Best Demo Worthy 4K Blu-Rays
By: Mia Francis
Since the advent of streaming, we’ve all enjoyed the convenience of clicking on our favorite movies and tv shows within seconds, but there are some movies worth buying in a physical format.
4K Blu-ray discs offer unparalleled visual and audible quality far beyond that of streaming services. Having worked in the consumer electronics industry with an emphasis on Hi-Fi audio and high-quality video, I have a deep appreciation for the best in-home theater experiences.
With the advent of more affordable high-quality audio and displays like OLED that are closer to cinema quality being more affordable, it’s easier now than ever to bring the movie theater experience home.
Here are some of my personal favorites worth enjoying on physical media at home.
Midway (2019) - 4K Blu-ray (Dolby Vision/HDR) -Great Specular Highlight Detail & Bass Demo.
Midway has amazing 4K clarity with beautiful yet horrific depictions of this dramatized account of the events following the events of Pearl Harbor. The audio mix is superb in its detail of missile explosions and aerial fighter plane sequences.
Aquaman (2018)- 4K Blu-ray (Dolby Vision/HDR) - Great CGI & Color Detail.
Aquaman has some of the best CGI work I’ve seen in recent years. Crisp visuals with vibrant but not overblown color (via Dolby Vision), it’s a clear winner for those of us who enjoy comic book movies.
Tenet (2020)- 4K Blu-ray (HDR-IMAX)- Amazing Detail Clarity & Scoring/Sound mix.
Tenet offers great use of detail clarity with its full-frame IMAX shots that are always a welcome surprise for at-home viewing. This film would’ve benefited from Dolby Vision, with its more neutral color temperature in comparison to HDR’s overly bright highlights. This movie’s phenomenal scoring lends well to its sound mix, giving you a clean sound with room-shaking bass.
1917 (2019)- 4K Blu-Ray (Dolby Vision/HDR) - Amazing Specular Highlights & Clarity .
1917 is yet another prolific retelling of the tragedies of war and this film details it all in grim yet stunning clarity. The accurate reproduction of the blasts of bombs, missiles, and gunfire is bright yet accurate due to Dolby Vision.
BladeRunner 2049 (2017)-4K blu-Ray (HDR)- Amazing detail and Production Design.
Blade Runner 2049 was a beautifully shot masterpiece of modern Sci-Fi. This movie is a worthy continuation of the world the original Blade Runner set forth. It follows the same crisp details of the original while benefiting from modern film techniques and technology. The soundtrack and sound design of this film will bring a smile to your face with its use of futuristic sci-fi nuances. My only suggestion is that this movie would’ve greatly benefited from Dolby Vision.
Doctor Sleep (2019)- 4K Blu-Ray (Dolby Vision/HDR) - Amazing clarity and sound design.
One of the rare gems of modern horror cinema, Doctor Sleep is an amazing addition to the universe of The Shining. This movie features some of the most inventive and crisp/detailed shots I’ve ever seen in a horror movie and it is my favorite genre that speaks volumes for me. The sound design is unlike anything I’ve ever heard in any horror film and rivals that movies that have won awards for sound design sound mix.
