Best Blurays IconBest Blurays
Films
/
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
The Grapes of Wrath (1940) poster
Letterboxd

4.2

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Drama • 2h 9m

Overview

Tom Joad returns to his home after a jail sentence to find his family kicked out of their farm due to foreclosure. He catches up with them on his Uncle’s farm, and joins them the next day as they head for California and a new life... Hopefully.

Director: John Ford

Cast: Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine, Charley Grapewin, Dorris Bowdon, Russell Simpson, O.Z. Whitehead, John Qualen, Eddie Quillan, Zeffie Tilbury, Frank Sully, Frank Darien, Darryl Hickman, Shirley Mills, Roger Imhof, Grant Mitchell, Charles D. Brown, John Arledge, Ward Bond, Harry Tyler, William Pawley, Charles Tannen, Selmer Jackson, Charles Middleton, Eddy Waller, Paul Guilfoyle, Cliff Clark, Joe Sawyer, Frank Faylen, Adrian Morris, Hollis Jewell, Robert Homans, Irving Bacon, Kitty McHugh, Gino Corrado, Pat Flaherty, Francis Ford, Herbert Heywood, Mae Marsh, Dan White, Wally Albright, Erville Alderson, Robert J. Anderson, Arthur Aylesworth, Trevor Bardette, Joe Bordeaux, George P. Breakston, Buster Brodie, Delmar Costello, W.H. Davis, Emily Gerdes, Barney Gilmore, Edna Hall, Charles Herzinger, Harry Holden, David Kirkland, Lillian Lawrence, Scotty Mattraw, Frank Newburg, Walter Perry, Rose Plumer, Al Stewart, Charles Thurston, D.H. Turner, John Wallace, Charles West, Russ Clark, James Flavin, Philip Morris, Max Wagner, Harry Cording, Ralph Dunn, Bob Reeves, Lee Shumway, Paul Sutton, William Haade, Frank O'Connor, Harry Tenbrook, Tom Tyler, Thornton Edwards, Rex Lease, Ben Hall, Louis Mason, Walter McGrail, Walter Miller, George O'Hara, Ted Oliver, Inez Palange, Steve Pendleton, Jack Pennick, Dick Rich, Gloria Roy, Peggy Ryan, Georgia Simmons, Harry Strang, Glen Walters, Norman Willis, Bill Wolfe, Waclaw Rekwart, Josephine Allen, John Binns, Leon Brace, Henry Brahe, Scotty Brown, Hal Budlong, Nora Bush, Shirley Coates, Cal Cohen, Cecil Cook, Jim Corey, Jane Crowley, Helen Dean, John Dilson, Lillian Drew, Tex Cooper, Billy Elmer, William Gillis, Don Hawks, Jules Michelson, Richard Neill, Jack Perrin, Spencer Quinn, Brick Sullivan, William Sundholm, Pearl Varvalle, Eleanore Vogel, Harry Wallace, Jack Walters, Jim Welch, Bill Worth

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Format

1080p Blu-ray

Featured Lists

TSPDT

2026: #226
2025: #223
2024: #221
2023: #222
2022: #222

Length

129 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

2 years ago

Contributors

-

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #226
2025: #223
2024: #221
2023: #222
2022: #222
Length
129 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
2 years ago
Contributors

-

Featured in National Film Registry

See more →
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 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.

House of Wax poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

House of Wax poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

How Green Was My Valley poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

All That Jazz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Fox Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray

All That Jazz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Fox Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray

Baby Face poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

HD Streaming 

Best Video:

HD Streaming

Baby Face poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

HD Streaming 

Best Video:

HD Streaming

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

More from John Ford

See more →
Donovan's Reef poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Donovan's Reef poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray but poor encode, no alternatives though

Best Audio:

1980s Paramount VHS

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray but poor encode, no alternatives though

Best Audio:

1980s Paramount VHS

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

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray new restoration by Library of Congress and the Film Foundation

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

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray new restoration by Library of Congress and the Film Foundation

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

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

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

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

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best Video:

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

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

Undercrank Blu-ray

Best Video:

Undercrank Blu-ray, 2K scan of Eye's 35mm preservation print

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

Undercrank Blu-ray

Best Video:

Undercrank Blu-ray, 2K scan of Eye's 35mm preservation print

The Iron Horse poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

France Sidonis Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Sidonis Blu-ray has original intertitles and is a good upgrade over previous DVD see caps

The Iron Horse poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

France Sidonis Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Sidonis Blu-ray has original intertitles and is a good upgrade over previous DVD see caps

How the West Was Won poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray 2-Disc version (Digibook) for the Smilebox presentation

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray 2-Disc version (Digibook) for the Smilebox presentation

  • See what smilebox looks like for its smilebox trailer

  • See Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader's review especially why a smilebox version is preferred, for example how a letterboxd version is actually distorted

  • Even if you do not prefer the smilebox version, the letterboxd version is still present on disc 1

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray 2-Disc version (Digibook) for the Smilebox presentation

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray 2-Disc version (Digibook) for the Smilebox presentation

  • See what smilebox looks like for its smilebox trailer

  • See Damn Fool Idealistic Crusader's review especially why a smilebox version is preferred, for example how a letterboxd version is actually distorted

  • Even if you do not prefer the smilebox version, the letterboxd version is still present on disc 1

Drums Along the Mohawk poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Plaion Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Germany Plaion Blu-ray

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

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS.

4K Blu-ray is muffled, even compared to already poor WB Blu-ray, from nicolas: "The most noise reduction of any release, leaving hardly anything above 8 kHz. Bass content has also been removed globally."

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

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS.

4K Blu-ray is muffled, even compared to already poor WB Blu-ray, from nicolas: "The most noise reduction of any release, leaving hardly anything above 8 kHz. Bass content has also been removed globally."

More from Fox

See more →
Kiss of the Dragon poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: France ESC Blu-ray


Uncut: any of the France DVDs

Best Video:

Theatrical: France ESC Blu-ray


Uncut: any of the France DVDs

Best Audio:

US Fox/France ESC has 5.1, Germany has 6.1

Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: France ESC Blu-ray


Uncut: any of the France DVDs

Best Video:

Theatrical: France ESC Blu-ray


Uncut: any of the France DVDs

Best Audio:

US Fox/France ESC has 5.1, Germany has 6.1

M*A*S*H poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

M*A*S*H poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

That Wonderful Urge poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Tyrone Power: Matinee Idol Collection DVD

Best Video:

Fox Tyrone Power: Matinee Idol Collection DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Tyrone Power: Matinee Idol Collection DVD

Best Video:

Fox Tyrone Power: Matinee Idol Collection DVD

Girl Trouble poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Fox DVD

Best Video:

Fox DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Fox DVD

Best Video:

Fox DVD

Love Is News poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Fox DVD

Best Video:

Fox DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Fox DVD

Best Video:

Fox DVD

Down to the Sea in Ships poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Fox DVD

Best Video:

Fox DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Fox DVD

Best Video:

Fox DVD

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

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox > MoC

Best Audio:

1989 Fox LaserDisc

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

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox > MoC

Best Audio:

1989 Fox LaserDisc

La Notte poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Eureka MoC 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Lorber DVD

Best Video:

Eureka MoC 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Lorber DVD

The King of Comedy poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2002 Fox DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2002 Fox DVD

Fight Club poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray or Fox 2009 Blu-ray or Kinowelt Entertainment 2008 Germany Blu-ray for a purist version

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray or Fox 2009 Blu-ray for a purist version or Kinowelt Entertainment 2008 Germany Blu-ray from the original 1999 telecine transfer

Disney 4K Blu-ray, while a good release by itself, is very revisionist albeit made by Fincher. It has a huge amount of tinkering, a different grade, and at times uncanny with the sharpening. Caps of just how revisionist the new master is.

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS - all Blu-ray tracks have significant limiting.

Disney 4K Blu-ray has some alterations, otherwise similar to the Fox Blu-ray

Additional Info:

A blog article going over the home video history of Fight Club: https://notonbluray.com/blog/fight-club-compared-blu-ray-vs-itunes-vs-d-vhs-vs-dvd-vs-laserdisc/

Fight Club poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray or Fox 2009 Blu-ray or Kinowelt Entertainment 2008 Germany Blu-ray for a purist version

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray or Fox 2009 Blu-ray for a purist version or Kinowelt Entertainment 2008 Germany Blu-ray from the original 1999 telecine transfer

Disney 4K Blu-ray, while a good release by itself, is very revisionist albeit made by Fincher. It has a huge amount of tinkering, a different grade, and at times uncanny with the sharpening. Caps of just how revisionist the new master is.

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS - all Blu-ray tracks have significant limiting.

Disney 4K Blu-ray has some alterations, otherwise similar to the Fox Blu-ray

Additional Info:

A blog article going over the home video history of Fight Club: https://notonbluray.com/blog/fight-club-compared-blu-ray-vs-itunes-vs-d-vhs-vs-dvd-vs-laserdisc/

Edit History

No edit history available

The Grapes of Wrath (1940) backdrop

Made with ❤️ 📀 by vanshady