The best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies

Best 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays

There’s no denying the importance of 4K Ultra HD and high-dynamic-range (HDR) when it comes to the future of home entertainment. Offering incredible visual clarity, sensational colour reproduction and vastly improved contrast, these technologies give people at home the opportunity to experience films the way they were meant to be seen.

If you’ve made the leap and purchased a 4K/HDR-ready television, chances are that you’re hungry for content that will show off just what your bleeding-edge setup is capable of. Add new audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X into the mix, and what you have is a home theatre system that rivals your local multiplex.

Though streaming services like Netflix have plenty of original 4K content ready to stream at a moment’s notice, there still isn’t a lot of variety when it comes to actual movies. While it was reported back in April that Netflix will take advantage of your new TV’s HDR support this year, several months have passed and only the Netflix Originals Marco Polo, Marvel’s Daredevil and The Ridiculous Six have been made available in HDR – hey, one out of three ain’t bad!

Many pundits have been quick to praise digital and streaming as the future of home cinema, but it will be a long while before these services can offer the variety that physical media can. Simply put, if you truly want to watch films in the highest quality possible, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is still the best format on offer.

That said, not all 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays are created equal – source materials, digital intermediates, upscaling, digital noise reduction and more can all affect the quality of a 4K Blu-ray’s finished product.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best and most-impressive 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies currently available for purchase. Each of the discs on this list, regardless of how good the films contained on them are, can be considered ‘reference quality’ and we’ve thoroughly tested each to ensure they’re really worthy of our recommendation. Best of all, every 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc is region free, so anyone with a 4K Blu-ray player can enjoy these films.

Read on to find out which discs have made the cut!

Superheroes

Deadpool

Speaking on the recent 4K Blu-ray release of his film, Deadpool, director Tim Miller told TechRadar that “the Ultra HD is f***ing amazing in the level of detail.” Having thoroughly inspected the disc for ourselves, we absolutely have to agree. Shot at 3K on the Arri Alexa camera and then finished at 4K, Deadpool’s Ultra HD Blu-ray closely resembles the film’s theatrical presentation, only with the added bonus of HDR – which is exclusive to the film’s home release.

Immediately evident from first viewing, Deadpool at 4K offers a much greater level of visual detail than the film’s regular Blu-ray. By far the film’s most eye-popping element, Deadpool’s suit shows more fine detail in its fabric and stitching, and the wider colour gamut offered by HDR makes the costume’s various shades of red not only stand out more, but also blend together more naturally. As with most CGI and green screen-heavy films, the added resolution gives the film a slightly-heightened vibe, one that seems fully intended by its filmmakers. The film’s fully computer-generated character, Colossus, also looks better, with HDR allowing for improved specular lighting on the character’s reflective metal body.

Add to this a punchy and immersive Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and Deadpool becomes one of the format’s first must-own discs.

Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 108 minutes

X-Men: Apocalypse

XMen Apocalypse

X-Men: Apocalypse was originally captured at 6K in the Redcode RAW format, which offers filmmakers an increased level of post-production control, making it perfect for HDR post processing. Finished on a 4K digital intermediate, X-Men: Apocalypse comes to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with no loss to visual fidelity whatsoever. A visual effects showcase if ever there was one, the end result, pardon the pun, is x-traordinary.

From its Ancient Egypt opening through to its apocalyptic finale, X-Men: Apocalypse dazzles in Ultra HD. Costumes and makeup benefit greatly from the added resolution afforded by format, opening our eyes to the incredible work that goes into their creation. There’s an immediately noticeable increase in detail, as well as an added depth of texture.

As you would expect from a movie in which characters frequently shoot beams of energy from their hands/eyes/sceptres, lighting effects are a particular highlight here. Increased contrast and a wider colour gamut mean that light blooming appears much more natural, avoiding the usual blocky-glow that plagues images with a lower colour depth. It’s also an extremely colourful movie, with numerous blue and purple characters on its roster. Thanks to HDR, and the added colour gradations that it offers, characters show much more individual detail on screen. Without question, this Ultra HD Blu-ray is the preferred way to experience X-Men: Apocalypse.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition

Batman v Superman

As director Zack Snyder typically shoots on 35mm film stock, his films can be scanned at 4K without any real loss in visual fidelity. With Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Snyder also opted to capture certain sections of the movie with 4K digital cameras, and on 70mm film stock using Panavision 65 cameras. The film was then finished on a 4K digital intermediate, which makes its Ultra HD Blu-ray release pretty close to what most people would’ve seen at their local multiplex (if not what they might have seen at IMAX and 70mm screenings).

Admittedly, the movie itself is quite grim, dark and muted in its presentation, but that doesn’t stop its 4K Blu-ray from being super impressive – the disc’s added resolution and colour depth mean that Batman v Superman looks as good as it possibly can at home. HDR support allows for tremendous contrast and vivid colours (when they do appear). Fire in particular, looks vibrant and lifelike, achieving a level of brightness that makes it look even more incandescent. Everything else on screen has finer definition, allowing you to really appreciate the detailed texture of Batman’s suit, for instance.

If you’re a fan of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, this 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is a no-brainer – along with its inclusion of the more brutal and violent director’s cut, the disc is also a testament to how 4K and HDR can improve the overall viewing experience.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider Man 2

Much like Batman v Superman, The Amazing Spider-Man was shot on 35mm film and later scanned and transferred to a 4K digital intermediate. Whatever you may think of the film itself, its Ultra HD presentation here is utterly sublime. Vibrant and colourful throughout, TASM2 especially shines during its effects-heavy set pieces.

Watching Spidey swing through New York on sunny days is a real treat – the film’s beautiful blue skies really pop on this transfer, presumably aided by some HDR tinkering. The red and blue of Spider-Man’s costume shimmers in the sunlight in a realistic manner, and the added resolution makes the spandex’s rippling in the wind much more noticeable.

The real standout though, is the villainous character of Electro. With his translucent blue skin, constantly changing shades and pulsing with electricity, Electro’s presence throughout the film is a real show-stopper. The scene in which he reveals his new form in the middle of Times Square, surrounded by the area’s huge electronic billboards, is one of the most dynamic scenes I’ve personally witnessed on a television screen. Thanks to HDR, the scene’s many colourful lights emit a more naturalistic light bloom that never shows signs of bleeding into the background.

Best of all, this Ultra HD presentation of the film manages to achieve all of this without losing its filmic appearance. A truly exceptional disc.

Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 142 minutes

Sci-Fi

Chappie

Director Neill Blomkamp (District 9) is known for his knack for seamlessly blending science fiction elements into everyday scenarios, offering a uniquely down-to-earth view of a world filled with robots and aliens. His latest film, Chappie, is no exception. Set mostly around the slums of Johannesburg, Chappie’s mostly daytime action allows this 4K HDR presentation to really pop.

Shot by Redcode RAW (5K) cameras and finished on a 4K digital intermediate, Chappie’s 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray practically mirrors what was shown in theatres, only with HDR providing improved contrast and more naturalistic colours. The detail in the titular robot character is astonishing, with the steely greys and blues of his frame making the orange highlights of his arm and antenna stand out even more. You can also see details in Chappie’s dirty, scratched body that just weren’t visible on the film’s regular Blu-ray. Best of all, the expressive LED lights on Chappie’s face now show much finer detail, making the character seem even more like a real world object, and not just a marvel of computer-generated wizardry.

Though the film can be quite grimy at times, it’s got a lively, vibrant undercurrent to it, employing a Day-Go style thanks to Chappie’s co-stars, the rap-rave group Die Antwoord. The group brings its signature art style to the film’s costumes and set design, all of which looks fantastic when aided by HDR’s wider colour gamut. Now, bring on District 9 and Elysium in 4K!

Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, Runtime: 120 minutes

Star Trek

Though it’s been ‘upconverted’ from a 2K digital intermediate (which is what you likely saw in theatres upon release), J.J. Abrams’ first Star Trek movie looks absolutely wonderful on 4K Blu-ray – the release actually lends some weight to argument that Ultra HD discs don’t need to come from a true 4K source in order to impress.

Director J.J. Abrams’ may be guilty of relying a little heavily on his ‘lens flare’ technique on both of his Star Trek films, but the effect looks better than ever here thanks to HDR’s increased colour gamut and contrast levels. Light blooms looks completely natural, avoiding harsh shade transitions entirely. Elsewhere, the Ultra HD Blu-ray offers amazing detail when it comes to facial textures on the film’s many creatures and alien races – Eric Bana’s Romulan character Nero looks especially great, with the disc’s increased resolution showing just how great the film’s Oscar-winning make-up and facial prosthetics are.

While Star Trek’s Ultra HD Blu-ray disc may be outclassed by its sequel’s truly (inter)stellar 4K release (listed below), this is by far the best way to experience J.J.’s first voyage on the USS Enterprise at home.

Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit), Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, 1.78:1, Runtime: 132 minutes

Star Trek Into Darkness

When it comes to the visual quality, the Ultra HD Blu-ray for Star Trek Into Darkness is absolutely mind-blowing – we’d even go as far as calling it the most impressive 4K release on this list. With over 30 minutes of the film shot in the IMAX format, J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness cuts back and forth between a traditional 2.40:1 letterbox presentation for its non-showy scenes, and the more vision-encompassing 1.78:1 aspect ratio for the film’s spectacle-driven moments (this presentation is exclusive to the film’s Ultra HD release). Though the film looks great throughout (despite being sourced from the film’s 2K digital intermediate), the level of detail displayed in these IMAX scenes is absolutely astonishing.

From its very first scene (pictured above), in which Kirk and Bones are chased through a vibrant red forest by the primitive Nibiru tribe, Star Trek Into Darkness will make an instant believer of any 4K/HDR naysayer. Witness, for instance, the cracked, flaking skin on the faces of the Nibiru tribes people, shown up close and in great detail. Marvel at the naturalistic skin tones, visible pores and wrinkles shown on actors Chris Pine and Karl Urban’s faces, offering a level of immersion that 3D just cannot compete with.

Another scene, in which Spock drops down into a volcano, is also a showstopper – with its swirling specks of fire and ember, and contrast enhanced greatly by HDR, the scene becomes a showcase for the emerging 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format. Until more IMAX-enhanced films start to be released, consider Star Trek Into Darkness your go-to 4K reference disc.

Family movies

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

Ninja Turtles

Boasting incredible detail and rich, vibrant colours, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a noticeable step up from its already impressive regular Blu-ray release. Look closely and you’ll notice that each of the turtles has realistic, scaly skin textures that make you understand just how much work has gone into bringing these characters to life – heck, you can even see the enamel on their teeth!

Other digital characters also look fantastic. Notice the individual textures given to Bebop and Rocksteady, giving each creation its own unique look and texture. Splinter also impresses, with the added resolution on display allowing you to see individual hairs and whiskers that weren’t as noticeable in regular HD.

Though most impressive during its daytime scenes (which include the film’s spectacular, effects-heavy finale), TMNT: Out of the Shadows also impresses in the darker subterranean moments set within the turtles’ sewer lair. The colour palette and contrast on display are exceptional, adding a real depth to the image. Fans should consider this 4K Blu-ray release as the definitive way to watch the turtles’ latest big screen adventure.

The LEGO Movie

The Lego Movie

One of the things that immediately strikes you about The LEGO Movie’s Ultra HD presentation is that the film has received a significantly brighter and more vivid colour palette. Not only that, contrast has also increased by leaps and bounds, making the film’s characters look even more like real, stop-motion minifigs – even fingerprints are visible, despite everything on screen being computer generated. Touches like this are what makes 4K and HDR so important to our overall immersion in the film.

Notice the deep blacks in any scene featuring Batman, or the beautiful, naturalistic bloom lighting found in the Old West portion of the film, or how about the gorgeous orange light emitting from film’s spaceship (SPACESHIP!!) finale?

Though this release has been upscaled from a 2K master (the film was captured at 2.8K), The LEGO Movie looks incredible in Ultra HD. Vibrant colours and wonderful contrast levels make this 4K release an essential purchase for fans of the movie.

Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 5.1, Dutch Dolby Digital 5.1, Catalan Dolby Digital 5.1, Flemish Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 101 minutes

Muscular flicks

Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road’s 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release brings with it some enormous expectations, as the film is one of the more visually dazzling action blockbusters in recent memory. Thankfully, Fury Road absolutely delivers, despite having been upscaled from a 2K digital intermediate. This might seem like a bummer, but that’s how the film was presented in theatres, and it looked pretty freakin’ good there, didn’t it?

With its colours undergoing a re-grading process in HDR, Fury Road looks more sensational than ever in Ultra HD. The film’s many explosions now burn with added intensity, and improved contrast and increased resolution give the film a more painterly appearance, especially in the film’s huge storm sequence.

Some might argue that this makes Mad Max: Fury Road’s CGI stand out more, I believe it only adds to the film’s artistic quality. Elsewhere, you’ll find more realistic skin tones and textures, brilliant lighting, richer landscapes and shinier chrome. Mad Max: Fury Road’s Ultra HD release is definitely worth the upgrade for fans, though we’d love to see what the added resolution of 4K and HDR could do with the film’s new Black and Chrome version.

The Revenant

As close to a flawless 4K presentation as the format has so far produced, The Revenant looks utterly fantastic on Ultra HD Blu-ray. Shot digitally at resolutions of up to 6.5K (and finished on a 4K digital intermediate) using only natural light sources, The Revenant offers a very natural-looking presentation, giving the audience a more authentic idea of what it must feel like to be in the freezing wilderness alongside Leo and Co.

Compare the The Revenant’s 4K disc to the regular Blu-ray packaged with it, and you’ll notice that the discs provide quite different presentations of the film. This is because director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki re-graded the entire film in HDR exclusively for this UHD release. By comparison, the regular 1080p Blu-ray looks much cooler, with more dominant blues and greys taking centre stage. Meanwhile, the 4K disc offers more naturalistic skin tones and a warmer overall palette, making the film’s many icy landscapes appear whiter and more true to life.

Speaking of landscapes, the added resolution and contrast of The Revenant’s 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray makes them more appear more grand and breathtaking, offering more fine detail and depth. Improved bloom lighting also lets the sun shine without bleeding into obvious and distracting shade transitions. A reference disc if ever there was one, The Revenant belongs in everyone’s 4K collection.

Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (from 4K master), Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French DTS 5.1, Italian DTS 5.1, German DTS 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 156 minutes

Warcraft: The Beginning

Warcraft

Though you’d expect HDR to make films more vibrant and colourful, Warcraft’s presentation has taken a more subtle approach to the film’s colouring. Less garish than its regular Blu-ray counterpart, Warcraft’s Ultra HD presentation offers more naturalistic colours, especially when it comes to orc skin tones. That’s not to say that this presentation is muted in any way – Fel magic looks spectacularly vivid and bright, giving the film a suitably other-worldly and fantastical appearance.

As expected, the real show-stoppers here are the orcs, lovingly realised through terrific motion-capture performances and CGI wizardry (as opposed to the other kind of wizardry seen in the film itself). Lead orc Durotan’s facial expressions are more detailed and realistic, thanks to the disc’s bumped-up resolution. Getting to actually see fine lines, wrinkles and textures in these characters’ faces make them much more believable (though the illusion is still broken whenever they’re standing next to the film’s human characters). Other CGI creations, like the Gryphon Lothar rides during the film’s climax, or the kingdom of Azeroth itself, exhibit an exceptionally high level of detail.

While it is another example of an upscaled film sourced from a 2K digital intermediate, Warcraft’s 4K presentation nonetheless offers enhanced clarity, improved contrast and naturalistic tones. This Ultra HD release is definitely the best way to watch Warcraft: The Beginning in 2D.

Technical specs: Codec: HEVC / H.265, Resolution: 2160p (upscaled from 2K master), Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, Aspect ratio: 2.39:1, Runtime: 123 minutes

Source: techradar.com