If you're looking for the very best Dolby Atmos movies to show off what your that home system you've lovingly researched and chosen can do, then there's a smart list of the 'top 100' options available on a site called Hello Atmos.

This top 100 was curated by the creator of Hello Atmos in order to find the 'consensus' list of the movies that get recommended the most often. It's based on published reviews and lists of great Atmos movies (including ours), plus community recommendations from platforms like Reddit, in the many many threads where people ask for recommendations.

It's all pulled into an algorithm designed by the app's creator, Adrian Wrona, to rank the movies based on how strongly they're recommended, and resulting in the top 100 list.

You can read the full list just below, or see it on the Hello Atmos site, which also includes where you can stream the movies in your country (though it's TechRadar's stance that uncompressed audio from the best 4K Blu-ray players is the only way to really show off your system).

While like any best-of lists there's plenty of opportunity for an argument — is Blade Runner 2049 still a better showcase than Dune? Why isn't Dredd higher up the rankings? — it's a great and eclectic guide to some of the best sounding spatial audio soundtracks, with details of who did the mixing, which is a nice touch.

We've written about Adrian before; another tool on Hello Atmos scans your Apple Music or Spotify playlists to identify which ones are available in Atmos, which is great if you want to really explore spatial audio for music.

The 100 best Dolby Atmos movies, as rated by Hello Atmos

1. Blade Runner 2049
2. Dune
3. Mad Max: Fury Road
4. Ready Player One
5. The Batman
6. Top Gun: Maverick
7. Dune: Part Two
8. Gravity
9. Ford v Ferrari
10. A Quiet Place
11. The Matrix
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
13. Pacific Rim
14. 1917
15. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
16. Edge of Tomorrow
17. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
18. Fury
19. Midway
20. Saving Private Ryan
21. Deepwater Horizon
22. Bohemian Rhapsody
23. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
24. A Quiet Place Part II
25. Civil War
26. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
27. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
28. Twister
29. Godzilla vs. Kong
30. Roma
31. No Time to Die
32. Transformers
33. Hacksaw Ridge
34. Oblivion
35. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
36. Prey
37. Alita: Battle Angel
38. TRON: Legacy
39. Baby Driver
40. Warfare
41. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
42. Godzilla Minus One
43. Gran Turismo
44. John Wick: Chapter 4
45. Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague
46. Kong: Skull Island
47. Ambulance
48. Twisters
49. Unbroken
50. John Wick

51. Avengers: Endgame
52. Jurassic Park
53. Apocalypse Now
54. Blade Runner
55. First Man
56. Man of Steel
57. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
58. The Fifth Element
59. Soul
60. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
61. Black Hawk Down
62. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
63. John Wick: Chapter 2
64. Dredd
65. Star Trek Into Darkness
66. Deadpool
67. Nope
68. Sinners
69. Brave
70. Doctor Sleep
71. WALL·E
72. F1
73. War of the Worlds
74. Mission: Impossible - Fallout
75. Us
76. Alien: Romulus
77. Everest
78. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
79. Avatar: The Way of Water
80. Ghostbusters: Afterlife
81. 6 Underground
82. Avengers: Infinity War
83. Ballerina
84. Aquaman
85. Titanic
86. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
87. The Guns of Navarone
88. Aliens
89. Nosferatu
90. Uncut Gems
91. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
92. Back to the Future
93. Suspiria
94. Overlord
95. Top Gun
96. Sicario
97. 300
98. Evil Dead Rise
99. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
100. A Quiet Place: Day One

Welcome to a bonus edition of my Blu-ray Bounty column, where I test the latest physical media film releases to see which make great showcases for your setup.

Normally, the Bounty arrives at the end of the month, but in celebration of Blu-ray’s 20th anniversary (on 20th June), I thought I’d check out a few discs released in 2026 that didn’t make it into the Blu-ray Bounty the first time. If you're thinking it just sounds like I wanted to find an excuse to watch some cool movies while at work… well, no comment.

As usual, I’ll be using a setup consisting of one of the best OLED TVs of 2025 the LG G5, along with the Panasonic DP-UB820 that we rate as the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market, plus Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar surround system.

As usual, I don’t review the movies themselves here, just the audio and video quality of the disc.

One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

One Battle After Another tells the story of Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), a washed-up revolutionary who lives off grid with his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). He must face his past when his nemesis Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) resurfaces and his daughter goes missing.

Visually, One Battle After Another is a striking movie. Textures are crisp throughout, looking both 3D-like and true to life. There are plenty of high-contrast scenes that showcase rich black tones with punchy highlights, especially during night scenes where strong shadows are cast. Colors are natural, with the green grass of fields and the bright, blue sky all looking natural throughout the movie.

With a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, this disc sounds fantastic. Explosions and gunfire have plenty of impact and power, demonstrating well controlled bass tones. This balances nicely with the movie’s more intricate sound effects, such as the clicking of a gun’s chamber and lightly treading footsteps. There’s a good use of height channels too, as army helicopters fly overhead, creating an immersive atmosphere.

Becoming Led Zeppelin (Sony Pictures Classics)

Becoming Led Zeppelin is a documentary that explores the origins of the iconic rock band, from the members’ youth to the height of the band, including never-before-seen footage and modern-day interviews with the band.

Where else to start than with audio? There are two soundtrack options: DTS-HD 5.1 MA and DTS-HD 2.0 MA. Played through our soundbar, the 5.1 mix sounded fantastic. When Good Times, Bad Times kicks in, John Bonham’s thumping drums sound superb through the subwoofer: tightly controlled, detailed and meaty. Jimmy Page and John-Paul Jones’ guitars are refined, dynamic and intricate. Finally, Plant’s vocals are clear, punchy and as powerful as you could hope for.

Other highlights include Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You as the band recounts their first US tour in 1968, where Page’s delicate playing sounds crisp and clean and Plant’s haunting vocals are gorgeous and shortly after a live version of Communication Breakdown sounds raw, punchy and perfectly balanced, with every instrument given room to breathe.

Visually, the disc is 4K SDR. While there’s not a great deal to show off here, as most of the documentary is made up of old footage and talking-heads with the band, what is present is clean and shows great detail. Some of the footage has been upscaled nicely and some left intentionally grainy, but it’s still an excellent presentation overall.

This Is Spinal Tap (Sony Pictures)

This Is Spinal Tap is a mockumentary about the fictional rock band Spinal Tap on their 1982 US tour. The movie stars Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel, Michel McKean as David St Hubbins and Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls. Rob Reiner directs and stars as the filmmaker Marty Di Bergi.

The movie comes with two DTS-HD MA soundtracks 5.1 and 2.0. The 5.1 mix sounds superb, particularly during the live concert sequences. Guitars are crunchy and detailed, drums and bass are meaty and provide a nice workout for your subwoofer. The mix is extremely well balanced with a wide soundstage, giving each instrument ample room. Vocals are clean during live sections and speech is clear during dialogue scenes. The infamous ‘Stonehenge’ scene in particular sounds fantastic.

Visually, the movie supports Dolby Vision and looks very good. Colors have plenty of punch, from the band’s loud, bright costumes on stage to the more natural environments with bushes and trees, there’s a really nice balance of color. Dark tones are deep and rich and textures look lifelike. While it doesn’t have the level of upscaling I’ve seen in some movies, skin, hair and clothing have been sharpened up. Cinephiles will be happy with the level of film grain retained here and while some scenes have more grain than others, it suits the mockumentary style of the movie.

All The President’s Men (Warner Bros.)

All The President's Men follows the story of two reporters from The Washington Post, Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Robert Redford), who investigate the Watergate scandal. The movie is based on the non-fiction book of the same name.

All The President’s Men looks great in 4K. Watching in Dolby Vision, the picture is bright and detailed, with crisp textures throughout. Clothing and hair are refined and colors are bold and vibrant, shown on the brightly colored off chairs and desks in The Washington Post office. The green trees and grass surrounding the courthouse look natural and punchy. Night scenes showing deep blacks with strong contrast, shown as cars drive through the city. There’s plenty of grain retained which cinephiles will be happy with, but there’s some nice upscaling too.

The disc has a DTS-HD 2.0 soundtrack and throughout the movie, speech is clear with good detail. Subtle effects such as radios and voices on a telephone and the scratching of a reporter’s pencil have a good amount of detail. While there’s nothing to really show off your sound system like you’d get from an action-packed blockbuster, it’s a great overall soundtrack.

Over the past few years, I’ve often written about the state of 4K Blu-ray (and the state of physical media in general), and while sales numbers are often very doom and gloom, I’ve remained hopeful over its potential and popularity.

We’re big 4K Blu-ray fans here at TechRadar. Some of us (myself included) are collectors, and as TechRadar’s TV tester, they’re my primary source for testing the best TVs and best soundbars. In November 2024, I started the Blu-ray Bounty, a monthly column in which I review the best 4K Blu-rays each month, judging their picture and audio quality.

Since then, I’ve tested over 90 4K Blu-rays, and while most have proven to be real winners, some totally stood out from the pack. Some have even been good enough to become reference discs for when I’m testing TVs. So, as a celebration of Blu-ray's 20th anniversary(!), I've decided to whittle down those 90-plus titles to my all-time top 10.

Just to be clear: this isn’t an all-time best 4K Blu-ray article, just the best ones I’ve tested for Blu-ray Bounty. So, if your favorite is missing, don’t be surprised! The list is also in alphabetical order as I didn’t have the heart to rank them!

Alien: Romulus (20th Century Studios)

First on the list is Alien: Romulus. First featured in the December 2024 Blu-ray Bounty, Alien: Romulus delivers plenty of high-contrast scenes with powerful dynamic range, rich dark tones and punchy highlights. On the best OLED TVs, this disc looks staggeringly good, especially any exterior shots of space. There’s also plenty of awesome detail, with close-up shots of the character's faces showing every mark and facial feature with real clarity.

The disc’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also spine-chillingly realistic. The movie’s dramatic moments have plenty of impact, complete with hefty bass. The movement of face huggers is scarily well-mapped too. As they moved around the floor, their scuttling sounds had me looking nervously around our testing lab a few times when playing through our Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar. A perfect disc for a scary movie night with your home theater system.

Dark City (Arrow Video)

Dark City first featured in the July 2025 Blu-ray Bounty and has become an excellent reference disc for testing contrast. Inky blacks are featured throughout, and there are plenty of scenes with strong contrast as characters stand in front of desk lamps to cast detailed shadows, creating a nice noir vibe. Once again, the 4K remaster means people’s skin and object detail is refined, really showing off what 4K can do.

The disc features both Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtracks, and while this disc isn’t the audio showcase some of the other entrants on this list are, it’s still detailed and powerful, with a tense score and foreboding bass.

Double Indemnity (Criterion Collection)

Double Indemnity featured in the debut November 2024 Blu-ray Bounty, and it’s stuck with me ever since. It was my first experience of what 4K Blu-ray could do for an older, black-and-white movie. And it’s still one of the best examples of this that I’ve tested to this day. Contrast is fantastic, with a great range of black, white and gray tones, and textures have been restored to give them a true-to-life look that’s downright impressive — especially with Dolby Vision supported. While there may be some better restorations of black-and-white movies out there, this is a personal pick, as it really does showcase 4K’s capabilities.

Audibly, the movie only supports a monaural soundtrack, but again, it remains faithful to the original and still sounds great. Speech is clear throughout, and there’s a nice balance between the movie’s more dialogue-heavy and more action-packed scenes.

Fight Club (20th Century Studios)

Featured in the May 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, Fight Club finally came to 4K Blu-ray for the first time, and while there were some controversial changes made by director David Fincher, it’s still the best this movie has ever looked. Textures and detail have been refined beautifully, giving everything a fresh, crisp look. Contrast is striking, delivering deep blacks in the movie’s darker scenes, and whenever colors are featured they look punchy and accurate. Whenever there’s a close-up, it really shows off the disc’s clarity. This is another personal favorite, as I’ve waited a long time for this one to arrive — and it was worth the wait.

The disc features a DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack, and while Dolby Atmos would have been nice, the 5.1 MA is still excellent. There are plenty of crushing, realistic impacts during fight scenes, with sometimes gruesome-sounding detail. But it’s the sense of direction and accuracy that really impresses — in the opening scene where the camera moves around the parking garage, the sound was mapped accurately to our testing soundbar.

Lawrence of Arabia (Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Lawrence of Arabia is another fantastic example of what 4K Blu-ray can do for classic movies. Featured in the February 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, Lawrence of Arabia is breathtaking on 4K Blu-ray. The level of detail and sheer scope of Freddie A. Young’s outstanding cinematography is truly brilliant, and balances some wonderful upscaling with plenty of film grain for purists. Detail is refined and textures are realistic, especially people’s skin and features in close-ups. Colors are also extremely rich, whether it’s the blue sky over the desert, the red sashes of the Arab fighters or the dazzling white of Lawrence’s robes. A truly magnificent disc.

For audio, both Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD 5.1 MA are featured. The Atmos soundtrack delivers plenty of scale and scope that perfectly suits Maurice Jarre’s grand score, as well as the movie’s action scenes. Explosions offer plenty of meaty bass, gunfights feel spacious and accurate, and speech comes through cleanly.

The Mask (Arrow Video)

While I anticipated that The Mask would be a good disc for its colors (more on that below), I was pleasantly surprised by how effective a disc it was for audio testing. Featured in the November 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, The Mask supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtracks. Using the Atmos soundtrack, this disc whips up an impressively accurate soundstage, capturing the cartoonish, chaotic nature of the titular character. As he tears around a room in a tornado, the Atmos soundtrack is perfectly placed, with plenty of superb detail.

Visually, The Mask is at its best when The Mask himself is on screen. His gaudy yellow suit takes on an almost neon-like effect that really pops on screen, and works well if you’ve got a display that’s all about color. Elsewhere, textures have been upscaled nicely, giving skin, hair and even clothing a realistic look. There are even a few darker scenes at the Coco Bongo club that can really show off contrast.

Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Sinners first featured in the July 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, and while it’s a good-looking 4K disc, it features here for its audio — and for one scene in particular. During a time-bending musical sequence in a barn, the mix demonstrates pinpoint accuracy in capturing the hip-hop beats blending with blues music as the camera moves around the room. Any scenes involving blues tracks sound excellent, but really, it’s the barn scene that serves as an audio showcase. Elsewhere, action scenes have plenty of nice detail.

Sinners looks brilliant on 4K, accurately conveying the bright summer of Mississippi during its daytime scenes, and balancing these nicely with the rich contrast of its night scenes. Again, detail is really strong here, with textures in the 1930s clothing looking refined and lifelike, and with Dolby Vision supports, colors are deep and vibrant throughout.

The Sound of Music (Disney)

Featured in the October 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, The Sound of Music looks stunning in 4K. Where it really shines is in its color reproduction. The market scene in particular delivers bold oranges, reds and yellows from the fruits and vegetables on display that really pop on the right TV. The greenery of the surrounding hills looks lush too. Upscaling is also fantastic, and textures have been cleaned up nicely, giving everything a 3D-like appearance, especially people.

Equipped with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, The Sound of Music sounds great too. Julie Andrew’s iconic vocals are detailed and powerful throughout, and there’s a wonderful balance between the musical score and the vocals. This is the best way to hear legendary tracks like Do Re Mi at home. This one really does tick all the boxes, both audibly and visually.

Wicked (Universal Pictures)

Wicked’s picture impressed me so much when I first tested it as part of the March 2025 Blu-ray Bounty that it’s become a reference disc I use for testing TVs. It delivers bold, vibrant colors throughout that have plenty of dazzle. Whether it’s the pink of flowers in trees or Glinda’s wardrobe, the green of trees and Elphaba’s skin, or even the white of a clifftop in the ‘Wizard & I’ scene, colors strike the balance between vivid and lifelike expertly. Details are crisp and intricate in every facet, from people’s clothing to the environments of Oz. There are even some high-contrast scenes that look great too. This really is one of my go-to testing discs.

Unsurprisingly, a Dolby Atmos musical sounds truly fantastic as well. The vocals and score balance well with one another, and come through with excellent clarity. There are some real showcase scenes for Atmos, notably the ‘Defying Gravity’ scene. Cynthia Erivo’s vocals are powerful and expertly rendered, even through the fast-paced movement as Elphaba whips around the skies on her broom — and with the right system the effect is truly immersive.

The Wild Robot

The final entry on this list is The Wild Robot, which first featured in the January 2025 Blu-ray Bounty. It’s a gorgeous animation that has fantastic detail, along with phenomenal colors that look both vibrant and natural. The environments have a painted effect that looks lifelike, and this blends really well with the crisp animation of the creatures of the forest and Roz. Both bright and dark scenes look brilliant too, looking both suitably punchy and rich respectively. This is another disc that has entered my testing rotation.

The disc’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is great for accurately delivering the sounds of nature. Snapping twigs, calling animals and weather effects all combine to create a rich soundscape. Atmos is well utilized too, with birds flying overhead and heavy rain creating an immersive listening experience. There’s also some seriously hefty bass on display during a thunderstorm at the start of the movie.

What are some of your favorite 4K Blu-rays? Let us know in the comments!

Physical home media has gone through a turbulent time the last few years. With the rise of streaming services, demand for physical media over the past few years has steadily declined, with people choosing the convenience of streaming over physical discs.

There's still a dedicated fanbase of physical media collectors, though, and more recently streaming price rises and splintering means people have more interest just owning the stuff they want to watch. I’ve been writing about my hope for the resurgence of 4K Blu-ray, and physical media in general, since 2023. Now in 2026, I’m actually more hopeful than ever. It couldn’t come at a better time either, with the 20th anniversary of Blu-ray’s debut on June 20th, 2026.

I recently spoke to Kath Summersgill, Joint Group Head of Sales at Key Production Group, an agency specializing primarily in physical music and packaging manufacturing with vinyl, cassette and CD. However, the group also works with Blu-ray, both video and audio varieties, and DVD. We discussed the state of Blu-ray production, and physical media in general, and she had some encouraging things to say.

Promising numbers

“We’ve seen an increase in Blu-ray sales of over 10,000%, particularly in Blu-ray Audio” Kath tells me. “That’s over the span of the past eight to 10 years.” For a format that’s been on the decline, that’s an incredibly encouraging number.

Kath then mentions the ERA (Entertainment Retailer’s Association) report from December 2025, which reveals sales revenue for Music, Video and Gaming sales. “Although there was an overall decrease in the physical video format, Blu-ray actually increased by 3%”. While that may not sound like a lot, it’s a positive after some particularly bad numbers.

If you read more into the 2025 ERA report, 4K Blu-ray sales increased 19.5%, which is an extremely encouraging number. The strongest selling disc of the year was Wicked, a disc I regularly use for testing AV equipment and one of the main highlights of our Blu-ray Bounty feature (more on that later).

So, why have 4K Blu-ray sales turned around? For that answer, we’ll have to look to streaming services.

You can't rely on streaming

One of the most frustrating things people have with streaming services is the availability of movies. At one time or another, most people will have experienced a movie leaving a streaming service, only for it to either go to a rival service (that typically you won’t subscribe to) or for it just to disappear.

I’ve even seen horror stories of people buying movies on a streaming service that then also disappear. A Reddit thread in the r/AmazonPrime subreddit is a great example of this, where user u/Electrical_Paper6286 has had it happen “4 times between 2 movies”. Although the movies eventually returned, it’s a sign of how tentative the ‘ownership’ of movies on streaming platforms can be.

It’s one of the key issues affecting people’s trust in streaming services and something that’s driving people to physical media. Kath relates it to vinyl. “We know that vinyl is never ever going to replace streaming, but it exists very happily alongside it. I think that Blu-ray is the same, it offers different things that streaming doesn't. It's very much something that you can have and hold and you can keep and you can play over and over again.”

Kath also points out another issue with online-based movie and music streaming. “[With physical] you're not at the whim of your internet connection speed, or whether or not certain libraries drop certain titles, licence changes”.

This is another frustration. Numerous times I’ve gone to watch a movie on streaming and due to connection issues , it’s either streamed in reduced quality, buffered or just not streamed at all. This isn’t a problem with physical media.

A passionate fanbase

As I mentioned above, I’m a budding collector of 4K Blu-ray. While I don’t have fully stacked shelves (yet), I do have a collector’s edition or two and more than a few steelbooks.

In FilmStories’ article about the ERA 2025 report, they mention that steelbooks and special editions helped the growth in 4K Blu-ray in the UK, with every one in 10 4K Blu-rays released having some sort of steelbook or special edition, and due to their higher prices, they made up £2 of every £10 spent on 4K Blu-ray in 2025.

I tell Kath I’m a sucker for nice packaging and she agrees and she relates it to a recent vinyl release that Key Production Group handled. “We find people are doing this. We did a vinyl release recently with 72 variants and even though the packaging was the same, the color of the vinyl was different.”

(I’m also a sucker for colored vinyl, with a rust-effect Jack White/Dead Weather release from a Third Man Records Vault collection being a particular highlight in my stack.)

While special editions are great, it’s also the work of independent distributors and manufacturers, delivering more excellent 4K restorations than ever, that gets more people to invest in 4K Blu-ray.

The Criterion Collection and Arrow Video are two of the big names, but other organizations such as Kino Lorber, Shout Factory, Boutique Home Video and the BFI are crucial. These companies are producing more sought-after titles and giving them excellent restorations that mean people want to own them in the best possible quality.

In November 2024, I started the Blu-ray Bounty. This is an ongoing monthly column where I test the latest 4K Blu-rays from each month — and since its debut, the column has been growing.

We’re covering more discs than ever, covering a wider range of genres, and I have a feeling it’s only going to get bigger. I’ve produced tons of lists of excellent 4K titles that are perfect for showing off home theater systems, such as this 6 action movies list and 6 classic movies that show what 4K can do. and a good chunk of my reference discs for AV testing came from the Blu-ray Bounty.

I’m also an active user of the r/4kbluray subreddit and this is again one of the most passionate subreddits I’ve come across. Users update each other on releases, give their thoughts and reviews on the latest titles and always showing off their collections in the best possible way.

While it may well have been doom-and-gloom for 4K and Blu-ray in the last couple of years, I for one am hopeful for its future. What better way to celebrate Blu-ray’s 20th anniversary than with some good news.

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I recently visited the Japanese factory where Denon and Marantz make the hi-fi and home theater gear, and the best part of the seeing the facility was getting a demo of the reference home theater listening there, with its 9.4.6 channels of Dolby Atmos sound delivered via $250k of Bowers & Wilkins speaker.

While snooping around the room, the shelving in the corner that houses their disc library naturally caught my eye. Marantz's engineers had already told me that they consider Gravity to be one of the ultimate stress tests for AVRs (you can read why in the piece I linked above), but what else do they keep on hand for testing AV receivers and other gear?

I wanted to make a list to share with the many 4K Blu-ray and home theater enthusiasts out there, looking for fresh demo disc ideas — but given that we had limited time in the room and a major portion of the movies are in Japanese, I took a few photos of the shelves, and came back home to analyze them.

The list is below, and it's in two sections: movies, and concert discs. I excluded anything that isn't a Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray — the shelves were obviously also full of CDs and SACDs (and a few DVDs).

It's not an exhaustive list: I used Google Gemini to help me translate Japanese titles that I couldn't discern myself anyway (I did not need help identifying which disc was Mad Max: Fury Road, naturally), and sometimes its translations were either vague or otherwise uncertain, so I didn't include those titles unless I could verify them another way. And also, I probably missed some because this whole exercise made me go a little stir-crazy.

So if you want to see the shelves and comb through yourself, here they are — but my written-out list is just below.

The list is inevitable in places — Blade Runner 2049 and 1917 are obvious inclusions, and two versions of Interstellar is the normal number of versions of Interstellar to own, in my opinion — but it was also really interesting and surprising in places.

I loved seeing Bridge of Spies in there; I didn't expect Hairspray (2007), but it makes a ton of sense; I'm very curious what makes Taxi 3 specifically a good disc to have; it absolutely rocks that they have RRR, and I can't recommend it enough for your own library; and in contrast to Interstellar, I really don't think anyone needs two copies of Pixels…

The music side includes a fun mix of jazz sets, classical music, movie music and huge stadium events — and with a very healthy dose of metal.

Movies

• 1917
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• 28 Years Later
• 9 (Nine)
• A Clockwork Orange
• A Complete Unknown
• A Star is Born (2018)
• Akira
• Alien Romulus
• American Made
• American Sniper
• Apocalypse Now
• Apollo 13
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
• Argo
• Avatar
• Back to the Future Trilogy
• Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
• Battleship
• Birdman
• Black Rain
• Blade Runner
• Blade Runner 2049
• Blue Giant
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Breakfast at Tiffany's
• Bridge of Spies
• Burlesque
• Casino Royale
• Chicago
• Civil War
• Crimson Peak
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Donnie Brasco
• Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
• Dune (2021)
• Dune: Part Two
• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
• Ford v Ferrari
• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Get On Up
• Ghost in the Shell
• Ghostbusters (2016)
• Gladiator II
• Godzilla vs. Kong
• Gran Turismo
• Gravity
• Green Book
• Hairspray (2007)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I
• Hidden Figures
• The Huntsman: Winter's War
• I, Frankenstein
• Inception
• Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures [Doesn't include Dial of Destiny]
• Inside Llewyn Davis
• Interstellar
• It: Chapter One
• Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
• Jason Bourne
• John Wick
• Joker: Folie á Deux
• Jumanji: The Next Level
• Lucy
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• Man of Steel
• Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning
• Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
• Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
• Mission: Impossible – III
• Moana 2
• No Country for Old Men
• No Time to Die
• Nope
• Oblivion
• Oppenheimer
• Pacific Rim
• Pacific Rim: Uprising
• Paris, Texas
• Pixels
• Pokémon: The Movie
• Quantum of Solace
• Red Tails
• Rocketman
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
• RRR
• Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends
• Seven (Se7en)
• Sherlock Holmes
• Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
• Sinners
• Sisu
• Skyfall
• Solo: A Star Wars Story
• Spectre
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
• Spider-Man: Far From Home
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• Star Trek Beyond
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Superman (2025)
• The Legend of Tarzan
• Taxi 3
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Tenet
• The Batman (2022)
• The Cell
• The Creator
• The Expendables 3
• The First Slam Dunk
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• The Greatest Showman
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
• The Phantom of the Opera
• The Shallows
• The Sky Crawlers
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie
• Top Gun
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Transcendence
• Transformers: Age of Extinction
• Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
• Twisters
• Unbroken
• Venom: The Last Dance
• West Side Story (2021)
• Wonder Woman
• X-Men: First Class
• Yowamushi Pedal

Music and concerts

• Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
• Ado Special Live
• Babymetal: Live at Tokyo Dome
• Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7: Wiener Philharmoniker
• Berliner Philhamoniker: The Asia Tour
• Billy Joel Live at Shea Statdium
• Black Sabbath: The End
• Bob James Trio: Feel Like Making Live
• Bob Marley and the Walers Legend
• Bon Jovi Live at Madison Square Garden
• Chihiro Yamanaka: Somethin' Blue Quintet – Live at Blue Note Tokyo
• Chris Botti: Live in Boston
• David Gilmour: Live at Pompeii
• George Mccrae - Love
• Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague
• Harvie S Trio: Too Late Now
• Hit Man David Foster & Friends
• Joe Bonasmassa Live at the Greek Theatre
• John Mayer: Any Given Thursday
• John Mayer: Where the Light Is
• John Williams in Tokyo
• KISS Rocks Vegas
• Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour
• Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same
• Megadeth: Countdown to Extinction
• Metallica: Quebec Magnetic
• Michael Jackson: This Is It
• Misia: Soul Quest World Tour
• MR. BIG – The Big Finish Live
• MTV Unplugged ayaka
• Norah Jones: Live at Ronnie Scott's
• Pat Metheny Group: The Way Up - Live
• Pat Metheny: The Orchestrion Project
• Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii
• Prince Sign o' the Times
• Queen: Rock Montreal & Live Aid
• Quincy Jones: The 75th Birthday Celebration
• Roger Waters: The Wall
• Rolling Stones: Shine a Light
• Scorpions: Live in 3D
• Shogo Hamada: On The Road 2015-2016
• Steve Vai: Live at the Astoria
• Sting: Live at the Olympia Paris
• Take Me to the River
• The Beatles: 1
• The Beatles: Get Back
• The Great Jazz Trio Hank Jones – The Legend of Jazz: Live at Blue Note Tokyo
• The Last Waltz
• The Rolling Stones: Hyde Park Live 1969
• Tony Bennett: An American Classic
• Toto: Live in Poland
• Vienna Philharmonic: New Year's Concerts – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021

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For the launch of Denon's new X3900H and X2900H AV receivers, I visited the company's headquarters in Japan to give the new models a try in the custom listening room developed for the company's Sound Masters to tune products to perfection — but I also visited Denon and Marantz's combined factory, where the two companies produce their hi-fi and AVR components.

This is in the city of Shirakawa, about an hour's ride on the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo, where the cherry blossoms still lingered even though Tokyo's parks had largely lost their annual spring decoration.

Seeing the production lines and testing for the various hi-fi models was interesting, but I've visited lots of AV manufacturing facilities in my time, and once you've seen four, you've largely seen them all.

But our tour included an extended session in the factory's home theater listening room, which is one of the most impressive setups I've experienced. The room was first established in 1983, so that the first Marantz AV receiver could be developed and tested in it before its launch in 1985.

There are subtle signs of the room's age — the vault-like door has a distinctly '70s infrastructure look and feel to it — but the Denon receiver at the center of our demo today is unquestionably modern.

The AVC A1H is the company's first model that can handle 9.4.6 speaker channels, with support for basically any spatial audio system you'd care to throw at it.

And 9.4.6 channels is exactly what the room's speaker system offers, in the imposing form of eight Bowers & Wilkins 801 D4 speakers with an HTM81 D4 center, plus four ASW Series subwoofers tucked away at the edges — and six speakers mounted in the ceiling. That's about $250k of speakers.

These were paired with a Sony VPL-VW535 4K projector for the visuals, powered by an Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray player. Alas, it's a reminder that this model has arguably never been bettered despite being discontinued the better part of a decade ago.

I slid into the sweet spot seats in the middle, which Denon and Marantz engineers said is 12 feet from the center channel, and 10 feet from the two rears — not quite following the equilateral distance guidelines laid out by Dolby for Atmos, but I'm not going to quibble with the people who design the actual setup.

The first demo scene was A Star is Born (2018), when Ally comes out to play on stage at Jackson's concert for the first time. The first thing that struck me was the complete disconnection of the sound from the equipment, in the best way.

The sound is so expansive and expressive that it feels like there's no channel system at all — the platonic ideal of Dolby Atmos' spatial audio.

The sound is so amazingly cohesive from top to bottom, and always has a new gear to find when it needs to step up the resonant bass of an acoustic instrument, or when Gaga’s voice is given extra elevation out of the mix by the soundtrack, or to highlight each guitar string suddenly twanging — and whenever it needs to the extra step, it always feels like a seamless flow.

The system feels like it just has endless power, and yet it feels like it's not exerting itself hard at all — there's no sense of the forceful and forward sound that you're likely to get from soundbars or compact options. It's just naturally explosive.

Next up was the opening scene of Unbroken, which puts you in the middle of an aerial battle in World War II — in particular, locking you in and around the experience of one bomber.

There's excellent specificity in the position and scale of effects, such as propellers vibrating the air, or whirring gunner seats and small rattling brackets and fixtures. But these don't sound like they’re being especially highlighted and punched up; they’re just naturally specific in the mix.

Anti-aircraft fire and explosions are grippingly dynamic, popping out of nowhere and rattling the soundscape forward to back as the cockpit is peppered with shrapnel — it's not one crackly effect, but a clear wave of super-fast movement in 3D.

Machine guns fire audibly just above the screen, and cartridges rattle in a clear downward motion as they fall into our 'seating' area — you're able to understand more about the structure of the vehicle from the sound design, when everything is this precise.

Next on the list is Gravity, which the Denon and Marantz team described as their choice of movie for an “AVR stress test” — the scene where Ryan Stone re-enters the atmosphere really slams all channels at once, including bass, continuously for several minutes — they said it's basically the hardest-to-drive movie scene.

With that in mind, what jumped out to me is how, despite the cacophonous rumbling and rattling filling the space around me, I could also hear that the system was really delicately handling the singing in the score. It's soft and refined, and also brutal and bruising, all in the same moment.

The positional effects in this scene absolutely whip around you, alarms pierce with their own individual level of urgency, and exploding debris is somehow chaotically noisy and yet also moves precisely in the sound field.

It’s audio havoc, but it never clips or crushes the disparate elements, so you’re completely trapped in the tensest part of the movie while it happens — this is unimpeachable immersion.

To give us a gentle recovery, we finish up with A Complete Unknown. When Dylan and Joan Baez play their privately contentious set together at the folk festival, there's such a lovely recreation of the ambient sound, ironically perfectly recreating the audio signature of an imprecise speaker system.

The song showcases lovely, sharp guitar string plucks and total rhythmic control in the gentle track. The system can explode the crowd noise in the back, while maintaining the same gentle and faintly distorted vocals at the front, all in careful balance, without the denser sound overpowering anything more delicate.

My demo run in this listening room was the kind of experience that spoils you for lesser home theater setups, though I'll be saved from myself by not having the disposable income to spend a quarter of a million on speakers, before I even get to the supporting equipment — let alone building a suitably impressive room to house it all in.

But if you should find yourself coming into a large inheritance and you love movies, I can think of far worse ways to spend it.

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• Multiple Sony devices will lose access to streaming services and Google Cast
• AV receivers, Blu-ray players, soundbars, wireless speakers and more
• Effective November 17, 2026

Something we've learnt the hard way over the years is that pretty much any product with an online component will lose it eventually. Server shutdowns have affected everything from multiplayer games to the ill-fated PlaysForSure music platform, and now it's coming to Sony products.

Like Bose earlier this year, Sony is shutting down servers for some of its audiovisual products. But unlike Bose, which went to great pains to enable people to maintain as much functionality as possible, Sony's devices will lose many core features as a result.

The changes aren't immediate — they won't come into place until November 7th, 2026 — but they apply to a lot of models including AV receivers, Blu-ray disc players, speakers and soundbars. The full list of affected devices is available on Sony's website, but we've included it at the end of this article too.

What Bose did, and what Sony isn't doing

Earlier this year Bose discontinued online support for its SoundTouch speakers first introduced in 2013. However, the speakers themselves remained fully functional and while Bose's own SoundTouch streaming was switched off, AirPlay and Spotify Connect would continue to work.

Sony's changes are more severe. From November, the following services will be unavailable on affected devices:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Google Cast
• Netflix
• Pandora
• Slacker Radio
• Spotify
• Vudu

As Sony explains, from November "access to supported network services will no longer be available on affected models [and] any downloaded network services may no longer be accessible on affected models… we apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding."

While most of the affected models are elderly, there's a lot of them: nine soundbars, 16 AVRs, 17 Blu-Ray players, multiple Blu-Ray home theater systems and five sets of wireless speakers. That means the service shutdown is likely to affect quite a lot of people.

Which Sony products are affected by the 2026 shutdown?

Audio and Micro Component Systems

• CMT-MX700NI
• HAP-S1
• HAP-Z1ES
• MAP-S1
• NAC-SV10

AV Receivers

• STR-DA1800
• STR-DA2800ES
• STR-DA3700ES
• STR-DA5700ES
• STR-DA5800ES
• STR-DN1020
• STR-DN1030
• STR-DN1040
• STR-DN1050
• STR-DN1060
• STR-DN1070
• STR-DN1080
• STR-DN840
• STR-DN850
• STR-DN860
• STR-ZA810ES

Blu-ray Disc Players

• BDP-BX18
• BDP-BX37
• BDP-BX38
• BDP-BX57
• BDP-N460
• BDP-S185
• BDP-S270
• BDP-S280
• BDP-S370
• BDP-S380
• BDP-S390
• BDP-S470
• BDP-S480
• BDP-S570
• BDP-S580
• BDP-S770
• BDP-S780

Blu-ray Disc Home Theater Systems

• BDV-E280
• BDV-E370
• BDV-E470
• BDV-E570
• BDV-E580
• BDV-E770W
• BDV-E780W
• BDV-E870
• BDV-E880
• BDV-F7
• BDV-HZ970
• BDV-IZ1000W
• BDV-L600
• BDV-T28
• BDV-T57
• BDV-T58

Media Players

• FMP-X10
• SMP-N100
• SMP-N200

Soundbars

• HT-CT790
• HT-CT800
• HT-NT3
• HT-NT5
• HT-RT5
• HT-ST5000
• HT-ST9
• HT-XT2
• HT-XT3

Wireless speakers

• SA-NS310
• SA-NS410
• SA-NS500
• SA-NS510
• SRS-X7

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June 2026 looks to be another great month for 4K Blu-rays and as one of TechRadar’s resident 4K Blu-ray testers, I’ve picked the four discs I’m most looking forward to reviewing for Blu-ray Bounty.

Blu-ray Bounty is our monthly column where we review the latest 4K releases from each month to see how their picture and audio will show off your home theater system. In our most recent May 2026 edition, we covered five new discs including the hotly anticipated Fight Club 4K release.

Why do we love 4K Blu-ray at TechRadar? Mainly because it’s our main source for testing the best TVs and the best soundbars. It has a higher bitrate meaning a better-looking picture and uncompressed soundtracks, perfect for testing audio.

In last month’s most anticipated 4K discs list, I picked Fight Club, “Wuthering Heights”, Leaving Las Vegas and Some Like It Hot. I got to test all four as part of the Blu-ray Bounty and they all looked great. Below are my picks for the month of June.

As I’m based in the UK, these are based on UK release dates so don’t be surprised if one of them is already available in your region, or doesn’t have a confirmed release date yet.

Speed Racer (Warner Bros)

Based on the popular Manga series, Speed Racer, directed by The Wachowskis (Lana and Lilly, best known for The Matrix) follows the story of Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch), an aspiring racing driver who's trying to become a champion to save his family business.

Speed Racer is a visual feast for the eyes and features tons of bold, vibrant colors throughout. With Dolby Vision HDR supported, the neon-like colors should really pop on screen and with a good 4K restoration, details should look extra crisp, adding even more depth to the movie’s picture.

There’s also plenty of fast-paced action to push a display’s motion-handling skills to the test. If this disc looks as good as the Reddit hype suggests it could be, this reference-quality disc could be a new addition to my testing rotation.

Movies about racing typically make for excellent audio testing discs, especially when they support Dolby Atmos (F1 for example). I’m hoping Speed Racer will fit into this group, as it features plenty of dynamic racing scenes that should be immersive thanks to its supported Dolby Atmos soundtrack. I’m expecting screeching tires, plenty of movement to test precision and detail and some nice bass response from the subwoofer.

Release date

• US: May 19, 2026
• UK: 15th June, 2026

EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert (Universal Pictures)

From director Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Elvis, Moulin Rouge), EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert is a documentary about Elvis Presley. It features archival footage, including past conversations and interviews with Presley, and tons of live performances from the early 1970s.

Where else to go with this one but audio? Elvis has so many iconic hits and is arguably one of music’s best live performers, so iconic tracks from this time period like ‘Suspicious Minds’, ‘Always On My Mind‘ and ‘Burning Love’ (all featured on the movie soundtrack) are sure to sound sensational through a fully-fledged surround sound system.

Interestingly, there’s no Dolby Atmos soundtrack featured, so we won’t be getting the full 3D sound. There is, however, a DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack included, which should sound fantastic and has often featured on some of the best-sounding movies I’ve tested.

Picture-wise, the footage used in the documentary (consisting of unused footage from two concert movies Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (1970) and Elvis: Live On Tour (1972) was shot in 35mm and 8mm film, so expect the 35mm shots to look superb in 4K. There's also support for Dolby Vision and as Elvis’ shows were known for their glitz and glamour, there could be some really nice looking shots featured, with plenty of vivid colors.

Release dates

• US: August 11, 2026
• UK: 15th June, 2026

Bullet In The Head (Arrow Video)

From legendary director John Woo (The Killer, Hard Boiled), Bullet In The Head tells the story of three friends Ben (Tony Leung), Frank (Jacky Cheung) and Paul (Waise Lee), who flee Hong Kong after killing a member of a rival gang, ending up in Vietnam during the height of the Vietnam War.

This disc’s real highlight should be on the audio side. Featuring a lossless mono and Dolby Atmos mix of the original Cantonese (as well as an English mono mix), there’ll be plenty of action-packed scenes throughout to show off a sound system. Think ricocheting bullets from the rear speakers, big explosions to rattle a subwoofer and the drone of helicopters in Vietnam to show off Atmos.

Visually, the disc supports Dolby Vision, so I’m expecting strong contrast with deep black tones as well as vibrant colors, particularly during the scenes in Hong Kong. A 4K restoration should do wonders for upscaling textures and details as well, and based on other Hong Kong 4K releases I’ve seen from this time period, there’ll be plenty of film grain retained for cinephiles.

Release dates

• UK: 22nd June, 2026
• US: N/A (Shout Factory version released January 6, 2026)

Hoppers (Disney/Pixar)

Pixar’s latest entry, Hoppers, follows the story of Mabel (Piper Curada) a college student who transfers her mind into a robotic beaver in order to communicate with local wildlife, unintentionally starting a revolution among said wildlife. The movie also features Jon Hamm, David Franco and Meryl Streep among the voice cast.

Pixar’s animation is often visually gorgeous, so much so that Elemental is still a regular feature in my choice of reference scenes for testing TVs, thanks to its dazzling colors. While Hoppers doesn’t have the same vibrant colors throughout, I’m still expecting some nice colors and crisp animation that will really show off the right displays. With Dolby Vision supported, the animation should look sublime.

Movies in nature are another fantastic way of showing off a sound system, capturing the sounds of wildlife such as chirping birds, rustling trees and cracking twigs. The Wild Robot was a great example of this. With a Dolby Atmos soundtrack supported, I’m anticipating the same from Hoppers and looking forward to testing it out on our Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar.

Release date

• US: June 2, 2026
• UK: 8th June, 2026

Highlighted releases: June 2026

Below is a list of highlight releases for June 2026. Both US and UK release dates are featured here (these are indicated). Release dates may vary by region, with some coming later in the year or already released. Titles featured in my list above are in bold.

June 1/2

• Hoppers (8th June, 2026 UK)
• Five Easy Pieces (8th June UK)
• Charade (22nd June UK)
• The Flintstones (1994)
• Trainspotting (UK)
• Avatar: Fire & Ash (UK, May 19, 2026 US)
• Body Heat (UK, May 19, 2026 US)

June 8/9

• The Burbs
• Notting Hill
• The Chronicles of Riddick
• Steven Spielberg: The Spotlight Collection
• 36 Hours (UK)
• Scream 7 (UK, June 16 US)

June 15/16

• Speed Racer (UK, May 19 US)
• EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (UK, August 11 US)
• Super Mario Galaxy Movie (US)
• Eraser
• Audition (1999)
• A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms

June 22/23

• Bullet In The Head (Arrow, UK)
• Labyrinth (Collector's Edition, UK)
• Dark Crystal (Collector's Edition, UK)
• Hairspray (1988)
• Hang 'Em High
• A Simple Plan
• Rush

June 28/29

• Jackie Chan's Breakout Hits! (1994-1998)
• Rush (UK)
• Highlander (UK)
• Mortal Kombat Kollection
• The Money Pit

Welcome to a slightly delayed edition of the Blu-ray Bounty! In this month’s list, May 2026, we’ll be looking at five new 4K Blu-rays that could make for excellent additions to your growing collection.

If this is your first visit to the Blu-ray Bounty, welcome: you can check out previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty at the link. In last month’s April 2026 list, we looked at a mammoth 8 discs: Ben-Hur (1959), 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Gilda, Crime Story, The Devil’s Backbone and The Blade.

4K Blu-ray is a big deal for us here at TechRadar, as not only is it our primary source for testing the best TVs and best soundbars (thanks to its superior picture quality and lossless soundtracks), but we’re big collectors ourselves: we’re always on the lookout for more discs to add to our collection!

I’ll be using our reference setup to test this month’s discs, which consists of the LG G5, one of 2025’s best OLED TVs; the Panasonic DP-UB820, one of the best 4K Blu-ray players on the market and the Samsung HW-Q990C, an 11.1.4 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar system.

I won’t be writing about the movies themselves here: I’ll only be commenting on their picture and audio and how they could be a great way to show off your home theater system.

Fight Club (20th Century Studios)

Based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club tells the story of an unnamed narrator (Edward Norton) who meets a charismatic soap salesman named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and together they start an underground fight club. Endlessly quotable, it was one of the most controversial movies of the 1990s.

Fight Club looks excellent on 4K. Textures have been upscaled well, and appear extra crisp. Close-up shots of characters' faces show fine details such as skin marks and hair with real clarity. While colors don’t play a major role in the movie, any that do have nice pop while still looking realistic. Tyler’s red jacket shows great color depth, as does the neon sign of Lou’s bar. The 4K disc also delivers strong contrast with deep black tones, accurately depicting the grimy nature of Tyler’s house and the Fight Club basement.

The disc itself doesn’t support Dolby Vision and while this would have potentially added more clarity and stronger contrast, the disc looks great. However, after online discussions of changes made by director David Fincher, I confirmed there have been some alterations. The most notable, which I confirmed from online chatter, is the clean-up of Marla’s face. While some viewers may find this distracting, I still feel the disc looks superb and is the best-looking version of this movie to date.

For audio, there’s no Dolby Atmos soundtrack, as it instead features a DTS-HD 5.1 MA mix. This mix is fantastic. It utilizes surround channels particularly in a very effective way, precisely mapping the sound during moments with fast moving camera shots. One in particular is the opening sequence where the camera drops down through the building, the sound accurately travels with the camera.

Elsewhere, there’s plenty of impact from the front channels during fight sequences, with the low-end providing some added rumble. Speech is clear for the majority of the movie, with the narration nice and clean throughout. I did find some instances where other effects drowned out the narrator’s voice, but this was only a handful of scenes.

Some Like It Hot (Altitude Films/Capelight Pictures)

Starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curts, Some Like It Hot tells the story of two men Joe (Curtis) and Jerry (Lemmon), two musicians who flee Chicago after witnessing a mob hit. They disguise themselves as women and join touring singer Sugar’s (Monroe) band. A classic comedy, the movie was nominated for several Academy Awards and earned Golden Globe wins for Lemmon and Monroe.

A quick note: this 4K restoration I’ll be discussing is from Altitude films and is mainly targeted for the UK market. There is a Criterion Collection release available (first launched in April 2025) in the US and other regions.

This 4K disc is another great example of what 4K can do for classic black and white movies. With Dolby Vision support, there’s excellent range between deep black tones and bright white tones, with plenty of gray tones in between to create a dynamic, engaging picture. Textures have been upscaled beautifully, meaning skin is clean and crisp, with some parts looking 3D-like in quality. Objects have some nice refined detail as well, with close-up shots of Jack and Joe’s instruments and the handles of a coffin, both in the opening scenes, showing off the 4K restoration’s detail. Cinephiles will be pleased with the amount of grain retained as well.

There are two main audio options included: a PCM, 2.0 mono mix and a DTS-HD 5.1 MA mix. The 2.0 mix is much more direct and loud, with speech at the forefront. I preferred the 5.1 mix as it added some nice detail throughout. Scenes with gunfire mapped ricocheting bullets to the rear channels accurately and musical sequences had a lot more depth in the 5.1 soundtrack. I did need to bump the volume up for louder speech, but it was worth it to get the balance.

“Wuthering Heights” (Warner Bros)

“Wuthering Heights” is Emerald Fennell’s (Saltburn) re-imagining of Emily Brontë’s classic novel of the same name. It follows the story of the Linton and Earnshaw families, both wealthy landowners in the Yorkshire moors. The story in particular centers on the relationship between Catherine (Cathy) (Margot Robbie), the daughter of the Earnshaw family and Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi), a boy that the family fosters, as the two fall into a forbidden love.

“Wuthering Heights” looks visually striking in 4K. Where it stands out most is in its color reproduction, where intentionally vibrant colors are used throughout. Dolby Vision really makes these colors vivid with plenty of pop, particularly the bold reds that Cathy often wears and the red floor of one of the Linton estate rooms. Whites and blues are another highlight.

There are plenty of high contrast scenes as well, with rich black tones during night scenes and vibrant whites during the movie’s winter section. The movie has plenty of gorgeous cinematography of the surrounding landscapes, which look phenomenally detailed and strikingly realistic. Close-ups of the various cast members also look incredibly refined and intricate.

The 4K disc supports a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which is punchy and detailed. While you won’t get many action-packed scenes, speech is crystal clear throughout and the movie’s soundtrack, written by Charlie XCX and John Cale, is engaging. Subtle details are accurately delivered too, such as the creaking of the ropes of the swing Isabella pushes Cathy on in one scene.

Leaving Las Vegas (StudioCanal)

Leaving Las Vegas follows the story of Ben (Nicolas Cage), an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who plans to drink himself to death in Las Vegas before striking up a relationship with callgirl Sera (Elisabeth Shue). Cage earned an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ben.

A note that this release is the StudioCanal version released in the UK and Europe. US readers’ most local version is the Shout Factory version released in December 2025.

Leaving Las Vegas was shot in 16mm film as opposed to 35mm — something you’d expect from movies on a lower budget. While this means the overall look of the film is on the softer side, there is definitely some great upscaling in this 4K restoration. Shots of Ben’s face show excellent detail in his pale skin and the dark circles around his tired eyes. Colors also have a nice vibrancy to them, mainly thanks to the neon-clad streets of Las Vegas, which really pop whenever they’re on screen. Ben and Sera’s sometimes brightly colored clothing also looks natural. The movie’s night scenes also present solid black levels too. Overall, a very good restoration.

This disc supports a DTS-HD 5.1 MA mix which is effective. Speech is clearly presented throughout and balances well with other sound effects. The movie’s score, which features a blend of smooth and chaotic jazz, is presented with excellent clarity and is nicely balanced across all channels, evenly spread across the four units of the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar system I was using.

Point Blank (Criterion Collection)

Point Blank tells the story of Walker (Lee Marvin), a man who is left for dead by his partner Mal Reese (John Vernon) after a robbery. Upon recovering, Walker seeks revenge on Reese and others who have wronged him.

This is yet another great restoration from Criterion, a common theme that’s been happening on the Blu-ray Bounty for some time now. Textures have been cleaned up well, with object detail and people’s skin showing the benefits of a 4K restoration. Where Point Blank really shines is with its colors. As it was made in the 1960s, there’s plenty of bold colors throughout to fit the aesthetic of the time period, from the yellow-themed apartment Walker and Chris share to the green office the antagonists use. Colors crucially though are also true-to-life throughout, never looking oversaturated. There’s also some high contrast scenes during the night with strong shadows cast across people’s faces that looked fantastic on the G5 OLED I used for viewing.

There’s only a monaural soundtrack option for this disc and while it would have been nice to have some form of surround option to capture the movie’s more action packed driving and shootout sequences, the monaural is solid. Speech is clear throughout the movie and there’s still some good impact from gunshots and car crashes. It’s also accurately mapped, capturing Walker’s frantic driving as he intimidates a crooked car salesman.

I think it’s fair to say that Fight Club has been one of the most anticipated 4K Blu-rays in recent years. Although it seemed like it would never launch, in May 2026, the eagerly awaiting disc finally arrived.

Not only was it one of my picks for my most anticipated 4K Blu-rays for May 2026, but it was one of my most anticipated ever. It’s one of those movies that has stuck with me and until now, it has only been available on standard Blu-ray (which has 1080p resolution) or HD on Disney Plus.

There was no better place to try out the 4K Blu-ray than our TechRadar testing labs, with the reference setup that I use for our monthly Blu-ray Bounty column in which we review the latest 4K releases (Flight Club will feature in the May 2026 edition).

The setup is formidable. It consists of the LG G5 (one of 2025’s best OLED TVs), the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player (one of the best 4K Blu-ray players on the market) and the Samsung HW-Q990C (one of the best soundbars in recent years).

As I fired up the disc, I glanced at the back of the case and noticed immediately that two big features were missing, and for some home theater fans, their absence might just be a dealbreaker.

No Dolby Vision or Atmos: why?

Yes, there is no Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos support for the Fight Club 4K Blu-ray. The disc instead supports HDR10 and a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack. Dolby Vision was apparently left off Fight Club at director David Fincher's request (according to a tweet from Feb 2026 from TheHDRoom on X). For some this may come as a surprise, and a potential disappointment, but there is a potential explanation. We need only look to another 4K title from Fincher’s back-catalogue for a clue.

Looking at the Se7en 4K Blu-ray we had in our testing lab, this doesn’t support Dolby Vision or Atmos either. Again, it offers HDR10 and DTS-HD 5.1 MA instead. Why is this? Well, we know Fincher made changes to the Se7en 4K restoration by using AI, according to a Rolling Stone article from January 2025.

As Dolby Vision uses dynamic metadata to analyze a picture shot-by-shot, this may have interfered with Fincher’s vision for the home release, presumably after making said changes. And thanks to some dedicated work from some Reddit users, we know for a fact that Fincher has made some alteration to the Fight Club 4K compared to the standard Blu-ray. And it’s been controversial to say the least.

Going through changes

Although not quite as drastic as George Lucas’ edits to Star Wars in the 1997 DVD release, Fincher has made some subtle (and a couple of not so subtle) changes to the Fight Club 4K Blu-ray. In a Reddit thread boosted to r/4KBluray by u/Kecofo8180, the top comment features a list of changes compiled by u/PhoneixBee32.

These run from added lens flare to a torch and a clean-up of some ceiling tiles, all the way to the a touch of spot-removal on Marla's face. The list was compiled based on a small selection of 4K Blu-ray vs standard Blu-ray comparison screenshots, meaning there are likely a lot more.

I decided to check out Marla’s appearance to see just how different she looked. Switching between the 4K Blu-ray and a HD stream of the movie on Disney Plus, the clean-up treatment was obvious. In the 4K shot, Marla has noticeably smoother skin with fewer spots and pimples, and the dark circles under her eyes have been reduced in comparison to the shot from the HD stream (see images above). It’s an odd choice considering the HD stream, with the more original look, feels more accurate to Marla’s character.

I also compared a brighter scene where the narrator is confronted by his boss. Looking at the two images, I was intrigued to note that the framing of the scene has been changed. In the 4K, the shot seemed to have been zoomed out — the narrator is fully in frame, as is an ashtray beside him. In the HD stream, his hand is partially cut off, his hair is brushing the top of the frame, and the ashtray is only half in shot.

There are some other tweaks I noticed, but a lot of them are so subtle that you wouldn't spot them unless you were studying the 4K Blu-ray and HD stream/Blu-ray versions side-by-side. Still, for those fans who like their 4K discs unaltered, this isn't welcome news.

Needless to say, there have been a number of Reddit threads discussing the 4K Blu-ray, and the response to these changes has been mixed. u/cheeseholidays commented "I do not understand filmmakers who do this", while u/epicmemetime15 wrote 'The editing of Helena's face is very weird" (referring to Helena Bonham Carter who plays Marla).

Other users have been more forgiving, and positive about how good the actual 4K looks. u/OK_Support2444 said, "Eh, I saw the remaster in theaters and it looked gorgeous" and u/requiuminadream commented, "I think this is looking phenomenal. Few minor tweaks here or there, but the image quality looks outstanding."

Still the best

Despite the alterations, as I was switching between the HD stream and the 4K Blu-ray, the 4K’s HDR strengths were obvious. While I’ll be sharing my full thoughts in the May 2026 Blu-ray Bounty column, I have some initial comments below.

Despite Marla’s smoothed skin, other details such as the whites of her eyes in a close-up shot, or the beads of sweat running down the narrator’s face, really pop thanks to those HDR highlights. The red of Tyler’s jacket is bold but realistic and exterior shots of Lou’s bar look excellent thanks to the vibrant neon signs.

The HDR also really helps deliver high-contrast scenes, including the Fight Club fights themselves, balancing the light tones from the overhead lamps with the dark tones of the dingy, grimy walls and floors.

The 4K disc’s DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack also sounds great. There’s plenty of impact during fight scenes, with punches sounding worryingly realistic, with good bass as people tackle each other to the floor. But it’s the use of the rear speakers that’s really fascinating. During the opening, as the camera pans down from the top floor where the narrator and Durden are to the basement, the sound moves too. With the Samsung soundbar system I was using, the sound shifted from the front channels to the rear channels.

While these are only my first impressions, I can safely say the Fight Club 4K is excellent so far. Yes, Dolby Vision would have been welcome for those dark and high contrast scenes, and Dolby Atmos may have added more to the movie’s meaty fight sequences, but based on my first viewing on our reference system, this is a superb-looking and -sounding 4K Blu-ray.

It seems users are torn, so I decided to stop the comparison and just watch the 4K Blu-ray.

• Dolby AC-4 was the preferred codec of multiple audio pros
• Better than existing Atmos audio without high bandwidth requirements
• Peacock is upgrading but other streamers haven't announced any plans

One of the biggest differences between streamed movies and 4K Blu-ray is the sound quality: even the most expensive streaming tiers deliver compressed audio with a clear reduction in dynamic range and clarity compared to disc-based playback.

But that might change thanks to a new version of Dolby's sound technology that audio experts apparently can't tell apart from uncompressed PCM, but that works at streaming bitrates.

The new technology is called Dolby AC-4, and it's a codec: an encoder/decoder for compressing audio. It's designed to deliver much higher audio quality than current streaming soundtracks, and can do so without requiring lots of bandwidth.

With a bit of help from the New York section of the Audio Engineering Society and Engine Room Audio, the audio pros at Immersive Machines in the US set up a double-blind listening test where audio experts heard mixes in multiple formats including the current streaming standard, DD+JOC (using the Dolby Digital+ codec).

Again and again the experts picked AC-4 as having the best sound quality of the compressed audio formats.

How Dolby AC-4 could make your streams sound sweeter

Most streaming apps use DD+JOC for immersive audio. It's a version of the tried and tested Dolby Digital standard, with the JOC bit standing for "Joint Object Coding". It enables Dolby Atmos to deliver positional audio without breaking support for 5.1-channel setups.

Dolby AC-4 is what Dolby calls a Next Generation Audio codec, and it's designed to more efficiently deliver audio for headphone and speaker listening, including 3D object information.

As Dolby explains: "The AC-4 coding system utilizes new aspects of object audio beyond what is already available with Dolby Atmos in other Dolby codecs for features like dialogue enhancement or commentator substitution." And significantly, it "can deliver equivalent channel-based audio quality at roughly half the bitrate of Dolby Digital Plus".

That's impressive, but does it deliver?

Immersive Machines' listening test used three formats: DD+JOC at 768 kbps, uncompressed PCM audio at 13,824 kbps, and AC-4 L4 at 448 kbps. The listeners heard them on a full 7.1.4-channel system, on the same system with specific speakers muted, and to individual speakers soloed. Each format was given the letter A, B or C and their identities weren't revealed until the test was done.

The test wasn't just based on vibes. Listeners were asked to identify compression artefacts such as gating, "swishing", loss of spatial precision and loss of frequency range. And with all the speakers on — ie, the way you'd listen at home — AC-4 was in a dead heat with the reference uncompressed PCM audio.

Compression was more noticeable in AC4 when individual speakers were soloed, but for a full home theater setup, AC-4 delivered sound that apparently matches lossless but while streaming just 3% of the data.

There are some caveats here, notably the sample size: a test with 16 listeners isn't hard science. But at the same time, 16 audio pros told to listen critically are going to be much more picky than you or I are likely to be, so it's still quite the endorsement.

The first TV/movie streaming service delivering AC-4 will be Peacock, although the technology is also being used by Amazon Music and TIDAL (but specifically for binaural headphones-based spatial audio). Other streamers may migrate but so far there haven't been more announcements since Peacock's news at CES 2026.

You can find out more about the Immersive Machines testing here, but while it does suggest that streamers could deliver similar sound quality to 4K Blu-ray in the very near future, it's worth noting that Dolby AC-4 doesn't address one of the other reasons people buy Blu-Ray discs: unlike streaming, bought Blu-Rays don't disappear from your library when streaming rights expire or the streamer decides to slim down its catalog.

Better quality has absolutely been a major driver for why people buy 4K Blu-rays, especially if you have a great home theater setup — but collection and ownership is growing as a reason why people are becoming invested in Blu-ray again, and AC4 won't change that.

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May is looking to be an exciting month for 4K Blu-rays, with major releases including arguably one of my most anticipated discs to date. While the list of May’s releases looks to be extensive, I’ve narrowed it down to four.

We’re big fans of 4K Blu-ray at TechRadar. It’s the best source for testing the best TVs, due to 4K Blu-ray’s higher bitrate for better picture quality, and best soundbars, as soundtracks are uncompressed, meaning you’re getting full-fat Dolby Atmos and DTS.

I’m hoping to get my hands on these discs to feature in our monthly feature, the Blu-ray Bounty, where we test the latest 4K releases from each month that we think will make for a good showcase for your home theater system.

In last month’s most anticipated 4K list (April 2026), I picked Gilda, Hamnet, Marty Supreme and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and all four were featured in the April 2026 Blu-ray Bounty and, spoiler, they all looked great!

As I’m based in the UK, the following picks are based on UK 4K releases, so don’t be surprised if your pick is missing!

Fight Club (20th Century Studios)

Instantly quotable and one of the best movies of the 90s, Fight Club tells the story of an unnamed narrator (Edward Norton) who befriends a soap salesman named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), and together they start an underground ‘fight club’. The movie also stars Helena Bonham Carter and Meat Loaf. Easily one of my most anticipated discs ever.

Fight Club is a visually striking movie. While a lot of its scenes have a grimy, murky look, these dark scenes make for an excellent contrast test, with plenty of black tones. I use this movie as one of my SDR tests, as on Disney+ it’s only in HD. I’m excited to see what it will look like in all its gruesome detail in 4K, and I’ve got high hopes after how good another of Fincher’s iconic movies, Se7en, looked when it came to 4K for the first time last year. While there’s talk of no Dolby Vision included, that didn’t stop Se7en from looking great.

There are plenty of audio moments in Fight Club that sound realistic and brutal, not limited to the numerous fight scenes in the club itself. With a solid soundtrack, be that Dolby Atmos or DTS, these scenes could be really impactful and be a perfect way to test the meatiness of your chosen sound system.

Release Dates

US: May 12, 2026

UK: 18th May, 2026

Some Like It Hot (Altitude Films)

Some Like It Hot is the legendary comedy featuring Marilyn Monroe as ‘Sugar’ Kane, a traveling musician who is unaware that two of her fellow band members in her all-female band are men (played by Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) on the run from the mob. A classic comedy, it was nominated for multiple Academy Awards. It’s worth noting this isn’t the 4K Criterion release available in the US, but rather a new version from Altitude.

I’ve been a believer in what 4K can do for classic movies for some time now, and that only seems to grow every month. Black-and-white movies like Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, and 3:10 To Yuma (1957) have looked incredible, and I have high hopes for Some Like It Hot, too. While I’m disappointed it’s not the Criterion release, I’m still hopeful to see this iconic movie revived.

As with a good number of these older releases, I’m not expecting a new, mind-blowing sound mix here, but Some Like It Hot has plenty of musical sections with classic songs like the titular track and ‘I Wanna Be Loved By You’, both elegantly sung by Monroe.

Release Dates

UK: 18th May, 2026

US: N/A, Criterion version released April 8, 2026

Leaving Las Vegas (Studio Canal)

Leaving Las Vegas is the story of Ben Sanderson (Nicholas Cage), a struggling alcoholic who develops a relationship with a prostitute named Sera (Elisabeth Shue). The movie earned Cage the Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for Shue.

Interestingly, Leaving Las Vegas was shot on 16mm film, as opposed to the more mainstream 35mm. While I’m not expecting blockbuster visuals for this modestly-budgeted movie (approx $4 million), there are plenty of scenes showcasing the gaudy neon glow of Las Vegas that should make for some interesting visuals.

I’m not expecting any blockbuster moments from Leaving Las Vegas audibly, but it does have an interesting score and some licensed songs from Sting, including ‘Angel Eyes’, that with the right sound mix will hopefully complement the picture.

Release Dates

UK: 18th May, 2026

US: N/A — Shout Factory released December 16, 2025

“Wuthering Heights” (2026) (Warner Bros.)

A loose adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel, Jacob Elordi stars as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Cathy in Emerald Fennell’s (Saltburn, Promising Young Woman) take on the classic period romance/drama. Fennel intended this version to "recreate the feeling of a teenage girl reading this book for the first time" (quote from a Vogue interview on YouTube).

While the film itself may be incredibly divisive, visually, it has plenty of moments that should look stunning on 4K. There are plenty of vivid, vibrant colors that explode on screen, along with breathtaking shots of the surrounding moors. There’s also plenty of stylized, contrast-rich shots that should make for a real showcase on a home theater system. And with Dolby Vision supported, “Wuthering Heights” should look excellent.

Audio-wise, the main talking point is Charlie XCX’s soundtrack. Thankfully, there’s a Dolby Atmos mix included, so it should deliver this soundtrack with real clarity and immersion. The pulse-pounding, big electronic sound XCX has become known for is a highlight, so it’s sure to sound great on a big sound system.

Release dates

US: May 5, 2026

UK: 11th May, 2026

Highlighted releases May 2026

Below is a list of highlight releases for May 2026. Both US and UK release dates are featured here (these are indicated). Release dates may vary by region, with some coming later in the year or already released. Titles featured in my list above are in bold.

May 4 / 5

• Alice in Wonderland (1951)
• Blue Thunder
• “Wuthering Heights” (2026) (UK release 11th May)
• GOAT
• Point Blank (US release date April 21 2026)

May 11/12

• Fight Club (UK release 18th May)
• Mona Lisa (UK)
• Moneyball (US, UK release TBC)
• Bridesmaids

May 18/19

• Leaving Las Vegas (UK)
• Speed Racer (US, UK release 15th June)
• Avatar: Fire and Ash (US, UK release 1st June)
• Boy Heat
• The Walk
• The Bride!
• Some Like It Hot (UK)
• Witness (UK)
• The Dollars Trilogy (UK, Arrow Video)

May 25/26

• Robin Hood: Price of Thieves (US, UK release March 2023)
• Harry and the Hendersons
• The Great Outdoors
• Lenny
• Sirat
• Zulu Dawn
• The Cars That Ate Paris
• Insomnia (1997 original)

Welcome to the April 2026 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, where we check out the latest 4K Blu-ray releases from each month, assessing their picture and audio to see if they make a worthwhile addition to your 4K Blu-ray collection. This month is our largest list to date, with a whopping 8 discs.

If you want to check out previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty for some disc recommendations, they can be found at the link. In last month’s March 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, I tested 6 discs: Wicked: For Good, The Running Man (2025), 3:10 To Yuma (1957), The Breakfast Club, The Man Who Wasn’t There, and Cutter’s Way.

We’re big fans of 4K Blu-ray here at TechRadar. It’s our go-to source for testing the best TVs and best soundbars, because it has excellent picture quality due to its high bitrate and uncompressed soundtracks. We’re also collectors ourselves!

I’ll be using our reference setup for this month’s edition, consisting of the LG G5, one of 2025’s best OLED TVs; the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market; and the Samsung HW-Q990C, an 11.1.4 channel, Dolby Atmos soundbar system.

I won’t be analyzing the movies of these discs themselves: only their picture and audio to see how much they’ll show off your home theater setup.

Ben-Hur (1959) (Warner Bros.)

One of Hollywood’s most iconic epics, Ben-Hur stars Charlton Heston as the titular Judah Ben-Hur, a former Jewish prince condemned to slavery after he is accused of treason. The story follows his quest for freedom and revenge on those who betrayed him. At the time of production, it was the largest-scale movie ever released, costing roughly $15 million ($170 million today).

Much like Lawrence of Arabia 4K from the February 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, Ben-Hur is a staggering 4K Blu-ray. The restoration here upscales textures to an almost modern-day look, with accurate, lifelike skin tones and refined details such as rocks, grass, and buildings throughout. Colors are rich and vibrant: from the reds of the Roman soldiers' capes to the glorious blue sky, every color pops on screen.

There’s some nice brightness to this disc, too. Soldiers' gold uniforms gleam in the sunlight, and the sand-colored buildings of Jerusalem dazzle without ever over-exerting the brightness. Even the movie’s darker scenes display rich blacks with powerful contrast. As the slaves row the ship, the dark tones of the walls contrast with the light from the torches beautifully.

Ben-Hur has received a serious audio upgrade as well as a visual one. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack does wonders for the bombastic and mighty horn-led score, which sounds clean, refined, and powerful. Surround channels come into play frequently, such as the hustle and bustle of the markets in Jerusalem or during the chariot races in the latter parts of the movies, with galloping hooves and the roaring crowd delivered with real precision. The hooves also make for a great workout for your subwoofer.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Sony Pictures)

The fourth installment in the 28 Days Later franchise, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is a direct sequel to 28 Years Later and follows Spike (Alfie Williams) as he is indoctrinated into the cult of Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell). Ralph Fiennes returns as Dr. Ian Kelson.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a visual feast for the eyes. In daytime scenes, as characters walk through nature, colors like the bold, red flowers and lush green trees have some serious pop. Textures are 3D-like in appearance, with all the dirt, blood, and scars on Kelson’s body looking incredibly detailed and realistic. Highlights have some serious shine to them too, with Crystal’s gaudy gold chains looking suitably vibrant.

Night scenes look superb too. Blacks are consistently deep throughout and looked great on the G5 during my testing. Contrast is powerful, with any scenes involving fire balancing beautifully with the rich, black surroundings. Again, fire really showed off the punchy brightness in peak areas too.

Equipped with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a showcase for speakers. Moments of violence sound gruesome, with every hit, stab, and puncture given a skin-crawlingly realistic level of detail. The Atmos soundtrack is utilized well. As projectiles were fired during the barn scene, they seemed to come from all directions where I was sitting. Speech is crystal clear throughout, and don’t worry, Kelson’s pyre scene (which we won’t spoil) sounds excellent.

Hamnet (Universal Pictures)

Hamnet dramatization of playwright William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal) and his wife, Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley), as they deal with the death of their son Hamnet. Nominated for multiple awards, Buckley earned an Academy Award for her portrayal of Hathaway.

A gorgeous-looking disc, especially in Dolby Vision, Hamnet delivers some lovely visuals. Colors have some nice punch, such as Hathaway’s red/orange dress at the start of the movie, but also appear true-to-life, with the greens of the countryside around Shakespeare’s home, looking great. Textures are strikingly realistic, with close-up shots of people’s faces showing freckles, stubble, and aging lines with impeccable detail.

Darker scenes look great too. As the family eats dinner at night, the black surroundings are deep and balance nicely with the flame of the candles on the table, creating a strong contrast and casting strong shadows.

Hamnet has a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and makes use of it. The score throughout sounds excellent, with the opening choral track filling our testing lab nicely, and the melancholic strings sounded refined throughout. Dialogue is consistently clear, and there are some good Atmos scenes, with scenes in the forest featuring birds flying overhead utilizing height channels.

Marty Supreme (A24)

Marty Supreme is the story of Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a table tennis player in the 1950s who vies to become world champion. The character of Mauser is loosely based on real-life US table tennis player Marty Reisman.

Marty Supreme looks great in 4K. The movie’s table tennis tournament scenes demonstrate strong contrast between the lit-up tables and players and the crowds, who are encased in deep shadows. Colors can also look rich, whether it’s the bright red of the paddles or the sometimes bold 1950s aesthetic, namely loud-looking greens and pinks. Textures look both crisp and true-to-life, with stubble, wrinkles, and hair looking refined.

This disc’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack has plenty of fantastic moments. Any scenes involving ping-pong are accurately mapped, with a strong connection between the sound and the action on screen and pinpoint directionality. One scene where Marty plays in a bar delivered great surround sound, with the rattle of ping pongs coming from the rear speakers as Wally (Tyler, The Creator) talks to another patron. The movie also features notable tracks from the 1980s, such as Alphaville's ‘Forever Young’, and all of these sound authentic and engaging.

Gilda (The Criterion Collection)

Another iconic movie of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Gilda follows the story of Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford), a card counter who begins to work for casino owner Ballin Mundson (George Macready). Mundson returns from a trip abroad with a new wife, Gilda (Rita Hayworth), whom Farrell recognizes from his past. This movie was a star-making turn for Hayworth.

Gilda is yet another home-run restoration from Criterion Collection. Textures have been cleaned up beautifully to look more refined and crisp, which is especially apparent in people’s skin. Contrast is great with deep dark tones and bright white tones and there’s a great range of gray tones in between. Cinephiles will be happy with the level of grain included, but make no mistake, this is a very clean 4K restoration that looks top-notch.

This disc only supports a monaural soundtrack, but dialogue is crystal clear throughout, and sound is accurately mapped. Shattering glass, bullets, and the hubbub of the casino all sound great. Musical sections also sound very good with a nice balance and strong detail. Not a showcase soundtrack for a home theater system, but very well cleaned up.

Crime Story (88 Films)

Crime Story is an action-thriller starring Jackie Chan as Police Inspector Eddie Chan, who is tasked with finding missing businessman Wong Yat-fei. His journey takes him from Hong Kong to Taiwan, where he encounters powerful mobsters. The film is based on the real events surrounding the kidnapping of businessman Teddy Wang in 1990.

This 4K restoration from 88 Films is excellent. The picture has been cleaned up to deliver crisp textures that appear lifelike throughout. There’s a nice mix of scenes to show off all aspects of a display, from the punchy colors of the neon-clad Taipei markets to the shady, shadowed rooms where gangsters hang out, which deliver a strong contrast with deep black tones. Film grain fans also need not worry, as there’s a healthy amount maintained as well.

There are both Stereo 2.0 LCPM and DTS-HD 5.1 soundtracks on offer here in both the original Cantonese and suitably overacted, cheesy English dub. I opted for the Cantonese 5.1, and as you’d expect from an action-packed Jackie Chan movie, there’s a lot going on. Explosions and gunfire deliver plenty of meaty bass with serious impact, and ricocheting bullets are accurately mapped to a nice, wide soundstage. Dialogue is very front-end in the 5.1 mix, sometimes at the expense of other elements, but it’s always clear.

The Devil's Backbone (Studio Canal)

Directed by Guillermo del Toro, The Devil’s Backbone is a Spanish gothic horror movie that follows the story of a boy who finds himself in an abandoned orphanage at the end of the Spanish Civil War. The orphanage is haunted by a recently deceased boy.

The picture quality of this restoration from Studio Canal is fantastic. Daytime scenes have a stunning brightness to them, with accurate color reproduction of the beige sands of the desert surrounding the orphanage, while instances of red really pop on screen. Night sequences have excellent black depth, balancing well with the light from the moon or candles as they creep into the darkness.

There are both DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 LPCM sound mixes. I used the DTS-HD 5.1, and it’s brilliant. Everything sounds natural, especially the dialogue. The score is consistently strong and presented with real clarity, particularly during the movie’s more eerie scenes, accurately delivering the chill factor. Moments of impact, such as punches and door slams, deliver deep, engaging bass. Overall, an excellent sound mix.

The Blade (The Criterion Collection)

A wuxia movie (a genre based around the adventures of martial artists in ancient China), The Blade tells the story of Ding On (Vincent Zhao),a factory worker who learns martial arts to seek revenge on his father’s killer.

The Blade’s picture looks stunning and is yet another awesome job by Criterion. Colors are bold and vibrant throughout, but also appear natural. This can be seen in the movie’s many fight scenes, where different color filters are used to create striking, dynamic images, and other colors, such as blood and costumes, pop. There are a good number of high contrast scenes where the light from torches balances well with the rich black tones. Textures have also been refined, with skin tones and textures in particular looking very natural.

This disc only supports a monaural soundtrack (both in the original Cantonese and a dubbed English track), but it delivers clear dialogue that’s well balanced with other effects. The movie’s many fight scenes have plenty of impact and accuracy, with the clashing of metal blades in particular sounding satisfying punchy.

April has arrived, and that means a whole new group of 4K Blu-ray releases, and it’s looking like a real mix! Here at TechRadar, we not only use 4K Blu-ray to test the best TVs and best soundbars, but we’re collectors ourselves. Some of these very discs may find their way onto our shelves!

While it looks like there are tons of great discs coming in April, I’ve selected a few highlights that I’m hoping to feature in the Blu-ray Bounty, our monthly column where we test the latest 4K Blu-ray releases that we think will show off your home theater system: be that picture, audio, or hopefully, both!

In my March most anticipated 4K Blu-ray article, I picked 3: 10 To Yuma (1957), Wicked: For Good, The Breakfast Club, The Man Who Wasn’t There, and Ben-Hur. I got to test four of the five in the March 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, and they looked great. Ben-Hur was delayed in the UK until April 26th, so expect it in this month’s Blu-ray Bounty!

Below, I’ve picked four of my most anticipated discs for April 2026. As I’m based in the UK, these are based on UK 4K releases, so don’t be surprised if your favorite is missing!

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Sony Pictures)

A direct sequel to 28 Years Later (the third movie in the 28 Days Later franchise), 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple picks up where its predecessor left off. Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) makes a groundbreaking discovery, while Spike (Alfie Williams) is indoctrinated into a cult led by ‘Sir Lord’ Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has plenty of visually striking scenes, with strong contrast and bright, burning fires, that are sure to look great in 4K, especially with Dolby Vision HDR support. I’m expecting a clean, modern 4K presentation akin to other titles I’ve tested, such as Predator: Badlands.

An action-packed horror like this relies on its sound design, so it’s great news that the 4K disc for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple comes with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack in tow. This will be great for delivering every visceral fight sequence, heart-pounding, eerie scene, and even the moments of calm in nature.

Release dates

US - April 21, 2026

UK - April 20, 2026

Marty Supreme (A24)

Marty Supreme tells the story of Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a table tennis player who vies to become world champion in the 1950s. Directed by Josh Safdie (of the Safdie Brothers, who directed Good Time and Uncut Gems), Marty Supreme was nominated for several Academy Awards in 2026.

The Safdie Brothers are often known for making excellent-looking movies, as anyone who has seen Good Time and Uncut Gems will attest, and Marty Supreme is no different. The 1950s aesthetic, both colorful and gritty, should look great on 4K, and table tennis sequences should be a good test for your display’s motion.

The 4K Blu-ray of Marty Supreme comes with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which will not only be great for delivering the movie’s soundtrack (filled with songs from both the 1950s and 1980s) but also for the movie’s ping pong sequences. I’m looking forward to putting this one through our reference Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar to really test that immersive Atmos feel.

Release dates

US - March 31, 2026

UK - April 6, 2026

Gilda (The Criterion Collection)

Gilda is a classic of Golden Age Cinema and is one of Rita Hayworth’s (who plays the titular Gilda) most famous roles. It tells the story of Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford), a gambler who takes a job for a casino owner, only for issues to arise when he realizes the owner’s new wife is his ex-lover, Gilda (Hayworth).

It seems like every month I write about a new Criterion Collection 4K disc that brings new life to an older movie, be it 3:10 To Yuma, Captain Blood, Double Indemnity: I could go on. Gilda looks like it’s set to be the latest entry into this lineage, and I have every faith this movie is going to look excellent in 4K, especially with Dolby Vision HDR included.

The 4K disc of Gilda is only set to feature an LCPM mono soundtrack, but again, as I’ve experienced with a few Criterion Collection 4K discs, I’m expecting a refined soundtrack with clear speech and a clean score. There won’t be anything sound-system-worthy, but it should be great nonetheless.

Release dates

US - April 7, 2026

UK - April 27, 2026

Hamnet (Universal Pictures)

Hamnet tells the story of Agnes Hathaway (Jessie Buckley), wife to playwright William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), who must deal with the tragic loss of their son Hamnet, an event that inspires Shakespeare to write Hamlet. Directed by Chloé Zhao, Hamnet won multiple awards, including Academy Awards for Zhao (Best Director), Buckley (Best Actress), and Best Picture.

Hamnet should look great on 4K Blu-ray. It has contrasting scenes that should really show off all areas of a display. From the lush natural forests with occasionally bold costumes to the grittier, dirtier streets of London, there should be plenty here to serve as a visual feast. Not least of all because Dolby Vision HDR is supported.

While this disc is unlikely to push your system to its limits like an action blockbuster would, the Hamnet 4K release does come with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Where I expect this to shine is during the scenes in the forests and nature. These can often be among the best types of scenes for really showing off a Dolby Atmos sound system, with more subtle sound effects.

Release date

US - March 3, 2026

UK - April 13, 2026

Highlighted releases - April 2026

Below is a list of highlighted releases for April 2026. Both US and UK releases are featured here (which are indicated). Release dates may vary by region, with some titles already released or some coming later in the year. The titles I’ve discussed above are highlighted in bold.

April 6/7

• Gilda (Criterion) (UK release, April 27)
• Mercy (2026) (UK release, April 20)
• Crime Story (UK)
• Marty Supreme (UK)

April 13/14

• Hamnet (UK)
• The Devil’s Backbone
• The Blade (Criterion) (UK)
• Mantrap (US release, April 24)
• The Phantom (1996)
• Monty Python: Life Of Brian
• Becoming Led Zeppelin: Collector’s Edition (UK release, April 27)
• Trouble In Paradise (1932) (Criterion) (UK release, April 20)

April 20/21

• 28 years Later: The Bone Temple
• Die My Love
• Sleepers
• Point Blank
• The Eye

April 27/28

• Moneyball
• Innerspace
• Throw Momma From The Train
• Dust Bunny
• Stardust
• The Protector (UK)

Welcome to the March 2026 edition of Blu-ray Bounty, where I’ll be testing the month's latest 4K releases (based on UK release dates) to see whether they make a worthy addition to your, hopefully, growing collection.

If this is your first visit to the Blu-ray Bounty, welcome, and go check out previous editions at the link. In last month’s packed February 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, I looked at eight discs: Lawrence of Arabia, Minority Report, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Bugonia, Predator: Badlands, Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii MCMLXXII, Westworld (1973), and Dogma.

We love 4K Blu-ray here at TechRadar. It’s our staple source for testing the picture quality of the best TVs, as its higher bitrate means better picture quality than 4K streaming, and sound quality of the best soundbars, as 4K Blu-ray has uncompressed soundtracks.

I’ll be using our usual setup for testing this month’s discs. The LG G5, one of 2025’s best OLED TVs, will be the display, and the Panasonic DP-UB820, the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market, will be the player. The Samsung HW-Q990C, an 11.1.4 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar system, will be used for testing these discs’ soundtracks.

As always, I won’t be reviewing these discs based on the movies themselves: just their picture and audio quality and how they can be a good match for your home theater system.

Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

The sequel to the blockbuster musical Wicked, Wicked: For Good, is the conclusion to the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now known by Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), now known as Glinda the Good Witch.

So colorful and vibrant was the original Wicked 4K Blu-ray that it became one of my regular discs for testing TVs. Visually, Wicked: For Good ticks all the same boxes as the original. From the multi-colored flowers outside Munchkinland to the greens of the Emerald City, colors are bold and vibrant, especially with Dolby Vision. They pack plenty of punch throughout, while looking both true-to-life and nicely saturated to suit the movie.

There are also plenty of high-contrast scenes throughout that will show off your display’s contrast, notably the ones where Elphaba sits in the woods, which are somehow always at sunset. This creates strong shadows with nice highlights that look great on the G5. Textures are crisp, and there’s plenty of refined detail throughout as well.

There’s plenty to like about the Dolby Atmos soundtrack, too. Musical numbers are delivered with plenty of scope, space and power, giving vocals and instruments equal room to breathe. But there’s plenty of non-musical elements to test your sound system too. Elphaba’s many broom flights are mapped wonderfully to a surround system, delivering a wide soundstage with plenty of height effects as she soars overhead. As she swoops by, there’s punchy bass too. This disc is an audio showcase as much as it is a visual one.

The Running Man (2025) (Paramount)

A remake of the 1987 original starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Running Man (2025) is adapted from Stephen King's novel of the same name. It follows Ben Richards (Glenn Powell) as he takes part in a deadly reality show. This version is directed by Edgar Wright (of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame).

The Running Man looks great visually. It has a slick presentation as expected from a modern movie with sharp and realistic textures, but I was surprised to see a good amount of film grain featured, giving the movie an interesting look. With the movie’s futuristic setting, there are some punchy colors via the neon signs and various monitors throughout. Night scenes also deliver strong contrast, with deep blacks mixed with bright lights that look great in Dolby Vision.

The movie’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is consistently strong throughout, with bullets, punches and explosions all delivering meaty bass that’s also nicely controlled: perfect for showing off a subwoofer. It also uses every part of its soundstage during car chase sequences and gunfights, each effect delivered with detail and precision. Height channels are used to great effect, too, with the network’s drones and helicopters following Richards throughout the movie.

3:10 To Yuma (1957) (Criterion Collection)

A classic Western, 3:10 To Yuma (1957) tells the story of a rancher named Dan Evans (Van Heflin) who takes on a job to escort an outlaw named Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) to his trial in Yuma, Arizona. The movie was remade in 2007, starring Russell Crowe as Wade and Christian Bale as Evans.

I’ve praised what 4K restorations can do for older movies for some time now, and Criterion’s restoration of 3:10 To Yuma is no different: it’s superb. Textures have been beautifully cleaned up – every weather-beaten wrinkle on people’s faces is fully restored – and looking almost modern. The movie is in black and white, and dark tones are deep while white tones are bright, with a full range of gray tones in between. Cinephiles will be happy with the amount of film grain retained, though it’s more obvious in the movie's exterior scenes.

There are two soundtrack options: monaural and DTS-HD MA 5.1. For purists, the monaural soundtrack has been nicely cleaned up, with clear speech and detailed effects. But the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack really shines here. There’s solid bass from the rumble of galloping horses, good surround details during gunfights with ricocheting bullets, and even a wide soundstage, letting the soundtrack breathe. Speech is also crystal clear.

The Breakfast Club (Criterion Collection)

One of the 1980s' most iconic movies from John Hughes, The Breakfast Club is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that tells the story of five teenagers from distinctly different social cliques, all brought in for the same Saturday detention. The film stars Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Michael C. Hall, Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy.

The Breakfast Club is another example of a great 4K restoration from Criterion Collection. Colors have some really nice pop throughout, especially in the glossy Coca-Cola cans everyone has at lunch. The bright yellow and red lockers look both punchy and realistic. Textures are nicely restored, with close-up shots of the main characters showing details like stubble and creases in full detail. Cinephiles will love the amount of film grain here, too.

While The Breakfast Club isn’t the audio showcase of an action blockbuster, both its monaural and DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtracks are very good. The DTS-HD 5.1 MA in particular delivers clear speech and precise sound effects, such as the exaggerated squeaking of Bender’s leather boots or the biting of Allison’s nails. The movie’s 80s-centric soundtrack also sounds great, with the powerful punch of synths and drums you want from iconic tracks like Simple Minds’ Don’t You Forget About Me.

The Man Who Wasn’t There (Criterion Collection)

Directed by the Coen Brothers, The Man Who Wasn’t There tells the story of Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a barber in a small Californian town who tries to blackmail his wife’s lover to raise money for a business venture offered to him by a customer at the barbershop. The movie also stars Frances McDormand, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Badalucco, and more.

The Man Who Wasn’t There looks fantastic in 4K. Presented in black and white, there’s a great balance between light and dark tones, with a full range of grays. There are tons of excellent high-contrast scenes throughout, with deep blacks casting strong shadows and balancing with bright highlights. Textures have been cleaned up, with close-up shots showing people’s wrinkles and facial marks with refined detail, while skin appears true-to-life throughout. There’s some nice film grain, too.

The DTS-HD 5.0 surround soundtrack is very clear and refined. Crane’s voiceover is perfectly rendered with good clarity throughout the movie. More subtle sound effects are well presented, too. An unsettling wind, the whir of the clippers in the barber chair, or footsteps in echo-y halls are all well-defined and authentic.

Cutter’s Way (Radiance)

Cutter’s Way follows the story of Vietnam veteran Alex Cutter (John Heard) and his friend Richard Bone (Jeff Bridges), who both become embroiled in a murder investigation, with Cutter convinced that Bone is a witness.

Cutter’s Way is another example of a top-notch 4K restoration. Textures have been refined and look detailed and authentic. People’s skin and the textures in clothing are all true-to-life and look more modern than the 1981 production would suggest. Colors are vibrant throughout, with reds and greens in particular looking punchy. Contrast during night scenes is also strong, and there’s a lot of film grain here for cinephiles, but it doesn’t hamper the picture.

This 4K disc only offers a mono soundtrack, but it sounds clear, with speech and other effects still given enough room to breathe and delivered with good clarity. For those looking for something truly unique, there’s also an isolated score track option, which cuts out all audio other than the score, even during parts of the movie where there's no score. It makes for an interesting watch, and the score itself is bright, loud and detailed if you choose this experience.

Shop our setup

A new month means a new group of 4K Blu-rays, and March 2026 is looking very stacked! As big 4K Blu-ray fans here at TechRadar, that’s great news as we can look to add more discs to our catalogue for testing the best TVs and best soundbars, as well as looking to add to our bursting shelves.

While it’s difficult to cover every new disc released each month, I’ve picked my highlights from March that I’m hoping to feature as part of the Blu-ray Bounty. This is my monthly column where I test new 4K discs released each month, analyzing their picture and audio quality to see how they can help your home theater flex its muscles.

Last month, I was excited to test four new 4K discs in particular including Lawrence of Arabia, Minority Report, Predator: Badlands and Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and thankfully, I got to test all four (and more) as part of the February 2026 Blu-ray Bounty. Spoiler: they all looked great, but Lawrence of Arabia was particularly mind-blowing.

So, here are my top 5 picks for March! A quick note: I’m based in the UK, so these picks are based on the UK release dates. Some of these may already be available in your region.

Ben-Hur (1959) (Warner Bros.)

An iconic epic from Hollywood’s Golden Age, Ben Hur is the story of Judah Ben-Hur (played by Charlton Heston), a former nobleman sentenced to slavery after he is framed for treason, who must now regain his freedom and seek revenge. The movie set the record for largest set design and budget when it was released in 1959.

If Ben-Hur’s 4K restoration is anything like Lawrence of Arabia, then it’s sure to look staggering. Another epic filmed with a grand sense of scale, this 4K release is sourced from a new 8K scan and is presented in Dolby Vision, so it’s sure to shine. I’m hoping for bold colors, crisp textures and realistic details. The movie won multiple Academy Awards for its production design and art direction: let’s see if the 4K release will do it justice.

This 4K release supports a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which will be perfect for delivering the grandiose score and all the action from the iconic chariot races. I’m hoping for big, room-filling audio with a nice soundstage that’ll come across nicely through our Dolby Atmos sound system.

Release dates:

US - February 17, 2026

UK - March 23, 2026

The Man Who Wasn’t There (Criterion Collection)

Written and directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen, The Man Who Wasn’t There is a noir movie inspired by the likes of Double Indemnity and Shadow Of A Doubt. It stars Billy Bob Thornton as Ed Crane, a man who plans to blackmail his wife’s boss for money in order to pursue a business venture, only for chaos to ensue. The cast is star studded and features Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, Scarlett Johansson and Tony Shalhoub.

In my time reviewing 4K Blu-rays, I’ve come to really appreciate what the format can do for black-and-white movies. Done right, the contrast can really allow a display to show off, particularly one like our reference LG G5 we use for testing. The Man Who Wasn’t There is filmed entirely in black-and-white in an homage to classic noir movies, so I’m hoping this 4K release from Criterion will bring out strong contrast as well as crisp details.

There’s no Dolby Atmos soundtrack included, but there is support for DTS-HD 5.0 Master Audio. These soundtracks have often surprised me with how immersive they can be, rivalling Atmos at times even without the 3D sound engineering. From the voiceover to Carter Burwell’s score, here’s hoping the DTS soundtrack can deliver the noir goodness.

Release dates:

US - February 24, 2026

UK - March 2, 2026

Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

The sequel to the smash hit Wicked, Wicked: For Good picks up after the events of the first movie — Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is now demonized as the Wicked Witch of the West, whereas her friend Glinda (Ariana Grande) lives in the Emerald City, beloved by the local populace.

Wicked: For Good may not have been a hit with the critics, but Wicked remains one of my most regularly used 4K discs for testing, so I'm looking forward to this one still. The original popped and dazzled with color that was really brought to life by Dolby Vision. I suspect the sequel will deliver a similar picture, so hopefully it can be added to my arsenal of testing discs with some new scenes to show off.

While I anticipate Wicked: For Good will deliver a soaring, Dolby Atmos soundtrack with plenty of nuances to test a home theater system, the question is whether it’ll have anything as strong as the ‘Defying Gravity’ scene to really show off the disc’s audio chops. We'll see!

Release date:

US - January 20, 2026

UK - March 9, 2026

3:10 To Yuma (1957) (Criterion Collection)

A classic Western, 3:10 To Yuma follows the story of Dan Evans (Van Heflin), a rancher who takes on a job to escort notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) to a train heading for Yuma, where the latter is set to stand trial. There was a remake in 2007 starring Russel Crowe and Christian Bale.

As I said above, I’ll always marvel at what 4K can do for black-and-white movies, especially classics remastered with tons of visual detail. I’m really hoping to see beautiful filmic textures and powerful contrast with a great range of black, white and gray tones. Nearly every 4K disc of pre-1970s movies from Criterion has looked excellent, so I’ve got high hopes for this disc, especially since it supports Dolby Vision.

Westerns are often great for testing out a home theater system’s sound, thanks to big gunfights to test the width and accuracy, and galloping horses to demo the heft. This 4K release supports both uncompressed monaural and DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtracks, the latter of which should really capture the intensity of a classic Western.

Release dates:

US - February 3, 2026

UK - March 9, 2026

The Breakfast Club (Criterion Collection)

One of John Hughes’ seminal coming-of-age teen dramas, The Breakfast Club tells the story of five students from different backgrounds/cliques on the same Saturday detention. It stars Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall and Ally Sheedy as the five students. This release is long overdue here in the UK.

While I don't expect the dynamic visuals of other 4K discs, The Breakfast Club has some good potential, especially as this 4K release is from Criterion and supports Dolby Vision HDR. This hopefully means vibrant colors in the loud '80s outfits and likely a nice visual upgrade on textures and skin tones. Plus, I’m a fan of the movie, so I’m keen to see it in its best quality.

The 4K release comes with an uncompressed monaural and DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. Again, there aren’t a ton of scenes in the movie to show off your home theater, but the film’s glorious soundtrack should come across nicely in a DTS mix.

Release dates:

US - November 4, 2025

UK - March 9, 2026

Highlighted releases - March 2026

Below is a list highlighting some of the big 4K Blu-ray releases for March 2026. There’s a mix of both US and UK releases here (which are indicated) and some titles may have already been released in other regions, or are set for release later in the year. Titles discussed above are in bold below.

March 2/3

• The Running Man (2025)
• Now You See Me, Now You Don’t (UK)
• Hamnet (US)
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983) (US)
• The Man Who Wasn’t There (Criterion) (UK)

March 9/10

• The Breakfast Club (Criterion) (UK)
• 3:10 To Yuma (1957) (Criterion) (UK)
• It Came From Outer Space (1953) (UK)
• Devil’s Advocate (US)
• Somewhere In Time (US)
• Wicked: For Good (UK)
• Battlestar Galactica (1978) (UK)
• Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 (UK)

March 16/17

• Jurassic Park (new 4K re-release with Dolby Vision and Atmos) (US)
• The Lost World (new 4K re-release with Dolby Vision and Atmos) (US)
• Jurassic Park III (new 4K re-release with Dolby Vision and Atmos) (US)
• Jurassic World (new 4K re-release with Dolby Vision and Atmos) (US)
• Ray (US)
• Fade To Black (UK)
• Spaceballs (UK)
• Anaconda (2025) (US) (UK release, March 22)
• The Housemaid (US) (UK release, March 30)

March 23/24

• Ben-Hur (UK)
• Cutter’s Way
• Killers Of The Flower Moon (US)
• Hail, Caesar! (US)
• A Bridge Too Far (US)

March 30/31

• Marty Supreme (US)
• Salem’s Lot (1979)
• The Gambler (1974) (US)
• Hard Boiled (UK)

Amazingly, next year is the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, as the original movie (A New Hope) was first released in theaters on May 25, 1977. While it has become an entertainment juggernaut, spawning movies, TV shows, video games, toys — heck, just about everything — the original trilogy remains the most popular and nostalgic part of this legendary franchise.

Star Wars is a big part of my life, as I’m not only a fan but I also regularly use scenes from across the Star Wars universe to test the best TVs and best soundbars. The throne room lightsaber fight in Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a feast for the eyes, while the Death Star attack run in Star Wars A New Hope is a wonderful audio test, especially with Dolby Atmos.

For physical media collectors, myself included, Star Wars (and all its movies and TV shows) have been released in just about every format you can think of, from VHS to 4K Blu-ray and beyond: and there’s a new release (or re-release) on the horizon. Outlets such as Gizmodo and Comic Book Resources have noted that an advert on Amazon US suggests the infamous Special Edition versions of the original trilogy (first released in 1997) are coming to Blu-ray in April 2026.

The Special Editions were George Lucas’ ‘true vision’ and featured new scenes and CGI implementations, most notably the Jabba The Hutt and Han Solo scene in Mos Eisley (which was cut from the original 1977 version). To say these changes were divisive is an understatement. People mainly took issue with the random, distracting CGI creatures shoe-horned into scenes.

With this new release (re-release) of the Special Editions coming to Blu-ray, it has once again shone a light on what fans really want: the original cut on 4K.

Just give us what we want, Disney

As both a Star Wars and 4K Blu-ray fan, I, like many of my nerd family, have been clamoring for a 4K Blu-ray release of the theatrical cut of the original Star Wars trilogy. No CGI, no extra scenes, no screwed-around-with edits: the original cut. (And ideally I’d like it with upscaled textures, some lovely Dolby Vision HDR and a full-fat Dolby Atmos soundtrack, thanks.)

The original trilogy, along with the rest of the ‘Skywalker Saga’, is already available on 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming. While these do look and sound great, with the Dolby Vision and Atmos flavors I asked for above, these are again edited from the original cut and contain all the padding most Star Wars fans don’t want.

For any non-Star Wars fans reading and wondering why the original trilogy’s cuts haven’t been released, you can (allegedly) thank George Lucas. Reportedly, as part of the sale terms to Disney in 2012, the original, theatrical cut for Star Wars was never to be released on home media: only Lucas’ edited version. As Lucas himself said in 2024: “Sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it, but I want it to be the way I want it to be”. Damnit, George.

It’s gotten to the stage where fans are so rabid for the original cut that some have made what is referred to as ‘despecialized editions’ of the original trilogy, most famous of which is Harmy’s Despecialized Edition from 2011, in which the picture and audio improvements have stayed but all the CGI edits have been removed. The issue is, these editions are very rare and expensive. Anyone wanting the original trilogy on Blu-ray or 4K has to stick with the various cuts from the Special Editions onward. Or so we thought.

A New Hope (literally)

In June 2025, a ballot of BFI members went to a screening of the original cut of Star Wars: A New Hope, remastered and restored. And it’s now been confirmed on Star Wars official website that the original movie, in its theatrical cut glory, will be getting a run in theaters in 2027, first releasing February 19, to celebrate 50 years of the original. Huzzah!

While this isn’t the news of a physical media release I was hoping for, it’s a step in the right direction. We thought the original cut would never see the light of day again, but here it is — even if it is a ‘limited run’. But that’s not the only news.

At the tail end of 2025, several screenshots and video clips of Star Wars being remastered in 4K were leaked onto Imgur (as you’d expect, these are now long gone). This sent places like Reddit into a frenzy, with fans in this thread from r/blurayboutique hoping this was the news of a 4K home release we’d been waiting for.

Cut to 2026 and these could have been leaks from the announced 50th Anniversary theatrical run, but what if they weren’t? What if it was from a planned 4K Blu-ray release? What if Disney has finally decided to say, 'screw George Lucas, let's give Star Wars fans what they’ve been after?'

We’re all looking to new President of Star Wars Dave Feloni, a confessed Star Wars fan who’s worked on projects such as the excellent Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon, for answers on a 4K Blu-ray theatrical cut release. Help us Dave Feloni: you’re our only hope.

Welcome to another edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, where I'll look at the latest 4K releases from February 2026 (UK release dates) and seeing whether they’re worthy of joining your collection.

If this is your first time reading the Blu-ray Bounty, you can check out previous editions in that link. In last month’s article, the January 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, I looked at Tron: Ares, Captain Blood, Dead Man, Yi Yi, The Dead and Black Phone 2.

4K Blu-ray is a big deal for us here at TechRadar. It’s one of our main sources for testing the picture quality of the best TVs, thanks to its higher bitrate compared to 4K streaming, and for testing the sound quality of said TVs. We also use it to test the best soundbars, thanks to its uncompressed soundtracks.

For most of this month’s titles, I’ll be using our reference setup. Our display is the LG G5, one of the best OLED TVs of 2025; the Panasonic DP-UB820, the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market, and finally the Samsung HW-Q990C, Samsung’s 2023 flagship 11.1.4 channel, multi-box system.

As usual, we won’t be reviewing the movies themselves, just the picture and audio quality of each 4K disc to see whether it’s going to give your home theater system a real chance to show off.

Lawrence of Arabia (Sony)

One of cinema’s most iconic epics, Lawrence Of Arabia tells the story of T. E. Lawrence (played by Peter O’Toole in the movie), a former British army officer and his time in the Ottoman Empire during WWI. Alec Guinness also stars as Prince Faisal.

From the very get-go, it’s easy to see why this has been a popular release: this 4K Blu-ray Lawrence of Arabia is stunning. Presented in Dolby Vision, the sheer majesty and scope of the movie’s cinematography is accurately delivered with breathtaking detail. Epic landscape shots reveal intricate textures, while close-ups of characters show weather-beaten skin and Lawrence’s sand-coated hair down to the finest margin.

The blue of the sky and the the red sashes of some of Faisal’s men are bold, vibrant and deep. Even night-time sequences demonstrate superb shadow detail, with rich black tones. Bright TVs will thrive with lighter tones, such as Lawrence’s iconic white uniform, which really shines.

Contrast is also powerful, with a great balance between light and dark tones in high-contrast scenes, such the capture of Aqaba. Cinephiles will also be pleased with the amount of film grain present.

There are plenty of audio soundtrack options to choose from on this disc, with both Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD MA 5.1 included. The Atmos soundtrack is spacious and detailed, delivering Maurice Jarre’s legendary score with all the gusto and scale you could wish for.

Elsewhere, speech is crystal clear and other effects, such as ricocheting bullets, the trotting of camel’s feet and even the wind are pinpoint and accurately mapped to the action on screen. Even bass is incredibly hefty, with the ambush on the train at the start of disc two (yes, this is a two-disc movie) delivering huge rumble from the explosions and machine gun fire.

Minority Report (20th Century Studios)

Minority Report, loosely based on a Philips K. Dick novella, follows 'precrime' — a police division that apprehends murderers before they commit the crime — led by detective John Anderton (Tom Cruise), who finds himself facing the prediction that he'll commit a murder of a man he's never met. The movie also stars Colin Farrell, Max von Sydow and Samantha Morton.

Steven Spielberg’s semi-dystopian thriller finally gets the 4K HDR upgrade that fans have been waiting for, and it’s been worth it. Despite the movie being made with color grading and noise that seems almost intentionally designed to go against the crispness and brightness of modern screens, it looks stunning.

That’s partly because, although the palette and tones are muted, there are moments of dazzling brightness. Highlights especially have been intentionally crushed into white tones that really shine off the screen, in careful contrast to the murkier elements. And the tone depth of Dolby Vision helps the darker scenes to retain a ton of detail among the difficult shady areas on-screen.

And although there’s a haze of intentional grain across everything, the sharpness of film does often shine through — this is where the high bitrate of Blu-ray is an advantage, so you have both noise and texture overlapping.

I was actually a little surprised to see that the soundtrack is in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 rather than Dolby Atmos, because the effects in it are extremely immersive. In the jetpack fight scene and the escape along the magnetic car highway, there’s really precise and specific spatial movement, and plenty of feeling of height despite no official height channels. Minority Report looks excellent, but the audio is probably its best feature.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (20th Century Studios)

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is a biopic starring Jeremy Allen White as musician Bruce Springsteen, focusing particularly on the writing and recording of Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska, an acoustic album that broke the mould of Springsteen’s previous and following albums.

Where else to start but with audio? The movie’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack really shines during musical sequences, particularly concerts. The Atmos mixes of some of Springsteen’s most classic tracks thrive — Born To Run in the opening scenes delivers soaring vocals, thunderous drums, mighty horns and driving guitars that feel big, bold and authentic. Even in the quieter, acoustic moments, the soundtrack sounds delicate and intricate with each aspect given plenty of room to breathe.

As you’d expect from a modern movie on 4K, this is a good-looking movie. There’s plenty of great-looking high-contrast scenes where bold lights balance with dark backgrounds, such as the concerts themselves and the neon sign of the diner at night.

Textures are crisp and clean, with plenty of refined detail in clothing, faces and even instruments. Colors are true-to-life and bolder hues, such as the neon signs, have plenty of pop.

Bugonia (Universal Pictures)

Bugonia — starring Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Aiden Delbis — tells the story of two men who kidnap a CEO, believing she is an alien who's part of a great conspiracy to manipulate the human race. It's a remake of the 2003 Korean movie Save The Green Planet!, it's directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things, The Favorite), and it's the second movie here involving a bald Oscar-favorite actress covered in white goo.

Bugonia looks great on 4K Blu-ray. Colors are both rich and natural throughout, from the lush greens of the grass around Teddy’s house to the saturated, bright reds of blood throughout different parts of the movie. There’s some nice, strong contrast as well, with good brightness and inky blacks.

Textures are authentic, particularly in close-up shots of people’s faces, showing real detail in places such as Teddy’s ragged beard and Fuller’s smooth skin.

The 4K Blu-ray has a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that's perfect for delivering the movie’s often tense and foreboding score. Whether it’s the scratching violins or deep, humming bass tones, the Atmos soundtrack envelops you. Other effects such as the swarming bees sound precise and well-mapped, with more violent moments sounding disturbingly visceral and clear.

Predator: Badlands (Universal Pictures)

The latest entry in the Predator universe, it tells the story of Dek (played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), a Yautja exiled from his planet, who must prove himself by hunting a predator on another planet. Here, he forms an alliance with Thia (played by Elle Fanning), an android.

Predator: Badlands looks as you’d expect for a modern, sci-fi/action movie. There’s nice crisp textures with plenty of detail, from the parts in weapons to the Yautja’s faces. The reds of the laser weaponry used by Dek has a nice vibrancy to it, delivering great highlights in some scenes. Elsewhere, colors such as the green of the forest look convincing. There are plenty of dark scenes that demonstrate great shadow depth, as well as powerful contrast when lights punch through.

This is another great example of an action-packed Dolby Atmos soundtrack. During fight scenes, punches have plenty of impact, drawing out some meaty bass. Surround-sound effects such gunfire, cracking branches and all the various creatures of the planet ticking and screeching will really show off each speaker in your setup, delivered with clarity and detail.

Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii MCMLXXII (Sony)

Recorded in 1971, Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii MCMLXXII is a concert film that sees the band perform some of their early hits in an abandoned amphitheater in Pompeii. The full feature film, which also features studio sessions of as-yet-unreleased tracks such as Us and Them, is included, but you can also watch just the Pompeii concert itself.

There are three audio tracks to choose from here: 2.0 uncompressed stereo LCPM, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Dolby Atmos (which is only available in the feature film, and is new). While all three sound excellent, it’s the Atmos track that shines. The spacious nature of Atmos is perfect for Pink Floyd’s music, giving it extra layers.

In A Saucerful of Secrets, the organs and lead guitar balance perfectly and there’s a real room-filling soundstage. Bass is tightly controlled and precise, with the bass guitar and drums delivered with real control.

Even in more chaotic sections such as Careful With That Axe, Eugene, the Atmos soundtrack again allows the thrashing instruments to breathe, meaning every one can be picked out. In the more psychedelic tracks, like Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, the tom-toms on the drumkit work seamlessly with the crescendoing guitar and spacey keyboards to create an engaging and dynamic sound.

I obviously expected this disc to sound amazing, but as a surprise bonus it also looks absolutely stunning. Meticulously restored from the original 35mm footage, the movie’s striking imagery has been restored beautifully and accurately, somehow looking both modern and classic at the same time.

Close-up shots of instruments and the band show just how crisp detail is, how refined textures are, and even demonstrate bold colors wherever they pop up, such as the gold of the Sennheiser microphones used throughout.

Westworld (Arrow Video)

Directed and written by Michael Crichton (author of Jurassic Park), Westworld tells the story of an amusement park split into three separate worlds — Westworld, Medieval World and Roman World — that are filled with androids that guests can interact with as they see fit. Problems soon arise as the androids begin to malfunction. The movie stars James Brolin as John, Richard Benjamin as Peter, and Yul Brenner as the Gunslinger.

Arrow Video’s 4K restoration of Westworld is excellent. Textures are extremely clean, with skin appearing natural, and more small-scale details such as the parts of a gun that Peter swings around looking clear and refined.

Colors are rich with a real boldness in places, such as the green of John’s shirt or the bright red walls of the brothel. Black tones are deep, and there are a few scenes that showcase strong contrast. There's a nice amount of film grain present, though less so than in some other movies I’ve seen.

There are a few soundtrack options on offer, including 4.0, 2.0, 1.0 and 5.1. The 5.1 soundtrack is more spacious, with a wider soundstage and a more natural sound profile. Sounds like ricocheting bullets are accurately mapped between my soundbar and the picture. Speech is clearly presented throughout as well.

Dogma - 25th Anniversary (Vision Home Media)

Dogma, directed by Kevin Smith, stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as Bartleby and Loki, two fallen angels cast out from Heaven by God who try to find a loophole in Catholic Dogma to return to Heaven. They are pursued by angels and a descendent of Jesus to stop them. The movie also stars Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith as Jay and Silent Bob, and also features Alan Rickman, George Carlin, Chris Rock and more. This 4K release has been out for a while in the US, but we’re only just getting it here in the UK.

For its 25th Anniversary 4K release, Vision Home Media has done a solid job bringing Dogma to Ultra HD. Textures are crisp and clean, and this restoration really breathes new life into this movie. There’s no Dolby Vision support, but HDR colors throughout the movie still have a rich vibrancy, such as the green forests by the highway. Dark tones are nice and deep, especially Alan Rickman’s hair and jacket, but also look accurate — plus there’s great contrast in darker environments like the bar where Rufus hangs out.

The main soundtrack option here is a DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack. While there aren’t a ton of scenes to really show off your speakers, the soundtrack delivers clear speech throughout, which is well balanced with the score. Any slapstick moments such as explosions, gunshots or flames are delivered with a decent impact too. Interestingly, the UK version doesn’t support the Dolby Atmos soundtrack that the US version does, so I can't speak to that.

If you’re a seasoned 4K Blu-ray collector, or even if you’re just getting started, you may have noticed that sometimes there are multiple versions of the same movie available. Often the differences can be as simple as a few new special features, or even just new packaging; sometimes however, it’s worth looking a little deeper.

As part of our Blu-ray Bounty feature, where we review the latest 4K Blu-ray releases each month, I tested The Warriors: Collector’s Edition. At first, I thought it was just new packaging with some cool new stickers, posters, and a new case. But upon closer inspection, I noted that it was in fact Paramount’s — the original distributor of the movie — own 4K restoration and not the Arrow Video version that I had in my own collection.

So, I decided to fire up my trusty testing setup — the LG G5, one of 2025’s best OLED TVs, the Samsung HW-Q990C, an 11.1.4-channel surround-sound soundbar system, and finally the Panasonic DP-UB820, the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market — to see if there were any differences between the two versions. I chose three different scenes from the movie, analyzing all three on both discs.

Opening scene

In the opening scene of The Warriors, there are a ton of bold colors on display from the various different gang’s uniforms as they make their way to the meeting point. There’s also plenty of deep blacks of the New York night, plus some nice high-contrast scenes as the lights of train platforms and subway trains cut through the pitch-black surroundings — and who can forget the iconic opening shot of the Wonder Wheel’s neon sign.

The first image below is of the bright-yellow uniform of one of the Electric Eliminators’ jackets, with the Arrow version on the left and the Paramount version on the right:

As you can see, there isn’t a huge difference, but the Arrow version has more color depth overall. It appears a little bit richer, whereas the Paramount version has a little more brightness, shown by the overhead light in the corner. Both demonstrate good color pop thanks to their Dolby Vision support.

Next up is a darker scene, as a subway train moves towards the camera:

Interestingly, in this scene, both versions have very similar brightness and both demonstrate similarly deep black levels. The real differences come in more subtle parts of the picture, such as the edge of the subway platform. On the Paramount version, these platform edges appear sharper, whereas the Arrow version appears smoother and more true-to-life.

The next part of this scene is where The Warriors themselves first get onto the subway train:

The biggest difference here is in the skin tones, particularly of Swan’s arm (the character most central on screen). In the Paramount version, skin tones appear to have a more red tint to them, whereas they appear more true-to-life on the Arrow version. The actual textures on screen appear more neutral and accurate in the Arrow version. This scene also shows that the Arrow version maintains more film grain than the Paramount version.

Park and Baseball Furies scene

Moving onto a later scene in the movie, where The Warriors first encounter and fight the Baseball Furies in a park, this scene demonstrates more bold colors and high contrast, with the street lights contrasting with the darkness of the park. Below is a still of one of the Baseball Furies

This shot is the closest the two versions have looked. The yellow face paint of the Baseball Fury is punchy and accurate in both shots, and there's good contrast between the white uniform and blackened stains on it. The black stains look marginally deeper on the Arrow version, while the whites of the uniform are marginally brighter on the Paramount version.

Elsewhere in this park scene, both versions deliver strong contrast, with the street lamps contrasting well with the deep blacks of the park, but again the Arrow delivers richer blacks which look more accurate, while the Paramount appears brighter with slightly more vivid highlights from the street lamps.

Both versions deliver natural greens, which have a nice vibrant pop to them throughout the scene as well, although again the Arrow version has that slightly richer color tone, which also looks more accurate.

Daytime scene

The final scene I analyzed was the one daytime scene in the movie, where The Warriors finally arrive back at Coney Island. This scene shows them walking through the rundown looking fun fair.

Interestingly again, there's very little difference between these two shots. The reds within the scene appear slightly more vivid on the Paramount version, while the Arrow again looks natural. Both deliver a nice brightness with controlled white and gray tones, although this also shows off the Paramount version’s slightly sharper textures.

Better sound makes a difference

While picture quality in multiple scenes across both discs shows are only subtle differences, and both versions do look great, where the real difference comes is in the provided soundtrack. The Arrow version carries a full Dolby Atmos soundtrack, whereas the Paramount version comes with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix.

Using several different scenes once again, it’s clear that the Arrow Atmos soundtrack is superior. In a fight scene where The Warriors fight The Punks in a subway bathroom, the Arrow Atmos soundtrack sounded more spacious and delivered a much wider soundstage. This meant more subtle effects such as dragging feet or a switchblade flicking open were more detailed compared to the Paramount version, where some of this was lost.

Punches had good impact in both versions, but again Arrow’s felt more natural, whereas the Paramount version opted for sheer volume. Speech was also clearer in the Arrow version, picking up more voices. The balance between the upbeat score and the fight’s sound effects was better on the Arrow version as well, with some effects getting lost in the Paramount mix.

Heading back to the opening scene, where the iconic main theme plays, the Arrow version gives the track a much bigger sound. The thumping drums are delivered well on both soundtracks, but again the Paramount’s mix goes for power, and it can be a little heavy handed. The crunchy guitars and sweeping synths again feel more natural on the Arrow version, as the track sounds much cleaner.

Looking at other sound effects in the opening scene, as the subway train travels across the screen, the sound feels more accurately mapped to the HW-Q990C soundbar in the Arrow Atmos mix. It’s nice and precise, whereas the Paramount version is still accurate but doesn’t feel as controlled.

This is the one big area of difference between these two discs, and if you're looking for the better 4K Blu-ray, then the Arrow version is best. If you’re in the UK and want to opt for the cheaper Paramount version, it's still an excellent 4K restoration: it’s just a shame about the missing Atmos soundtrack.

Here at TechRadar, we love 4K Blu-ray. It’s one of our primary sources for testing the best TVs and the best soundbars and some of us are collectors ourselves, always keeping our eyes peeled on the latest releases.

The list of new 4K releases seems to be growing each month, which is great news for 4K Blu-ray fans. While it’ll be a difficult task to cover every single release, I’d like to highlight the releases that I’m most looking forward to set for release this month, February 2026.

I’m hoping I can get all of these discs in for testing as part of the Blu-ray Bounty, our monthly feature where we test the latest 4K Blu-ray discs, analyzing their picture and audio quality to see how they can let your home theater system flex its muscles. Below, I’ve picked the four discs I’m most excited for.

A quick note: I’m based in the UK so some of these titles may already be available in some regions or have different release dates.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

One of cinema’s most legendary epics, Lawrence of Arabia is the biographical story of T. E. Lawrence (played by Peter O’Toole in the movie), a real life British army officer and his exploits in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

Lawrence of Arabia is a breathtaking movie with some of the most incredible cinematography ever put to film. Filmed on 70mm, this is sure to look staggering in 4K. In fact, it has been released on 4K Blu-ray before, as part of the Colombia Collection which is now out of print and the 60th Anniversary release which is near-impossible to get hold of. I’ve only read on forums about how it’s a must-have on 4K, so I’m excited to see it in person.

While it’s unclear what soundtrack this comes with, Maurice Jarre’s score is again one of cinema’s most iconic. I’m hoping for a Dolby Atmos or at the very least a DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix to really capture the sweeping, glorious nature of the score.

• Release dates:
• US - February 10, 2026
• UK - February 9, 2026

Minority Report (2002) - Paramount Pictures

Based on Philips K. Dick’s novella of the same name, Minority Report stars Tom Cruise as John Anderton, a member of the ‘Precrime’ division that uses three psychic beings called ‘precogs’ to predict and prevent future crimes.

Visually, Minortiy Report is an interesting movie. While there are some visually striking moments, the film is very grainy and has quite a murky, neutral color profile. Plus, there are plenty of early-2000’s CGI shots to contend with. I’ll be interested to see how this translates to 4K, though I’ve read in forums that it is quite the visual feast.

An action-packed sci-fi blockbuster like Minority Report is sure to have plenty of moments to show off your speaker system. The 4K disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack (the same used in the Blu-ray) and while it’s shame there’s Dolby Atmos here (especially as scenes with rain, jet packs and flying cars are featured), I’m hoping it’ll do the movie justice.

• Release date:
• UK - February 2, 2026
• US - December 9, 2025

Predator: Badlands (2025) - 20th Century Studios

The latest entry in the Predator franchise, Predator: Badlands tells the story of Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) , an outcast Yautja who must prove himself worthy of his clan by hunting down an adversary on an alien planet. He finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Elle Fanning), a Weyland-Yutani android.

Recent Alien and Predator movies have looked excellent, so I’m anticipating Badlands to translate well to 4K Blu-ray. I’m hoping it has plenty of detail and contrast, along with sharp textures.

As you’d expect from another action-packed, sci-fi movie, I think this is going to be another great disc for showing off your home theater system. There are plenty of battle sequences with hard-hitting bass and impact that are sure to give your system a workout.

• Release dates:
• US - February 17, 2026
• UK - February 23, 2026

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (2025) - 20th Century Studios

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is a biopic of Bruce Springsteen (played by Jeremy Allen White), focusing on the story around Springsteen’s recording of his Nebraska album, where Springsteen diverted from his bold, rock sound in favor of a solo acoustic sound.

As a Springsteen fan, I may be a little biased about this disc. I’ve already listened to Springsteen's music in Dolby Atmos and have been truly blown away by how glorious it can sound. Looking at the movie’s stacked tracklist, featuring classics such as ‘Born to Run’, ‘Atlantic City’ and ‘I’m On Fire’ (all performed by White in the movie), I’m eagerly awaiting when I can test the 4K Blu-ray’s soundtrack through our reference Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar.

Visually, I’m expecting this to be another good-looking, contemporary 4K Blu-ray. I was pleasantly surprised by how visually impressive the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown (2024) looked, with some superb color reproduction. Hopefully Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere can do the same.

• Release dates:
• UK - February 2, 2026
• US - January 20, 2026

4K Blu-ray release dates - February 2026

The list of dates below are a mix of US and UK, with the region of release indicated. Some titles will have already been released in other regions, or are coming later in the year.

February 2/3

• Minority Report
• Friday the 13th Part II (US)
• 3:10 To Yuma (1957) (US)
• Keeper (US)
• Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (UK)
• Dogma (UK)
• House Party (Criterion)

February 9/10

• Lawrence of Arabia
• Se7en (Standard edition)
• The Big Heat (US)
• PlayTime
• Birth (Criterion) (UK)
• Puss In Boots (UK)
• Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (UK)

February 16/17

• Bugonia (UK)
• Ben-Hur (US)
• All The President's Men
• A Beautiful Mind (US)
• Now You See Me, Now You Don’t (US)
• Small Soldiers (US)
• Double Impact (23rd February UK)
• Predator: Badlands (23rd February UK)
• Mean Girls (US)

February 23/24

• Excalibur
• Somewhere In Time (US)
• Westworld (1973)
• Network (Criterion Collection) (US)
• The Man Who Wasn’t There (Criterion) (US)
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983) (US)
• Tank Girl (US)

Hello and welcome to the first Blu-ray Bounty of 2026! To kick off the year, I’ll be checking out six new 4K discs to see whether they’ll make a fitting addition to your collection.

If you’re new to the Blu-ray Bounty, you can check out previous editions here. In the December 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, I tested Catch Me If You Can, The Warriors (Paramount), Heathers, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, His Girl Friday and I Know Where I’m Going!

4K Blu-ray is a regular feature here at TechRadar. We use it for testing the best TVs due to its strong picture quality and for testing the best soundbars thanks to its uncompressed soundtracks. And TechRadar's TV team are 4K Blu-ray collectors (both seasoned and aspiring) ourselves.

The setup I’ll be using to test these discs is our usual. It consists of the LG G5 (one of the best OLED TVs of 2025); the Panasonic DP-UB820 (the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market) and the Samsung HW-Q990C, a four-box 11.1.4 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar system.

As usual, I’m not reviewing the movies themselves, just their picture and sound quality to see whether they’ll be a good way to show off your home theater system.

Tron: Ares

Tron: Ares (2025), starring Jared Leto, Greta Lee and Jeff Bridges, is the third movie in the Tron franchise. It follows the story of Ares (Leto), a digital construct who's sent into the physical world: the first of its kind to do so.

Tron: Ares looks superb on 4K Blu-ray. Colors from light cycle trails and the neon within character’s suits are bold and vibrant, really popping on screen throughout the movie, especially in Dolby Vision. Peak highlights are punchy, which creates powerful contrast as bright tones balance well with the jet blacks. Textures are refined, with real-world sequences looking true-to-life and digital world sequences delivered with spectacular clarity.

With a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, Tron: Ares sounds superb and will be a real showcase for your home theater system. Whether it was the droning of the bass synths in the score or the rumble of the light cycle’s engines, bass was hefty and room-filling. If you have a big subwoofer, you’re in for a treat.

Other effects are accurately mapped, with the sound of flying discs during a fight sequence delivered by the HW-Q990C soundbar with pinpoint precision. Finally, there’s the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, which is powerful and immersive, with bold bass, euphoric synths and crunching guitars: all of which were superb thanks to the Atmos mix.

Captain Blood

Captain Blood (1935), starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland and Basil Rathbone, is a swashbuckling adventure film straight out of Hollywood’s Golden Age. It tells the story of Peter Blood (Flynn), a doctor who escapes wrongful imprisonment to become a pirate. This is the oldest movie we’ve tested to date on the Blu-ray Bounty.

The Criterion Collection has done an excellent job with the 4K restoration of Captain Blood. Detail is refined and textures have been wonderfully upscaled, particularly in close-up shots where character’s clothing and skin appear sharp and clean. There’s great contrast here as well, with bright whites, deep blacks and a wide range of gray tones in between.

During some daytime shots, white can be a little over-bright and I noticed some scenes dimmed at times, but considering the age of the movie, it’s an impressive job. Purists will be happy to know there’s still plenty of film grain too.

With a monaural soundtrack, Captain Blood won’t give your home theater system a workout. However, the soundtrack has been cleaned up nicely, with clear dialogue and good clarity for effects such as clashing swords, cannon fire and the movie’s sometimes-dramatic score.

Dead Man

Dead Man (1995), starring Johnny Depp and Gary Farmer along with an all-star cast, tells the story of William Blake (Depp), an accountant on the run for killing a man who meets a Native American called ‘Nobody’ who believes Blake is in fact the reincarnation of William Blake the English poet.

Dead Man is yet another fantastic restoration from The Criterion Collection. Shot entirely in monochrome, this 4K disc delivers dazzling whites, such as highlights in the sun, and inky blacks, such as Blake’s hair and shadowed areas within forests. Contrast is strong, with a perfect balance between light and dark tones.

Textures have been cleaned up nicely, which can be seen mostly in close-up shots where scars and facial hair are incredibly detailed. An exceptional looking disc. Fear not, cinephiles, there’s still a good amount of grain here, too.

The soundtrack is DTS-HD 2.0, and while there’s nothing here to really show off your speakers, Neil Young’s powerful score, composed entirely of improvised solo electric guitar, has plenty of chugging and twangy Western-sounding riffs that are detailed and clear. Dialogue is crystal clear throughout, and sound effects such as gunfire are accurately placed.

Yi Yi

Yi Yi (2000), starring Wu Nien-jen, Elaine Jin and Jonathan Chang, is a Taiwanese drama that follows the story and struggles of three generations of one family, headed by NJ (Nien-jen), an engineer.

Yi Yi looks great in 4K – textures have been upscaled nicely, with real refinement in people’s skin and hair, and with some nice detail in environments. Colors are accurate and look wonderfully vibrant in some scenes, particularly with the red curtains in the wedding scene in the opening. There’s a nice amount of film grain present here as well.

While Yi Yi won’t test your sound system like an action blockbuster, both the 2.0 and 5.0 soundtracks are DTS-HD MA, and deliver clear dialogue that’s front and center, and there are a good number of scenes that make use of the surround soundtrack.

A karaoke scene produced immersive mapping of sound, with the performer resonating from the front soundbar but the claps of the audience coming from the surround speakers. This is just one standout scene, but really the sound placement is nice throughout.

The Dead

It’s been a busy month for The Criterion Collection, as this is its fourth entry on the list. The Dead (1987), starring Anjelica Huston and Donal McCann, is a period drama based on the James Joyce short story of the same name. It tells the story of a group at an Epiphany dinner, focusing particularly on the thoughts and emotions of one married couple, Gabriel Conroy (McCann) and his wife Gretta (Huston).

Another 4K restoration via Criterion, textures have come through well, making people’s skin look natural and giving clothing more detail and authenticity. Colors are true-to-life, and contrast is strong with deep blacks. A quick note: the movie is quite dim, so you’ll need to manage your viewing room if it’s bright.

There’s a 4.0 DTS-HD surround sound soundtrack supplied, and while this isn’t an audio powerhouse, dialogue is clear throughout the movie and musical sections, such as the piano recital sound accurate and detailed.

Black Phone 2

Black Phone 2 (2025), starring Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw and Ethan Hawke, is the second full film in the Black Phone franchise (though there was a short too, as part of V/H/S/85). It follows siblings Finney (Thames) and Gwen (McGraw) who attend a winter camp, only to be haunted by the Grabber (Hawke), the serial killer from the first film, who has a connection to the winter camp.

Black Phone 2 looks good in 4K. Large portions of the movie (dream sequences) are given a grainy VCR effect, which obviously doesn't do much for detail, but is really fun. During real-world sequences, there’s inky, rich blacks during night scenes and the white of the snowy landscape is vibrant and bright in the day. Textures are crisp with good detail, making the murder scenes feel more visceral and gruesome.

With a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, the bass of the foreboding, electronic synths is punchy and room-filling. Dialogue is clean throughout and as for the movie’s other effects, such as hacking axes and the scraping of ice, these are disturbingly crisp and punchy. Good sound design is essential for a horror movie and Black Phone 2’s Atmos really shows this element off.

One of the things I enjoy about being a journalist is that stories, ideas, and thoughts can come from all sorts of places: case in point, when on a date and discussing the topic of movies, it was presented to me that The Matrix is a ‘happy’ movie.

I cracked a smile at that; for those who don’t know thrust of The Matrix is that robots rose up against humans and enslaved our consciousness in a virtual world while they use us as biological batteries, with the few people who escaped from the system now entering the titular Matrix to free chosen humans from this virtual prison. From that premise, and the dark, cyberpunk tone of the movie, I’d never have thought to describe it as happy.

But then, as the discussion went on, I was brought round to my date’s thinking.

Ultimately, The Matrix is a happy movie as it’s got a lot of the archetypes of a viewing experience that one leaves happy and uplifted; the good guys win over the bad, Neo is ‘The One’ and a promised saviour, no one major dies, and the scenery-chewing Mr Smith gets ‘killed’ in a most satisfying way.

Of course, there's more to this. Unlike the successive Matrix movies that tried to hammer home the kind of philosophical chatter one might expect from mildly inebriated university students, the first movie was taught, superbly shot, and stylish, albeit in a very late-1990s way.

The pacing was on point, starting with a young Keanu Reeves as Mr. Anderson and his journey to become Neo. At the time it was dark, gritty, and had a few challenges for those of a squeamish nature – the mechanical bug that enters Neo’s body through his belly button, and the waking of real-world Neo in a gross, almost Giger-esque bio-battery pod – yet this was then built up into a feel good moment, where Neo “knows Kung-Fu” and does a good job at fending off a tougher, more experienced Morpheus.

Throughout The Matrix, there are numerous ‘feel good’ and happy moments all set at a satisfying pace. Who can forget the classic “guns, lots of guns” moment, the utterly brilliant and innovative bullet-time slow-mo corridor shootout, Neo’s ability to dodge bullets, and the rescue of Morpheus? And of course, the ending, which is basically a cluster of heroic, air-punching scenes.

I could argue that, in the face of more recent sci-fi/cyberpunk storytelling, The Matrix is a bit old-hat and almost one-note. But then that’s what makes it a happy movie: you don’t have to overly work your grey matter to have an enjoyable time. And its action, camera work, and direction all stand the test of time; I reckon the color palette helps nullify any CGI that could look a little ropey in 2026.

So with all that in mind, and given January is considered to be a rather depressing month in the Northern Hemisphere, I’d suggest giving The Matrix a watch this weekend if you want a bit of a pick-me-up.

It should be available to stream in the US on HBO Max and Apple TV+, as well as on other on-demand services, and on Now TV in the UK if you opt for the Entertainment tier.

Equally, for what it’s worth, may I suggest looking at grabbing The Matrix on 4K Blu-ray. I think it's one of those movies that will always be evergreen and worth an addition to one’s physical media collection; in 4K, the action should look rather crisp, too.

Check out the widget below for any 4K Blu-ray deals on The Matrix in your area.

And then head to the comments to let me know if you agree that The Matrix is a happy movie, and tell me what movies you'd recommend as left-field happy, feel-good flicks.

Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii - MCMLXXII is coming to 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Sony Music Vision, and is set for release on February 27th 2026.

The iconic 1972 concert film, which features tracks such as Echoes, One Of These Days and A Saucerful Of Secrets, receives the 4K treatment, which is restored from the original 35mm footage. It promises enhanced colors, fine details and "every frame was meticulously reviewed and repaired by hand", with restoration efforts led by Lana Topham, Director of Restoration for Pink Floyd.

For sound, there are three mixes on offer: Dolby Atmos, stereo and 5.1. The new home entertainment mix by Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree fame) has enhanced the original soundtrack, but Wilson aimed to "remain faithful to how the band would have sounded in 1971."

This 4K release comes off the back of a big 2025 for the band. Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii - MCMLXXII returned to theaters worldwide in the spring, and a 50th Anniversary edition of the band's iconic album Wish You Were Here was released in December with a new Dolby Atmos mix.

The 4K Blu-ray is available for pre-order now, and can be pre-ordered here. Prices are expected to be $32.99 / £29.99 (roughly AU$49.99). Pink Floyd: Live in Pompeii MCMLXXII is also available on CD, Vinyl and Blu-ray.

The arrival of 4K Blu-ray music films

While physical media has been struggling over the past few years, 4K Blu-ray certainly seems to be finding its audience still. Every time I visit my local HMV store here in the UK, the 4K Blu-ray section seems to be getting bigger, with more limited edition releases from the likes of The Criterion Collection and Arrow filling the shelves.

It's no surprise then that with the enthusiast support for 4K Blu-ray and the rise of Dolby Atmos and spatial audio music, that more concert films are being brought to 4K Blu-ray, providing a premium home theater experience.

Pairing one of these discs with the best TVs and the best soundbars leads to magic, as I discovered when viewing Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague as part of the July 2025 Blu-ray Bounty.

Pink Floyd now join the growing list of artists bringing iconic concert films to 4K Blu-ray which already includes Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and Prince. My colleague Matt Bolton also wrote a list of Dolby Atmos movies that really focus on the music, including concert films, if you want some recommendations.

I expect in 2026 we'll see that list get even bigger and as a 4K Blu-ray fan, I'm here for it.

• The AI-driven memory shortage doesn't just affect PCs
• More capacity is coming, but not before 2027
• Low-margin budget products are likely to be hit hardest

What do the best DACs, the best Hi-Res Audio players, the best TVs, and the best soundbars all have in common? They're all facing component shortages and price hikes – not because of tariffs, but because of the AI-driven shortage of memory and storage chips. And the pain's going to be particularly pronounced at the more affordable end of the market, where profit margins are already razor-thin.

As you're no doubt aware, the AI industry is buying a lot of memory for its data centers: as Reuters reported back in October, just one AI firm, OpenAI, intends to order 900,000 semiconductor wafers in 2029. That's around 40% of the world's entire production. And there's plenty more demand in the industry.

As The Wall Street Journal reported this week, "The rapid build-out of infrastructure for artificial intelligence is consuming a large portion of available supply of NAND flash memory, DRAM memory and hard drives. That has resulted in a shortage of memory for other markets such as PCs and smartphones."

Audiovisual devices aren't the same as PCs, and don't typically need as much memory as smartphones. But they still need some memory in order to do what they do. Everything from smart speakers to smart TVs to in-car entertainment systems use RAM alongside their processors, and some of them use NAND storage too, because they're all just small computers at heart; both of these components' prices are rocketing.

We've already seen Samsung warn that its TVs' prices may rise due to comopnents shortages, while there are warnings about smartphone makers scaling back their specs for this year's mobile phones, cutting their memory to cut the cost of manufacturing.

And according to NPR, memory prices are expected to rise even more this year. As Avril Wu of the consultancy Trendforce told NPR, "I keep telling everybody that if you want a device, you buy it now."

How AI could affect AV

AI data centers don't use the same memory chips as a DAC or a Hi-Res Audio player: they use High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), not the DDR RAM you'd find in a PC or PlayStation. But those differing chips are made from the same kind of semiconductor wafers, and those wafers are in ever-increasing demand because HBM uses roughly three times more of those wafers than DDR5 RAM does.

They're also much more profitable to sell, and as a result many firms are shifting focus from consumer memory chips to data center ones – so for example Micron, one of the big three memory makers alongside SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, has shut down its long-standing consumer memory business, Crucial, "to improve supply and support for our larger, strategic customers in faster-growing segments". In other words, AI.

As some manufacturers shift focus, new capacity for other kinds of memory isn't coming on board fast enough to cover the demand. So for example in October SK Hynix announced that it "has already secured full customer demand for its entire DRAM and NAND production for next year", and that it'll need to expand its production to cope with the market demands – but even the equipment to make the chips are set to rise in price.

In the shorter term, that means higher memory prices. Much higher prices. CNBC reports that RAM prices are expected to rise "more than 50% this quarter compared to the last quarter of 2025." And the Bloomsbury Intelligence and Security Institute says that "DRAM prices have also surged 171% year-over-year, outpacing gold, while DDR5 spot prices have quadrupled since September 2025. DRAM and NAND prices doubled in a single month".

While capacity is being added to existing production plants and new plants are being built, that capacity isn't expected to come online until 2027.

That's likely to have two key impacts on the AV hardware market. The first is that we'll see price increases down the line, especially at the budget end of the market where manufacturers can't simply swallow the increased cost: there's a lot less margin on a $300 smart TV than a $3,000 one.

The second is that manufacturers may go back to the drawing board as some smartphone firms have done, limiting their next products' specifications to compensate for shortages and price hikes. It may also persuade some firms to postpone their product plans altogether until market conditions are more favorable.

We've been here before, of course: I remember the completely fruitless search for in-stock AV receivers after chip production had shut down during COVID lockdowns. At least this time we know the component crunch is coming, and can make purchasing plans accordingly.

Our picks of the best AV gear across different categories

• Blu-ray was the talk of CES 2006 – and unlike HD-DVD, it's still going strong
• 4K releases are still better than most streaming options
• It's a buyer's market for discs new and pre-owned

Every CES (the huge annual consumer electronics shindig in Las Vegas, Nevada) features lots of exciting new tech, and CES 2006 was no exception – no, not a typo, I genuinely mean the year 2006.

Some of said newness has weathered the test of time better than other examples – anyone remember the Toshiba Gigabeat S portable media center with full Vongo integration? – but two of the show's stars 20 years ago were Sony and Toshiba devices built for an emerging movie medium: Blu-ray.

Blu-ray was one of two high definition rivals aiming to replace DVD; it had higher capacity than its rival, HD-DVD, and wider movie studio support. Being built into the PlayStation 3 onwards didn't do it any harm either. It was pretty clear by CES 2008 that Blu-ray was going to win this particular format war.

In today's streaming era it's tempting to write off optical discs as dead tech, but in fact the streaming era shows why discs still matter to movie buffs: not only do they offer better quality than most streaming, especially streaming of the ad-supported variety, but they offer films that streaming platforms don't. For example, The Sting (1973) was the oldest movie available on Netflix, but when I log in it's not available in my country or on any of the other streaming sites I subscribe to. I can buy it on Blu-ray, though.

Discs aren't dead yet

I wrote about Blu-rays over the holidays, and for me the biggest benefit of discs is the sheer breadth of what you can get. The main streaming options often have fairly limited movie catalogs with classic cinema and cult cinema often particularly poorly served – so for example, if you want to see something like the cult classic Vanishing Point you'll struggle to stream it if you're not in Japan. And with catalogs being constantly pruned, even if a film is available now it might not still be there the next time you want to watch it.

The other big benefit, of course, is quality. The mainstream platforms use lossy video and audio formats, and those formats can suffer from network congestion too. A 4K Blu-ray is going to deliver a much better version, or at least it will if it's not a shoddy transfer. We've tested this in our labs and concluded that Blu-ray has better picture quality, sound quality and stability.

And of course, you can share a Blu-ray disc with, say, your 18-year-old film student child without having to pay a surcharge because they don't live under the same roof as you for most of the week. Not that I'm bitter about password sharing crackdowns, oh no…

I think it's fair to say that Blu-ray is no longer mainstream and is now considered a more niche choice. In the same way that many audiophiles have moved to hi-res audio from the likes of Qobuz and Tidal, high-end home cinema setups are increasingly linking to hi-res video services such as Kaleidescape or Sony Pictures Core. But at the moment it's definitely a buyer's market for Blu-ray discs, with plenty of discounts as well as very low second-hand prices.

The sun may eventually be going down on Sony's format, but it'll be doing so very slowly – and there are still plenty of worthwhile new releases to enjoy.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

We love 4K Blu-ray here at TechRadar and regularly use it as one of our main sources for testing the latest AV equipment.

In November 2024, we started the Blu-ray Bounty, a monthly column where we review the latest 4K Blu-ray releases. But we don’t write about the movies themselves. Instead, we use the best TVs and best soundbars to evaluate each disc’s picture and sound quality.

We’ve decided to increase our 4K Blu-ray coverage going forward, and to that end, I’ll be regularly previewing announced discs that I hope to feature in future editions of the Blu-ray Bounty. Here’s my January 2026 wishlist:

Captain Blood (1935) - The Criterion Collection

Based on the 1922 novel of the same name, Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn, is a classic swashbuckling pirate adventure that tells the story of the pirate Peter Blood. It was the movie that made Flynn a star in Hollywood.

I’ve found during my testing for the Blu-ray Bounty that some of the most impressive discs are 4K restorations of older movies. Double Indemnity, one of my favorite discs, really shows what 4K can do for classic titles. Add Seven Samurai, Godzilla (1954) and Sunset Boulevard to that list, and the lineup of superb releases of older movies just keeps growing.

Captain Blood would be the oldest movie I’ve evaluated to date. Released in 1935, it’s a full ten years older than the current oldest (Dead of Night), so I’m very curious to see if The Criterion Collection has worked its magic once again. As it's shot in black and white, I’m hoping for a restoration that demonstrates strong contrast, revitalized textures and a cleaner overall look, but with some film grain maintained.

Dead Man (1995) - The Criterion Collection

Referred to as a "psychedelic Western” by director Jim Jarmusch, Dead Man follows William Blake (Johnny Depp), an accountant on the run who encounters a Native American named Nobody (Gary Farmer) who becomes convinced Blake is the reincarnation of the famous poet of the same name.

Two highlights of Dead Man are its black and white picture and its Neil Young-composed score. I’m hoping this will be another great disc for demonstrating contrast, and it’ll be interesting to do a comparison of a modern title shot in black and white with an older title, such as Captain Blood.

Young’s score for Dead Man is one of the more unique ones I’ve heard, as it is almost entirely performed on a single electric guitar. Played by Young, it features big, chugging riffs, slick Western-sounding solos and some guitar effects wizardry. I’m excited to hear this remastered soundtrack played through our reference soundbar system, the Samsung HW-Q990C.

Tron: Ares - Disney / Buena Vista

The third movie in the Tron franchise, Tron: Ares, starring Jared Leto, follows the story of Ares, a digital entity who is brought into the physical world by Dillinger Industries, a rival of ENCOM.

I tested both Tron and Tron: Legacy in the September 2025 Blu-ray Bounty and both discs were excellent. Even though its CGI looked dated, Tron was arguably the more impressive, with brilliant color detail and an impressive soundtrack. The same was true of Tron: Legacy, where the real highlight was Daft Punk’s superb soundtrack.

While Tron: Ares received mixed reviews upon its release, its visuals and sound have been praised, and that’s what we’re all about here at TechRadar. I’m looking forward to seeing if Tron: Ares can follow its predecessors as a great showcase disc for home theater systems.

Yi Yi - The Criterion Collection

From director Edward Yang, Yi Yi is a Taiwanese movie that tells the story of an engineer called NJ, his struggles, and the struggles of three generations of his family. It earned Yang the Best Director Award at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival.

Although this is not a movie I’ve personally watched, a quick Google image search yields striking visuals, particularly a shot of a bold red room. This could be a perfect disc to test a TV’s color reproduction, and I’m keen to see if the 4K disc from The Criterion Collection captures the film’s vivid colors.

Below are the release dates for major 4K Blu-rays in January 2026, with the ones above in bold. All dates are based on US release dates with UK releases in brackets if different.

4K Blu-ray release dates - January 2026

January 6th

• Tron: Ares (January 12th UK)
• Dead Man (January 12th UK)
• Under Siege
• Bullet in the Head
• The Mirror Crack’d

January 12th

• Yi Yi (January 19th UK)
• Snakes on a Plane
• Cruising
• Dante’s Peak
• Bringing Out The Dead
• Evil Dead Rise

January 20th

• Captain Blood (January 26th UK)
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983 live action)
• One Battle After Another (January 26th UK)
• The Dead (1987) (January 26th UK)
• Death On The Nile (1978)
• Evil Under The Sun (1982)
• Diva (1981)
• Keeper (2025)
• Altered (2025)

January 26th/27th

• The Smashing Machine
• Kiss of the Spider-Woman
• Birth (2004)
• Once A Thief
• The Mechanic (1982)
• Wild Beasts (1984)
• The Dam Busters
• House Party
• Troll 2
• American Graffiti (UK)
• The Blues Brothers 45th Anniversary (UK)
• Field of Dreams (UK)

Over the last few weeks, I’ve made a radical change to the way that I enjoy movies at home. That’s right: despite holding a Netflix Premium subscription, I decided to take a break from the service for a while, and change over to 4K UHD Blu-rays.

Why? Well, above all, I wanted to see if the improvement in audio and picture quality was truly worth switching for. But I also wanted to know if physical media could genuinely suffice as an alternative to streaming services, after I’ve enjoyed years of instant access to all kinds of TV shows and movies.

How did it all go? I’ll get to that in due course! But for those interested in my setup, I made use of the Sony UBP-X700K Blu-ray player for this experiment – a model that supports video standards such as Dolby Vision and HDR10, as well as audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. I had it hooked up via the HDMI passthrough port on the Marshall Heston 120 soundbar, which is connected to a Sky Glass Gen 2 television.

Now that’s out of the way, here’s everything I learned after ditching Netflix Premium for 4K Blu-ray!

An unrivalled audio-visual delight

As I mentioned, the aspect I was most interested to assess was the audio and visual upgrade 4K UHD Blu-rays could provide over streaming services like Netflix. And in honesty, the difference was greater than I’d expected.

One movie I watched on the Sony UBP-X700K was The Boy and the Heron – a visual and sonic masterpiece from Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki. Mere seconds into this movie, I was struck by the incredible increase in quality 4K Blu-ray could deliver. Vibrant forest environments had a far more rich, natural look to them, while beautifully detailed characters appeared sharper, and motion was handled brilliantly with their every movement.

Just generally, 4K HDR content has superior contrast, and colors look richer and less artificial. When I tried tuning into the same movie over on Netflix – where Premium opens up Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos access – I felt that some colors could look oversaturated, and that black levels didn’t have the same degree of depth.

Arguably the biggest difference-maker, though, was the improvement I realized in audio quality. With 4K discs, I picked up on far better Dolby Atmos effects, with improved tracking and height – as well as cleaner all-round dialogue and bass output. Overall, that meant that the audio-visual experience on 4K was leagues above whatever Netflix could produce – even though it uses the same formats.

So, if you get Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and all that good stuff with a Premium Netflix subscription, why is the quality significantly lesser compared to 4K Blu-rays? Well, that’s down to a couple of things.

First of all, 4K discs are run locally – with bitrates typically ranging anywhere from 72Mbps up to 144Mbps, depending on the size of the disc. Netflix Premium, Amazon Prime Video, and a lot of major streaming services, have around 15-25Mbps to work with. And due to streaming services delivering content over the internet, video and audio gets compressed to ensure smooth, consistent playback.

That combination of higher bit-depth and less compression means that 4K UHD Blu-rays can serve up cinematic experiences that are far-easier on the eye, and even sweeter to listen to as well.

Physical media and the importance of ownership

Getting better quality wasn’t the only benefit I’ve enjoyed from switching to 4K Blu-ray. Something that I’ve really appreciated is the beauty of owning a movie… for good.

I’m sure you’ve been there before. You go back to re-watch one of your favorites on Netflix, only to find that it’s been removed. Perhaps you see another one of your go-to flicks is ‘leaving soon’. Or maybe, just maybe, the movie you love is still available, but you can no longer enjoy it in Dolby Vision or with Dolby Atmos audio. Whatever the case, all of this can be frustrating.

Of course, by owning movies yourself, this is no longer an issue. You also don’t have to subscribe to lots of different streaming services to get the movies and TV shows you want – you can purchase them directly, and in better quality!

There’s an emotional side of this conversation that also deserves a mention. The feeling of walking into a store, picking out a new movie or an old classic you want to watch, taking it home, and adding it to your collection… it’s something that can’t be replicated.

I have an extensive video game collection, and to me, it’s more than a pile of discs and cases – it’s a physical manifestation of my love, nostalgia, and reverence for the art form. The same goes for 4K discs, and I’m looking forward to adding more to expanding my collection in coming years.

My verdict: is it really worth it?

So, after all of this, can I see myself hanging onto my Netflix Premium subscription? Will I move entirely over to 4K? Well the answer may be more nuanced.

On one hand, I think that the prices of subscription services are a little hard to swallow. For instance, Netflix Premium costs $24.99 / £18.99 / AU$28.99. That cost has increased significantly in recent years, and I don’t expect it will come down any time soon!

Sure, there are cheaper subscription tiers, but these leave out Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos – surely I want to make the best of my 4K TV and Marshall soundbar combo? Oh, and of course, we’re only talking about one subscription here. If you take into account the additional cost of Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and more, things get expensive very quickly. As someone who also loves Smiling Friends, I’ve been tempted by HBO Max, which is set to come to the UK in March 2026.

However, 4K UHD Blu-rays are expensive. New discs typically cost around $30 / £25 / AU$40, which means that one film usually costs more than a month of Netflix Premium. But when I add the price of the various subscription services I have together, the cost of discs seems less daunting. Pair that with the increased quality and the permanence that physical media provides, and it still feels like you’re getting plenty of value from 4K UHD discs.

Despite all of this, I’m not sure if I’m quite ready to entirely leave Netflix, at least for the moment. Ultimately, the ability to discover new movies, and spontaneously throw on whatever I’m feeling like in a split second, is something I’d struggle to lose entirely.

Still, I’ve had a blast with the Sony UBP-X700K, and I plan to keep purchasing 4K discs when there’s a movie I want to enjoy at its very best – or if I want to keep one of my favorites for good. Since viewing it at the TV testing space in Future Labs, I’ve well and truly got my eyes set on the 4K UHD release of The Mask, which stunned me with its awe-inspiring Atmos effects on the JBL Bar 1300MK2. If you’d like some recommendations for a new disc, though, you can discover some tasty picks in our roundup of the best discs to add to your collection this month.

Here's something I didn't expect to read about in 2025: the launch of not one but two brand new high-end Blu-ray players, as well as a new model from Sony.

Launching new Blu-ray players may seem weird when everybody's supposedly streaming, and plenty of firms have exited the market for Blu-ray hardware. But as with vinyl and CDs, I think there's a growing awareness that Blu-ray discs deliver a lot of benefits that are well worth having.

I think that's particularly true for people who really care about movies and music: when you've invested in one of the best TVs and a sound system to go with it you're going to want the best possible source.

I don't think Blu-ray's days are numbered just yet. In fact, I'm planning to spend much less on streaming in the coming year so I can build up my Blu-ray library instead. Here's why.

1. Blu-rays are yours forever

I went to stream a movie for the kids the other day only to discover that it's gone from the streamers I subscribe to.

Rights expire and streamers often prune their catalogues, some of them very aggressively. And that means you can never be sure that what you want to see is going to be available on the service(s) you subscribe to.

2. Nobody's going to insert annoying ads

What worries me isn't so much the existence of ad-supported streaming tiers – I subscribe to some of them – but the addition of ads to previously ad-free ones, or even worse: the end of ad-free streaming altogether.

That's not me being paranoid; streaming is a saturated market now, streaming feels more like the cable TV it was supposed to do away with, and platforms are looking for ever more ways to sell ad space including ads when you pause playback. My Blu-ray player doesn't do that.

3. They won't ask for more money when you want to play them

You can add another item to Ben Franklin's famous "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes": streaming services hiking their prices.

A Blu-ray is a one-off purchase and then it's yours forever and always available. And that one-off purchase price is doing what streaming prices don't: it's getting cheaper.

4. Discs are incredibly cheap now

Even buying brand new Blu-ray is a lot cheaper than it used to be. For example, at the time of writing, the 4K Steelbook edition of Mission Impossible 2 (and several other MI movies) is just £14.99 in the UK (around $20 / AU$30), and so is a nice reissue of True Romance; there are tons of decent titles on multiple reputable retailers for less than £20 (about $27 / AU$40).

Live Blu-rays of my favorite musical artists are typically under £20 too. And there are often sales that make them even cheaper: just a few weeks ago in the UK HMV did a huge sale on Blu-rays that took 20% off the prices of some of our very favorite films.

5. Pre-owned movies are an even bigger bargain

If you don't want to buy new, then pre-owned is definitely the way to go. I'm scanning the racks of one resale site and there are tons of Blu-rays for £1.99 apiece ($2.70 / AU$4), cheaper than I can rent them digitally.

There are tons of blockbusters for £2.99, and various deals such as two Blu-rays for £5 or 3 for £8. That's not much money for a lot of movies.

6. Blu-ray is better for movies – and magic for music

Even the highest-quality streaming tiers use compressed file formats, and that means some of the information is lost in the compression between the master copy and your home cinema or TV setup (and more can be lost if your internet connection is congested).

As a rule of thumb, a 4K stream gives you roughly the same data throughput as a 1080p Blu-ray – and of course a 4K Blu-ray gives you the full uncompressed 4K. Audio soundtracks are uncompressed, too.

If like me your idea of a good time is watching a live recording of your favorite musical acts, that means you're missing a crucial part of the experience if you stick with streaming.

We've tested it, and definitely found a difference between the sound of streaming and the sound of Blu-rays. In the example of John Wick 4 above, the Blu-ray (right) had deeper black levels and stronger colors compared to the Prime Video version (left).

7. They're outage-proof and you can take them anywhere

My broadband was down for six hours today. During that time I could have watched two Blu-rays, or streamed absolutely nothing.

Physical media is also portable and shareable (and sellable): if you lend a friend one of your treasured Blu-rays, they're not going to get a message on their TV telling them they can't watch it because they're not a member of your household. And portable players can be life-savers for parents taking the kids on long trips.

8. You get more good stuff

Streaming doesn't usually come with special features. Blu-rays do, often very generously in the case of remasters and special editions.

So if you want to go behind the scenes of The Toxic Avenger or have a copy of This Is Spinal Tap that goes up to eleven on the features front, discs are the medium for you.

9. You don't even need to buy a player...

If you've got a PlayStation 5 (the one with the disc drive) or an Xbox Series X you don't even need to spend money on hardware: both consoles play Blu-rays, albeit with the odd minor issue such as the Xbox only supporting Dolby Vision in games and giving you plain old HDR10 for discs.

Still, if you do buy a separate player, it'll really show off your system. If you've got one of the best 4K TVs teamed up with the best soundbars or best AV receivers and speakers, then Blu-ray is the best way to see and hear your system at its best: uncompressed 4K on a 4K TV and uncompressed audio into a high quality audio setup is bottled sunshine.

Welcome to the December 2025 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty! As we’re nearing the holidays, I’ll be looking at six new 4K discs that you can add to your now hopefully growing 4K collection, or give to Blu-ray-loving friends or family as gifts.

If this is your first time reading, you can check out previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here. In the November 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, we looked at six discs: The Mask, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Edward Scissorhands, F1, Sunset Boulevard and Nobody 2.

4K Blu-ray is one of our go-to sources for testing the best TVs and best soundbars at TechRadar, as it has a better picture quality (thanks to a higher bitrate) compared to 4K streaming plus uncompressed soundtracks. We're also fans and collectors ourselves.

I’ll be using our usual testing setup this month: the LG G5, one of 2025’s best OLED TVs, the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar system, and the Panasonic DP-UB820, the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market.

As always, I won’t be reviewing the movie itself, just the quality of the disc's picture and sound.

Catch Me If You Can

Based on the book of the same name, Catch Me If You Can follows the story of Frank Abagnale Jr (Leonardo DiCaprio), a man who commits fraudulent scams, posing as a pilot, a lawyer and a doctor, and is pursued by FBI investigator Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks).

Catch Me If You Can looks fantastic in 4K. The 1960s setting is perfect for showing bold colors in cars, buildings and clothing, and the film looks accurate to the time period throughout. Details such as the creases in clothing and uniforms, and skin, look crisp and authentic. Contrast is also solid, with deep-looking shadows. There’s a good level of film grain present, too.

The main audio soundtrack is a DTS-HD 5.1 mix that delivers clear speech and a perfectly rendered score. The intriguing, woodwind-heavy music has great detail and clarity. While there aren’t many sections to showcase a sound system, subtle effects sound accurate and precise, and if you have a good soundbar, you’ll be rewarded.

The Warriors (Paramount)

The Warriors tells the story of a gang named The Warriors in 1970s New York City who must escape back to their Coney Island home after being framed for the murder of a revered gang leader while being pursued by other gangs and law enforcement. Michael Beck, James Remar and David Patrick Kelly are among its cast.

It’s worth noting that this 4K Blu-ray release of The Warriors is not the Arrow Video version released in 2023, but rather a restoration released by Paramount Pictures, the movie's original distributor.

Visually, this 4K restoration is superb. The nighttime scenes have powerful contrast, with a good balance of deep blacks and bold highlights. Color is also brilliant, with the vibrant uniforms of the different gangs given plenty of punch in Dolby Vision HDR. Textures are clean and crisp, with skin in particular looking accurate. There’s a good retention of film grain here as well, which adds to the movie’s gritty tone.

The disc's Dolby 5.1 soundtrack is well presented, with the soundtrack's electro-funk-rock-laden songs delivered with clarity and power. Speech is clear throughout, and effects, such as the shuffling of feet as gang members run, are audible. Punches in various fight scenes have plenty of impact as well.

Heathers

Heathers is a satirical dark comedy/thriller starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. It tells the story of Veronica (Ryder), whose high school life is turned upside down by the arrival of rebel J.D. (Slater), who is intent on wreaking havoc on the popular kids, including Veronica’s three friends, all of whom are named Heather.

Heathers looks great in 4K, with this Arrow Video restoration giving the movie a real uplift. There’s plenty of detail, with skin and facial features looking true-to-life. Colors are rich and bold throughout, with the Heathers' outfits all looking vivid. Red especially pops on screen. Blacks are deep and contrast is strong throughout, and I was surprised by how much film grain was maintained. Cinephiles will be pleased.

There are three soundtrack options: DTS: HD MA 5.1, stereo 2.0 and the original mono 1.0. When playing the DTS: HD MA 5.1, speech is clear throughout and while there aren’t many scenes to show off a sound system, the score is detailed, and the occasional loud sound effects, like gunshots, have power.

Pee-wee's Big Adventure

In Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, the first feature film starring the character Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens), Pee-wee tries to recover his lost bike, travelling across America to do so. It is also Tim Burton's feature-length directorial debut and the score is provided by regular Burton collaborator Danny Elfman.

The Criterion Collection's 4K restoration of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is excellent. As with other movies directed by Burton, the colors are bold and striking. Pee-wee’s red house and bike really pop on screen thanks to Dolby Vision HDR and the bright colors are maintained throughout. Blacks in night scenes look deep, contrast is strong, and detail is nicely maintained. The picture has been cleaned up beautifully, but with a good amount of film grain still present.

There are two soundtrack options: a DTS-HD 2.0 and DTS-HD 5.1 surround. Both sound clear throughout viewing, but the 5.1 mix unlocks well-placed sound effects such as blaring horns from passing cars and the bell of Pee-wee’s bike as he rides past groups in the park. Elfman’s score is well-balanced throughout. This isn’t a showcase disc for sound, but like the picture, it’s well rendered.

His Girl Friday

His Girl Friday is a comedy starring Cary Grant as newspaper editor Walter Burns, who is about to lose his star reporter and ex-wife Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) after she becomes engaged to another man. Burns suggests they cover one more story together, and they end up tangling with a murderer, Earl Williams.

The Criterion Collection’s restoration of His Girl Friday looks very good. The movie’s black and white picture has strong contrast with rich blacks, bright whites and a wide range of gray tones. Detail is well-maintained, with skin that looks true to life and authentic creases in outfits. There is more film grain retained here than I’ve seen on some other discs, but it doesn’t take away from the experience. In fact, cinephiles will be very pleased with how this disc looks.

This 4K disc only has a mono soundtrack option. While there isn’t a great deal to talk about here, dialogue has been nicely restored and is consistently clear throughout the movie. Sound effects, such as ringing phones or the shuffling of cards at a poker game, are accurately rendered and clear as well.

I Know Where I'm Going!

I Know Where I’m Going! is a romantic comedy starring Wendy Hiller as Joan Webster, a young woman who leaves her life in Manchester to marry a wealthy industrialist in Scotland, but begins to fall for a navy officer named Torquil MacNeil (played by Roger Livesey).

Another The Criterion Collection restoration, I Know Where I’m Going! looks great in 4K. Detail has been well maintained and contrast is solid throughout, particularly in darker scenes where lamps cast large shadows. There’s a great balance between black and white tones, with a nice range of grays in between. Exterior shots of the Scottish Highlands and the sea have solid detail as well. While not quite as visually striking or detailed as some other black and white movies I’ve evaluated on disc, it’s still a great restoration.

There is only a mono soundtrack present, so while it may not show off your home theater system, the soundtrack itself has been well restored. Dialogue is clear throughout, and while there’s no real separation between speech and effects, such as wind and rain during storm scenes, the effects sound clear as well. Bagpipes in several scenes are also delivered with plenty of clarity.

When I test TVs, soundbars and projectors, my go-to source is 4K Blu-ray. That’s because, while 4K streaming can deliver good picture and audio quality, 4K Blu-ray has even better quality due to its higher bitrate (128Mbps to streaming’s 20Mbps average) and uncompressed soundtracks.

During my time at TechRadar testing the best TVs, I’ve had staple 4K discs that I always use as a reference. I wrote earlier this year about 4 awesome discs I’d recommend for evaluating your TV’s picture, and while I’d still recommend these (and I do still use some of them), it’s good to freshen things up every once in a while.

In November 2024, we started a monthly column called the Blu-ray Bounty, where we review the latest 4K discs from that month (based on UK release dates) and how they can be used to test your home theater. In that time, I’ve discovered some new discs that are perfect for different areas of testing, such as Wicked.

One year is a long time, and I’ve tested a bunch more discs since, with some of them joining my testing rotation for not only TVs, but also the best soundbars and the best projectors. Here are five of my top picks.

1. The Sound of Music

An iconic musical starring Julie Andrews, The Sound of Music looks and sounds staggeringly good on 4K Blu-ray. I first tested this disc in the October 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, and found it's a fantastic disc for audio testing thanks to its Dolby Atmos soundtrack, with classic musical numbers such as My Favorite Things and Do-Re-Me demonstrating Andrews’ crystal clear vocals.

But it’s not just audio where this 4K Blu-ray shines. Detail gets a serious upgrade through the 4K restoration, with textures looking crisper than ever. Colors are also vibrant and exquisitely punchy: In one scene in the market where Maria and the children stand by a fruit stall, the yellows and reds of the fruit seem to explode on screen. The Sound of Music is now one of my go-to discs for testing a TV’s color reproduction.

2. Edward Scissorhands

One of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s many collaborations, Edward Scissorhands arrived on 4K Blu-ray for the first time in 2025, and I tested it for the November 2025 Blu-ray Bounty. While the movie has some very dark scenes with a Gothic ambience, the colors are where this 4K disc stands out.

The suburban neighborhood where the family that takes Edward in lives is a smorgasbord of vibrant, even garish, colors. Houses are yellow, orange, green, pink – all of them sickeningly bright, just as Burton intended. This 4K restoration is perfect for showing how a display can handle an extreme color palette. Watched on some of the best OLED TVs I’ve tested this year, such as the LG C5, the colors on this disc looked astounding. Elsewhere, blacks are rich and contrast is strong in night scenes, and there’s a refined level of detail.

3. The Mask

One of the movies that shot Jim Carrey to superstardom in the mid-'90s, The Mask is a whirlwind comedy that not only looks great, but sounds great on 4K Blu-ray. I first reviewed it for the November 2025 Blu-ray Bounty and it was one of the standout discs of that month.

As you’d expect given the cartoonish nature of the titular character, this is yet another movie with excellent color. The Mask’s gaudy yellow suit and green mask look striking throughout the movie without being overbearing. Scenes at night also strike a great balance between the dark backgrounds and The Mask’s lurid costume.

The Mask’s cartoonish antics often produce chaotic sound effects such as a tornado or ticking bomb, and with the right system, this can sound incredible. It’s a great disc for demonstrating Atmos, as I found playing it through our Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar, which accurately mapped the sound around the room.

4. Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World

Peter Weir’s naval epic starring Russell Crowe arrived on 4K Blu-ray for the first time this year, and I tested it for the September 2025 Blu-ray Bounty. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a visual and auditory feast, and a fantastic disc for showing off home theater systems.

The disc’s standout Dolby Atmos soundtrack precisely renders the movie’s naval battles, lending authenticity to sounds such as a cannonball ripping through the ship’s hull. The many explosions have powerful bass, and even in the quieter moments, sounds like creaking floorboards above-deck have a real sense of height. It’s a truly immersive experience, and a perfect demonstration of Atmos’ capabilities.

Master and Commander is a great-looking movie as well. There are plenty of high-contrast shots at night, such as the dark surroundings of the ship’s hull balanced against solitary lamps. Textures are refined, and colors, though used sparsely, appear bold.

5. The Rocky Horror Picture Show

A cult musical starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, The Rocky Horror Picture Show debuted on 4K Blu-ray for the first time in 2025. I covered it in the October 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, and it's another movie that’s benefited from the 4K treatment.

Of course, the newly remastered Dolby Atmos soundtrack is where Rocky Horror shines. Instruments sound punchy, bass is weighty and vocals are clear and precise. In tracks like Sweet Transvestite, you can hear every raspy breath Frank-N-Furter delivers, even amidst the loud glam-rock background. During tracks like Time Warp, you can even hear the subtle movement of dancers as their shoes scrape along the floor.

Rocky Horror gets a serious visual upgrade on this disc. Colors are vibrant, with the red of Furter’s lipstick and the velvet sheet in the lab delivered with real pop. Dazzling outfits of characters like Colombia are bright and rich, and textures are crisp. As for film grain, cinephiles need not worry: although the original film elements have been cleaned up, there’s still enough grain to give it an authentic feel. If I’m looking for a disc for evaluating either color or audio, Rocky Horror is right up there.

• Second-generation versions of the acclaimed UDP800 and UDP900
• Designed to play virtually every physical and digital format
• $1,799.99 / $3,299.99; Black Friday discounts currently live

Back in September, we reported that Magnetar was upgrading two of the best 4K Blu-ray players: the MKII versions of the UDP900 and UDP800. And now the new players are available to buy.

This is big news, because we picked the UDP800 as the best Blu-Ray player for audiophiles thanks to its SACD support and wide-ranging audio capabilities.

The new players are called the UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII respectively, and Magnetar says they're "purpose built to support virtually every physical and digital format – including 4K, UHD, Blu-ray, SACD and networked/stored media". And the new versions come with across-the-board improvements for both picture and audio quality.

Magnetar MKII series: key features and pricing

Both models feature a more powerful version of Magnetar's video processing engine, with improvements to color accuracy, contrast, brightness handling, noise reduction and upscaling. And their upgraded audio architecture delivers cleaner signal paths and lower distortion for more accurate reproduction of hi-res formats.

The redesigned USB 3.0 ports have isolated power supplies and dedicated hub chips for greater stability and compatibility with external devices, and the newly engineered, sound-dampened optical drive promises improved read accuracy and noise reduction. Both players are encased in a reinforced aluminium chassis with dual-layer EMI shielding.

The flagship UDP900MKII has an overhauled audio architecture built around dual ESS 9038 PRO DACs, paired with TMDS retiming on the dedicated HDMI audio output to "virtually eliminate" jitter. It supports digital formats up to 768 PCM / 512 DSD and has wider networking capabilities than before.

The UDP800MKII features seven OPA1602 op-amps, precision HDMI jitter correction, enhanced electromagnetic shielding and an upgraded chassis, while internal improvements to the disc mechanism and copper wiring deliver what Magnetar says is smoother operation, increased durability and better overall signal integrity.

The Magnetar UDP900MKII is available now from Magnetar and its distributors for a recommended retail price of $3,299.99 (around £2,500 / AU$5,000). The UDP800MKII is also available now, with an MSRP of $1,799.99. If you're quick you can save $300 and $200 respectively: Magnetar's Black Friday deals are still live.

Welcome to the November 2025 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty. This is an exciting edition as it’s the 1st anniversary of the Blu-ray Bounty (time flies!). We’ve reviewed some superb 4K discs over the past twelve months, and I’ve got 6 new discs to add to the growing lineup.

If this is your first time here, you can check out previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here. In last month’s roundup, October 2025, I looked at 5 discs: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, The Sound of Music, Jurassic Park: Rebirth and Dead of Night (1945).

4K Blu-ray plays an important role in testing here at TechRadar, as it’s one of our primary sources for testing the best TVs and best soundbars due to its superior bitrate for video compared to 4K streaming and uncompressed audio. Not only that, but many of us here are 4K Blu-ray fans and collectors ourselves.

I’ll be using our normal setup this month, starting with the LG G5 OLED, one of the best OLED TVs of 2025. I’ll also be using the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market, and the Samsung HW-Q990C, an 11.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar system.

As usual, I won’t be reviewing the movies themselves, but will just be commenting on the video and audio quality of each disc.

The Mask

One of the first movies that led to Jim Carrey’s rise to superstardom, The Mask is a classic '90s comedy/comic book movie. It tells the story of a bank teller named Stanley Ipkiss (Carrey) who finds an enchanted mask that turns him into a super-powered troublemaker when he wears it. The movie also marked the acting debut of Cameron Diaz.

This 4K restoration from Arrow Video looks visually stunning. Textures have cleaned up, giving them a crisp, detailed look. Creases in clothing, people’s faces and skin, and even the surroundings look great. Contrast in darker scenes is strong and blacks are deep. For cinephiles, there’s still a nice amount of film grain present.

But, where the disc shines is in its color reproduction. The iconic yellow of The Mask’s suit is wonderfully bright and punchy without looking oversaturated. The neon of the Coco Bongo nightclub is vivid, and if you have a TV with high peak brightness, these neon highlights really pop on screen, especially with Dolby Vision.

There are several soundtrack options, including Dolby Atmos and 5.1-channel. The 5.1 version has a much warmer sound with a focus on bass, as evident in the musical sections. The Atmos soundtrack is much brighter but also creates a wider soundstage, with accurate sound placement: every wacky cartoon sound effect as The Mask spins around like a tornado is mapped with precision. Speech is clear throughout, and there’s a great balance between surround effects and front channels.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is a the story of a criminal named Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) who feigns mental illness to escape normal prison time and finds himself put in a mental institution. Here, he befriends the other patients and rebels against Nurse Ratched, the lead orderly. A multiple Academy Award-winning movie, this 4K version was restored by the Academy itself.

Visually, this 4K disc has breathed new life into the movie. Textures are crisp with newly refined detail, with clothing and the stubble on McMurphy’s face looking true-to-life. Blacks are rich and contrast is powerful during night scenes, with a great level of shadow detail. Colors are used sparingly throughout the movie, but any colors present such as green grass or the blue of the patient’s uniform looks authentic.

The 4K disc has a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack and while there aren’t many scenes to show it off, speech is always clear and subtle sound effects are effectively placed during quieter moments.

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands, one of director Tim Burton’s most notable movies, stars Johnny Depp as the titular character, and tells the story of an artificial human who has blades for hands. He is taken in by a suburban family and falls in love with their daughter Kim (Winona Ryder).

This 4K disc of Edward Scissorhands looks fantastic. Color reproduction is one of its biggest strengths, with the gaudy, eye-popping colors of the suburban houses and people’s clothing really jumping from the screen. Greens, pinks, purples – every color is vibrant and bold, especially when watched in Dolby Vision. But, there’s also an excellent balance: colors not only look vivid, but natural too.

Elsewhere, blacks are deep, whether it’s Edward’s suit or the dark walls of the mansion. Contrast, as seen during night scenes, and between the black of Edward’s suit and the white of the snow, is strong throughout. Textures have been upscaled and appear clean and crisp.

The 4K disc’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is punchy and immersive. Danny Elfman's unmistakable score, with twinkling bells, raucous upbeat horns and delicate strings, is delivered with real clarity. More subtle effects, such as the clicking of Edward’s scissors, are also refined and accurately placed in the soundtrack’s wide soundstage.

F1

A movie centered around the world of Formula 1 racing, F1 follows Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), an aging driver brought in to help a struggling F1 team. The movie blends fiction with reality as real drivers, F1 crew, and teams are featured as the opposition to the fictional APXGP team.

Unsurprisingly, where F1 shines on 4K disc is its Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Sounds are mapped with real precision, and there’s plenty of power to show off your home theater's subwoofer. The rumble of the F1 car’s engines, screeching tires and the sound of the wind whipping around the cockpit during POV sequences when Sonny is in the driver’s seat are all delivered with clarity and make for a dynamic viewing experience.

Visually, this is a clean 4K presentation. Textures are true-to-life, and close-up shots of drivers and the cars are detailed. The colors of the car’s livery and the driver’s uniform are bold and punchy while also looking accurate. The disc is also a great test for your TV’s motion handling capabilities, as there’s plenty of fast-paced action throughout with cars winding around the track.

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard is one of cinema’s most iconic movies. It tells the story of Joe Gillis (William Holden), a screenwriter who is drawn into the world of former silent film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) as she plots a return to the screen.

This 4K restoration of Sunset Boulevard is brilliant. Textures have benefitted from a serious uplift, looking clean and refined, especially in skin, where you can see the wrinkles. The black and white picture has strong contrast, with a wide range of gray tones. Though the picture has been cleaned up, Cinephiles will be pleased with the amount of film grain that's been maintained.

The movie features a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack and a remastered version of the original mono soundtrack. The 5.1 soundtrack delivers clear speech and has been expertly cleaned up. Gillis’ narration is well balanced with the movie’s score, where the strings create great tension and intrigue without being overbearing.

Nobody 2

Nobody 2, starring Bob Odenkirk, is the sequel to Nobody. Following the events of the first movie, Hutch Mansell (Odenkirk) takes a vacation but finds himself caught up in more trouble with organized crime and corrupt local officials.

As you’d expect from an action movie like Nobody 2, the Dolby Atmos soundtrack is the highlight. Gunshots and punches have serious impact and will give your subwoofer a workout. Ricocheting bullets are tracked with real accuracy, creating dynamic movement. More subtle effects, such as reloading gun clips or breaking glass, sound refined and could be clearly heard in my system's rear speakers.

Visually, this is another clean 4K presentation. The more colorful buildings and the backdrops of the lights of the funfair look bright and vivid, but also true-to-life. Close-up shots of people’s faces show great detail in wrinkles, stubble and scars, and contrast during darker scenes, such as the light from Mansell’s cigarette in the dark room or the lights of the carnival against the night sky, is strong. This is a solid 4K disc that will look good on most TVs.

Welcome to the October 2025 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, where I test some of the latest 4K Blu-ray releases to see if they make a worthy addition to your 4K collection. This month, I’ll be checking out 5 discs, including two movies perfect for Halloween!

If this is your first visit, you can check out previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here, where we’ve got our hands on some truly fantastic 4K discs over the past 11 months. In the September 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, I looked at a jam-packed 7 discs: Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World, Tron, Tron: Legacy, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, How To Train Your Dragon (2024 live-action), Elio and Thief (Arrow Video).

4K Blu-ray is a staple source for when we test the best TVs and best soundbars, due to its superior picture quality to 4K streaming (it has a much higher bit rate) and its uncompressed soundtracks. It’s why several of us here at TechRadar are fervent 4K Blu-ray collectors ourselves.

For this month’s setup, I’ll be using one of 2025’s best OLED TVs, the LG G5, a powerhouse soundbar system in the Samsung HW-Q990C and I’ll be playing the discs through the Panasonic DP-UB820, the best 4K Blu-ray player on the market.

As always, I’m not reviewing the actual movie itself, just the quality of the 4K disc’s picture and audio.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an iconic 1970s musical/horror/comedy based on the stage musical The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O’Brien (who plays Riff Raff in the movie). It tells the story of a young couple Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) who end up in a castle filled with strange people, led by Dr Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry).

The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is truly excellent. Every song is bright, clear and generates a real 3D surround. Every instrument is accurately mapped and well balanced, bass is tight with superb punch in tracks such as Time Warp, and vocals are bold with perfect nuance, delivering every breath and big vocal in Sweet Transvestite perfectly. Outside of the musical numbers, other effects such as the whirring lift and cracking of thunder are convincing and speech is crystal clear throughout.

Visually, this 4K restoration of The Rocky Horror Picture Show has given a serious uplift to the picture. Textures are wonderfully crisp, with people’s skin in particular looking true to life. Colors are vibrant and bold with wonderfully rich hues, such as the scene where Brad and Janet first go to Frank-N-Furter’s lab, where the gaudy pink walls and bright red cloth strike the perfect balance between punchy and natural.

Thankfully for cinephiles, there’s a good level of grain retained as well. In some scenes, blacks look very inky occasionally bordering on crushed, but are still incredibly deep and they looked great on the LG G5 OLED.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Set in an alternative-reality 1960s, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is Marvel’s latest big team reboot and sees the Fantastic Four introduced into the MCU for the first time. It stars Pedro Pascal as Mr Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Eben Moss-Bachrach as The Thing and Joseph Quinn as The Human Torch.

The Fantastic Four: First Step’s 4K disc shines, of course, with its color. The alt-1960s aesthetic is perfectly captured with oranges, yellows and browns of civilian clothing, and the Fantastic Four’s apartment looking both natural and rich throughout. The team’s blue uniforms are bright and bold, but also look realistic, while the Human Torch’s fire is dazzling.

Marvel’s movies often have crisp, authentic looking textures and Fantastic Four is no exception. In Dolby Vision, this movie looks superb, adding even more pop to colors, while also delivering strong contrast.

The 4K disc’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is as action packed and powerful as expected. Sound is precisely mapped with excellent positioning, especially as the Human Torch soars overhead or across the screen, with the sound moving between the HW-Q990C soundbar and the surround speakers authentically.

Bass has plenty of impact and will make a good test for your subwoofer, and there’s a great balance between the score and all the other parts of the Atmos soundtrack.

The Sound of Music

Inarguably one of the most famous musicals in existence, The Sound of Music was a hit when it arrived in 1965, becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time, a title it held for five years. Starring Julie Andrews as Maria, it follows her story as the governess to the seven children of the Von Trapp family and her relationship with their father George (Christopher Plummer) in 1938 Austria.

As you’d hope from a musical like this, The Sound of Music 4K’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is sublime. Vocals are delivered with real clarity and the score is accurately positioned, creating a full 3D sound effect. From the sweeping strings in the title track to the delicate woodwind in ‘My Favorite Things’, the Atmos soundtrack breathes new life into this timeless classic.

Outside of musical numbers, effects such as rain come from overhead and even the sound of movement is connected to the action on screen. Speech is crystal clear throughout as well.

This 4K restoration looks superb as well. Colors are the most notable beneficiary, really popping on screen throughout the movie. Whether it’s the lush greens of the hills or the bright reds and oranges of the fruit and vegetables in the markets, colors are bright, vibrant and the right amount of saturated.

Textures, especially people’s skin and finer details such as blades of grass, look refined and crisp. While the Dolby Vision HDR picture may not be as obvious as some other restorations, there’s no denying this 4K disc looks excellent.

Jurassic World: Rebirth

The latest in the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World: Rebirth follows a new team who travel to an island full of de-extinct dinosaurs. Set after Jurassic World: Dominion, the latest instalment stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahersala Ali, Jonathan Bailey and Rupert Friend.

Jurassic World: Rebirth is a good-looking 4K disc. Textures on rocks and trees in the environment have plenty of refined detail and look realistic. Colors have a good level of pop throughout, especially the greens of the jungle on the island and the blue of the ocean. There’s also strong contrast between dark and light tones, especially in scenes where the characters explore caves and blacks are rich throughout.

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is great for giving your home theater system a workout. The thumping bass from stomping dinosaurs and big impacts will let your subwoofer flex its muscles, while sound has excellent directionality when dinosaurs fly overhead. Speech is clear throughout, even in the most chaotic of scenes.

The score is well balanced across all speakers, giving other effects room to breathe, but delivering enough clarity in the right moments (you’ll hear the classic theme more than a few times).

Dead of Night (1945)

Dead of Night (1945) has one of the rare distinctions of being one of the only horror movies made in Britain in the 1940s, which were banned as a result of WWII. This supernatural anthology horror movie also comes from Ealing Studios, which was primarily known for producing comedies.

This 4K restoration is impressive to say the least. Textures such as skin tones have seen the most uplift, taking on a much richer, sharper look. Contrast is strong, with a great balance between light and dark tones throughout, capturing the supernatural element. Presented in black and white, there’s a good balance of gray, black and white tones throughout and there’s plenty of film grain maintained.

The 4K disc only comes with a standard LCPM 2.0 soundtrack, but this has been cleaned up nicely so that speech is clear throughout and the dramatic score still has plenty of punch. Even the scene with a live music performance has great clarity.

Want to get our setup? I've included the best deals on the LG G5 OLED TV, Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar and its predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q990F. Plus, the best deals on 4K Blu-ray players.

Halloween is nearly here, and as the nights get darker, what better way to celebrate than with a good ol’ fashioned scary movie night? But, if you’re a home theater owner, forget streaming: it’s time to break out the 4K Blu-ray.

We love 4K Blu-ray at TechRadar, not only because it’s one of our primary sources for testing the best TVs and the best soundbars, but because we’re collectors ourselves! It’s also the best way to experience movies at home, thanks to its superior picture quality (4K Blu-ray bitrate is 128Mbps compared to 4K streaming’s 20Mbps average, though this changes based on the streaming service) and uncompressed audio.

For horror movies, sound is as important as the visuals. Think of the fear-inducing score of some of your favorite scary movies, like the twinkling piano of Halloween or the razor-sharp strings of Psycho. In these films, the sound does as much to create the mood as seeing Michael Myers or Norman Bates on screen.

Surely the best way to experience horror on your home theater system is with a 4K Blu-ray. I’ve been reviewing 4K Blu-rays for nearly a year as part of our Blu-ray Bounty feature, and I’ve come across some horror gems that are perfect for a fright fest. Check out my top three picks below.

1. Nosferatu

Nosferatu (2024) is Robert Eggers’ remake of Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), a movie inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It tells the story of Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), a young woman who, as a child, developed a connection with a being named Count Orlock (Bill Skarsgård), which is rekindled when her new husband Thomas (Nicolas Hoult) encounters Orlock during a business arrangement.

Featured in the May 2024 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, Nosferatu is perfect if you’re looking for that edge-of-your-seat viewing experience. The scratching strings of violins in the score are enough to send chills down the spine, and Orlock’s deep, gravelly voice will test the capabilities of your system’s center channel speaker.

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack also produces strong height effects, such as rain, and with a full surround system, other, more nuanced effects can add to the atmosphere. Footsteps through echoing hallways, the crackling of a lit torch, and the squeak of rats all add to the eerie atmosphere.

Visually, Nosferatu is perfect for dark room conditions and nighttime viewing. The movie’s deep blacks in night scenes look fantastic on the best OLED TVs, and scenes of isolated light sources produce strong contrast, as in one where Hutter meets Orlock in his castle and a fireplace illuminates one half of Hutter’s face. If you have a TV with Dolby Vision, you’ll be treated to even greater detail and stronger contrast.

2. Alien: Romulus

The latest movie in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus follows a group of young colonists who explore an abandoned space station, only to encounter a group of hostile alien creatures. The movie takes place between the events of Alien and Aliens.

First featured in the December 2024 Blu-ray Bounty, Alien: Romulus’s excellent sound design is perfectly conveyed by the 4K disc’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The creaking metal of the ship’s hull can be clearly heard in surround speakers, blending perfectly with the nerve-shedding string-led score to put you on edge.

The pitter-patter of tiny facehugger feet in Alien: Romulus is positioned so precisely that it will have you desperately scanning your room. And in the movie’s more action-packed moments, gunfire and explosions produce a powerful rumble that’s perfect for showing off your subwoofer’s chops.

A movie with plenty of high contrast scenes, Alien: Romulus is a visual feast. Inky, deep blacks balance well with the colored lights to create truly stunning images, particularly during the climax of the movie, where orange lights illuminate a blackened hallway. Dolby Vision HDR also gives textures such as scales and skin real depth and definition. The moments of violence will have you wincing, adding up to a perfect movie night if you want action-packed entertainment and tension.

3. Sinners

Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Creed), is a genre-bending movie that follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore (both played by Michael B. Jordan), two criminals who return to their hometown in 1930s Mississippi to start fresh, only to be met by an evil force. The film also stars Hailee Steinfeld and Miles Caton.

First reviewed in the July 2025 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, the movie’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack shines during musical moments. For instance, in one scene in a barn where Sammie (Caton) plays music, seemingly summoning the spirits of musicians past and present, the sound follows the movement of the action on screen with pinpoint precision. It had me looking around the room!

The same scene also blends delta blues with hip-hop beats that will show off your subwoofer’s capabilities. Still to come: plenty of chilling, action-packed moments with a tense score and room-rattling rumble.

Dolby Vision HDR really brings out the richness of Sinners’ picture, producing vibrant but natural colors, deep blacks and strong HDR highlights. A display with high brightness will be perfect for the movie’s daytime scenes captured under the beating sun in sweltering Mississippi, as well as reproducing high contrast scenes where lamplight and fire contrast with pitch black environments. Fine details such as sweat-covered skin and the finely textured costumes also really stand out on this 4K disc. The film’s more gore-centric scenes, and yes, there are some, will entice horror fans even further.

Looking for a new 4K Blu-ray player to get started, or for an upgrade? Check out today's best 4K Blu-ray player deals below

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Welcome to the September 2025 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, where I review the latest 4K Blu-ray discs to judge if they’re worthy of adding to your collection. This month, it’s a bumper edition, as I’ll be looking at 7 discs!

If this is your first time reading, you can check out previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here, where we’ve reviewed some truly excellent 4K discs. For the August 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, I looked at three 4K discs: The Phonecian Scheme, Hearts of Darkness and Thunderbolts.

At TechRadar, we love 4K Blu-ray because it’s a staple source for testing the best TVs and best soundbars, thanks to its higher bit rate, which provides better picture and sound quality compared to streaming.

For this week’s setup, I’ll be using the LG G5, one of 2025’s best OLED TVs, along with the Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar and the Panasonic DP-UB820, a workhorse disc player that sits at the top of our best 4K Blu-ray players list.

As always, I’m not reviewing the movie itself, just the disc’s picture and soundtrack quality.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, a historical epic set during the Napoleonic wars, follows the exploits of the HMS Surprise, with a focus on captain Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) and Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany), the ship’s surgeon. It was directed by Peter Weir and nominated for ten Academy Awards.

On 4K disc, Master and Commander’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack shines. During naval skirmishes, the bass from the cannon fire is thunderous and cannonballs ripping through the ship are rendered precisely. The crew running overhead and creaks of the wooden ship come from all around, creating an immersive atmosphere, and voices are clear in their presentation when coming from off-screen. The movement of the sea is conveyed with accuracy and power, and is a perfect flex for your home theater’s muscles.

Master and Commander uses Dolby Vision to create strong contrast in scenes such as one where Maturin works on patients by lamplight in the dark hull of the ship. Black levels are rich and deep in the many nighttime scenes, skin tones are true-to-life, and textures are refined and crisp. Color is used sparingly in the movie, but blood is nevertheless vibrant and the blue uniforms with gold details look realistic and accurate.

Elio

Pixar’s latest movie, Elio, tells the story of a young boy (Yonas Kibreab) who is mistaken for an ambassador of Earth by a group of aliens, called the Communiverse. Elio is beamed up to the ship, where he befriends an alien named Glordon (Remy Edgerly) and the two must navigate a crisis involving Glordon’s father, Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett). The film also stars Zoe Saldaña and Jameela Jamil.

Elio’s 4K Dolby Vision presentation looks stunning. Colors are vibrant, with the different colored aliens and lights given a bright, vivid punch throughout. Contrast is also strong, with the rich blacks of space balancing well with the bright highlights of the stars and the lights of various ships. The animation style, while different from other Pixar movies, has a crisp look that really suits the movie's tone.

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is as bright and punchy as the picture. The electronic score is clean and well-produced, and dialogue is clear and direct throughout. Bass is surprisingly weighty, whether it’s the pulsing, futuristic devices Elio uses on his arrival in the Communiverse or during the soundtrack’s more lively sections. Even movement is well mapped, connecting the sound and action on screen perfectly.

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly (Arrow Video)

One of cinema’s most iconic Westerns, The Good, the Bad & the Ugly stars Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach as three gunslingers competing to find a stash of gold during the American Civil War. Directed by Sergio Leone and with an epic score from Ennio Morricone, Westerns don’t get more classic than this.

Arrow’s restoration of The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, which uses the original 2-perf Techniscope negative, gives a sublime uplift to textures and color, particularly skin tones, which appear true-to-life. During close-up shots, it's obvious just how refined and organic the detail is, with facial hair and dirt coming through clearly. Thanks to Dolby Vision, contrast is powerful in darker scenes, with rich blacks and punchy highlights. There’s also enough grain present throughout to keep cinephiles happy, but not so much as to be distracting.

There are two soundtracks available: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio mono. The 5.1 delivers strong bass and clear speech throughout. During gunfights, ricocheting bullets create a sense of immersion. The mono soundtrack, while obviously lacking the same sense of ambience, is clean and still delivers good impact during the movie’s more chaotic moments. The iconic score, with twanging guitars, vocals, and harmonica, sounds bright but well-balanced with the rest of the soundtrack.

Tron (1982)

Disney’s Tron tells the story of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a software engineer and video game developer who is transported inside a computer world as he attempts to hack the corporation ENCOM, led by Ed Dillinger (David Warner). He must then work with Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) and Yori (Cindy Morgan) to escape the computer world. Tron was a groundbreaking movie on its release in 1982, as it was one of the first movies to use extensive CGI.

While Tron’s computer graphics now look dated, this 4K restoration has breathed new life into the movie. The neon colors of the characters’ costumes in the digital world are punchy and vibrant, with Dolby Vision providing bold highlights. Skin tones are realistic, and textures are crisp, providing a 3D look. This is particularly true in the real-world scenes, where the picture’s sharpness makes it look modern. Even the dated computer graphics get a touch-up, and they look refined and clean in every scene.

Tron’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is delightful. Bass is tightly controlled, allowing a subwoofer to show off its nuances and dialogue is crystal clear. Light cycles glide around the grid, and their movement was delivered with pinpoint precision by the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar when I watched the movie. There’s an excellent balance to the various keyboards in the score, too, and a great home theater system will bring this to life.

Tron: Legacy

The sequel to Tron (1982), Tron: Legacy tells the story of Sam Flynn (Garret Hedlund), son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges, Tron’s protagonist), who finds himself teleported into a cyber-world like his father before him and must escape with the help of Quoraa (Olivia Wilde). This movie is best remembered for its visuals and its Daft Punk soundtrack.

The picture on this 4K disc shines with its vivid highlights and punchy neon-laden oranges and whites. Dolby Vision delivers deep blacks, which balance well against the illuminated costumes. Textures have been uplifted and have a crisp, clean look. Jeff Bridges’ digital de-aging has been improved, though it still looks a little odd. The light cycle scene is a particular highlight that demonstrates just how visually stunning this 4K disc is.

Tron: Legacy’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack will give your home theater system a real workout. Daft Punk’s score is as pulsing and punchy as you could want, and is delivered with clarity and precision, with more bass-heavy sections allowing subwoofers to show what they can do. The sound of the disc as it flies around in the ‘disc wars’ scene early on has a real 3D effect. Bass also has plenty of impact, and speech is clear.

Thief (Arrow Video)

Thief is director Michael Mann’s (Heat, Last of the Mohicans, Collateral) debut and tells the story of Frank (James Caan), a jewel thief who agrees to one last job with the mob before retirement. But his employers aren’t quite ready for him to retire yet and Frank must try and escape. The movie also stars Tuesday Weld, Jim Belushi and Willie Nelson.

This 4K restoration from Arrow Video (there is one by The Criterion Collection as well) displays refined detail and contrast. Skin tones look true-to-life and colors are accurate. I had a copy of the Thief Blu-ray from Arrow Video in our testing room, and decided to compare the two. The standard Blu-ray is noticeably brighter in some daytime scenes, but the 4K version has better contrast, giving the image a more balanced look. Skin tones and textures look great on both, but the 4K has the edge again. The 4K version also has less film grain, but there’s enough to keep cinephiles happy.

Thief comes with two soundtrack options: DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio and stereo 2.0. Tangerine Dream’s excellent electronic score sounds clean, with bass synths coming across as rounded and deep, and other synths sounding bright. When I watched it, effects such as passing traffic and noise during the safecracking sequences were accurately delivered by the Samsung HW-Q990C, and gunshots had a powerful impact.

How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

A live-action remake of the first entry in the beloved animated How to Train Your Dragon series, this movie follows the adventures of Hiccup (Mason Thames), a young Viking who befriends a dragon he names Toothless. Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick, the chief of the clan and Hiccup’s Dad.

How to Train Your Dragon is a very good-looking movie. Skin tones and textures are true-to-life, colors of the dragons and ships are rich and punchy, and contrast is strong, with night sequences showing deep blacks and bright highlights in torches. Textures are crisp and look striking throughout.

How to Train Your Dragon’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack is an excellent showcase for your home theater. Fireballs and crunching impacts have weighty bass that will give your subwoofer a workout. Flight sequences are immersive, with effects in the rear and height channels creating a dynamic soundscape. Speech is also consistently clear and well-balanced with all other aspects throughout the movie.

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• Microsoft has fixed two bugs that have been hanging around for a year
• They include a glitch affecting webcams and a Bluetooth audio bug
• Unfortunately a new bug has been introduced with the September update for Windows 11 that hits Blu-ray and DVD playback

Microsoft has finally fixed some annoying bugs in Windows 11 that have been hanging around for a very long time – but the downside is that a fresh flaw has just popped up in the desktop OS.

Let's start with the good news, which is that Bleeping Computer spotted is that Microsoft has squashed two bothersome bugs. One of those relates to cameras, and it actually dates back to October 2024, meaning that affected PCs have been blocked from getting the 24H2 update since then.

This was a problem with webcams that use face-detection features, which includes login via facial recognition with Windows Hello. Microsoft has just resolved the bug, which means that affected Windows 11 PCs with these cameras can now download the 24H2 update.

Microsoft has also fixed a longstanding bug which completely broke Bluetooth audio for some Windows 11 users – that one dated back to the end of last year, too. Again, that was a problem with version 24H2, and those affected can only just now install that update.

The niggle here, though, is that Ghacks noticed Microsoft's confirmation of a new bug in Windows 11 whereby Blu-ray and DVD apps (as well as Digital TV software) might fail to play protected content (with DRM).

This flaw was introduced in the September update for Windows 11 (and the preview of that update which arrived in late August).

Microsoft explains that this gremlin has hit apps which use the Enhanced Video Renderer, and those affected may see playback fail with an error message or black screen, or they might experience "frequent playback interruptions" which sounds less than ideal.

The software giant says it's working on providing a fix, which will be piped through in a future Windows 11 update.

Analysis: fixes for upgrade to 24H2 only just slide in before the arrival of 25H2

Hopefully the fix for the problem with playing DVDs or Blu-rays in Windows 11 won't take Microsoft a year to sort out. To be fair, such delays aren't normally the case, but it's taken way too long to fix both the webcam and Bluetooth bugs that have prevented folks from getting the 24H2 update.

Indeed, those people who are only just being given access to version 24H2 are barely getting the chance to grab it before the 25H2 update arrives (which is likely imminent – it might even turn up next week).

The 25H2 update is an unexciting affair, with the highlight being a rejig of the Start menu which is admittedly good work, but which is also coming to those who remain on 24H2; indeed, in some cases, those user may get it before users on 25H2, depending on how the rollout dice fall.

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As one of TechRadar’s TV reviewers, 4K Blu-ray is integral to my testing process. That’s because 4K Blu-ray discs provide consistent picture quality, along with a higher bitrate compared to streaming (128Mbps for 4K Blu-ray vs 17-25Mbps average with 4K streaming). They also provide uncompressed soundtracks, making them a superior option for audio testing.

As part of TechRadar’s Home Theater Week, I thought I’d share what 4K Blu-rays I use for testing not only the best TVs, but also the best soundbars and best projectors. There are four discs I routinely use, though my rotation has changed over time and I’m always discovering new discs for testing via our monthly Blu-ray Bounty feature, where we review the best 4K Blu-ray releases from each month.

Black levels and contrast

The main disc I use for testing a TV’s black levels and contrast is The Batman. This disc was mastered at 400 nits of brightness, compared to the industry standard of 1,000 nits, making it a challenging source for TVs and projectors to handle. One of the movie’s opening scenes, at Mayor Mitchell’s house, is great for testing how well a TV can reveal shadow detail, and it also shows up any black crush (a loss of detail in darker areas).

This scene also features shots of lamps and torches balanced against dark surroundings, which is perfect for evaluating contrast. Here I’ll be looking for both high peak brightness and deep black levels, something the best OLED TVs often display.

Other discs I use for testing black levels and contrast include Alien: Romulus, a movie that features many scenes with deep shadows, especially in the shots of space and dark tunnels.

Nosferatu also features several challenging dark scenes, such as one where Hutler first visits Count Orlock’s castle. Dark City is a new 4K disc that I will be adding to my rotation, thanks to its many scenes with deep black levels and strong contrast.

Color

There are several discs I use for color testing, but my primary one is Wicked. Not only does Wicked feature incredibly vibrant and punchy colors that convey the magical feel of Oz, but its colors also strike a balance between gaudiness and realism.

The Wizard & I scene is my go-to as it features a tree with bright pink flowers, Elphaba’s green skin and the blues of the students’ uniforms.

Other discs I use for evaluating color include the animated movie The Wild Robot. I have also used La La Land, looking at the vibrant blues and purples in the night sky and Mia’s yellow dress in the A Lovely Night musical scene. All of these discs are great for evaluating color, but Wicked is the most essential one for me.

Motion handling

For motion testing, my primary 4K discs are No Time To Die and Top Gun: Maverick. In No Time To Die, a scene early on where a camera pans across a cemetery on a rocky hillside can easily reveal judder and motion blur artifacts. Watching it also lets me explore a TV’s motion settings to determine if they can reduce those artifacts without adding a soap opera effect to movies.

Top Gun: Maverick features many scenes with fast-moving jets and quick panning camera shots. Famously, Tom Cruise and director Joseph Kosinski said this movie should be viewed with all motion settings turned off. Unfortunately, that won’t be a good idea for TVs that are ill-equipped to handle fast motion.

Black and white uniformity

Although it may not be the first thing you’d think of nowadays, it’s important to test TVs using black and white images. These are useful for testing screen uniformity, which is a TV’s ability to evenly display areas of the same color, black, white, and gray included.

Many recent movies (Mad Max: Fury Road and Furiosa, Oppenheimer) feature black and white scenes, and more black and white movies are getting 4K Blu-ray releases, so there is a practical benefit here as well.

While I’ve come across several great black and white movie discs in my Blu-ray Bounty reviews, I continue to use the black and white scenes in Oppenheimer, especially one where Strauss and Oppenheimer first meet at the university. This scene has an excellent balance of black (Oppenheimer’s suit and the office), white (the common room window, building and some details on Strauss’ suit) and gray tones, making it perfect for testing screen uniformity.

Sound quality

Another important aspect of TV testing is the set’s built-in sound. How accurate is the bass, soundstage and speech performance? It’s important to know this with TVs and some projectors, as it will tell you if you’re going to need to factor a soundbar into your budget.

My main 4K disc for testing sound is The Batman. I use the Batmobile/Penguin chase scene where the Batmobile is first introduced. The rumble of its engine is perfect for testing bass power and control, and the ever-present rain is good for testing height channels. With constantly swerving traffic, bullets and car collisions, this scene is also great for testing sound effect mapping, or the connection between the sound and the action on screen.

I also use Top Gun: Maverick for testing Dolby Atmos and surround effects, primarily the Darkstar mission in the movie’s opening. I will also use musicals such as Wicked and La La Land for testing, evaluating the clarity of vocals, the balance of instruments, and the soundstage width.

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• Magnetar announces two new 4K Blu-ray players
• The two players are the UPD900MKII and UDP800MKII
• Magnetar is the second company to announce new players this year after Sony

At CEDIA Expo 2025, Magnetar revealed it is bringing two new 4K Blu-ray players to the market, the UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII.

Referred to as the MKII series, the new players are successors the Magnetar UDP900 and UDP800, the latter of which is our current choice as the best option for audiophiles in TechRadar’s guide to the best 4K Blu-ray players.

The UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII arrive with a stacked list of features: SACD playback, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ High Dynamic Range (HDR), and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio format support.

Magnetar’s players stand out for their enhanced audio performance, and the MKII series is no different. The UDP900MKII features dual ESS 9038 Pro DACs and a dedicated audio HDMI port. It also features XMOS USB playback, and supports up to 768kHz PCM and 512 DSD high-resolution audio.

The UDP800MKII has seven OPA1602 op-amps for reduced noise and HDMI jitter, and enhanced EMI shielding. A redesigned chassis also means more stable performance, including quieter disc reads, according to the company

Both players come with redesigned USB 3.0 ports for improved performance with connected devices, and both are Roon Ready.

The UDP900MKII and UDP800MKII are both expected to arrive stateside by the end of 2025, priced respectively at $3,299.99 (roughly £2,440 / AU$5,050) and $1,799.99 (roughly £1,330 / AU$2,750). Information on availability in other regions was not provided in the company’s press release.

Good news for 4K Blu-ray

Here’s something I didn’t have on my 2025 bingo card: not one but two brands releasing new 4K Blu-ray players. Sony kicked things off earlier this year, releasing a ‘new’ version of its UBP-X700 4K Blu-ray player, called the UBP-X700K. The only real difference between the two players on paper however is that network support has been removed in the new model.

Magnetar has also heard the call, releasing its own new players in the new MKII series. On paper, the MKII series has gone through some serious hardware upgrades that should ensure its dominance as the best audiophile 4K Blu-ray player option. But, most importantly, we have two new 4K Blu-ray players!

While the MKII series is very much at the premium end of the 4K Blu-ray player market, this is still great news for 4K Blu-ray fans after a tough couple of years, with LG announcing its departure from the Blu-ray player market, followed more recently by Reavon – leaving Sony, Panasonic, and Magnetar as the only major choices (other than the two next-gen games consoles).

Retailers are also dropping 4K Blu-ray disc sales (although Best Buy recently introduced a 4K Blu-ray online marketplace) even as great movies continue to get the 4K disc treatment from outfits like The Criterion Collection and Arrow Video. Heck, we even started our own 4K Blu-ray feature called the Blu-ray Bounty in November due to the format’s ongoing popularity.

Two new 4K Blu-ray players from Magnetar is excellent news, and as a 4K Blu-ray fan, it gives me hope for the format’s future.

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Welcome to the August 2025 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, where I’ll be looking at three new 4K discs.

If this is your first time here, welcome! You can check out previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here, where we’ve covered some excellent 4K Blu-rays, some of which I’ve ended up buying for my own shelf!

4K Blu-ray is extremely popular at TechRadar. That’s because 4K Blu-ray discs are a cornerstone for our testing of the best TVs, best soundbars and the best 4K projectors.

For my review setup this week, I’ll be using the LG G5, one of the best OLED TVs of 2025, along with the Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar and the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.

As always, I’m not reviewing the movie itself, just the quality of the disc’s picture and soundtrack.

Last month, I looked at five new 4K Blu-ray releases: Sinners, Dark City, Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague, A Hard Day’s Night and Black Bag. So be sure to check out the July 2025 Blu-ray Bounty if any of those movies interest you.

Thunderbolts

One of the surprise hits of 2025, Thunderbolts is one of the latest big character team-up movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with this entry focusing on a lesser-known, more anti-hero lineup of characters such as Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Red Guardian (David Harbor).

As you’d expect from a big-budget Marvel movie, Thunderbolts looks slick. The picture is detailed and refined throughout, with realistic textures that benefit from Dolby Vision HDR. The 3D-like presentation also has plenty of scenes with strong contrast, including one in a dark room with red lighting. Color isn’t abundant in this movie, but when used, it packs a great visual punch.

With plentiful gunfights, fight scenes and explosions, Thunderbolts is a perfect action movie for flexing your home theater’s sound system, especially the subwoofer. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack not only delivers plenty of rumble, but the fight scenes give height speakers a workout. Dialogue is crystal clear throughout, and all effects sound crisp and rich.

The Phoenician Scheme

Wes Anderson’s latest movie tells the story of a wealthy tycoon (Benicio Del Toro) who makes his nun daughter (Mia Threapleton) heir to his fortune. Soon after, they become targets of assassins, rival tycoons and terrorists. As usual with a Wes Anderson film, there’s an ensemble cast, and here it includes Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Benedict Cumberbatch and Scarlett Johansson, to name a few.

Presented in Dolby Vision, The Phoenician Scheme is visually striking. Colors, although used sparingly, are vibrant, especially reds and greens, and textures have a realistic, nearly 3D-like level of sharpness. It's this level of detail throughout that impresses most with the 4K presentation.

The Phoenician Scheme won’t showcase your home theater audio system to its full effect, but the dialogue is clear and presented upfront in the mix. Its Dolby Atmos soundtrack is laid back, though a scene where a group of guerrillas led by Richard Ayoade unleashes bullets into a ceiling, and one in a jungle with crickets and a constant breeze, does make use of height channels to great effect. The quirky soundtrack is well-balanced with the dialogue throughout.

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse

Hearts of Darkness is a documentary about the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s epic Vietnam War movie, Apocalypse Now. Composed of behind-the-scenes footage by Coppola’s wife Eleanor and interviews with cast and crew members, it details the various issues faced on the movie’s production.

Where this Hearts of Darkness 4K restoration, presented by Studio Canal, really impresses is in how the production’s grainy, home-shot footage has been cleaned up. Cinephiles will appreciate that there is still plenty of grain present, but the footage itself is clear and detailed throughout. Colors are striking, with vivid green trees and vibrant orange fire.

The documentary also cuts to footage from the movie Apocalypse Now, which looks so crisp and detailed that it's like you’re actually watching that movie. Skin tones are true-to-life, and objects and facial features have a refined appearance.

This 4K disc features both a DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) 5.1 and mono LCPM soundtrack. The DTS-HD soundtrack presents surround effects such as rain with a high level of clarity, and both Eleanor’s narration and the speech of the cast and crew in interviews are also clear throughout.

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Some may believe that physical media is dying, but at TechRadar, we’re still flying the 4K Blu-ray flag!

4K Blu-ray is the best way to show off the best TVs and best soundbars, due to its higher bitrate than streaming (4K streaming averages 17-25Mbps and maxes at 40Mbps, while 4K Blu-ray averages 128Mbps) and uncompressed soundtracks.

In November 2024, we started a feature called the Blu-ray Bounty where we test the best new 4K discs. Trust me, there have been some superb discs.

While testing these discs, I’ve not only come to appreciate 4K Blu-ray even more for its video and audio quality (I was a collector before joining TechRadar in 2023), but I’ve also found myself drawn to another aspect of collecting, one that can be a big trap for personal finances: Steelbooks.

Steelbooks are a special edition, steel-cased version of a 4K Blu-ray that features different artwork from the standard edition. There is absolutely no difference other than the Steelbook version possibly looking a bit prettier on the shelf.

We’ve been lucky to get some excellent 4K Steelbooks for Blu-ray Bounty, and that got me thinking: are all Steelbooks worth it? I went on a deep dive to find out.

Worth the price

While it may seem strange to fawn over a Steelbook version of a 4K Blu-ray, that's what I’m going to do right now. One of the best in recent memory is the Tombstone Steelbook pictured above. The movie poster-type shot with the white background and western script makes this a thing of beauty. And I’m not alone in my thinking, since this particular 4K Blu-ray flew off the shelves and has been a regular topic of discussion on the r/4Kbluray 4K Blu-ray subreddit.

It's this very 4K Blu-ray Steelbook that made me aware of just how good they can look. Below is a gallery of images of some of the best 4K Blu-ray Steelbooks we’ve featured in the Blu-ray Bounty.

Whether it’s the simplicity of the king’s face on the Kingdom of Heaven cover (an extremely popular 4K disc), the keyhole from The Sixth Sense or the titular characters of Deadpool & Wolverine in all their eye-popping glory (with Peggy the dog in tow), these 4K Blu-ray Steelbooks are visually a cut above their standard edition counterparts.

Below are a few Steelbooks we haven’t got our hands on yet, but are hoping to add to our collection.

As a fan of the new Superman movie, I love the simplicity of the HMV 4K Steelbook version, and it appears I’m not alone, as it’s already sold out – drat! I already own the Lord of the Rings Trilogy Extended Edition 4K Blu-rays, but boy, do those gold-style Steelbook versions look nice.

The standard edition may not be so bad

It’s not all smooth sailing for 4K Steelbooks, which are pricier and can sometimes look worse than the standard release or be just downright ugly altogether.

For example, after taking a deep dive on r/steelbooks, a Reddit haven for Steelbook collectors, I discovered the majority of people there hated the Disney 100 Blu-ray Steelbooks.

Yikes. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these, but you’d think for Disney's 100th anniversary, they’d release something a little more interesting. Even Star Wars wasn't safe from the plain-tin treatment.

Another regular target in r/steelbooks is Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy, specifically the FutureShop Canada edition.

Good lord, what a monstrosity. Why are actual shots from the movie just carelessly plastered on the front cover? And why did they use the wrong hue of red? Oh, and don’t worry if you didn’t know which movie it was, because they tell you twice.

Another release that’s garnering mixed reactions is the new 4K Blu-ray Steelbook collection of The Dark Knight Trilogy 20th Anniversary Edition (yes, I felt myself age when I read that, too).

The reviews section for this one on the Zavvi website is a minefield. As one user commented, “The artwork looks atrocious. Cancelled my pre-order”. Other commenters called it “lazy” and “a huge disappointment”. Again, there’s nothing especially wrong with this edition, but it feels very rushed and lacking thought for a special edition of this trilogy. And when you consider that it retails for about $99 / £99 compared to $45 / £35 for the normal edition, it’s a tough sell.

Honestly, I could go on for much longer, as there are more examples of both incredible and awful Steelbooks to discuss. But, having explored the topic, one thing I can say is that I’ll be picking up a few Steelbooks myself soon.

Here are some links for the best places to find 4K Blu-ray Steelbooks if you're looking to start your own collection:

• Amazon US
• Gruv (US)
• Amazon UK
• Zavvi (UK)

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Getting to test, write about and use 4K Blu-rays is a dream for someone like me, as I was a fan and collector before I joined TechRadar.

To me, 4K Blu-ray is the best way to experience movies at home, thanks to its superior visual and – especially – audio quality over streaming. Pairing a 4K disc with one of the best TVs, best soundbars and best 4K Blu-ray players is the ideal setup.

Late last year, I started the Blu-ray Bounty, a monthly feature where I write about the best 4K Blu-ray releases of that month based on testing them in our AV lab, and needless to say, it has added a few discs to my ever-growing wishlist. And since my birthday is right around the corner, I've decided to take the plunge on a few of them.

1. Seven

Seven is a modern classic of noir-mystery thrillers, starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as a pair of detectives in pursuit of a serial killer who is committing murders based on the seven deadly sins. It features one of cinema's greatest all-time twists.

I reviewed this disc in the January 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, and while I was already a fan of the movie beforehand, this 4K disc went right to the top of my list.

The 4K Blu-ray of Seven is visually stunning, with a superb 4K restoration that really polishes textures. Black tones and contrast are rich, and colors take on a new vibrant punch thanks to HDR. But it really is people's skin tones and other details that benefit from a 4K upgrade, looking more realistic than ever. Pair this with the best OLED TVs and it looks outstanding.

A DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack really captures the constant rain, while also delivering clear speech and accurate sound throughout.

2. Double Indemnity (Criterion Collection)

Double Indemnity is the story of an insurance agent (Fred MacMurray) who plots with a wife (Barbara Stanwyck) to claim a life insurance policy on her wealthy husband. A classic Hollywood noir, it's an incredibly influential movie on modern filmmaking and storytelling.

I'd never seen Double Indemnity before I first reviewed it for the very first Blu-ray Bounty in November 2024, but its story had me hooked.

This 4K restoration from Criterion Collection is an example of what can be achieved with these 4K Blu-rays. It presents a clean, sharp image that still features perfectly maintained film grain. Because the movie is in black and white, contrast is important – and both dark and bright tones are rich and balanced in this 4K presentation. It's reassuring that a movie from over 80 years ago (it's a 1944 flick) can look this good.

There's not much to say about the monoarual soundtrack, but it is clean, clear and well presented throughout.

3. Tombstone

A cult Western from the 1990s with a stacked cast – including Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliot and Bill Paxton – tells the story of Wyatt Earp (Russell) and his gang of sheriffs defending the town of Tombstone from bandits.

I first reviewed this in the May 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, and after seeing just how clean its 4K restoration was, it's now on my shopping list – and with how popular it's been online, everyone else's too, apparently!

This 4K restoration has given Tombstone a fantastic visual upgrade. Textures such as skin imperfections are refined and clear, colors have a real pop thanks to Dolby Vision HDR support, and black tones are wonderfully deep and nuanced. Contrast between the lawman's dark clothing and the sand-colored surroundings will really show off a TV's local dimming skills too. This movie belongs on my OLED.

DTS-HD MA 5.1 is used for the audio, and it perfectly maps all the ricocheting bullets in chaotic gunfights and delivers plenty of rumble with galloping horseback: perfect for the most powerful of sound systems.

4. Chunking Express (Criterion Collection)

Chungking Express, from legendary Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, is an anthology film of two parts that follows the love lives of two different police officers.

Before I reviewed Chungking Express in the April 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, it was another film I'd heard of but never seen. The combination of being visually intriguing, and an off-beat but engaging story, made this a must-buy.

While Chungking Express may not have had the HDR punch of the other discs on this list – it's SDR only – the latest 4K transfer has given colors extra brightness and a vivid punch, especially with reds and Faye's yellow shirt. The contrast between darkened surroundings and neon signs also shows off a TV's contrast capabilities.

A DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is included, and it's excellent for sections in the busy Hong Kong markets. Voices, clattering plates, bells and all sorts of other noises are mapped and placed perfectly meaning any multi-box home theater system or soundbar makes you feel like you're in the markets yourself.

5. Dark City

Dark City follows John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) who wakes up in a hotel bathroom, next to a body, with no memory. He must navigate through a mysterious city filled with twists and turns to work out what happened.

A recent addition to the Blu-ray Bounty featured in the July 2025 Blu-ray Bounty, I'd again heard of Dark City, but this was a first-watch. A compelling mystery movie with an excellent story, this one is definitely going into my collection. Again, it's been flying off the shelves since its launch.

Dark City is unsurprisingly, a dark movie with plenty of contrasty scenes. This 4K restoration from Arrow Video gives a visual lift to textures and details, giving them a crisp, sharpened look in all the right ways. But really, it's the lush black levels and shimmering colors and lights against the dark backgrounds that create that glorious contrast I've come to love in 4K Blu-rays.

You can choose between Dolby Atmos or DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack,s and both are accurate, precise and clear, capturing the sounds of the constantly-moving city and nerve-wracking score.

6. Batman Forever

Alright, hear me out. Batman Forever is beyond being a guilty pleasure watch for me now. I'm aware of how cheesy this movie is, but as a kid I loved it, and that has continued into my adult years as a comfort watch.

I already own the Nolan Dark Knight trilogy and The Batman on 4K Blu-ray, plus the four-pack anthology of Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin on standard Blu-ray. But I feel like the latter group needs a visual upgrade, even though I initially assumed there wouldn't be much difference.

So, imagine my surprise when I read reviews of the 4K version of Batman Forever from sites including Blu-ray.com and AVForums to learn that its "colors are breath-taking" (AVForums) and "Black levels are handsomely firm and shadow detailing is perfect" (Blu-ray.com). Apparently, this 4K native transfer looks spectacular: great news for a Forever fan like me!

According to these same reviews, even the audio is sublime, with AVForums saying of the Dolby Vision soundtrack "Dynamically, the track is terrific and always on point". So, Batman Forever nails it both visually and audibly.

I love Batman Forever and I can't wait for the 4K version to join my collection.

What 4K Blu-ray players do I recommend?

I review the players themselves, and write our list of the best 4K Blu-ray players, and if you want to get into 4K physical media I recommend the Sony UBP-X700 as the best cheaper 4K player, and the Panasonic DP-UB820 as the best overall (thanks to its better format support and tank-like build quality).

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Hello and welcome to the July edition of the Blu-ray Bounty! This is the place where I review new 4K Blu-ray releases that will make a great addition to your (by now, hopefully) flourishing collection. This month, I’ve got five new discs to look at.

If you’re new to the Blu-ray Bounty, I’ve been looking at monthly releases since November 2024, and you can find previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here.

Hands down, 4K Blu-ray is the best way to experience movies at home. At TechRadar, not only do we use it to test the best TVs, best soundbars and best 4K Blu-ray players, but many of us are avid 4K Blu-ray collectors ourselves!

My setup this month consists of the LG G5, one of the best OLED TVs of 2025, along with the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player (which returns after a brief hiatus last month) and the trusty Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar.

As always, I’m not reviewing the movies themselves; I am just looking at the visual and audio quality of each disc.

In last month’s Blu-ray Bounty, the June 2025 edition, I looked at Kingdom of Heaven, The Monkey and Taking of Pelham 123 (1975).

Sinners

Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld, is the story of twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore, who return home to Mississippi in 1932 to start fresh from a criminal life but are met by an evil force.

Sinners is visually striking, with multiple shots featuring rich black tones contrasting with the bright Mississippi sun. Textures and details are refined and crisp, and Dolby Vision HDR brings out the luscious colors throughout. Viewed on the LG G5, this movie simply looks incredible and is an excellent showpiece for an OLED TV.

Unsurprisingly, with a setting so richly ingrained with delta blues and gospel music, Sinners is an auditory feast. But it’s the scenes where the soundtrack mixes blues with hip-hop beats that are a real audio showcase. The first scene in the twins' club is a wonderful demonstration piece, with sound effects delivered with clarity, power and pinpoint accuracy, as I found listening through the Q990C soundbar.

Dark City

Dark City is a cult classic sci-fi noir mystery movie from director Alex Proyas (The Crow), and stars Rufus Sewell, Keifer Sutherland and Jennifer Connelly. It follows John Murdoch (Sewell), who, after waking up in a hotel with no memory, is suspected of murder and must navigate through a strange city to discover what’s going on.

Arrow Video has once again delivered an excellent restoration. Dark City looks brilliant, with the 4K upgrade giving the movie a much sharper look. Black levels are deep, taking on an inky quality, and high contrast scenes look perfectly balanced.

Dolby Atmos and DTS 5.1 HD-Master Audio soundtracks are on offer here, and both sound great. Sound placement is accurate and precise, and the soundstage is impressively wide. A foreboding rumble throughout the movie will test your system’s bass response, and the eerie, tense score is perfectly balanced with dialogue and effects.

Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague

A change of pace for the Blu-ray Bounty sees Hans Zimmer, one of cinema’s greatest composers, play a selection of hits from his mammoth back catalogue at a live concert in Prague with a full band and orchestra. Films featured in the performance include Gladiator, Interstellar, Inception, The Lion King, The Dark Knight and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Dolby Atmos and PCM Stereo options are available, but this concert was made for Dolby Atmos. The Atmos soundtrack has stunning clarity and is mixed for a perfect balance across all channels. The bass is powerful but controlled, with tracks like Why So Serious from The Dark Knight giving subwoofers a workout. You’re So Cool from True Romance will also test your system’s higher and mid-range frequencies with its iconic xylophone intro melody.

Cornfield Chase from Interstellar creates a full 3D surround sound effect, with the twinkling keys coming from overhead to create a feeling of being in space. The now-iconic Time from Inception is a show-stopper with goosebump-inducing strings and a full field of sound. If you have a good Dolby Atmos home theater system, you’re in for a heck of a ride with this disc.

A Hard Day’s Night

A musical-comedy film starring The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night was a critical and commercial success and earned two Academy Award nominations. Its accompanying soundtrack spawned massive hits including A Hard Day’s Night, And I Love Her, and Can’t Buy Me Love.

There are a number of sound options available, including DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround, uncompressed stereo and uncompressed monaural soundtracks. The Beatles’ iconic hits sound great in all formats, but it’s the 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix that works best.

Listened to in 5.1 surround, songs are delivered with punch and power and have a sense of width and space that the other soundtracks don’t quite provide. The mix subtly incorporates the rear channels and subwoofer, giving the songs a more fleshed-out and dynamic quality.

Visuals are just as important on this disc, and The Criterion Collection has once again delivered a great 4K restoration, with textures gaining better definition and sharpness. A Hard Day’s Night was shot in black and white, and this 4K version demonstrates a good balance between black, white and gray tones throughout.

Black Bag

A spy thriller starring Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett and Pierce Brosnan, Black Bag follows British Intelligence agent George Woodhouse (Fassbender) who must investigate a traitor within the agency, with the suspect list including his wife Kathryn (Blanchett).

Black Bag gets a solid 4K presentation with strong contrast, crisp detail and natural color reproduction. There’s no Dolby Vision HDR on this disc, but the HDR10 transfer lends an extra visual punch to the movie, which conveys a retro-1960s look.

The disc’s Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack delivers clear speech and accurate sound placement, and the minimal, 60s jazz-inspired score is nicely balanced between the 5.1 channels. This disc won’t test your home theater to its limits, but it's nonetheless a solid effort that fans of the movie will be pleased with.

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At TechRadar, we use 4K Blu-ray discs as one of the main sources in our TV and audio testing, and some of us are also collectors ourselves.

When reviewing the best TVs, best projectors and best soundbars, you want the very best quality sources, and 4K Blu-ray’s superior 128Mbps bitrate compared to 4K streaming’s 20Mbps, means you get significantly better picture and audio quality.

4K Blu-ray is so beloved here that we even started a monthly roundup called the Blu-ray Bounty, where we review the picture and audio quality of the latest 4K discs to determine if they’re a worthy addition to a collection.

If you’re new to 4K Blu-ray or looking to get into it, there are a few key components you need, and I’ve listed them below to help you get started in the wonderful world of 4K Blu-ray.

1. 4K display

To experience 4K Blu-ray in all of its 4K glory, you’re naturally going to need a 4K display. Thankfully, you can get 4K TVs for relatively cheap nowadays.

One 4K TV we at TechRadar recommend is the LG C4 OLED V. Not only does this TV deliver amazing picture quality, with deep black levels, vibrant colors, and realistic detail, but it’s also excellent value, with some big price drops since its release in 2024. Sitting at the top of our best OLED TVs guide, the C4 delivers unbeatable bang for your buck and should be top of your shopping list.

OLED is a premium TV technology, and OLED TVs tend to be expensive. If you want to save some money, the best mini-LED TVs, particularly models from Hisense and TCL, deliver excellent picture quality, but at a more affordable price.

The Hisense U7N was one of our favorites in 2024, but the step-up Hisense U8N takes things further with excellent contrast and surprisingly good black levels. The high brightness levels that both these TVs deliver also make them a good choice for daytime and bright room viewing.

As for TCL’s mini-LED TVs, we recommend the excellent TCL QM851G in the US or the TCL C855 in the UK, both 2024 models that you can now find at significantly discounted prices.

2. 4K Blu-ray player

Naturally, you’ll need something to play 4K discs on, and that’s where 4K Blu-ray players come in. While it seems like you can get relatively cheap players, it’s worth making sure you have one that not only has a good feature set but also delivers great picture quality.

Our pick for the best 4K Blu-ray player is the Panasonic DP-UB820. Priced at $499 / £349, the UB820 supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ High Dynamic Range (HDR) formats, and also delivers the most accurate and natural picture reproduction you’ll find at a mid-range price. It earned five out of five stars in my review and is the definition of value.

If you’re looking for something a little cheaper, the Sony UBP-X700 ($220 / £220) is a great budget player with Dolby Vision HDR support and superb picture reproduction.

One note: If you want to make use of a player and disc’s HDR capabilities, you’ll need to make sure your display also supports a specific HDR format. For example, if you want Dolby Vision, you’ll need to make sure the display and player both support it.

3. 4K Blu-rays

Now for the most important part: 4K Blu-ray discs. If you’re browsing through the thousands of titles available and not sure where to start, I’ve got a few discs I can wholeheartedly recommend that will show you what 4K Blu-ray is all about.

The Batman is a cornerstone for my testing, thanks to its deep blacks, excellent contrast and lifelike textures. The Batmobile/Penguin chase scene is also superb if you’re looking for a way to evaluate your TV’s speakers or an external sound system.

Wicked is a bright transfer, with eye-popping colors that will show off any display’s capabilities, and its uplifting score makes for a phenomenal audio demo. Also, Top Gun: Maverick can highlight a display’s detail and motion handling, and it will push sound systems to their limit.

You may not think black-and-white movies would be a consideration here, but 4K Blu-ray, if done right, can breathe new life into cinema classics. Double Indemnity, Seven Samurai and Godzilla (1954) are just three discs that have been featured in our Blu-ray Bounty that show how good a 4K restoration can be. For a more modern black-and-white take, Oppenheimer is a great choice and looks staggeringly good throughout.

4. Soundbar

As I found out when I tested Blu-ray and streaming side-by-side, Blu-rays, both 4K and standard, have superior audio quality compared to the best streaming services. That’s because Blu-ray carries an uncompressed version of a movie’s soundtrack, which will provide better detail and a wider dynamic range. This same situation applies to Dolby Atmos soundtracks, which are delivered using the compressed Dolby Digital Plus format for streaming.

With this in mind, if you don’t currently own a home theater audio system, you should at least consider a soundbar. Our top recommendation would be a soundbar system with a soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers, such as the 11.1.4-channel Samsung HW-Q990D or HW-Q990F.

A step-down choice would be a premium all-in-one soundbar with upfiring speakers for Dolby Atmos height effects, such as the Marshall Heston 120 or Sonos Arc Ultra. And on the budget front, we recommend the Sony HT-2000 or the Hisense AX5125H. A soundbar really can add an extra layer to your movie viewing experience, unlocking the full potential of a 4K Blu-ray’s uncompressed soundtrack.

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Welcome to the June edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, where we review some of the best 4K Blu-rays released each month that could make for a great addition to your collection. This month, we’re looking at three new titles.

If this is your first time reading, welcome! We’ve been looking at some of the best 4K Blu-ray releases since November 2024, and you can find previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here.

4K Blu-ray is one of the best ways you can experience movies. At TechRadar, we used them to test the best 4K Blu-ray players, the best TVs and the best soundbars, but some of us are also 4K disc collectors ourselves!

For this edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, we’re using a different setup from our usual. The big news is we’ve retired our reference Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV (thank you for your service) and replaced it with the LG G5, one of the best OLED TVs of 2025. And for one month only, we’ve subbed in the Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player for our trusty Panasonic DP-UB820. The soundbar remains the Samsung HW-Q990C.

As usual, I won’t be reviewing the movies themselves, but the visual and audio quality of the discs to judge whether they’re worth adding to your collection.

Last month, in May 2025’s edition, I looked at Nosferatu, Tombstone and Anora, so be sure to check out what I thought of those discs.

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Kingdom of Heaven, directed by Ridley Scott, is a fictionalised version of the events leading to the Third Crusade of Jerusalem, focusing on the protagonist Bailan of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom). It features an all-star cast including Liam Neeson, Edward Norton, David Thewlis, Jeremy Irons and Eva Green, to name a few. This 4K Blu-ray is the extended director’s cut, featuring an extra 45 minutes of footage compared to the theatrical cut.

Kingdom of Heaven is visually stunning in 4K. There are inky, rich black levels throughout and excellent contrast in shots where flames cut through shadowed areas. Textures are ultra-realistic, with weathered faces and weapons appearing truly lifelike.

Colors in furnishings, flags and elaborate garments are all given a vibrant boost by Dolby Vision HDR, with the reds of the cross and gold in jewellery and on edges of clothing in particular displayed with a dynamic punch.

Kingdom of Heaven features plenty of scenes with galloping horses, and the thunderous soundtrack will allow any subwoofer to show off its power. Speech is crystal clear throughout, and the score is well balanced with all other effects. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack’s surround effects are mostly utilized in battle scenes, where clashing swords, soaring arrows and shouting voices seem to come from all around when fed through a surround sound system.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974)

The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974)

A classic American crime drama, The Taking of Pelham 123 follows a group of criminals led by Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw), who take an entire subway car hostage and demand ransom money. Transit cop Lt. Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) must lead the negotiations in this tense thriller.

This 4K restoration from Arrow Video really gives textures and details an uplift. The colors of 1970s New York, such as yellow cabs, blue police cars and Garber’s gloriously ugly shirt, also benefit from a Dolby Vision HDR presentation that adds a vibrant yet natural look. Black levels are deep during subway scenes, and the picture’s strong contrast lets lights cut through the dark areas.

Arrow’s disc has two soundtrack options: mono and 5.1. The mono soundtrack is clear enough, though voices felt a bit quiet, and I had to crank up the volume. The 5.1 soundtrack, however, is clearer and delivers heavier bass (like the rumbling of the subway car). It also captures the busyness of New York City, with accurately placed voices and surround effects.

The Monkey (2025)

The Monkey is a dark comedy/horror about a toy monkey that brings misfortune to a family, usually with over-the-top, gory deaths. Adapted from a Stephen King story, it stars Theo James as twin brothers Hal and Bill, and also features Elijah Wood, Adam Scott and Tatiana Maslany.

The Monkey on 4K Blu-ray has Dolby Vision HDR, which brings out rich black levels and strong contrast, particularly in nighttime scenes with neon signs at a budget motel. Though used sparingly, colors are vibrant and bold. Unsurprisingly, it's the bright red of blood that benefits from the disc’s vivid HDR punch.

The disc’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack doesn’t flex its muscles fully, but it makes the eerie score sound spine-chilling enough, and creates an all-encompassing, immersive feel (get used to hearing Beside the Seaside). Plus, there’s plenty of bass impact during some of the kill scenes, and dialogue is front and center throughout. The soundtrack isn’t a technical masterpiece, but it’s just right for nighttime horror.

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Another month, another edition of the Blu-ray Bounty! This month, May 2025, I'm looking at three new 4K Blu-rays you can add to your collection.

If this is your first visit, welcome! You can find previous editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here, including a special 6-month anniversary edition I did in April 2025, where I picked my seven favorite 4K Blu-rays I’d reviewed as part of the Blu-ray Bounty.

4K Blu-ray is one of the best ways to experience movies, and we use the best 4K Blu-ray players as a source here at TechRadar to test not only the best TVs, but also the best soundbars.

This week I’m using our regular testing setup, with the Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV, Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar and Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.

As a reminder, I’m not reviewing the movie itself, but am just looking at the visual and audio quality of the 4K discs and judging whether they would make a worthy addition to your collection.

In last month's April 2025’s edition, I looked at A Complete Unknown, The Brutalist and Chungking Express, so be sure to check out what I thought of those 3 discs.

Anora

One of 2024’s most unexpected hit movies, Anora, starring Mikey Madison in the titular role, is about a stripper whose world changes when she marries a Russian oligarch’s son. This romantic, screwball comedy-drama earned several Oscars, including Best Actress for Madison.

Anora has plenty of scenes that will test your display’s abilities. Where it really shines visually is in its strip club scenes, which show great contrast between dark, shadowy rooms and punchy, colorful lights. Textures are also lifelike and look highly realistic on our reference MZ1500 OLED.

The 4K disc of Anora has a DTS-HD soundtrack, and although there aren’t many moments in this dialogue-heavy movie that will test your system sound to its limits, the nightclub scenes with pulsing dance music can give your subwoofer a workout. There are also moments with shattering glass and breaking furniture that deliver a hefty impact, and dialogue is crystal clear throughout.

Nosferatu (2024)

Robert Eggers’ take on the 1922 classic Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula and features an all-star cast including Bill Skarsgard, Lily-Rose Depp and Nicolas Hoult.

Viewed in Dolby Vision, Nosferatu has rich, deep black levels throughout. There are also plenty of high contrast scenes, with bright, flaming torches pitched against dark surroundings. Shadow detail is exceptional, even in the darkest scenes, making this an excellent disc for showing off the black level and contrast capabilities of the best OLED TVs and best mini-LED TVs.

Nosferatu’s immersive Dolby Atmos soundtrack perfectly balances the scratching strings in the tense score with clear speech and well-utilized height effects, such as pounding rain from overhead. One scene in a tomb towards the film’s finale demonstrates the soundtrack’s vivid use of effects, emphasizing the crackling fire of a torch and squeaking rats on the floor.

Tombstone

A cult classic Western, Tombstone tells the story of Wyatt Earp, a retired lawman who moves to the eponymous town and experiences trials and tribulations with a gang of cowboys. Starring Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Bill Paxton, and Sam Elliot, to name a few, the cast is a Who’s Who of popular actors from the day.

A 4K restoration plus Dolby Vision HDR does wonders for Tombstone. Textures and details have been given an uplift, giving the image a near 3D-like level of realism.

Colors jump from the screen, with the vibrant red shirt of Curly Bill and the sashes worn by his gang all benefiting from an HDR punch. Darker elements such as the night sky and jet black clothing worn by the Earp group contrast well with light tones such as the dry, sandy ground and beige buildings, giving the movie a modern look.

The disc’s DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack provides all the bombast and gusto you could hope for from an action movie like Tombstone. In the opening, the thunderous galloping of cowboys on horseback creates plenty of subwoofer rumble. Even subtle effects like clinking spurs and carefully loaded guns sound detailed.

Gunfights are presented with great clarity and accurate directional effects. With the right surround sound setup, ricocheting bullets will literally feel like they’re skimming past you.

Looking to get your hands on our setup or something similar? We've included links to the best deals on the up-to-date alternatives to our system.

Welcome to a special Blu-ray Bounty bonus edition. The Blu-ray Bounty has hit its 6-month anniversary (time flies!), and I’ve put together a roundup of the best 4K Blu-rays we’ve tested as part of my ongoing series of disc reviews.

We here at TechRadar are 4K Blu-ray fanatics. Not only for personal reasons, but because it’s also the best source for testing the best TVs and best soundbars for our reviews. Playing 4K discs through one of the best 4K Blu-ray players is a surefire way to see a movie with optimal picture and sound quality and really give a home theater system a workout.

Over the past 6 months, I’ve tested a wide variety of movies, including Golden Age Hollywood classics (Double Indemnity), contemporary action blockbusters (Gladiator II, War of the Planet of the Apes), tense thrillers (Se7en, The Sixth Sense) and lauded world-cinema hits (Chungking Express).

If you want to read any past roundups in full, you’ll find all entries of the Blu-ray Bounty here. All these discs are great for showing off your home theater, but there are some we’ve found that stand out more than others. Below, I’ve picked seven of the discs we’ve tested that are essential to add to your 4K Blu-ray collection.

One last bit of admin: reviews are based on the video and audio quality of the disc alone, not the movie itself. So without further ado, here are my best-of-the Blu-ray Bounty (so far) picks:

Alien: Romulus

What better way to start than the latest movie in the beloved Alien franchise? Set between Alien and Aliens, Alien: Romulus follows six teenagers who explore an abandoned space station, only to discover it’s inhabited by hostile alien creatures.

This made my list because it’s a visually striking movie. Throughout, there are examples of high-contrast scenes, with deep, inky blacks balanced perfectly with isolated sources of red and orange light, creating a perfectly eerie atmosphere. Textures and details are true-to-life, and Dolby Vision HDR lends even more visual punch.

The soundtrack utilizes Dolby Atmos well throughout, and there’s a spine-chilling score. Every background noise is given room to breathe, creating a real sense of immersion that adds to the palpable tension.

Double Indemnity

A Hollywood classic that would influence modern filmmaking, Double Indemnity is the story of an insurance agent who plots with a woman to off her wealthy husband under particular circumstances to get a payout.

This disc was chosen as it’s a brilliant example of what a 4K restoration can do for an older movie. The Criterion Collection’s 4K restoration breathes new life into Double Indemnity, giving textures a serious uplift in detail.

Dolby Vision HDR brings out the highlights among the full range of gray tones, adding even more refinement. I honestly couldn’t get over how superb this movie looked. Watch it on one of the best OLED TVs and you’ll be rewarded.

Wicked

The blockbuster movie adaptation of the stage musical of the same name, Wicked, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, explores the relationship between two witches, Glinda and Elphaba.

Presented in Dolby Atmos, the Wicked soundtrack has soaring vocals and a captivating and uplifting score. Wicked’s soundtrack utilizes dynamic movement, with every step in dance sequences accurately placed in space.

I was surprised by just how gorgeous this film looks. Pink and green hues are seen throughout the movie and although Dolby Vision HDR gives these a glossy, vibrant look, they don’t venture into oversaturation. Wicked is a simply stunning 4K disc.

Punch Drunk Love

Paul Thomas Anderson’s influential, love-story/mind-trip, Punch Drunk Love, follows Barry (Adam Sandler), whose life becomes a whirlwind after a call to a fake phone sex line sets off a chain of events.

Much like Wicked, this movie delivers spectacular color but in a markedly different way. Here, color is intentionally exaggerated, with Dolby Vision HDR adding a vivid quality to Barry’s blue suit and the plethora of ready-made meals in the supermarket scene. This punchy, stylized color display will show off the capabilities of any TV or one of the best 4K projectors.

Seven (Se7en)

David Fincher’s crime-thriller follows two detectives as they pursue a serial killer who is targeting victims based on the seven deadly sins, and it features one of cinema’s most infamous twists.

Much like Alien: Romulus, this is a contrast-rich 4K restoration with deep blacks and superb shadow detail, the gloomy environments balanced well with lamps and flashlights throughout. Even when light is reflected in the characters' faces, the impeccable shadow detail adds serious depth to the picture. Textures and details benefit from the 4K treatment, giving the picture a lifelike, well-defined look.

Seven’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack projects clear speech, but it’s the ever-present rain that, despite a lack of height channels in the mix, creates an immersive feel.

The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot is an animated film with a star-studded voice cast that follows the story of a robot stranded on an island, where it must learn to co-exist with the animals living there.

The Wild Robot is here because of its use of color, but for different reasons from Punch Dunk Love and Wicked. The movie’s animation style gives everything a painted effect, as if it were an oil painting, but effortlessly combines it with computer graphics. Presented in Dolby Vision HDR, the movie has a soft and natural but still punchy color range. It’s a simply stunning disc that can really show off your TV or projector’s color reproduction capabilities.

Chungking Express

Wong Kar-wai’s anthology movie tells two different stories about two different police officers: one who falls for a mysterious woman and another who falls for a restaurant server.

I chose this disc because it surprised me with its effective DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. Throughout the movie, busy nightlife and market sequences deliver clanking plates, bells, shouting voices and a whole host of other noises that are so accurately placed, I looked around me a few times while watching. If you want to test your surround speaker system, watch Chungking Express on 4K Blu-ray.

Chungking Express is the only 4K Blu-ray on the list with no HDR, but thankfully, that’s not to its detriment. It’s still an eye-catching movie with true-to-life textures and vivid colors that pop on screen.

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• Want to get into 4K Blu-ray? Here are 2 players and 5 movies to get you started

Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player review: One minute review

The Sony UBP-X800M2 is the company’s flagship 4K Blu-ray player, and it’s one that sits at an affordable price ($289 / £299 / roughly AU$481). It supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks and plays a wide variety of disc formats, including SACD. It also features built-in Wi-Fi for streaming from apps such as Netflix and Prime Video.

The Sony UBP-X800M2 delivers picture quality that competes with the best 4K Blu-ray players, showcasing accurate textures, bold colors and excellent contrast. It also demonstrates superb upscaling with both regular Blu-rays and DVDs getting a picture quality uplift. It may not maintain film grain as accurately as the rival Panasonic DP-UB820 (something for film purists to bear in mind), but it’s still an excellent player. Paired with one of the best TVs, it will serve any home theater system well.

The X800M2’s interface is on the dated and plain side, but it’s very responsive and easy enough to navigate. There are plenty of settings on offer for both video and audio, but frustratingly, its Dolby Vision setting needs to be switched off or on depending on the disc. The player itself is reassuringly sturdy for the price, though the lack of an alphanumeric front panel display is a disappointment.

While the X800M2 may not offer as much as the Panasonic DP-UB820 and doesn’t provide the same value as the step-down Sony UBP-X700, it is still a fantastic 4K Blu-ray player. Pair it with one of the best OLED TVs, and you’ll be happy.

Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player review: Prices & release date

• Release date: May 2019
• Price: $289 / £299 (roughly AU$481)

The Sony UBP-X800M2 is Sony’s flagship 4K Blu-ray player, sitting above the Sony UBP-X700. At launch in May 2019, it cost $299 / £350, putting it in direct competition with Panasonic’s mid-range 4K Blu-ray player, the Panasonic DP-UB820.

Several years on from launch, prices have remained largely unchanged for the X800M2 in the US, though discounts appear sporadically. In the UK, stock is becoming thin, with most units available second-hand. In some cases, prices have even gone up (quite dramatically in some places), but I'd only recommend buying it at or around its initial launch price.

Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player review: Specs

Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player review: Features

• Dolby Vision HDR support
• SACD playback
• Built-in Wi-Fi for streaming

The Sony X800M2 has comprehensive disc support including 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD (in multiple formats), CD and SACD, the latter of which is not supported by many 4K Blu-ray players including more premium ones like the Panasonic UB9000.

For HDR formats, the X800M2 supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 but not HDR10+. (The Panasonic DP-UB820, the X800M2’s closest rival, supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+.)

The X800M2 supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (bitstream) and decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD soundtracks. Hi-res audio is also supported via USB, including 24-bit files and DSD (11.2 mHz).

The X800M2 features two HDMI outputs, a coaxial digital audio output, a USB port for audio and video file playback, and an Ethernet port. It has built-in Wi-Fi for streaming, with access to some of the best streaming services, including Netflix and YouTube, and BBC iPlayer pre-installed for UK-based customers. There are no analogue audio outputs as found on the Panasonic DP-UB82, but there is a Bluetooth wireless output for headphones. I tested this feature when watching La La Land, and the connection was solid with only minimal delay.

The X800M2 is responsive during use and its menus are easy to navigate. There are a good number of picture settings, including multiple 4K upscaling options, and there are audio presets to improve the quality of lower-resolution files. While easy to navigate and read, the interface itself is on the plain side, and it has the same outdated look as its more budget Sony UBP-X700 counterpart.

A frustration that carries over from the Sony UBP-X700 is that Dolby Vision must be manually turned on and off per disc; it does not work automatically like on Panasonic players. Instead, with the Dolby Vision setting turned on, the X800M2 forces Dolby Vision on regardless of the disc's content.

• Features score: 4.5 / 5

Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player review: Performance

• Superb picture reproduction
• Effective upscaling
• Fast load times

The X800M2 demonstrated a short load time in my testing. It took roughly 30 seconds from a disc being loaded into the disc tray to the first logos appearing on screen, which is 5-10 seconds faster than the Panasonic DP-UB820 and a full 30 seconds faster than the Panasonic DP-UB150.

For testing, the X800M2 was connected to a Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV.

The X800M2 demonstrated superb picture quality. When viewing a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman, black levels were rich and deep, and contrast was powerful. Textures and details were true-to-life, and the Dolby Vision HDR added extra visual punch. It was a similar story with Oppenheimer: black and white scenes were presented with a full range of gray tones, creating a balanced and dynamic image.

Colors were also presented with plenty of vibrant punch. In the opening sequence of La La Land (in HDR10), the full array of brightly colored clothing on display looked natural, yet vivid. The same was true for a later scene where Mia’s yellow dress is shown against a dark backdrop, though I noticed that the X800M2 has a cooler color palette than my reference Panasonic DP-UB820 player.

The X800M2 also demonstrated brilliant upscaling. Watching the Blu-ray version of The Batman, the picture was very close to the 4K version, with only slightly softer-looking textures. A DVD of The Amazing Spider-Man didn’t quite hit 4K quality, but the clean upscaling of textures improved picture quality.

While the X800M2 demonstrated mostly accurate reproduction with films, it did smooth out some film grain, which is something purists will want to take note of. One scene I watched from a Blu-ray of Thief has a high level of film grain, and while this was mostly maintained, the picture looked overly cleaned up compared to the same disc played on the Panasonic DP-UB820. The same situation held for The Batman, an intentionally grainy movie.

The X800M2 played Dolby Atmos soundtracks flawlessly and CD playback was also issue-free.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player review: Design

• Solid, premium design
• No front-panel display
• Cheap remote

For a mid-range player, the X800M2 has a premium build quality, with a weighty, solid chassis comprised of metal and plastic. The design is typical plain black, but it looks sleek and minimal compared to rival 4K Blu-ray players.

Similar to its step-down X700 counterpart, the X800M2 does not have an alphanumeric LED display on its front panel, making it difficult to easily tell where you are in a movie or see what screen/functions you’re using. It’s disappointing that Sony’s flagship player lacks this feature, which is one that Panasonic’s players provide.

The X800M2’s supplied remote is functional, but sadly feels cheap. It’s an improvement on the smaller one supplied with the Sony X700, but it’s still not as easy to use as the remotes supplied with Panasonic’s 4K players.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player review: Value

• Good features and performance for the price
• Step-down X700 is a better value

At $289 / £299, the Sony UBP-X800M2 is a great mid-range 4K Blu-ray player, but one that sits in an awkward spot. It has great features, including Wi-Fi for streaming, and its picture quality and responsiveness are excellent for a mid-range 4K Blu-ray player. In the UK, however, the similarly priced Panasonic DP-UB820 with its more comprehensive HDR support is probably the better option. And in the US, the step-down Sony X700 is significantly cheaper than the X800M2 and offers better overall bang for your buck.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Sony UBP-X800M2 4K Blu-ray player

• Tested using a variety of discs including 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and CD
• Tested with Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV

For my testing of the Sony UBP-X800M2, I connected it to a Panasonic MZ1500 OLED, a TV with Dolby Vision HDR support.

To test the X800M2's video and audio quality, I predominantly used reference scenes from 4K Blu-rays, including The Batman, La La Land, Top Gun Maverick, and more.

I used several regular Blu-rays, including Thief, and DVDs such as The Amazing Spider-man to analyse the X800M2's upscaling.

I also evaluated the X800M2's video and audio settings, its menu layout and its streaming capabilities.

• First reviewed: April 2025
• Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee

We’re back for the April 2025 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, where we’ll be looking at three new 4K Blu-rays you can add to your now hopefully budding collection.

If this is your first visit (welcome!), you can check out past editions of the Blu-ray Bounty here. We’re all big fans of 4K Blu-ray, and this column gives us a chance to indulge in one of our hobbies: looking at more discs to add to our shelves already bursting with 4K Blu-rays.

4K Blu-ray is one of the best ways you can enjoy your favorite movies. Combining one of the best 4K Blu-ray players with one of the best TVs and best soundbars makes for the best movie-watching experience you can get other than making a trip to the cinema. Also, 4K Blu-ray is one of our go-to sources when testing AV equipment at TechRadar.

I'm using our regular testing setup this month: the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, the Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV and the Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar system.

As always, we’re not reviewing the movies themselves but just looking at what visual and audio qualities each disc can bring to your home theater system.

In the previous edition of the Blu-ray Bounty from March 2025, we discussed why Wicked, Constantine and Gladiator II would all make great additions to any 4K Blu-ray collection. Here are our April picks:

The Brutalist

The Brutalist is an epic period drama that depicts the journey of László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor, to post-war America in pursuit of the American Dream, documenting his and his family's lives and struggles. The movie won three Oscars in 2025, including Best Actor for Brody.

The movie has a vintage look, reminiscent of movies of the 1950s. Interestingly, there is no HDR, probably to help with the vintage style, and it works. Colors are natural yet visually striking, capturing the essence of a 50s advert. Film grain is well displayed and maintained throughout.

In scenes with high contrast, the balance between light and dark tones is perfectly displayed, with solid blacks. Textures and details are also refined and realistic, both in environments such as the Pennsylvania construction sites and a New York City trip, and in the actors’ hair and skin.

While The Brutalist isn’t the best choice to show off your sound system, its Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack delivers exactly what’s needed for the film. Speech is clear throughout – important for this dialogue-heavy movie. And the score, which ranges from idyllic to foreboding, with jazz thrown in, is spacious and punchy.

Chungking Express

Chungking Express is an anthology crime drama telling two separate stories about lovesick Hong Kong policemen. It takes place in various Hong Kong districts, with scenes of busy markets and nightlife.

As another HDR-free transfer, Chungking Express won’t test the limits of your home cinema. However, its picture quality is engaging, with crisp textures and details, and a natural and sometimes striking color palette, particularly during nighttime sequences with neon signs against dark backdrops.

The 4K Blu-ray’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack perfectly captures the chaotic, bustling streets of Hong Kong. Chatting voices, clinking glasses and traffic are accurately placed, and the surround channels are used to great effect, creating an immersive feel.

Music also plays a prominent role in Chungking Express, with a jazzy, tense score in the first portion, along with popular songs such as California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and the Papas.

A Complete Unknown

A Complete Unknown is a music biopic about legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, and it stars one of the current popular faces of Hollywood, Timothée Chalamet, as Dylan. The film follows the early parts of Dylan’s career, centered on his first years in New York City.

Where else to start a music biopic discussion than with the soundtrack? Live concert sequences are delivered with power, but the sound is crucially given room to breathe during the more intimate moments in solo, acoustic performances.

Dolby Atmos effects evoke the atmosphere of clubs and the hustle and bustle of 1960s New York, with its car horns, construction sites and conversations. All of this is delivered precisely, with accurate placement of sounds.

In Dolby Vision, the disc’s colors are dynamic and punchy yet still natural – something demonstrated by the iconic, yellow New York taxis. The picture overall has a vintage look, with film grain adding to the effect.

Textures and details are true-to-life throughout, as seen in skin, clothing and musical instruments. And the contrast is excellent, especially in scenes where stage lights blend with the dark surroundings of the underground clubs early in the movie.

Want to get a similar home theater setup to ours? Below, I've linked the closest available alternatives you can buy.

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Welcome to the March 2025 edition of the Blu-ray Bounty, where we’ll be looking at three 4K discs released in March 2025 that you could add to your (hopefully) growing collection.

If this is your first time here, you can read past entries of the Blu-ray Bounty here. This is where we at TechRadar get to indulge in our love of 4K Blu-ray by exploring the latest releases in the 4K world.

4K Blu-ray is the best way to experience movies on your home theater, as combining one of the best 4K Blu-ray players, best TVs and best soundbars into one entertainment powerhouse package can give you the cinema experience at home. Plus, it’s our favorite way to test TVs and soundbars here at TechRadar!

In our last Blu-ray Bounty in February 2025, we looked at The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Winchester 73’ and Punch Drunk Love as three titles that could make great additions to any collection. This month, I’ve picked Wicked, Constantine and Gladiator II.

I’m sticking with my trusty setup of the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV and Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar to put these discs through their paces.

As always, I’m not reviewing the movies themselves; I'm just highlighting new options with some visual and/or audio qualities to show off the power of 4K Blu-ray.

Wicked

The movie adaptation of one of the world’s most popular stage musicals, Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It follows the story of how Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) (the wicked witch and good witch respectively in The Wizard of Oz) came to meet one another and forge an unlikely friendship.

Wicked is of course a musical so sound is critical. Thankfully, it uses every ounce of its Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Soaring, powerful vocals from both Grande and Erivo are crystal clear, and balanced well with the uplifting score, which when given a proper soundbar or sound system to play through will be a real showcase.

Interesting movement in the sound is presented in every musical number with excellent accuracy. It’s a seriously engaging Atmos soundtrack that even manages to capture the surround effects with serious detail. Musical fans with a home theater system; take note.

Visually, Wicked is a veritable feast for the eyes. With Dolby Vision HDR support, it’s a visually striking movie with gorgeous, bright and dynamic colors that really benefit from that Dolby Vision touch.

Pink and green play a critical role in the movie and thankfully, are presented in a stunning manner. From Glinda’s sickly-sweet pink outfits to Elphaba’s green skin and the dazzling greens of the Emerald City, colors somehow are both accurate and shockingly punchy.

Even in darker scenes, however, black levels and contrast are authentic and balanced. Put this movie on one of the best OLED TVs or one of the best mini-LED TVs.

Constantine

Somewhat of a cult ‘comic book’ movie, 2005’s Constantine follows the exploits of John Constantine (Keanu Reeves), based on the DC Comics character of the same name, who is a demon-hunting exorcist with otherworldly powers, finds himself tasked by Detective Angela (Rachel Weisz) to investigate her twin sister’s mysterious death.

There’s no getting around the fact that Constantine has a very distinct color palette, with the grimy browns and reds of hell and the pale, beige whites in the skies being the predominant colors. Still, this 4K HDR release presents these colors with real accuracy and plenty of detail.

It’s also a high-contrast movie, with plenty of dark scenes, blending with minimal light. Black levels, contrast and shadow detail are all excellent throughout the movie and textures, especially skin tones, are presented with a true-to-source look.

Audio-wise, Constantine’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack captures all the gusto you could hope for in an action movie. The often pounding score is suitably tense and immersive, but speech and other effects aren’t lost in the mix. Any shootouts or fight sequences carry plenty of heft, with bass giving thumping sound effects a nice boost and the direction of sound is connected well with the action on screen.

Gladiator II

The sequel to Ridley Scott’s action-blockbuster epic, Gladiator II is the story of Lucius (Paul Mescal), son of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator’s protagonist), who after years of life in exile is captured to fight in the Colosseum in Rome. The movie also features Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and more.

Gladiator II’s greatest strength lies in its Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Engaging, immersive and downright meaty, every combat sequence has real punch. Slicing swords are presented with superb detail and the action and sound are always working in tandem.

In the chaotic opening battle, arrows whistle through the air and feel like they’re either raining down or swooping past. The rousing score is nicely mixed with the other elements of the soundtrack, never overpowering speech or other effects.

In terms of visuals, Gladiator II has a very brown-and-beige heavy color scheme. While these are presented accurately, it’s moments when the gold of the throne and outfits of the emperors or the reds of the Roman headpieces add that extra visual punch. Scenes in dark rooms with torchlight show great contrast and black levels and textures are realistic, with every bit of sweat, blood and mud on characters’ faces looking authentic.

Looking to get a similar setup to ours? Below, we've listed the closest available models to what we use (our TV and soundbar are a couple of years old).

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Welcome to February's Blu-ray Bounty column, looking at interesting new 4K Blu-ray releases from February 2025 that will make a fine addition to your home theater hardware.

Blu-ray Bounty is where we indulge TechRadar's institutional love of the rich quality of 4K Blu-ray discs – you can read all the Blu-ray Bounty entries here. We fire up the best 4K Blu-ray players in order see what the best TVs can really do during our reviews, and naturally we use them to push the best soundbars to their full potential.

In January's 4K Blu-ray round-up, we looked at why The Wild Robot, Se7en, and Seven Samurai (1954) all make great additions to your collection. This month, I've picked The Last Voyage of the Demeter and a couple of Criterions: Winchester ’73 and Punch Drunk Love.

As ever, I tested these discs on a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, with a Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV capable of supporting all forms of HDR, and the Samsung HW-Q990C Dolby Atmos soundbar.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter

A fun idea for riffing on a classic: The Last Voyage of the Demeter basically tells just the story of the ship that carried Dracula to England, building on the ship's log from the original Stoker story. It wasn't much of a hit, but it has something I can't resist: a superb Dolby Atmos soundtrack.

This is a great surround-sound showpiece right from the opening scene, with rain falling precisely across the screen and thunder rumbling from behind. And it goes on from there – as the ill-fated Demeter sets out into choppy waters, you get a great sense of the waves crashing across the front, and the wind and rain whipping around the sides and rear. A hand knocking on wood echoes around the still air, distinctly moving around the room convincingly. Creepy whispers and the creaks inside the ship layer in the mix all over – it really makes the most of its setting, and of the abilities of Dolby Atmos, to create its atmosphere.

It’s a very contrasty movie visually, too, and while I have mixed feelings about the cinematography overall, it’s a solid showcase for the best OLED TVs. Lots of shots fill the frame with great sections of inky black, while other scenes use barely visible details in the darkness to build the tension. It helps that it has an impressive physical ship set to make great use of for these shots. You’re not getting a better contrast-y showcase than Se7en, from last month’s list, but that’s fine – it’s the sound that sells this disc for me.

Winchester ’73

Let’s move from a movie you should primarily own for its audio prowess, to one you absolutely should not buy if audio impact is your goal. It’s not very often that the sound readout on my Blu-ray player reports “1ch” – but you’re getting mono audio in glorious LPCM here. It’s really well mixed, clear and presents dialogue impeccably, so it’s an excellent example of the form – but don’t expect to give your speakers a workout.

The title card says that this movie is about the Winchester rifle, the “gun that won the West”, which is true in the same way The Lord of the Rings is about the One Ring – what the movie will show us is how such a prize as owning a super-rare Winchester interacts with the varying morals and character of people in the Old West. The titular gun, one of only 1,000 in existence at the time and coveted by all, is won fairly by Lin (James Stewart) early in the movie, then immediately stolen by his nemesis, Dutch. Dutch then loses it in a dodgy poker game, then it's taken forcefully by a Native American tribe… it's a more dangerous thing to carry than it is to use. Following the gun over even just a short time shows the cruel tapestry of life at the time, while Lin and Dutch both work to track it down, heading towards an inevitable showdown.

The advantage of this 4K restoration is less in its ultra-sharp detail and texture (a beautiful soft film grain plays over the latter, as long as your TV’s processing allows it to) though it can be wonderfully crisp, especially since its broad depth of field keeps the background clear at all times, making its towns feels large and its rooms feel worn-in. Visually, what plays well here is nuance across the gray and dark tones, especially in the shooting compeition scenes near the start, where deep dark hat tones meet a plethora of clothing tones, light skin tones, and white targets. It’s a very fine example of capturing and highlighting the quality of film from the time.

Punch-Drunk Love

Paul Thomas Anderson's strange love-story-meets-mild-thriller was incredibly influential. It follows Barry (Adam Sandler), a seller of novelty tchotchkes and junk, whose lonely life gets nudged off balance by the sudden arrival of a crash, a woman, and a piano. And then some heavies from a fake phone sex line turn up to try to extort money out of him, while his many, many sisters try to ruin his life (accidentally? on purpose?). It makes more sense when you watch it.

This 4K Dolby Vision HDR presentation is so striking in its use of color, really popping the vibrance of Barry’s blue suit, the spectrum of ready meals in the supermarket, the warm wood of the piano, the visual art between scenes – all contrasted against the more muted palate of most of the rest of the world. It’s vibrant in a way that movies rarely try to be any more, and is so beautiful for it – it’s a way to show off the richness of a great TV or projector without resorting to super-stylized animation. You've got beautiful ’00s chemically-processed colors here in gorgeous HDR.

It’s a great audio presentation too – the movie has its powerfully dynamic moments that the Dolby Atmos track is able to really jump on, and the ambient and background noises that the movie relies on are mixed just-so. Like the colors, the audio is just a little over-real, exactly as it’s supposed to be.

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