unique gift – a 50-year-old-corpse.
Brennan and the rest of the team are brought in to investigate the body. While cutting into the bones, a hazardous fungus is accidentally released. This forces the team into quarantine just two days befor Christmas. While most of the team laments about their lost holiday plans, Angela is determined to not let the festive spirit be dimmed. To make up for the fact that everyone will most likely be spending Christmas away from their families, Angela suggests decorating the lab and a gift exchange to capture the essence of Christmas.
On Christmas Day, the team is cleared and finally released from the lab. Through decorating and exchanging gifts, they brought warmth and holiday cheer to an otherwise sterile environment. This episode highlights the heart of gift-giving, showing how even in the strangest circumstances, the spirit of swason can thrive among friends.
Gilmore Girls: Lorelai’s Graduation Day
Screenshot from: Gilmore Girls, Season 2, Episode 21. Sherman-Palladino, Amy. Warner Bros. Studios. 2002.
As Lorelai prepares to graduate from community college, Christopher sends her a gift basket to congratulate her. She opens the gift basket to find a quirky mix of items – $25 savings bond, a youth hostel card, The Graduate book, an application for the military, and a pearl necklace. She finds humor in the funny gifts and feels touched by the necklace. He tells her that he wishes he could be there, and urges her to capture every moment with photos. That’s when she realises there’s a disposable camera in the basket. This heartfelt gift highlights Christopher’s effort to share in Lorelai’s milestone, even from afar.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Screenshot from: Colombus Chris. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Warner Bros. Pictures. 2001.
There are so many gifts in the Harry Potter series, it’s hard to keep track of it all. From flying broomsticks, to enchanted candy, and ugly sweaters, the wizarding world is a melting pot of mystical gifts. On Christmas Day, Harry Potter receives one the most important objects in the Hogwarts storyline – an invisibility cloak. In my opinion, the gift is a bit of a let-down. There’s no robbing of banks, or pretending to haunt someone. Bor-ing.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Screenshot from: Bridget Jones’s Diary. Maguire, Sharon. Universal Pictures Studio. 2001.
In Bridget Jones’s Diary, Mark Darcy’s gift of a new diary to Bridget at the end of the story is both thoughtful and symbolic. The gesture symbolizes a fresh start in their relationship, encouraging her to begin a new chapter with him. Throughout the story, Bridget’s diary is filled with her personal struggles, career, social mishaps and often humorous observations on her love life. This gift shows how well he understands her, reinforcing the care that Mark brings into her life.
How I Met Your Mother: Not a Father’s Day
Screenshot from: How I Met Your Mother, Season 4, Episode 7. Bays, Carter. Thomas, Craig. CBS Network. 2006.
When Barney discovers that his potential baby mama is not, in fact, pregnant, he dances through the streets of New York in celebration. He arrives at the office and announces to Marshall that he will be creating a holiday in commemoration of all the men who choose not to have children. The holiday is called, “Not a Father’s Day”, and within a few hours, Barney’s holiday is a full-fledged thing, complete with an assortment of greeting cards and gifts, along with a website through which you can purchase them.
Valentine’s Day
Screenshot from: Valentine’s Day. Marshall, Gary. Warner Bros. Pictures. 2010.
In Valentine’s Day, Reed plays a florist who becomes the heart of his community’s love stories on the year’s most romantic day. Throughout the day, Reed meets a parade of characters, each seeking a gift that speaks to their unique relationship. Reed has a floral arrangement for everyone and begins to see how flowers become the unifying symbol that brings together a wide range of love stories. Reed’s character offers more than flowers; he provides each person with a small piece of magic that helps them convey their feelings. It’s a charming reminder that the right gift can say what words can’t.
Wrapping up Gift Baskets in Movies and TV
Whether you are giving or receiving, there are few things better than the magic of a gift. They tell a story without needing words, and they represent a bond shared between people. So, it’s no wonder how gift baskets in movies and TV have captured many hearts and sparked inspiration. We know this so well, that we’ve already created a list of Christmas Gift Ideas Based on Their Favorite Movies & Shows.
Has this blog inspired you to send an iconic gift? We’ve got you!
- Explore our collection of unique gifts that can be delivered internationally.
- Shop our curated selection of holiday gifts for the festive season.
- Find more gifting inspiration on our blog.
Born and raised in her beloved mother city Cape Town, Amy-Paige Cox is a writer, poet and plant mom. A hopeful romantic with a penchant for adventure, she loves exploring the world, all the while documenting her ever-changing perspectives with pen and paper.