Cast
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Sam Neill

Sam Neill

12 films on Best Blurays12 in 4K

Sam Neill photo

Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. His career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he is regarded as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. Born in Northern Ireland to an English mother and New Zealand father, Neill moved to Christchurch with his family in 1954. He first achieved recognition with his appearance in the film Sleeping Dogs (1977), which he followed with leading roles in My Brilliant Career (1979), Omen III: The Final Conflict, Possession (both 1981), Evil Angels (also known as A Cry in the Dark) (1988), Dead Calm (1989), The Hunt For Red October (1990), The Piano (1993), and In the Mouth of Madness (1994). He came to international prominence as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993), reprising the role in Jurassic Park III (2001) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022). Outside of film, Neill has appeared in numerous television series in guest and recurring roles, including Reilly, Ace of Spies (1983), The Simpsons (1994), The Tudors (2007), Crusoe (2008–2010), Happy Town (2010), Alcatraz (2012), and Rick and Morty (2019). He also starred as the titular character Merlin in Merlin (1998) and Merlin's Apprentice (2006) and as Major Chester Campbell in the first two series of Peaky Blinders (2013–2014). He has presented and narrated several documentaries. Neill receives the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, the Longford Lyell Award, the New Zealand Film Award, and the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor. He also has three Golden Globe and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor at the 2023 Logies. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sam Neill, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Biography from Wikipedia via TMDB

Leading role · Director: John Carpenter

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray has slightly less rolloff of the higher frequencies

Leading role · Director: Joe Johnston

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Universal 4K Trilogy Steelbook 2025

Video Notes:

Universal 4K Trilogy Steelbook 2025 but there's a glitch not present on the old 4K

Leading role · Director: Steven Spielberg

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

2025 Universal 4K Trilogy Steelbook / 2026 standalone

Video Notes:

2025 Universal 4K Trilogy Steelbook / 2026 standalone is better than previous disappointing 2022 4K Blu-ray (excessive DNR). Not a whole new scan but the grain has been left mostly intact.

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

Audio Notes:

Cinema DTS is OG 5.1 mix.

Otherwise: 2022 4K Blu-ray’s DTS:X remix is more faithful than 2026’s Atmos remix.

3D Blu-ray’s 7.1 remix has reportedly less distortion than the OG 5.1 mix, and is presumably more faithful than the DTS:X remix.

Leading role · Director: Taika Waititi

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

UK Visions 4K Blu-ray

Leading role · Directors: Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Umbrella 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Umbrella 4K Blu-ray is reported to have a different, more organic-looking master without the DNR on the Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray. Encoding and possibly further mastering by FiM. Still “just” an upscale.

Leading role · Director: Andrzej Żuławski

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Second Sight 4K Blu-ray

Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Second Sight 4K Blu-ray > Le Chat Qui Fume 4K Blu-ray > Umbrella 4K Blu-ray see caps

Second Sight uses the same Le Chat Qui Fume master, but encoded by FiM and applied Dolby Vision. Umbrella's encoding is visibly worse than Le Chat Qui Fume.

Additional Info:

Mondo Vision Blu-ray and Anchor Bay DVD have an alternate audio track with an unauthorized soundtrack.

Leading role · Director: Paul W. S. Anderson

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Leading role · Director: Jane Campion

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray slightly better than Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2014 StudioCanal Blu-ray 5.1, 2012 Lionsgate Blu-ray 2.0

Supporting role · Director: Colin Trevorrow

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Supporting role · Director: John McTiernan

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Small role · Director: Taika Waititi

Best English-Friendly & Video:

2D: Disney 4K Blu-ray

3D: International Disney 3D Blu-ray

IMAX Version: Disney+ Streaming

Small role · Director: Taika Waititi

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

IMAX Version: Disney+ Streaming

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