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Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974) poster
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3.6

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Drama, Thriller, Mystery • 2h 8m

Overview

In 1935, when his train is stopped by deep snow, detective Hercule Poirot is called on to solve a murder that occurred in his car the night before.

Director: Sidney Lumet

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray, original aspect ratio and much better encoding; caps

Best Audio Release

Paramount JP LaserDisc. Both UHDs only have 5.1 and a downmix. Paramount US Blu-ray sounds okay, close to the LaserDisc.

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Excellent
StudioCanal:

caveat: advertised mono is stereo instead

Length

128 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

2 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray, original aspect ratio and much better encoding; caps

Best Audio Release

Paramount JP LaserDisc. Both UHDs only have 5.1 and a downmix. Paramount US Blu-ray sounds okay, close to the LaserDisc.

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Excellent
StudioCanal:

caveat: advertised mono is stereo instead

Length
128 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
2 months ago
Contributors

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Kino Lorber US / Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

1.85:1: Kino Lorber 4K  / Capelight 4K

1.66:1: Criterion 4K but low pass filtered

Comparison between the 4Ks, Criterion on the AR choice

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

Other discs have unnecessary filtering and sound worse, the difference isn't substantial but audible

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Kino Lorber US / Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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1.66:1: Criterion 4K but low pass filtered

Comparison between the 4Ks, Criterion on the AR choice

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Criterion Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray

Other discs have unnecessary filtering and sound worse, the difference isn't substantial but audible

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray replacement disc for fixed audio (there were some dialogues missing)

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

While the video on the replacement disc is exactly the same as the original release, the Atmos with missing lines has been corrected as it was also corrected on the Criterion commentary. Criterion also included the 6-track which is almost identical to the PAL track; It’s 4.0 in a 5.1 container. This 6-track is slightly better than the PAL DVD track as the PAL has some flutter on some parts that Criterion doesn’t have.

The Atmos on the replacement is identical to the Imprint AUS Blu-ray track which also has all the lines. The compatibility track is also the same,

It is worth mentioning the Imprint only has the Atmos and no 6-track. The 5.1 surround is with LFE and split surrounds and it’s just a downmix of the Atmos. Ditto for the LPCM 2.0 on said Blu-ray.

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

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray replacement disc for fixed audio (there were some dialogues missing)

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

While the video on the replacement disc is exactly the same as the original release, the Atmos with missing lines has been corrected as it was also corrected on the Criterion commentary. Criterion also included the 6-track which is almost identical to the PAL track; It’s 4.0 in a 5.1 container. This 6-track is slightly better than the PAL DVD track as the PAL has some flutter on some parts that Criterion doesn’t have.

The Atmos on the replacement is identical to the Imprint AUS Blu-ray track which also has all the lines. The compatibility track is also the same,

It is worth mentioning the Imprint only has the Atmos and no 6-track. The 5.1 surround is with LFE and split surrounds and it’s just a downmix of the Atmos. Ditto for the LPCM 2.0 on said Blu-ray.

The Group poster
1080p Blu-ray
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Kino Lorber Blu-ray

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Kino Lorber Blu-ray

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Kino Lorber Blu-ray

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Kino Lorber Blu-ray

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Best Video:

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

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

While Olive Films Blu-ray is better encoded than BFI Blu-ray, it suffers from the Quicktime Gamma Bug  see caps

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2006 WB DVD

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Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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Criterion 4K Blu-ray

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2006 WB DVD

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1080p Blu-ray
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Best Video:

MoC Blu-ray is superior to old Olive Films Blu-ray, see DVDBeaver

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MoC Blu-ray

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MoC Blu-ray is superior to old Olive Films Blu-ray, see DVDBeaver

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Warner Archive Blu-ray

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Warner Archive Blu-ray

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Warner Archive Blu-ray

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Popeye poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.

The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.

The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.

Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788

The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.

Samples

Popeye poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.

The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.

The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.

Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788

The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.

Samples

The Saint poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Audio:

Old Paramount Blu-ray

The 4K has lowered dynamic range.

The Saint poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Audio:

Old Paramount Blu-ray

The 4K has lowered dynamic range.

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius poster
1080p Blu-ray
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Paramount Blu-ray

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Crocodile Dundee poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Australia Cut: Australia Fox DVD

International Cut: Paramount Blu-ray

Encore Cut: Germany Winkler Film 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

US Paramount 4K Blu-ray, unsure whether it's the International cut released by Paramount or the Encore Cut

Best Video:

Australia Cut: Australia Fox DVD

International Cut: Paramount Blu-ray

Encore Cut: Germany Winkler Film 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Australia Cut: Laserdisc

Additional Info:

The film exists in three versions:
- the original Australian cut (~104 minutes at 24fps/~100 minutes at 25fps);
- the American/international version (~98 minutes at 24fps/~94 minutes at 25fps) trimming some exposition in the Outback first half of the film and some shorter extensions of a few seconds in the New York section, altering some of the dialogue – including censoring a "fuck" to "screw" – but featuring one additional dialogue extension not in the Australian version (a comparison of the two cuts can be found at Movie Censorship);
- the Australian Encore Cut (~95 minutes at 24fps/~91 minutes at 25fps) which uses the international version source so it already has those alterations but also removes approximately three minutes consisting of parts of two scenes featuring Mick grabbing the crotch of a cross-dressing prostitute and a later sequence when he does the same thing at a party to a woman with a deep voice (a comparison of the international version and the Encore Cut can be found at Movie Censorship).

Best English-Friendly:

Australia Cut: Australia Fox DVD

International Cut: Paramount Blu-ray

Encore Cut: Germany Winkler Film 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

US Paramount 4K Blu-ray, unsure whether it's the International cut released by Paramount or the Encore Cut

Best Video:

Australia Cut: Australia Fox DVD

International Cut: Paramount Blu-ray

Encore Cut: Germany Winkler Film 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Australia Cut: Laserdisc

Additional Info:

The film exists in three versions:
- the original Australian cut (~104 minutes at 24fps/~100 minutes at 25fps);
- the American/international version (~98 minutes at 24fps/~94 minutes at 25fps) trimming some exposition in the Outback first half of the film and some shorter extensions of a few seconds in the New York section, altering some of the dialogue – including censoring a "fuck" to "screw" – but featuring one additional dialogue extension not in the Australian version (a comparison of the two cuts can be found at Movie Censorship);
- the Australian Encore Cut (~95 minutes at 24fps/~91 minutes at 25fps) which uses the international version source so it already has those alterations but also removes approximately three minutes consisting of parts of two scenes featuring Mick grabbing the crotch of a cross-dressing prostitute and a later sequence when he does the same thing at a party to a woman with a deep voice (a comparison of the international version and the Encore Cut can be found at Movie Censorship).

Scream poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Video:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Audio:

2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The 2011 Lionsgate Blu-ray is incredibly poor for every Original Trilogy film; older processed older DVD-era masters with heavy use of DNR, sharpening and edge enhancement with a really dull color grade. The 4K Blu-ray is miles better. The DTS-HD 5.1 across all three films appears to be the same on both the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, and they appear to be the untouched theatrical 5.1 mixes. 

The Uncut version has more violence: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=256325

Scream poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Video:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc. Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Audio:

2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The 2011 Lionsgate Blu-ray is incredibly poor for every Original Trilogy film; older processed older DVD-era masters with heavy use of DNR, sharpening and edge enhancement with a really dull color grade. The 4K Blu-ray is miles better. The DTS-HD 5.1 across all three films appears to be the same on both the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, and they appear to be the untouched theatrical 5.1 mixes. 

The Uncut version has more violence: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=256325

Before Sunrise poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio

Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio

Enemy at the Gates poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan GAGA 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Japan GAGA 4K Blu-ray?

US Paramount has poor encoding

Best English-Friendly:

Japan GAGA 4K Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Japan GAGA 4K Blu-ray?

US Paramount has poor encoding

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The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Best English-Friendly:

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

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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

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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.

RRR poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Zee5 Streaming has the original Telugu audio and English subtitles (albeit with English portions also overdubbed in Telugu)
Netflix Streaming only has the Hindi dub but better video quality

Upcoming Release:

France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray coming in December

Best Video:

Japan Twin Co. 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japan Twin Co. 4K Blu-ray has original Telugu Atmos audio

RRR poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Zee5 Streaming has the original Telugu audio and English subtitles (albeit with English portions also overdubbed in Telugu)
Netflix Streaming only has the Hindi dub but better video quality

Upcoming Release:

France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray coming in December

Best Video:

Japan Twin Co. 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japan Twin Co. 4K Blu-ray has original Telugu Atmos audio

Cutter's Way poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray, though note its different color grading from the IP-sourced but poorly compressed Fun City Editions US Blu-ray (caps)

Best Audio:

Judging from spectrograms at https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=23933756&postcount=57Fun City Editions US Blu-ray appears to have marginally less filtering than Radiance 4K Blu-ray (whose padded 16-bit depth is a non-issue). There are also loudness differences, though it's unclear whether dynamic range also differs. Caveat: need to A/B both tracks to confirm, but no one has posted actual A/B impressions.

Cutter's Way poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance 4K Blu-ray, though note its different color grading from the IP-sourced but poorly compressed Fun City Editions US Blu-ray (caps)

Best Audio:

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The Greatest Showman poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Caveat: No Dolby Vision metadata from Streaming

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Caveat: No Dolby Vision metadata from Streaming

Best Audio:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Caveat: No Dolby Vision metadata from Streaming

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Caveat: No Dolby Vision metadata from Streaming

Best Audio:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Misery poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or Germany Capelight 4K Blu-ray?

Upcoming Release:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray release date September 21 2026 

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or Germany Capelight 4K Blu-ray no comparison available 

Additional Info:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray has exclusive extras the Kino Lorber/ Capelight release doesn't 

The initial release of the Capelight 4K mediabook had some playback issues with Dolby Vision on Panasonic devices due to an encoding error, the HDR10 apparently works fine, see Capelight’s official response here.

Misery poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or Germany Capelight 4K Blu-ray?

Upcoming Release:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray release date September 21 2026 

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or Germany Capelight 4K Blu-ray no comparison available 

Additional Info:

Shout! Factory Blu-ray has exclusive extras the Kino Lorber/ Capelight release doesn't 

The initial release of the Capelight 4K mediabook had some playback issues with Dolby Vision on Panasonic devices due to an encoding error, the HDR10 apparently works fine, see Capelight’s official response here.

Darkest Hour poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Darkest Hour poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

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

Amazon Streaming

Upcoming Release:

Amazon MGM 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Amazon Streaming

Best English-Friendly:

Amazon Streaming

Upcoming Release:

Amazon MGM 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Amazon Streaming

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

WB Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

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

WB Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Edit History

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Murder on the Orient Express (1974) backdrop