Last updated on March 4th, 2026
Normally, at this time of year I’d look at my favorite graphic novels read for 2025. Unfortunately, my graphic novel reading has slacked off to the point I’m not sure I can come up with enough to fill a blog post properly. (Most of my reading lately has been webcomics or prose, plus some graphic novels via Hoopla.) As such, I thought I’d try something different this year: a list of 10 of my favorite DVDs and Blu-rays I bought this year.
Some of these I owned in the past, but repurchased (having sold the DVDs/Blu-rays); some I bought for the first time; others came out on DVD/Blu-ray in 2025 for the first time. I’ve listed the available formats below, as well as (in parentheses) which one I bought. I’ve also thrown in where (as of this writing) it’s available for streaming.
Movies
Barbie: Big City Big Dreams (DVD)
Available on: DVD
Streaming: Netflix
The 2021 CGI animated film introduces the Black version of Barbie, nicknamed “Brooklyn” (after where she’s from), into the same series of films as the white Barbie (nicknamed “Malibu”). The two Barbies share the same name, and have been costars in almost all Barbie media since then.
The film’s only available on DVD, despite being produced and streamed on Netflix in HD.
Cinderella (Blu-ray)
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K
Streaming: Disney+
The 1950 Disney classic. While it’s probably been overshadowed by fellow 50s film “Sleeping Beauty” (for Maleficent alone), it’s still one of the all-time best Golden Age Disney entries.
Hey There It’s Yogi Bear (Blu-ray)
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
Streaming: none
A Warner Archive Blu-ray release. This 1964 theatrical film is the first Hanna-Barbera theatrical film, as well as the first animated feature film based on a TV show. The film’s also noted for finalizing the design models used to this day for Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindy, and Ranger Smith.
Sonic the Hedgehog / Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Blu-ray)
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K
Streaming: Paramount+ (both); Kanopy, Hoopla (Sonic); Hulu (Sonic 2)
Both Sonic films came as part of a double feature Blu-ray set. Fun adventures with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles.
The Wizard of Oz (Blu-ray)
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K
Streaming: HBO Max
I bought this Blu-ray after seeing it was cheap (at Barnes and Noble). I also bought it after reading about Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav’s face put on the body of a character in an AI-ified version of this film. (*Sigh*.)
At least I now own this film outright, without worrying about whether Zaslav (or whoever ends up owning Warner Bros.) will treat their library like something disposable.
TV shows
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (DVD)
Available on: DVD
Streaming: none
This 1977 series (debuting as part of anthology series “Scooby’s All-Star Laff-a-lympics”) is one of the better “Scooby-Doo” knockoffs. The show sees three teenage girls (whose “Teen Angels” name is a reference to “Charlie’s Angels”) solve mysteries with the help of a thawed-from-ice caveman superhero. Cavey’s basically all of the “brutish caveman” jokes that don’t fit into “The Flintstones”; however, he ended up retconned into several Flintstones spin-offs anyway (as Bedrock’s superhero).
The show’s also one of the few 70s cartoons with a Black person as a star (or main) character: Dee Dee, who’s voiced by Vernee Watson.
Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles (Blu-ray)
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray
Streaming: none
This 1966 Hanna-Barbera series received a Warner Archive Blu-ray release in early 2025. The show marked a transition by the studio from pure slapstick comedy to more action-based shows. That said, the Impossibles segments are more slapstick, while Frankie’s segment is mostly played straight. (Also, Frankie only has one segment, despite getting top billing.)
Knuckles (DVD)
Available on: DVD, Blu-ray, 4K
Streaming: Paramount+
A spin-off of the “Sonic” films; Knuckles stars in his own solo adventure in this six-part miniseries. It’s OK, though you’ll still need to tolerate the heavy presence of the human characters from the films.
I thought buying the DVD version would save a few dollars, as I figured SD quality would be a tolerable trade-off. However, in retrospect, I wish I’d paid for the Blu-ray.
The Magilla Gorilla Show (Blu-ray)
Available on: DVD, Blu-rays
Streaming: none
Another Warner Archive release, the Blu-ray for this 1964 series went on sale in the middle of 2025. It’s a vast improvement over the DVD set, to the point I’d recommend only buying the Blu-ray. Picture quality aside, all of the original opening and closing credits and bumpers are kept intact, something the DVD set didn’t do. The DVD release edited out the show’s theme song, despite the theme (“we’ve got a gorilla for sale, Magilla Gorilla for sale…”) being one of the more famous Hanna-Barbera ones.
Rocky and Bullwinkle (DVD)
Available on: DVD
Streaming: The Roku Channel
Another former DVD set I’ve repurchased. The newly packaged complete series is basically the same as the old single-season sets, including all of the same extras.
Image: “DVDs” by blmurch is licensed under CC BY 2.0 (Flickr / cropped from original)
