District 9 (2009)
Science Fiction • 1h 52m
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike, Elizabeth Mkandawie, John Sumner, William Allen Young, Nick Blake, Greg Melvill-Smith, Robert Hobbs, Vanessa Haywood, Morena Busa Sesatsa, Themba Nkosi, Mzwandile Nqoba, Barry Strydom, Jed Brophy, Louis Minnaar, Marian Hooman, Vittorio Leonardi, David Clatworthy, Michael Huff, David James, Tim Gordon, Anthony Bishop, Anthony Fridjhon, Eugene Khumbanyiwa, Melt Sieberhagen, Andre Odendaal, Louise Saint-Claire, Norman Anstey, Nick Boraine, Brandon Auret, Jacques Gombault, Justin Strydom, Simo Mogwaza, Matt Stern, David Dukas, Daniel Hadebe, Bongo Mbutuma, Johnny Selema, Mandla Gaduka, Johan van Schoor, Stella Steenkamp, Mampho Brescia, Morne Erasmus, Hlengiwe Madlala, Siyabonga Radebe, Alan Glauber, Nicolas Herbstein, Sibulele Gcilitshana, Mahendra Raghunath, Phillip Mathebula, Claudine Bennent, Michelle Ayden, Antony Sarak, Billy Somagaca, Ryan Whittal, John Jacob, Yashik Maharaj, Fernando Saraiva, Sharon Waugh, Theunis Nel, Sonni Chidiebere, Danny Datnow, Wisani Mbokota, Craig Jackson, Justin Duplessis, Rodney Downey, Den Antonakas, Mashabela Galane, Mfazwe Sekobane, Nicholas Ratlou, Saint Gregory Nwokedi, Donalson Rabisi, Zephania Sibanda, Gideon Thodane, Mdu Mthabela, David Mikhethi, Jeffries Simelane, Shafique Allan, Wendy Mbatha, Leigh Mashupye, Beauty Setai, Nkiyase Mondlana, Kuda Rusike, Morena Setatsa, Mpho Molao, Ntombi Nkuua, Absalom Dikane, Monthandazo Thomo, Norman Thabalala, Siphiwe Mbuko, Shiela Nene, Neill Blomkamp, Trevor Coppola, Kenneth Nkosi
Best English-friendly & video release
Glitch fixed from Sony
The Sony 4K Blu-ray has a glitch around the 40 min mark where a shot is repeated; no word from Sony about a replacement at the time of writing, i.e. 8/1/8/22
Updated 1 month ago
About the film
Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth. Not to conquer or give aid, but to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens' welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.
Theatrical Cut: Austria NSM Blu-ray
Director's Cut: France Metropolitan Blu-ray
Metropolitan got better picture (higher bitrate + better grain + more detail) than Lionsgate
Video format: UHD Blu-ray
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
BD caps & 4K impressions + release comparison EN audio but no EN subtitles
More Science Fiction on Blu-ray
Director: George Lucas
Video format: UHD Blu-ray
OG: "4K77" or "D+77" on high seas.
Special Edition: "4K97_IV" or "D+97_IV" on high seas.
2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed
OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes (and usually included in fan restorations). There are 16mm/TV rips of the mono mixes.
Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Video format: UHD Blu-ray
Universal 4K
Dolby Vision grading looks identical to a cinema DCP, which is the highest compliment that could be given. Encode is perfectly solid in motion.
Director: Satoshi Kon
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Director: Michael Anderson
Arrow 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Bandai JP 4K Blu-ray
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
All 4K releases are sourced from the same mediocre transfer provided by Bandai, with various amounts of tweaks. Japanese disc presents it with the least tinkering.
The best attempt at improving it comes from the German/French releases from KSM/All the Anime, both of which use the same master with HDR regrading (original grade is SDR in HDR container), tasteful regraining and sharpening, in an attempt to breathe some life into the middling transfer, making for an arguably more pleasing viewing experience.
All earlier releases are from an even worse transfer, with significant black crush, with the exception of a Japanese TV airing, which doesn't suffer from that issue, but instead is heavily sharpened and suffers from poor encoding.
Comparisons: JPN UHD, USA UHD, FRA/GER UHD, ITA UHD (tonemapped), JPN UHD, USA UHD, FRA/GER UHD, ITA UHD, ESP UHD (PQ), All 1080p BDs, HDTV, HDTV filtered
Original matrixed stereo mix: Bandai JP 4K Blu-ray
Most discs include this track with comparable fidelity (which is excellent).
Dolby Atmos remix: Lionsgate US 4K / All the Anime FR 4K
6.1 remix (from Ghost in the Shell 2.0): KSM DE 4K / All the Anime FR 4K
All tracks on the Lionsgate US 4K replace the original ending song with the one heard on the English dub. As the Atmos track on the FR 4K is just a port, it also has this song replaced.
Japanese 4K includes English dub and subtitles.
French/German 4Ks are not English friendly, with no dub or subtitles.
French disc includes the Atmos track, but the German disc does not.
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Included in the Complete Kubrick box set with FiM encode of the same master from the WB release without the filtering Comparison between the Criterion and WB.
5.1: WB 4K Blu-ray, a remix but has higher fidelity
Mono: Criterion 4K Blu-ray (restored for the box set)
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Included in the Complete Kubrick box set with FiM encode of the same master from the WB release without the filtering; WB 4K early pressing has errors of a shot, later pressings fixed. Comparison between Criterion and WB.
6-Track 70mm mix: Criterion 4K Blu-ray (restored for the box set), 1997 MGM LaserDisc, 1998 MGM DVD
35mm Mono Mix: Criterion 4K Blu-ray
Matrixed Stereo Remix: MGM Japan LaserDisc (1985) [G158F5509]
5.1 Remix: Criterion 4K Blu-ray
Director: Steve De Jarnatt
2024 Kino Lorber Blu-ray
UK Transmission 4K Blu-ray in January 2027
Either the 2015 Kino Lorber Blu-ray or the Arrow Blu-ray
The 2024 Kino Lorber Blu-ray is botched.
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