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Citizen Kane (1941)
Citizen Kane (1941) poster
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4.2

Citizen Kane (1941)

Mystery, Drama • 1h 59m

Overview

Newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane is taken from his mother as a boy and made the ward of a rich industrialist. As a result, every well-meaning, tyrannical or self-destructive move he makes for the rest of his life appears in some way to be a reaction to that deeply wounding event.

Director: Orson Welles

Cast: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Ray Collins, George Coulouris, Agnes Moorehead, Paul Stewart, Ruth Warrick, Erskine Sanford, William Alland, Everett Sloane, Fortunio Bonanova, Gus Schilling, Philip Van Zandt, Georgia Backus, Harry Shannon, Sonny Bupp, Buddy Swan, Gregg Toland, Don Ackerman, Gino Corrado, Maurice Costello, Demetrius Alexis, Gene Coogan, Art Dupuis, Rudy Germane, Mike Lally, Walter Lawrence, John Northpole, Victor Romito, Bob Terry, William Alston, Jack Gargan, Bert Moorhouse, Carmen Laroux, Sam Ash, Buddy Messinger, Terrance Ray, Sally Corner, Walter Bacon, Herbert Corthell, Harry A. Bailey, Danny Borzage, Tom Coleman, Carl Deloro, Jack Egan, Robert Haines, Ludwig Lowry, John McCormack, Hercules Mendez, Paddy O'Flynn, Sam Rice, Don Roberts, Larry Wheat, Morgan Brown, Harry Burkhardt, Edmund Cobb, Eddie Coke, Louis Natheaux, Arthur O'Connell, Guy Repp, Tom Steele, Richard Wilson, Louise Currie, Walter Sande, Jan Wiley, Milton Kibbee, Buck Mack, Alan Ladd, Thomas A. Curran, Jack Curtis, George Noisom, Gerald Pierce, Dona Dax, George DeNormand, Bud Geary, Bert LeBaron, Clyde McAtee, Cyril Ring, Roland Winters, Lew Harvey, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Eddie Dew, Perc Launders, John Dilson, Walter James, Robert Dudley, Suzanne Dulier, Al Eben, Johnny Eckert, Carl Ekberg, Edith Evanson, Carl Faulkner, Juanita Fields, Edna Mae Jones, Leda Nicova, Jolane Reynolds, Suzanne Ridgway, Olin Francis, Louise Franklin, Renee Godfrey, Peter Gowland, Jimmy Grant, Jesse Graves, Ernest Grooney, Jack Gwynne, Teddy Mangean, Henry Hebert, Bryan 'Slim' Hightower, Mitchell Ingraham, Philip Morris, Francis Sayles, George W. Jimenez, Ellen Lowe, James T. Mack, Mickey Martin, Bruce Sidney, Major McBride, Frank McLure, Charles Meakin, Edward Peil Jr., Irving Mitchell, Frances E. Neal, Lillian Nicholson, Joseph North, William H. O'Brien, Field Norton, Dick Scott, Frank O'Connor, Russ Powell, Bert Stevens, Thomas Pogue, Lillian O'Malley, Jack Raymond, Gohr Van Vleck, Myrtle Rishell, Benny Rubin, Shimen Ruskin, George Sherwood, Edward Ryan, Landers Stevens, Harry J. Vejar, Tudor Williams, Arthur Yeoman, Tim Davis, Arthur Kay, John Alban, Finn Zirzow, Sam Harris, Dorothy Cleveland

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

WB Europe 4K Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion (caveat: missing Criterion extras)

Best Audio Release

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Solid
Criterion
Superior Imports
Warner Europe > Criterion US:

fewer extras but superior compression and grain on the film itself

TSPDT

2026: #1
2025: #1
2024: #1
2023: #1
2022: #1

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 8, Audio: 7, Extras: 10

Length

119 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

10 months ago
Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

WB Europe 4K Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion (caveat: missing Criterion extras)

Best Audio Release
Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Solid
Criterion
Superior Imports
Warner Europe > Criterion US:

fewer extras but superior compression and grain on the film itself

Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #1
2025: #1
2024: #1
2023: #1
2022: #1
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 8, Audio: 7, Extras: 10

Length
119 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
10 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

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WB Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
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Paramount Blu-ray

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2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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Paramount new 4K master

Best Audio:

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Paramount Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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Paramount new 4K master

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Criterion/MoC Blu-ray

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4K Streaming

Best Video:

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Best English-Friendly:

4K Streaming

Best Video:

4K Streaming has Dolby Vision and is a newer significantly better restoration see caps comparing against Fox Blu-ray

Toy Story poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray (every version since the 2000 DVD release including the 2D 2010 Blu-ray has animation errors. The majority of those were corrected for the 3D rerelease.) The 4K Blu-ray is merely upscaled from the 2K render.

Best Audio:

Stereo Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 AC3 Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 DTS Mix: 1997 Disney DTS LaserDisc level corrected

Additional Info:

The 1997 DTS LaserDisc is a virtually untouched transfer of the theatrical 5.1 mix and should theoretically sound the best being that DTS has higher bitrates than AC3. However, the original pressing of the DTS LaserDisc has an error where the right channel is 8.5db lower than the rest. This is an easy fix in a program like Audacity, and if you can find a corrected transfer, like the ones on various fan projects online, it should be the best sounding version of the film.

The AC3 audio on Side 2 of the CLV LaserDisc has the LFE channel muted. This was left intact for the CAV release.

The 2000 and 2005 UK DVD has an error where one of the shots is brightened up way too high (when the rest of the toys hold onto Slinky as he clings onto Woody during the moving truck rescue). Plus the end credits are interlaced (the PSP UMD video is the only way to get that version of the credits without interlacing).

The 4K Blu-ray has a further remixed Atmos track.

Toy Story poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

Original theatrical render: 35mm scans or 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray (every version since the 2000 DVD release including the 2D 2010 Blu-ray has animation errors. The majority of those were corrected for the 3D rerelease.) The 4K Blu-ray is merely upscaled from the 2K render.

Best Audio:

Stereo Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 AC3 Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 DTS Mix: 1997 Disney DTS LaserDisc level corrected

Additional Info:

The 1997 DTS LaserDisc is a virtually untouched transfer of the theatrical 5.1 mix and should theoretically sound the best being that DTS has higher bitrates than AC3. However, the original pressing of the DTS LaserDisc has an error where the right channel is 8.5db lower than the rest. This is an easy fix in a program like Audacity, and if you can find a corrected transfer, like the ones on various fan projects online, it should be the best sounding version of the film.

The AC3 audio on Side 2 of the CLV LaserDisc has the LFE channel muted. This was left intact for the CAV release.

The 2000 and 2005 UK DVD has an error where one of the shots is brightened up way too high (when the rest of the toys hold onto Slinky as he clings onto Woody during the moving truck rescue). Plus the end credits are interlaced (the PSP UMD video is the only way to get that version of the credits without interlacing).

The 4K Blu-ray has a further remixed Atmos track.

Pickup on South Street poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion or MoC Blu-ray

Best Video:

While MoC Blu-ray has slightly better encoding than Criterion, the contrast on MoC looks very washed out, and Criterion‘s color grading is much more contrast-y. See caps

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion or MoC Blu-ray

Best Video:

While MoC Blu-ray has slightly better encoding than Criterion, the contrast on MoC looks very washed out, and Criterion‘s color grading is much more contrast-y. See caps

The Philadelphia Story poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k transfer

Best Audio:

1986 MGM LaserDisc. 1987 VHS probably even better

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k transfer

Best Audio:

1986 MGM LaserDisc. 1987 VHS probably even better

Top Hat poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Amazon HD Streaming

Best Video:

Amazon HD Streaming

IVC Japan Blu-ray is clearly from a higher generation film element and looks terrible. Comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/XUTwiv7B

Top Hat poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Amazon HD Streaming

Best Video:

Amazon HD Streaming

IVC Japan Blu-ray is clearly from a higher generation film element and looks terrible. Comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/XUTwiv7B

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4K Streaming
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4K Streaming

Born Yesterday poster
4K Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

4K Streaming

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4K Streaming
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4K Streaming

Best Video:

4K Streaming

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4K Streaming

Best Video:

4K Streaming

The Perils of Pauline poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

SerialSquadron SD Blu-ray

Best Video:
Best English-Friendly:

SerialSquadron SD Blu-ray

Best Video:

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The Trial poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal: Although Criterion is low-pass filtered, StudioCanal exhibits very clear and distracting macroblocking.

Best Audio:

TBD: UHDs sound muffled, but old YT clips sound clear. Need to look into DVDs and possibly VHS.

The Trial poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal: Although Criterion is low-pass filtered, StudioCanal exhibits very clear and distracting macroblocking.

Best Audio:

TBD: UHDs sound muffled, but old YT clips sound clear. Need to look into DVDs and possibly VHS.

Touch of Evil poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

MoC 4K Blu-ray and Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray are similar

Best Video:

MoC 4K Blu-ray and Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray are similar

The Magnificent Ambersons poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k restoration

Best Audio:

1989/1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k restoration

Best Audio:

1989/1993 Criterion LaserDisc

The Lady from Shanghai poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Columbia VHS (slightly)

Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Columbia VHS (slightly)

Chimes at Midnight poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion HD transfer, not sure if Spain is newer

Best Audio:

2015 Mr Bongo Blu-ray

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Best Video:

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Best Audio:

2015 Mr Bongo Blu-ray

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Kino Lorber Silent Avant-Garde Blu-ray

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Kino Lorber Silent Avant-Garde Blu-ray

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1080p Blu-ray
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Othello poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k resto

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1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

France Potemkine Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Potemkine Blu-ray is new 4K master

F for Fake poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

France Potemkine Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Potemkine Blu-ray is new 4K master

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Wild at Heart poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray upcoming included in After Dark Neo-Noir Cinema Vol. 4

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

Wild at Heart poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray upcoming included in After Dark Neo-Noir Cinema Vol. 4

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Best English-Friendly:

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Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Currently streaming on Netflix

Portrait of a Lady on Fire poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Artificial Eye UK Blu-ray? Supposed to have better translation than Criterion.

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release

Best Video:

Pyramide France Blu-ray

Streaming in 4K on Netflix

Best English-Friendly:

Artificial Eye UK Blu-ray? Supposed to have better translation than Criterion.

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release

Best Video:

Pyramide France Blu-ray

Streaming in 4K on Netflix

Pierrot le Fou poster
1080p Blu-ray
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2020 Criterion

Best Video:

2020 Criterion > StudioCanal > 2009 Criterion

Best Audio:

2007 StudioCanal DVD

Best English-Friendly:

2020 Criterion

Best Video:

2020 Criterion > StudioCanal > 2009 Criterion

Best Audio:

2007 StudioCanal DVD

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

BFI 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release

Best Video:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray see caps

Additional Info:

2019 BFI Blu-ray is the older master but better encode + extra footage than Criterion Blu-ray

Italy CG Entertainment Blu-ray is 4K resto, but horrible colours.

Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

BFI 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release

Best Video:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray see caps

Additional Info:

2019 BFI Blu-ray is the older master but better encode + extra footage than Criterion Blu-ray

Italy CG Entertainment Blu-ray is 4K resto, but horrible colours.

Fallen Angels poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2010 US Kino Lorber or 2012 UK Artificial Eye

Best Video:

2017 JP Kadokawa Blu-ray has the best encoding out of all the older discs.


Kino Lorber and Artificial Eye Blu-ray use the same master, between the two the PQ on Kino's release is slightly better, but the difference is negligible.

The 4K restoration (Criterion, 4K etc) are cropped to 2.35:1, have revisionistic colour grading and other changes.

Caps: old master, old master vs 4K restoration

Wong Kar-Wai on the framing:

With Fallen Angels, I have changed the format to cinemascope, because it was originally what I had intended to release the film in. When we were cutting the film, we accidentally turned the Steenbeck on anamorphic instead of standard. I felt that the film looked much more interesting because it enhanced the distance of the characters on top of the extreme wide angle that we shot on. Back then, it was impossible to shoot a film in standard and release it in anamorphic. With this restoration, we have successfully fulfilled this wish.

Fallen Angels poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2010 US Kino Lorber or 2012 UK Artificial Eye

Best Video:

2017 JP Kadokawa Blu-ray has the best encoding out of all the older discs.


Kino Lorber and Artificial Eye Blu-ray use the same master, between the two the PQ on Kino's release is slightly better, but the difference is negligible.

The 4K restoration (Criterion, 4K etc) are cropped to 2.35:1, have revisionistic colour grading and other changes.

Caps: old master, old master vs 4K restoration

Wong Kar-Wai on the framing:

With Fallen Angels, I have changed the format to cinemascope, because it was originally what I had intended to release the film in. When we were cutting the film, we accidentally turned the Steenbeck on anamorphic instead of standard. I felt that the film looked much more interesting because it enhanced the distance of the characters on top of the extreme wide angle that we shot on. Back then, it was impossible to shoot a film in standard and release it in anamorphic. With this restoration, we have successfully fulfilled this wish.

Breathless poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray/2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray (preference)

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The HDR grading has messed up highlights, so some may prefer the 2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 Optimum DVD

Additional Info:

Criterion's subtitles seem to be better than StudioCanal's which omits too much IMO.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray/2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray (preference)

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The HDR grading has messed up highlights, so some may prefer the 2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 Optimum DVD

Additional Info:

Criterion's subtitles seem to be better than StudioCanal's which omits too much IMO.

The Rock poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Disney+ has new master better than Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

4K possibly teased?

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Disney+ has new master better than Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion DVD/Disney Blu-ray is missing a line:

Hummel: (line missing)
 
Lou Lindstrom: "Hello Frank. Lou Lindstrom"

Disney+:

Hummel: Hummel.

Lou Lindstrom: "Hello Frank. Lou Lindstrom"

The Rock poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Disney+ has new master better than Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

4K possibly teased?

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Disney+ has new master better than Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion DVD/Disney Blu-ray is missing a line:

Hummel: (line missing)
 
Lou Lindstrom: "Hello Frank. Lou Lindstrom"

Disney+:

Hummel: Hummel.

Lou Lindstrom: "Hello Frank. Lou Lindstrom"

This Is Spinal Tap poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1998 Criterion DVD Stereo

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1998 Criterion DVD Stereo

In the Heat of the Night poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision Germany 4K Blu-ray or US Criterion 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray probably better?

Best English-Friendly:

Wicked Vision Germany 4K Blu-ray or US Criterion 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray probably better?

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