The Best of Universal Pictures Home Video Releases (2025 Gift Guide)

Ed Sum

2 weeks ago

As the year winds down, Universal Pictures has quietly taken over my home video shelf. They’ve been releasing the titles I’m most eager to revisit, and when that includes their distribution work for DreamWorks, it’s an added bonus. What follows is a look at the releases that earned a place in my collection for one reason or another. I’ll begin with a title that hasn’t hit home media yet, but I’m already excited for it.

Bugonia

This UFO-tinged conspiracy adventure is set to be a treat for anyone who missed its limited theatrical run. The story follows two people who kidnap the CEO of a pharmaceutical company because they believe he’s an alien bent on destroying Earth. The odyssey that follows has the spirit of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but flipped on its head. Whether the planet survives is part of the fun.

Wolf Man

For a full review of the film, please check here.

Howl if you must, but this title is best picked up at a dollar store. It exists mainly to help Universal Monster collectors round out their shelves, and while some versions offer more value than others, the theatrical review explains why.

How to Train Your Dragon (2025 live-action)

For a full review of the film, please check here.

Whether this remake is truly necessary will remain a point of debate among fans and creators. With Dean DeBlois back at the helm, the film is at least guided by the architect of the original trilogy. The real test lies in the updated visuals and the new cast; how well this version stands on its own depends entirely on how audiences receive performers stepping into iconic roles. The spirit is intact, the tone familiar, but nostalgia sets a high bar that isn’t easily cleared.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (20th Anniversary 4K)

Time has marched on, and this comedy shows its age in spots. Whether the humour still lands depends on how much you enjoy Steve Carell’s sensibilities. As the film’s creative core, he anchors this anniversary release, which includes a new documentary filmed at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures before a special screening. The discussion dives into how the team came together and how much improv fuelled the final cut.

The Bad Guys 2

For a review of the film, please check here.

Fans of this rambunctious crew can choose between streaming and physical media. With the franchise still barrelling forward, it’s hard to guess what their next adventure will look like. Viewers who enjoy origin stories should take note: The Bad Guys: Breaking In on Netflix serves as a lively prequel.

Jurassic World: Rebirth

For a review of the film, please check here.

The live-action series continues its march, and whether Rebirth works for you may depend on how you sort its place in the wider continuity, including Camp Cretaceous and Chaos Theory. The film itself is a return to form, though the narrative isn’t especially revelatory. Watching this film is like watching a work after the reboot button has been pushed. To have this in the collection is simply for completists, at least until the next steelbook set inevitably appears.

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie

If you’re a fan of Hello Kitty, even though she doesn’t technically appear here, and are curious about DreamWorks’ second live-action adaptation, this cheery adventure is worth a look. It makes a fitting holiday gift for fans of the series. The film is lively, more nuanced than expected, and benefited greatly from the presence of Gloria Estefan.