I test 4K Blu-rays for a living and these are the 12 discs I’d buy movie lovers for Christmas

4K Blu-ray is a staple source for testing the best TVs and the best soundbars here at TechRadar and has been for years. In late 2024, I started the Blu-ray Bounty, a monthly column where we review the best new 4K discs from each month, testing how they can help really show off what your home theater can do.

I've been fortunate enough to test some amazing discs this year and just in time for choosing Christmas gifts, I've whittled down the list to 12 of my favorites that I'd recommend for movie lovers.

If you're looking to see what 4K is really capable of for older movies, Double Indemnity looks fantastic, with textures benefitting from a real visual upgrade. Seven Samurai also looks incredible and paired with one of the best OLED TVs, you'll be treated to strong contrast with these black and white movies.

If you want some real visual pop on screen, both The Mask and Edward Scissorhands have superb color reproduction, delivering bright, vibrant hues throughout. Mini-LED TV owners will be thoroughly rewarded with these two discs.

Looking for a disc to test your sound system? You can't go wrong with Wicked and its sweeping, powerful tracks or The Sound of Music's iconic track list – I found that both utilized Dolby Atmos impressively. Sinners is another brilliant demonstration disc, with one barn scene showing off directionality and sound mapping excellently.

Whether you're just getting into 4K Blu-ray having bought one of the best 4K Blu-ray players or you're an ardent collector, these discs are my top recommendations.

Written by

Written by

James Davidson

I'm TechRadar's lead TV tester and 4K Blu-ray is an essential part of my testing process. I know which discs look good and sound good and which are best for getting the most from your home theater. I'm also a 4K Blu-ray collector myself and I'm always adding to my growing collection!

My 12 favorite 4K Blu-rays I've tested

The best 4K Blu-ray players for all budgets

➡️ Read our full guide to the best 4k Blu-ray players
1. Best overall
Panasonic DP-UB820
2. Best budget
Sony UBP-X700
3. Best premium
Panasonic DP-UB9000

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