10 Splurge-Worthy Pop-Culture Products to Spend Your Tax Refund On

Everybody needs to splurge on themselves once in a while, and whether you're a gamer, a movie buff, or you just have a refund from Uncle Sam that's burning a hole in your pocket, we picked out some pop-culture books, collectibles, and games that are worth the hefty price tag.

1. Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Box Set Slipcase; $429

Whether you're just getting into Avengers lore or you've been around since your favorite hero's earliest days, the Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Box Set Slipcase offers the best way to binge-read the complete adventures of Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Captain America. In this collection of books, totaling 2616 pages, you'll get fan-favorite stories like "The Kree/Skrull Wars," "The Avengers/Defenders War," "The Korvac Saga," and more. By the time the next entry in the MCU rolls around, you'll be well-versed in all the core Avengers' exploits.

Buy it: Amazon

2. Upright Arcade Machine with Over 4500 Games; $3700

Relive the greasy joysticks and sweat-soaked palms of your arcade-loving youth with a cabinet filled with more than 4500 games, including The Simpsons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gauntlet, and X-Men. The machine itself is nearly 6 feet tall, so it's certainly authentic to the size of the arcades you grew up with. This is obviously a top-tier splurge, but gamers can also find a more cost-effective way to enjoy arcades below.

Buy it: Amazon

3. Arcade1UP Street Fighter II Cabinet; $449

This arcade machine from ARCADE1UP features three versions of Street Fighter II—Champions Edition, The New Challengers, and Turbo—in a 17-inch cabinet (so, smaller than the real deal) that has authentic retro artwork on the sides. The machine is compact enough to fit in a home office, so you can sneak in a few rounds in between Zoom meetings.

Buy it: Amazon

4. LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon Set; $1074

At 7541 pieces, this massive Millennium Falcon LEGO set is one of the biggest the company has ever released. The 33-inch-by-22-inch ship is outfitted with an engine room, pod hatches, working doors, blaster cannons, round and rectangular sensor dishes, and more. It even comes with minifigures based on both the original and sequel trilogies. That's all to say that you'll be building this beast for a long, long time.

Buy it: Amazon

5. Nightmare Before Christmas Chess Set; $230

Put away that stodgy, old-timey chess board and go for this Nightmare Before Christmas version that pits Jack Skellington's group against the Oogie Boogie's cronies. The pieces are modeled after characters and props from the movie, and they're all posed to bring a ton of personality to the game. Even the board itself is fashioned in Tim Burton's inimitable style.

Buy it: Amazon

6. LEGO Batman 1989 Batwing; $200

What's cooler than being Batman? Playing with Batman's toys, of course. This LEGO version of 1989's classic movie Batwing is for the true fans who always wished they could set off into the night with the Caped Crusader himself. This buildable model comes with a stand and nameplate for an attractive shelf display, as well as three minifigures: Batman, the Joker, and one of the Joker's goons. The completed Batwing stands over 4 inches high, 20 inches long, and 22 inches wide, making for a dazzling statement piece for any Batman collector. It's a challenge to put it all together, but when you look back and realize you brought this Batwing to life, it will all have been worth it.

Buy it: Amazon

7. SNES Classic Edition; $269

The gaming classics of yesteryear await you with the Nintendo Super Entertainment System Classic Edition. This diminutive version of the massively popular '90s console is tiny, so it can fit anywhere you want to put it, even if you already have an overcrowded entertainment center. You get 21 legendary games pre-installed on the system (so there's no need to blow in any stubborn cartridges), including Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Street Fighter II, and more. You can enjoy these golden games with modern TVs thanks to the magic of HDMI. Travel back to one of the greatest eras in gaming without having to do all the extra legwork of finding an old system, games, and hooking it all up.

Buy it: Amazon

8. Life-Size Baby Yoda Figure; $375

Having a real-life Baby Yoda to call your own probably isn't in the cards. But this life-size replica from Sideshow Collectibles is the next best thing. His adorable little green face has been faithfully (and painstakingly) recreated for this figure, right down to his saucer-like eyes and the layer of peach fuzz sitting atop his head. And for that extra little oomph of detail, he's even holding the Razor Crest shift knob in his right hand.

Buy it: Sideshow Collectibles

9. The Sword of Inigo Montoya; $400

The Princess Bride has a home near the top of almost everybody's list of favorite '80s movies, and if you're the type to quote Vizzini, Fezzik, and the gang on a daily basis, this is the only collectible you'll ever want to own. It's a screen-accurate replica of Inigo Montoya's sword, complete with its white leather handle and gold-plated basket. It even has some decorative gemstones and an authentic steel blade (so make sure it's never actually pointing at anybody.)

Buy it: Sideshow Collectibles

10. Ghostbusters Egon Spengler Statue; $400

That working proton pack you're dreaming about is just a far-off fantasy, but you can at least bring one of the Ghostbusters home in the form of this 19-inch statue of Harold Ramis's Dr. Egon Spengler. Outfitted in his iconic gray jumpsuit, this statue is a loving recreation of the character, right down to his action-ready pose and Neutrona wand.

Buy it: Entertainment Earth

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