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Animal House (1978)
Animal House (1978) poster
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3.4

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Excellent
Plaion:

German import with Dolby Vision and original mono

Solid
Universal
Superior Imports
Plaion Germany > Universal US:

Dolby Vision and original mono on the German release

Featured Lists

National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2001

Length

109 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

National Lampoon's Animal House, Laser Orgy Girls

Last Updated

2 years ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Excellent
Plaion:

German import with Dolby Vision and original mono

Solid
Universal
Superior Imports
Plaion Germany > Universal US:

Dolby Vision and original mono on the German release

Featured Lists
National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2001

Length
109 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
National Lampoon's Animal House, Laser Orgy Girls
Last Updated
2 years ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

See more →
Strangers on a Train poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1987 WB LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1987 WB LaserDisc

Stop Making Sense poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

A24 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

A24 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

A24 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

A24 4K Blu-ray

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

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1998 R1 Universal DVD

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

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1998 R1 Universal DVD

The Sound of Music poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

Love Finds Andy Hardy poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive DVD

Upcoming Release:

Warner Archive Blu-ray in October

Best Video:

Warner Archive DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive DVD

Upcoming Release:

Warner Archive Blu-ray in October

Best Video:

Warner Archive DVD

The Terminator poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2013 MGM Blu-ray, or 4K Blu-ray if you MUST have the mono mix, 2001 MGM DVD for a purist version with original colors and the international mono mix

Upcoming Release:

Capelight 4K Steelbook and Mediabook announced for 2026

Best Video:

2013 MGM Blu-ray for non AI transfer, 2001 MGM DVD for a purist version with original colors and the international mono mix

Best Audio:

1991 Image Entertainment LaserDisc for the US mono mix, 2001 MGM DVD for the International mono mix

Comparison between the US and International mixes: https://vimeo.com/246332731

Additional Info:

The 4K Blu-Ray and the 2001 MGM DVD have exclusive extras.

The Terminator poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2013 MGM Blu-ray, or 4K Blu-ray if you MUST have the mono mix, 2001 MGM DVD for a purist version with original colors and the international mono mix

Upcoming Release:

Capelight 4K Steelbook and Mediabook announced for 2026

Best Video:

2013 MGM Blu-ray for non AI transfer, 2001 MGM DVD for a purist version with original colors and the international mono mix

Best Audio:

1991 Image Entertainment LaserDisc for the US mono mix, 2001 MGM DVD for the International mono mix

Comparison between the US and International mixes: https://vimeo.com/246332731

Additional Info:

The 4K Blu-Ray and the 2001 MGM DVD have exclusive extras.

The Prisoner of Zenda poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros DVD

Best Video:

Warner Bros DVD

Additional Info:

New restoration is completed

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros DVD

Best Video:

Warner Bros DVD

Additional Info:

New restoration is completed

Some Like It Hot poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Capelight/Kino Lorber which has heavy noise reduction and opening snare hit is missing, Capelight is slightly better encoded than Kino Lorber

Best Audio:

1992 MGM LaserDisc [ML102699], but still a bit overly noise-managed.

1984 CBS/Fox Hi-Fi VHS maybe better?

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Capelight/Kino Lorber which has heavy noise reduction and opening snare hit is missing, Capelight is slightly better encoded than Kino Lorber

Best Audio:

1992 MGM LaserDisc [ML102699], but still a bit overly noise-managed.

1984 CBS/Fox Hi-Fi VHS maybe better?

Singin' in the Rain poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MGM LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MGM LaserDisc

The Silence of the Lambs poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release

Best Audio:

1991 Orion LaserDisc vs 2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion Blu-ray has exclusive extras

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release

Best Audio:

1991 Orion LaserDisc vs 2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion Blu-ray has exclusive extras

More from John Landis

See more →
Beverly Hills Cop III poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Innocent Blood poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Innocent Blood poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

An American Werewolf in London poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Trading Places poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray is disappointing

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray is disappointing

The Blues Brothers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Coming to America poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

More from Plaion

See more →
Alice in Wonderland poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Germany Koch Media DVD has exclusive extras

Best English-Friendly:

US Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Germany Koch Media DVD has exclusive extras

The Act of Killing poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Dogwoof Blu-ray vs US Drafthouse Blu-ray: see below

Best Video:

DE Koch Media is presented in the correct 25fps and is likely better compressed than UK Dogwoof (29 vs 14 Mbps), but it doesn’t have English subtitles.

US Drafthouse is in 24fps for Region A compatibility, and is encoded at around 30 Mbps.

(Although bitrate does not solely determine the quality of the encode, the difference is large enough here and there are no publicly available caps.)

No info on the JP VAP Blu-ray.

Best Audio:

DE Koch Media and US Drafthouse feature a lossless 5.1 track. Dogwoof offers only AC-3.

Best English-Friendly:

UK Dogwoof Blu-ray vs US Drafthouse Blu-ray: see below

Best Video:

DE Koch Media is presented in the correct 25fps and is likely better compressed than UK Dogwoof (29 vs 14 Mbps), but it doesn’t have English subtitles.

US Drafthouse is in 24fps for Region A compatibility, and is encoded at around 30 Mbps.

(Although bitrate does not solely determine the quality of the encode, the difference is large enough here and there are no publicly available caps.)

No info on the JP VAP Blu-ray.

Best Audio:

DE Koch Media and US Drafthouse feature a lossless 5.1 track. Dogwoof offers only AC-3.

Kindergarten Cop poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray > US Kino Lorber see comparison and caps

Kino Lorber has an exceedingly poor encode, only slightly improved by the DV layer.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Universal US Blu-ray
Dolby Atmos remix: Plaion DE 4K Blu-ray

Universal's BD uses the same transfer as the old LaserDisc and sounds a bit better than Plaion's, which has worse dynamics.

Plaion's Atmos remix is tastefully done and preserves the original mix's characteristics, the 5.1 track on Kino's release is overly aggressive and unbalanced.

Best English-Friendly:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion German 4K Blu-ray > US Kino Lorber see comparison and caps

Kino Lorber has an exceedingly poor encode, only slightly improved by the DV layer.

Best Audio:

Original matrixed Dolby Stereo: Universal US Blu-ray
Dolby Atmos remix: Plaion DE 4K Blu-ray

Universal's BD uses the same transfer as the old LaserDisc and sounds a bit better than Plaion's, which has worse dynamics.

Plaion's Atmos remix is tastefully done and preserves the original mix's characteristics, the 5.1 track on Kino's release is overly aggressive and unbalanced.

Roman Holiday poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Italy Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Italy Plaion 4K Blu-ray > Paramount 4K Blu-ray (marginally)

Best English-Friendly:

Italy Plaion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Italy Plaion 4K Blu-ray > Paramount 4K Blu-ray (marginally)

Flashdance poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Italy Paramount/Plaion 4K Blu-ray, better compression than other 4K Blu-rays

Flashdance poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Italy Paramount/Plaion 4K Blu-ray, better compression than other 4K Blu-rays

Keoma poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Cult Films Blu-ray

Best Video:

German Plaion 4K Blu-ray see caps but doesn't have EN subtitles

Keoma poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Cult Films Blu-ray

Best Video:

German Plaion 4K Blu-ray see caps but doesn't have EN subtitles

Infernal Affairs II poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray or Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Maybe Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode), Plaion Germany 4K Blu-ray, or Pony Canyon Japan 4K Blu-ray. All other existing 4K Blu-rays have terrible compression: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21423337&postcount=173

The master is heavily DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Original 5.1 from Jokers France 4K Blu-ray or Criterion US Blu-ray or older Blu-rays

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray or Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Maybe Umbrella Australia 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode), Plaion Germany 4K Blu-ray, or Pony Canyon Japan 4K Blu-ray. All other existing 4K Blu-rays have terrible compression: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=21423337&postcount=173

The master is heavily DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Original 5.1 from Jokers France 4K Blu-ray or Criterion US Blu-ray or older Blu-rays

2046 poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray

Best Video:

4K restoration: Koch Media DE 4K Blu-ray
Original digital master: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

4K remaster is cropped 2.35:1 from the original 2.55:1 presentation, and has significantly different color grading, as is the case with most WKW supervised restorations. Due to DNR the detail is sometimes lacklustre compared to the old master. CGI scenes appear to be rerendered. A sepia tinted scene was altered to be fully black and white.

Caps: Criterion US BD vs Cannes HD-DVD, HD-DVD vs KR BD vs DVDs vs US BD

Best Audio:

Remixed 5.1: The Jokers FR 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

The remixed track has different front panning and little LFE use compared to the original.

HD-DVD is by far the best option for the original track, as DVDs and Korean BD suffer from noise gating, limiting and duplicated surrounds. Remixed tracks are all similar, but French disc has slightly better dynamics, particularly on the LFE channel.

Additional Info:

The 2006 HD-DVD is a promotional release made in only 100 copies, handed out to VIPs at Cannes Film Festival. See this blog post for details. The same master can be found on KR BD, though it suffers from interlacing, blended frames and a gamma bug, as well as older DVD releases.

2046 poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US Blu-ray

Best Video:

4K restoration: Koch Media DE 4K Blu-ray
Original digital master: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

4K remaster is cropped 2.35:1 from the original 2.55:1 presentation, and has significantly different color grading, as is the case with most WKW supervised restorations. Due to DNR the detail is sometimes lacklustre compared to the old master. CGI scenes appear to be rerendered. A sepia tinted scene was altered to be fully black and white.

Caps: Criterion US BD vs Cannes HD-DVD, HD-DVD vs KR BD vs DVDs vs US BD

Best Audio:

Remixed 5.1: The Jokers FR 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1: Cannes 2006 Promo HD-DVD

The remixed track has different front panning and little LFE use compared to the original.

HD-DVD is by far the best option for the original track, as DVDs and Korean BD suffer from noise gating, limiting and duplicated surrounds. Remixed tracks are all similar, but French disc has slightly better dynamics, particularly on the LFE channel.

Additional Info:

The 2006 HD-DVD is a promotional release made in only 100 copies, handed out to VIPs at Cannes Film Festival. See this blog post for details. The same master can be found on KR BD, though it suffers from interlacing, blended frames and a gamma bug, as well as older DVD releases.

The Stendhal Syndrome poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray caps

Best Audio:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

German release from Plaion has better grading and encode than the US Vinegar Syndrome releases.

Both UHDs come with Italian and English audio, as well as English subtitles.

Best English-Friendly:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray caps

Best Audio:

Plaion GER 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

German release from Plaion has better grading and encode than the US Vinegar Syndrome releases.

Both UHDs come with Italian and English audio, as well as English subtitles.

Boy Kills World poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Italy Plaion has Dolby Vision, but the metadata is static: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22742198&postcount=92

Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Italy Plaion has Dolby Vision, but the metadata is static: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22742198&postcount=92

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Animal House (1978) backdrop