Contemporary Fantasy

dir. Andrew Haigh

S-Tier Criterion 4K. The distribution company fumbled the theatrical release badly and Criterion picked it up. Andrew Haigh's film got award season praise but barely any audience.

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Greta Gerwig

S-Tier Warner Bros. 4K. Greta Gerwig's pink juggernaut. The 4K disc was a big seller.

Warner Bros. · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Mamoru Hosoda

S-Tier All The Anime 4K. Mamoru Hosoda's animated film.

All The Anime · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Stephen Gaghan

S-Tier 4K. Shot in 70mm Todd-AO so the transfer has more to work with than most modern family films. Nobody defends the movie but the disc is gorgeous, and that's interesting on its own.

dir. Hironobu Sakaguchi

S-Tier Sony 4K. The 2001 video game adaptation. An early CGI curiosity on 4K.

Sony Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Gints Zilbalodis

S-Tier Criterion 4K. Gints Zilbalodis' animated film about a cat in a flood. Criterion release.

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Kazuki Ōmori

S-Tier Criterion 4K. Part of the Godzilla Showa era set. Criterion's Godzilla releases are for the dedicated collector.

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Joe Dante

S-Tier Warner Bros. 4K. Spielberg-produced creature comedy. WB's 80s catalog on 4K is reliable.

Warner Bros. · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Harold Ramis

S-Tier Sony 4K. Bill Murray relives the same day. The 4K disc has been a steady seller for Sony.

Sony Pictures · Steelbook

dir. Henry Koster

S-Tier Universal 4K. Jimmy Stewart and a giant invisible rabbit. The transfer is warm and clean.

Universal Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Ron Howard

S-Tier Warner Bros. 4K. The 25th anniversary steelbook remaster fixes the oversaturated colors from the old transfer. There's also a separate 4K of the 1966 animated special, which people are hoping comes in under $15 USD for 26 minutes of runtime. The Whoville production design has a lot of color and texture at this resolution.

Warner Bros. · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. S.J. Clarkson

S-Tier Sony 4K. The superhero film that became an ironic collector's item. People buy this for bad movie nights and steelbook completionism. The steelbook art is actually nice, which people acknowledged while also calling it a terrible film. "This one is for the true 4K sickos" was the prevailing sentiment.

Sony Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Hayao Miyazaki

While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."

Shout! Factory · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski

Véronique is a beautiful young French woman who aspires to be a renowned singer; Weronika lives in Poland, has a similar career goal and looks identical to Véronique, though the two are not related. The film follows both women as they contend with the ups and downs of their individual lives, with Véronique embarking on an unusual romance with Alexandre Fabbri, a puppeteer who may be able to help her with her existential issues.

Curzon Film · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Tarsem Singh

Umbrella Entertainment's S-Tier 4K. Tarsem Singh shot this thing like a painting and the HDR finally lets you see it that way. Every frame looks like it was graded for OLED.

Umbrella Entertainment · 4K Ultra HD

dir. Frank Darabont

Warner S-Tier 4K. The Green Mile steelbook kept selling out at Gruv and getting restocked, with people stuck on backorders for weeks. The Darabont/King emotional gut-punch lands differently at this resolution, and the HDR gives the prison interiors depth the old Blu-ray flattened.

Warner Bros. · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Nicolas Roeg

Thomas Jerome Newton is an alien who has come to Earth in search of water to save his home planet. Aided by lawyer Oliver Farnsworth, Thomas uses his knowledge of advanced technology to create profitable inventions. While developing a method to transport water, Thomas meets Mary-Lou, a quiet hotel clerk, and begins to fall in love with her. Just as he is ready to leave Earth, Thomas is intercepted by the U.S. government, and his entire plan is threatened.

StudioCanal · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Stephen Sommers

Dashing legionnaire Rick O'Connell stumbles upon the hidden ruins of Hamunaptra while in the midst of a battle to claim the area in 1920s Egypt. It has been over three thousand years since former High Priest Imhotep suffered a fate worse than death as a punishment for a forbidden love—along with a curse that guarantees eternal doom upon the world if he is ever awoken.

Universal Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Rob Reiner

In this enchantingly cracked fairy tale, the beautiful Princess Buttercup and the dashing Westley must overcome staggering odds to find happiness amid six-fingered swordsmen, murderous princes, Sicilians and rodents of unusual size. But even death can't stop these true lovebirds from triumphing.

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Ingmar Bergman

When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.

BFI · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. John Carpenter

The church enlists a team of vampire-hunters to hunt down and destroy a group of vampires searching for an ancient relic that will allow them to exist in sunlight.

Shout! Factory · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. John Hughes

Two unpopular teenagers, Gary and Wyatt, fail at all attempts to be accepted by their peers. Their desperation to be liked leads them to "create" a woman via their computer. Their living and breathing creation is a gorgeous woman, Lisa, whose purpose is to boost their confidence level by putting them into situations which require Gary and Wyatt to act like men.

Arrow Video · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Spike Jonze

Max imagines running away from his mom and sailing to a far-off land where large talking beasts—Ira, Carol, Douglas, the Bull, Judith and Alexander—crown him as their king, play rumpus, build forts and discover secret hideaways.

Arrow Video · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Robert Zemeckis

'Toon star Roger is worried that his wife Jessica is playing pattycake with someone else, so the studio hires detective Eddie Valiant to snoop on her. But the stakes are quickly raised when Marvin Acme is found dead and Roger is the prime suspect.

Walt Disney Studios · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Wim Wenders

Two angels, Damiel and Cassiel, glide through the streets of Berlin, observing the bustling population, providing invisible rays of hope to the distressed but never interacting with them. When Damiel falls in love with lonely trapeze artist Marion, the angel longs to experience life in the physical world, and finds — with some words of wisdom from actor Peter Falk — that it might be possible for him to take human form.

Curzon Film · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Zack Snyder

Determined to ensure Superman's ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.

dir. Joel Schumacher

A-Tier 4K. The most divisive Batman film and the neon production design actually works in HDR. Schumacher's Gotham is garish on purpose and the 4K presentation leans into it.

dir. Tim Burton

The monstrous Penguin, who dwells in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with corrupt mayoral candidate Max Shreck to topple the Batman once and for all. But when Shreck's timid assistant Selina Kyle finds out, and Shreck tries to kill her, she's transformed into the sexy Catwoman. She teams up with the Penguin and Shreck to destroy Batman, but sparks fly unexpectedly when she confronts the caped crusader.

dir. Mike Flanagan

Still scarred by the trauma he endured as a child at the Overlook Hotel, Dan Torrance faces the ghosts of the past when he meets Abra, a courageous teen who possesses a powerful extrasensory ability called the "shine".

Warner Bros. · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. James Signorelli

Arriving in the small town of Fallwell, Massachusetts to claim her inheritance, horror hostess Elvira receives a less than enthusiastic reception from the conservative locals, including her sinister uncle Vincent.

Arrow Video · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Ivan Reitman

A-Tier Sony 4K. Who you gonna call. Multiple packaging options, same disc.

Sony Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Frank Capra

A-Tier Paramount 4K. The steelbook drops to $9.96 USD on Amazon pretty regularly, which makes it an easy December pickup. The 4K disc is black and white, and the included Blu-ray is the colorized version. Black and white films actually benefit a lot from HDR because you get more shades of gray and better contrast. The UK steelbook has two B&W discs while the US version splits color and B&W across formats.

Paramount Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Michael Dougherty

When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers.

dir. Paul W.S. Anderson

A-Tier transfer reviewed on hidef-digest and avforums. Sits quietly in collections without much discussion, but YouTube search is spiking on it, which usually means new buyers are finding it.

Sony Pictures · 4K Ultra HD

dir. Sally Potter

England, 1600. Queen Elizabeth I promises Orlando, a young nobleman obsessed with poetry, that she will grant him land and fortune if he agrees to satisfy a very particular request.

dir. Gore Verbinski

A-Tier Disney 4K. Third Pirates film. Disney's 4K treatment of the Pirates franchise has been a sore spot, with the first film's transfer widely considered one of the worst 4Ks ever made.

Walt Disney Studios · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg

A-Tier Disney 4K. Fifth Pirates film with a 3.0 overall score, which is rough. No relevant collector discussion beyond a steelbook listing.

Walt Disney Studios · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Rob Letterman

In a world where people collect pocket-size monsters (Pokémon) to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent monster who seeks to be a detective.

dir. Richard Donner

People bought the Blu-ray for $6 USD and immediately turned around to buy the 4K anyway. A-Tier holiday film that shows up on everyone's Christmas rotation list alongside Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and It's a Wonderful Life. Complaints about barebones special features are the only recurring negative. Bill Murray doing his thing is the entire selling point, and the disc delivers on that.

Paramount Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Destin Daniel Cretton

Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

dir. Matthew Vaughn

Paramount A-Tier 4K. Neil Gaiman's fairy tale adventure has a devoted following and people were excited about the 4K announcement. The steelbook had some quality control issues with cases not closing properly, which is a recurring Paramount problem. The upgrade from Blu-ray is described as modest by owners who've compared them.

Paramount Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro

A scientist in a surrealist society kidnaps children to steal their dreams, hoping that they slow his aging process.

Sony Pictures

dir. Guillermo del Toro

Spain, 1939. In the last days of the Spanish Civil War, the young Carlos arrives at the Santa Lucía orphanage, where he will make friends and enemies as he follows the quiet footsteps of a mysterious presence eager for revenge.

Sony Pictures · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Rob Minkoff

Lionsgate A-Tier 4K. Chan and Jet Li in the same frame, which is enough of a reason for martial arts collectors. The wire work and production design benefit from the extra resolution even if the film itself is lightweight.

Lionsgate · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Johnnie To

While one tough woman with an invisible robe has stolen 18 babies for her powerful master, two other tough women and the cops try to stop her.

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Eli Roth

When ten-year-old Lewis is suddenly orphaned, he is sent to live with his Uncle Jonathan in a creaky (and creepy) old mansion with a mysterious ticking noise that emanates from the walls. Upon discovering that his uncle is a warlock, Lewis begins learning magic, but when he rebelliously resurrects an evil warlock he must find the secret of the house and save the world from destruction.

dir. Fred Dekker

Count Dracula returns to the world of humans accompanied by Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and the Gillman. The uglies are in search of a powerful amulet that will grant them the ability to rule the world. A group of horror-loving heroes are the only ones daring to stand in their way.

Kino Lorber · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Jim Sharman

After getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, newly engaged couple Brad and Janet encounter the eerie mansion of the flamboyant, seductive Dr. Frank-N-Furter and a variety of eccentric characters. Through elaborate dance and rock music, the mad scientist unveils his latest creation: a perfect, muscular man.

Walt Disney Studios · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Chris Weitz

Forks, Washington resident Bella Swan is reeling from the departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen, and finds comfort in her friendship with Jacob Black, a werewolf. But before she knows it, she's thrust into a centuries-old conflict, and her desire to be with Edward at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks.

Lionsgate · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Taika Waititi

After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who now wields Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. Together they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

dir. Mel Stuart

When eccentric candy man Willy Wonka promises a lifetime supply of sweets and a tour of his chocolate factory to five lucky kids, penniless Charlie Bucket seeks the golden ticket that will make him a winner.

Warner Bros. · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Patty Jenkins

An Amazon princess comes to the world of Man in the grips of the First World War to confront the forces of evil and bring an end to human conflict.

Warner Bros. · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Patty Jenkins

A botched store robbery places Wonder Woman in a global battle against a powerful and mysterious ancient force that puts her powers in jeopardy.

dir. Guy Ritchie

A kindhearted street urchin named Aladdin embarks on a magical adventure after finding a lamp that releases a wisecracking genie while a power-hungry Grand Vizier vies for the same lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

dir. Emir Kusturica

An Inuit hunter races his sled home with a fresh-caught halibut. This fish pervades the entire film, in real and imaginary form. Meanwhile, Axel tags fish in New York as a naturalist's gofer. He's happy there, but a messenger arrives to bring him to Arizona for his uncle's wedding. It's a ruse to get Axel into the family business. In Arizona, Axel meets two odd women: vivacious, needy, and plagued by neuroses and familial discord. He gets romantically involved with one, while the other, rich but depressed, plays accordion tunes to a gaggle of pet turtles.

StudioCanal · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. David F. Sandberg

Billy Batson and his foster siblings, who transform into superheroes by saying "Shazam!", are forced to get back into action and fight the Daughters of Atlas, who they must stop from using a weapon that could destroy the world.

dir. Terry Gilliam

An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits.

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Alan Taylor

Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

dir. Brian Taylor

Hellboy and a rookie BPRD agent get stranded in 1950s rural Appalachia. There, they discover a small community haunted by witches, led by a local devil with a troubling connection to Hellboy's past: the Crooked Man.

dir. Richard Fleischer

Arrow's 4K fixes the teal push that plagued the StudioCanal version. Color comparisons on blu-ray.com forums show a clear difference, though opinions split roughly 50/50 on whether Arrow's slightly darker grade is better or just different. C-Tier is fair for the film itself, but the Arrow disc is at least the right version to own.

Arrow Video · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Gore Verbinski

When wily pirate Captain Barbossa seizes Jack Sparrow’s beloved ship, the Black Pearl, and kidnaps the governor’s daughter, Elizabeth Swann, blacksmith Will Turner reluctantly teams up with the unpredictable pirate Jack to rescue her—only to uncover a terrifying curse that turns Barbossa’s crew into the undead.

dir. Jared Hess

Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve.

dir. King Hu

Gu Sheng-zhai, an artist in his early 30s, still lives with his mother, but he is suddenly shaken by the arrival of Yang Hui-zhen, a mysterious princess on the run. Yang brings Gu into her circle of protectors, including a nameless monk whose spiritual guidance transforms him into a valiant fighter.

dir. Ugo Bienvenu

10-year-old Arco lives in a far future. During his first flight in his rainbow suit, he loses control and falls into the past. Iris, a girl his age from 2075, comes to his rescue and tries by all means to help send him back to his era.

Neon · 4K Ultra HD

dir. Stuart Gillard

Elaine "Ellie" Harrison has just moved from Minnesota to Annapolis, Maryland while her parents take a year-long sabbatical to continue their medieval studies in nearby Washington D.C. Her new high school, Avalon High, seems like a typical high school with the stereotypical students: Lance the jock, Jennifer the cheerleader, Marco, the bad boy/desperado, and Will, the senior class president, quarterback, and all around good guy. But not everyone at Avalon High is who they appear to be, not even Ellie herself. Eventually, it becomes apparent that Avalon High is a situation where the ancient Arthurian legend is repeating itself.

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray Special Edition

dir. Noriyuki Abe

A mysterious reiatsu (spiritual particle) explosion occurs in the center of Seireitei in Soul Society, causing it to be destroyed. At the exact same time, a major change overwhelms Kuchiki Rukia, which leaves her losing something important inside. Urahara Kisuke sends Kurosaki Ichigo to Soul Society to investigate the disturbance. Upon reaching Seireitei, Ichigo is attacked by his ally shinigamis.

88 Films · 4K + Blu-ray (Restored)

dir. Frank Coraci

Sony 4K announcement, the Sandler catalog getting a run. The thread likes the film but doesn't trust Sony's pricing, with several people saying they'll wait for a sale.

Sony Pictures · 4K Ultra HD + Digital

dir. William Dear

Drops the same day as The Great Outdoors, director commentary included and new artwork. 'Not needed but very welcome' is the honest verdict. If you have the Blu-ray, this is an easy upgrade.

Kino Lorber · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans

When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums, they're using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats.

Criterion Collection · 4K Ultra HD

dir. Steven Brill

After the lord of darkness decides he will not cede his throne to any of his three sons, the two most powerful of them escape to Earth to create a kingdom for themselves. This action closes the portal filtering sinful souls to Hell and causes Satan to wither away. He must send his most weak but beloved son, Little Nicky, to Earth to return his brothers to Hell.

dir. Albert Lewin

Pandora Reynolds is a woman who has never fallen in love – but one who men kill and die for. When she meets dashing and mysterious ship's captain Hendrik van der Zee, he pushes her to commit the ultimate act of love.

Cohen Media Group · 4K Ultra HD

dir. James Bidgood

An outrageous erotic poem focusing on the daydreams of a beautiful boy prostitute who, from the seclusion of his ultra-kitsch apartment, conceives a series of interlinked narcissistic fantasies populated by matadors, dancing boys, slaves, and leather-clad bikers.

BFI · Restored

dir. Gary Ross

The black-and-white to color transition is one of those visual gimmicks that was made for the 4K HDR format. The satire still works and the disc gives the color shifts more room to breathe than streaming ever could.

dir. Luis Buñuel

Simon, a deeply religious man living in the 4th century, wants to be nearer to God so he climbs a column. The Devil wants him come down to Earth and is trying to seduce him.

Radiance Films · Restored

dir. Shunsuke Nakashige

Over a decade after 'gates' connecting worlds appeared, awakening 'hunters' with superpowers, weakest hunter Sung Jinwoo encounters a double dungeon and accepts a mysterious quest, becoming the only one able to level up, changing his fate. A catch-up recap of the first season coupled with an exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes of the highly anticipated second season in one momentous theatrical fan experience.

dir. Rupert Wainwright

A young woman with no strong religious beliefs, Frankie Paige begins having strange and violent experiences, showing signs of the wounds that Jesus received when crucified. When the Vatican gets word of Frankie's situation, a high-ranking cardinal requests that the Rev. Andrew Kiernan investigate her case. Soon Kiernan realizes that very sinister forces are at work, and tries to rescue Frankie from the entity that is plaguing her.

Altitude · 4K Ultra HD

dir. Jaco Van Dormael

God lives in Brussels. On Earth though, God is a coward, morally pathetic and odious to his family. His daughter, Ea, is bored at home and can't stand being locked up in a small apartment in ordinary Brussels, until the day she decides to revolt against her dad...

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray Special Edition

dir. Arna Selznick

The Care Bears team up with a troubled brother and sister who just moved to a new town to help a neglected young magician's apprentice whose evil spell book causes sinister things to happen.

Altitude · 4K Ultra HD

dir. Luis Buñuel

After a lavish dinner party, the guests find themselves unable to depart... and, over the next few days, all of their elaborate societal pretenses and façades deteriorate as they are reduced to living like animals.

Radiance Films · Restored

dir. Jan de Bont

Dr. David Marrow invites three distinct individuals to the eerie and isolated Hill House to be subjects for a sleep disorder study. The unfortunate guests discover that Marrow is far more interested in the sinister mansion itself — and they soon see the true nature of its horror.

Scream Factory · 4K + Blu-ray

dir. Kevin Connor

Major Ben McBride organizes a mission to the Antarctic wastes to search for his friend who has been missing in the region for several years. McBride's party find themselves in a world populated by primitive warriors and terrifying prehistoric creatures, all of whom they must evade in order to get back safely

Final Cut Entertainment · Limited Edition

dir. Philip Gelatt, Morgan Galen King

When ancient dark magic falls into sinister hands and unleashes ages of suffering onto mankind, a group of heroes from different eras and cultures must band together in order to defeat it at all costs.

dir. Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath

Steelbook art is getting called lazy but the design is actually Rosalina's storybook from the game, which has people cautiously into it. The Yoshi Egg tin edition feels like a mid-2000s collector gimmick. Best Buy has a 40th Anniversary mini steelbook exclusive tied to a gift card purchase, and collectors are annoyed that Best Buy wants back in after abandoning physical media.

dir. Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell

When Prince Ahmad is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar, he joins forces with the scrappy thief Abu to win back his royal place, as well as the heart of a beautiful princess.

dir. Adrien Beau

The Marquis d’Urfé finds refuge in the home of a strange family after becoming lost in a hostile forest while working as an emissary for the King of France.

Lighthouse Home Entertainment · 4K Ultra HD

dir. Daina Oniunas-Pusić

A mother and her teenage daughter must confront Death when it arrives in the form of an astonishing talking bird.

dir. Higuchinsky

The inhabitants of a small Japanese town become increasingly obsessed with and tormented by spirals.

dir. Shōhei Imamura

A down-and-out businessman travels to a seaside town, where he meets a woman with unusual sexual powers.

dir. Jack Sholder

During a failed art heist, the Djinn is once again liberated. This time, to complete the 1001 wishes that he needs before the final 3, he lets himself go to prison, where he starts his evil reign twisting the hopes of the prisoners. Meanwhile, the woman who set him free accidentally, Morgana, tries to find a way to stop him, aided by a young priest.

High Fliers · 4K Ultra HD