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King Kong (2005)
King Kong (2005) poster
Letterboxd

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Old Universal Blu-ray is better than new 4K Blu-ray which has excessive DNR

Format

1080p Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Worse Than BD
Universal:

excessive DNR (best BD is the old Universal)

Length

187 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

a month ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

Old Universal Blu-ray is better than new 4K Blu-ray which has excessive DNR

Format
1080p Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Worse Than BD
Universal:

excessive DNR (best BD is the old Universal)

Length
187 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
a month ago
Contributors

More from Peter Jackson

See more →
The Frighteners poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray teased for many years, will come out once Turbine's exclusivity rights expire

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

Best English-Friendly:

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray teased for many years, will come out once Turbine's exclusivity rights expire

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray, caveat: mostly great video but the 4K Blu-rays have had additional DNR applied in some scenes on top of the DNR that had been applied in post-production and was already present on the DVDs & Blu-rays

The 2020 Blu-ray may be better than the 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

New Line Blu-ray have the original 6.1 mixes

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray set is missing extras from the old Blu-ray/DVD releases

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray, caveat: mostly great video but the 4K Blu-rays have had additional DNR applied in some scenes on top of the DNR that had been applied in post-production and was already present on the DVDs & Blu-rays

The 2020 Blu-ray may be better than the 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

New Line Blu-ray have the original 6.1 mixes

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray set is missing extras from the old Blu-ray/DVD releases

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray, caveat: mostly great video but the 4K Blu-rays have had additional DNR applied in some scenes on top of the DNR that had been applied in post-production and was already present on the DVDs & Blu-rays

The 2020 Blu-ray (the one without the green tint) may be better than the 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

New Line Blu-ray have the original 6.1 mixes

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray set is missing extras from the old Blu-ray/DVD releases

The 2011 Blu-ray notoriously had a green tint, the 2020 one removes it.

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray, caveat: mostly great video but the 4K Blu-rays have had additional DNR applied in some scenes on top of the DNR that had been applied in post-production and was already present on the DVDs & Blu-rays

The 2020 Blu-ray (the one without the green tint) may be better than the 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

New Line Blu-ray have the original 6.1 mixes

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray set is missing extras from the old Blu-ray/DVD releases

The 2011 Blu-ray notoriously had a green tint, the 2020 one removes it.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

4K Blu-ray caveat: mostly great video but the 4K Blu-rays have had additional DNR applied in some scenes on top of the DNR that had been applied in post-production and was already present on the DVDs & Blu-rays

The 2020 Blu-ray may be better than the 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

New Line Blu-ray have the original 6.1 mixes

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray set is missing extras from the old Blu-ray/DVD releases

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

4K Blu-ray caveat: mostly great video but the 4K Blu-rays have had additional DNR applied in some scenes on top of the DNR that had been applied in post-production and was already present on the DVDs & Blu-rays

The 2020 Blu-ray may be better than the 4K Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

New Line Blu-ray have the original 6.1 mixes

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray set is missing extras from the old Blu-ray/DVD releases

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray is significant upgrades compared to the BDs, but has noticeable artificial sharpening

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray is significant upgrades compared to the BDs, but has noticeable artificial sharpening

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray is significant upgrades compared to the BDs, but has noticeable artificial sharpening

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray is significant upgrades compared to the BDs, but has noticeable artificial sharpening

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray is significant upgrades compared to the BDs, but has noticeable artificial sharpening

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray is significant upgrades compared to the BDs, but has noticeable artificial sharpening

More from Universal

See more →
Psycho poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Turbine Germany Blu-ray, WB DVD(?)

Psycho poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Turbine Germany Blu-ray, WB DVD(?)

An American Tail poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray
Universal DVD for 4:3 open matte version

Best Audio:

Universal LaserDisc for the original Dolby Stereo mix

Blu-ray only has a 5.1 remix that alters some dialogue and sound effects

An American Tail poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray
Universal DVD for 4:3 open matte version

Best Audio:

Universal LaserDisc for the original Dolby Stereo mix

Blu-ray only has a 5.1 remix that alters some dialogue and sound effects

Michael poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Lionsgate or International Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Lionsgate or International Universal 4K Blu-ray (similar encoding) - caps

Best Audio:

US Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

Michael poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Lionsgate or International Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Lionsgate or International Universal 4K Blu-ray (similar encoding) - caps

Best Audio:

US Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray

This Is the Night poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray seems to be an old HD scan and doesn't look too good

Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray seems to be an old HD scan and doesn't look too good

Ferrari poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Netherlands Remain in Light or UK Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Netherlands Remain in Light or UK Universal 4K Blu-ray, See caps: Ferrari (2023) | Slowpoke Pics

Best Audio:

Netherlands Remain in Light

Additional Info:

All three discs come from the same master and share the same Dolby Vision grade, with identical dynamic metadata and CMv4.0 on all three. The Eagle Pictures disc is the only Profile 7 FEL, the Remain in Light and Universal UK discs are both MEL. On paper that gives the Italian finer coding precision, but it doesn't buy anything on this film, the grain is heavy enough to hide base layer quantisation on its own and none of the three discs bands. It also costs something, the Eagle Pictures encode noticeably smooths grain in flatter, low contrast areas, so a fair bit of fine texture that both other discs keep is simply gone. Edges and overall definition are fine, but the Dutch and UK discs clearly hold the film's texture better and are the ones to get. Between those two it's very close, with the Dutch keeping slightly more grain across most of the scenes checked. Worth noting as well, the Dutch and UK discs have their title cards in English while the Italian keeps them in Italian.
Caps comp: Ferrari (2023) | Slowpoke Pics

Ferrari poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Netherlands Remain in Light or UK Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Netherlands Remain in Light or UK Universal 4K Blu-ray, See caps: Ferrari (2023) | Slowpoke Pics

Best Audio:

Netherlands Remain in Light

Additional Info:

All three discs come from the same master and share the same Dolby Vision grade, with identical dynamic metadata and CMv4.0 on all three. The Eagle Pictures disc is the only Profile 7 FEL, the Remain in Light and Universal UK discs are both MEL. On paper that gives the Italian finer coding precision, but it doesn't buy anything on this film, the grain is heavy enough to hide base layer quantisation on its own and none of the three discs bands. It also costs something, the Eagle Pictures encode noticeably smooths grain in flatter, low contrast areas, so a fair bit of fine texture that both other discs keep is simply gone. Edges and overall definition are fine, but the Dutch and UK discs clearly hold the film's texture better and are the ones to get. Between those two it's very close, with the Dutch keeping slightly more grain across most of the scenes checked. Worth noting as well, the Dutch and UK discs have their title cards in English while the Italian keeps them in Italian.
Caps comp: Ferrari (2023) | Slowpoke Pics

Jaws 3-D poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: 2016 Universal Blu-ray

3D version: Universal 3D Blu-ray (caveat: 3D Blu-ray has misaligned eyes)

Nick_M's 3D version is better than Universal 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: 2016 Universal Blu-ray

3D version: Universal 3D Blu-ray (caveat: 3D Blu-ray has misaligned eyes)

Nick_M's 3D version is better than Universal 3D Blu-ray

Jaws 3-D poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: 2016 Universal Blu-ray

3D version: Universal 3D Blu-ray (caveat: 3D Blu-ray has misaligned eyes)

Nick_M's 3D version is better than Universal 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: 2016 Universal Blu-ray

3D version: Universal 3D Blu-ray (caveat: 3D Blu-ray has misaligned eyes)

Nick_M's 3D version is better than Universal 3D Blu-ray

The Bad Guys poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Universal 4K Blu-ray

3D version: Australia Universal/Sony 3D Blu-ray

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

Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray

International Theatrical Cut/US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray

Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Singapore

Thai Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Thailand

Best Video:

Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray

International Theatrical Cut (aka. Unrated Cut): Universal Blu-ray

US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray, Starz Streaming for open matte

Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Singapore, Singapore Disney DVD for open matte

Thai Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Thailand, Thailand Disney DVD for open matte

Best Audio:

Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray, Universal Blu-ray for original 5.1

International Theatrical Cut/US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray

Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Singapore Disney DVD

Thai Theatrical Cut: Thailand Disney DVD

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

Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray

International Theatrical Cut/US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray

Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Singapore

Thai Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Thailand

Best Video:

Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray

International Theatrical Cut (aka. Unrated Cut): Universal Blu-ray

US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray, Starz Streaming for open matte

Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Singapore, Singapore Disney DVD for open matte

Thai Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Thailand, Thailand Disney DVD for open matte

Best Audio:

Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray, Universal Blu-ray for original 5.1

International Theatrical Cut/US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray

Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Singapore Disney DVD

Thai Theatrical Cut: Thailand Disney DVD

Cats poster
4K Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Movies Anywhere Streaming

Best Video:

Movies Anywhere Streaming

Best Audio:

Universal Blu-ray

Cats poster
4K Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Movies Anywhere Streaming

Best Video:

Movies Anywhere Streaming

Best Audio:

Universal Blu-ray

Pillow Talk poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

2012 BD is of similar fidelity but adds extra foley sounds. 2003 PAL DVD is a stereoized remix.

Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

2012 BD is of similar fidelity but adds extra foley sounds. 2003 PAL DVD is a stereoized remix.

More Adventure on Blu-ray

The Princess Bride poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray has a few exclusive extras

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion US 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Turbine Germany 4K Blu-ray has a few exclusive extras

Predator poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Predator poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Beau Geste poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Artcraft Blu-ray

Best Video:

ArtcraftBlu-ray is a great new 4K restoration encoded by FiM and should be much superior to an older 2K restoration by Grapevine

Beau Geste poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Artcraft Blu-ray

Best Video:

ArtcraftBlu-ray is a great new 4K restoration encoded by FiM and should be much superior to an older 2K restoration by Grapevine

The Little Prince poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2015 Paramount France 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2015 Paramount France 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2015 Paramount France 3D Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Paramount France 3D Blu-ray has both 3D and 2D formats included, as well as both the original French audio with English subtitles and the English dub.

US Blu-ray has no 3D option and only has the English dub.

Best English-Friendly:

2015 Paramount France 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2015 Paramount France 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2015 Paramount France 3D Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Paramount France 3D Blu-ray has both 3D and 2D formats included, as well as both the original French audio with English subtitles and the English dub.

US Blu-ray has no 3D option and only has the English dub.

The Right Stuff poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Dick Tracy poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray has the original 5.1 CDS mix

Dick Tracy poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray has the original 5.1 CDS mix

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

Warner Archive Blu-ray

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

Warner Archive 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.

Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from original technicolor negatives

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from original technicolor negatives

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

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

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

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

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King Kong (2005) backdrop