15+ Must-Have Pop Culture Advent Calendars For Fans Of Harry Potter, Friends And More

Rachel smiling in Joey's apartment on Friends

(Image credit: HBO Max)

The year-ending holiday season can be lauded for tons of positive reasons, from the joys of decorating to giving and receiving amazing gifts to going all out with family-friendly meal-planning. But perhaps most importantly (or not), it’s the only time of year when we can properly appreciate advent calendars! That may seem like a niche reason to adore the lead-up to Christmas celebrations, but the world has come a lo-o-o-ong way from the simplistic advent calendars of yesteryear, with a revised focus on pampering consumers with innumerous other goodies that feed our fandom needs.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the many ways TV and film fans can spend the final month of 2022 in a constant whirlwind of surprise gifts, thanks to all these pop culture-fueled advent calendars. I ho-ho-hope your wallets are full while checking them all out, because there are some bangers in the bunch.

Harry Potter

Let's kick things off with something of a neo-classic where pop culture holiday gifts are concerned: Funko's Harry Potter 2022 Advent Calendar. The collectible-producing company dove into the calendar game some years back, and have likely sparked other companies to follow suit. So celebrate their sucesses with this selection of characters and (fantastic) beasts from the Harry Potter franchise.

More Harry Potter ideas:

The Office

Anyone with a Peacock subscription has likely spent at least some point each month throwing on classic episodes of The Office, and if you’ve already gotten your mitts on this year’s A+ LEGO set, then look no further than this 12 Days of Socks gift set for the next best Office-related gift that isn’t an offer of a cameo appearance in the next Threat Level Midnight project.

More The Office Ideas:

Funko’s The Office Holiday Advent Calendar

Back To The Future

With Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox having only recently unveiled their co-curated BTTF merch shop, there's no better TIME than now to opt for the PLAYMOBIL Back to the Future Advent Calendar, which features seven different figures and 17 more props and accessories. The PLAYMOBIL DeLorean and uncomfortable relationships with your mother sold separately.

Batman

For some, Christmas can be the darkest night of the year, which is an awkward way of saying that Batman and the holiday go together like forearms in gauntlets. Insight Editions' The Official Batman Advent Calendar: Christmas in Gotham City even takes the big day into account by offering fans 25 pockets to open, with a variety of keepsakes showcasing the Caped Crusader and his rogues gallery.

A Christmas Story

A holiday classic like no other, A Christmas Story finally got a sequel for 2022, with star Peter Billingsley back for more tongue-sticking hijinks. As such, the build-up to this year's holiday certainly won't feel complete for superfans without Jakks' A Christmas Story Advent Calendar 2022, which features a selection of characters, film moments and accessories.

Star Wars

Having the Force sure would be nice, if only for the ability to draw in advent calendars that are out of arm's reach. (Okay, for way more than that, but that would be one of the perks.) The blockbuster franchise, currently bolstered by critical darling Andor, is a go-to subject for these multi-gift assortments, but one of the most unique examples you'll find is Insight Editions' Star Wars: The Life Day Pop-Up Book And Advent Calendar, which features a central pop-up tree and a variety of themed ornaments to unveil.

Other Star Wars Ideas:

Dolly Parton

Everyone has to live and suffer with the fact that none of us will ever be Dolly Parton, but that doesn't mean we can't spend 24 days indulging on some of the candies that she finds most tempting. For that toothsome experience, look no further than the Dolly Parton Advent Calendar from Williams Sonoma.

Bluey

Currently one of the most popular and beloved children's animated series across different parts of the globe, the Australian hit Bluey is a winner for both parents and their kids. (It's available here in the U.S. with a Disney+ subscription.) While waiting for more episodes to come out, celebrate the 'oliday with Bandit, Chilli, Bingo and BLUEY!!! by playing with the Bluey's Family Christmas Surprise Pack Advent Calendar, featuring two figures, a mini Christmas tree, stickers, and a bunch of different accessories.

Jurassic World: Dominion

Now that we've hit the middle of this list, it seems like the right time to throw in an option that isn't Christmas-themed, and really doesn't seem to have a stake in any particular time of the year: the Jurassic World: Dominion Holiday Advent Calendar. There are 30 pieces to uncover in this dino-filled array, with more than 15 dinosaurs, one human, and the parts to assemble a gated area for the beasts to roam within.

Friends

A modern classic with some of the most memorable holiday episodes of any TV series, Friends is another pop culture behemoth that has become a merch mecca for fans. And you better believe advent calendars are part of the collecting fun. Paladone's Friends TV Show Advent Calendar will keep you busy for 24 days of gifts inspired by Chandler, Monica, Rachel and the rest of the gang.

Other Friends Ideas:

Home Alone

Certainly not the only Christmas movie classic that centers on something horrifying happening to a child — and I don't just mean the sequels — Home Alone definitely hasn't been forgotten or left behind for sticky bandits to torment in all of the advent calendar madness. Insight Editions gave the Macaulay Culkin hit its own countdown gift in the form of Home Alone: The Official AAAAAAdvent Calendar, which features a pop-up tree and 24 different ornaments to seek out, with 100% fewer swinging paint cans and iron-hot doorknobs.

Elf Advent Calendar, Enjoy 24 Days of Fun Collectible Surprise Figures — (Image credit: E.l.f.)

Elf

There can never be enough Elf merch out in the world for my tastes — can there ever be too much Bob Newhart in any capacity? — and so few things sound more "treat yourself" worthy than Jakks' Elf Advent Calendar. The box itself opens up into a diaorama to place the assorted mini-figures and more. Just maybe don't let Buddy play with it without adult supervision.

Dragon Ball Z

If you thought you'd go your whole life without any anime-flavored advent calendars to enjoy the holidays with, that wasn't such a strange assumption to make, honestly. But it was still the wrong one, as Insight Editions' Dragon Ball Z: The Official Advent Calendar is new for 2022 and has all the mini-keepsake flair that fans have been missing. It doesn't appear as if the included gifts are themed to the holiday, for better or worse.

Other Dragon Ball Z Idea:

Funko's Dragon Ball Z Advent Calendar

Super Mario

While waiting for the upcoming Super Mario Bros. feature, starring Chris Pratt as the...Chris Pratt-sounding plumber, be sure to invite the video game icon and others into your homes with the Super Mario Advent Calendar 2002 Limited Christmas Edition. That's right, you'll not only get Mario and Luigi dressed up in holiday duds, but you'll also get Mario and Luigi snowmen dressed for the occasion, among many other exclusive figures and accessories.

Other Ideas For Video Game Fans:

Marvel

Now let's wrap things up — no wrapping involved — with a look at another one of the holiday season's biggest moneymakers: Marvel. The entertainment giant is another advent calendar staple as well, and this feels like the best possible year to add the LEGO Guardians of the Galaxy Advent Calendar to your collection, with Disney+'s Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special making the 2022 holiday season as Groot-iful as can be.

More Marvel Ideas:

Find many other excellent and money-saving ideas with our Cyber Monday 2022 Deals rundown, and get ready for Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" to make up 35% of your audio intake until January.

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Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper. Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.