The Matrix (1999) poster

4.2

The Matrix (1999)

Action, Science Fiction • 2h 16m

Directors: Lana Wachowski & Lilly Wachowski

4.2

Best English-friendly & video release

2018 WB 4K Blu-ray

Video notes:

There are some questioning around the color timings https://fanrestore.com/thread-3435.html

Updated 6 months ago

Best audio release

Additional info

The Ultimate Matrix Collection DVD/Blu-ray has extras not on the 4K Blu-ray box set

Different colors in the 4K compared to the DVD (both original and 2003)/2009 Blu-ray/Theatrical cut.

There are some questioning around the color timings https://fanrestore.com/thread-3435.html

UHD tiers

WB

About the film

Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.

Featured Lists: The Matrix
National Film Registry
Year of Induction: 2012
Sight and Sound’s Greatest Films
TSPDT: 2026: #234
2025: #238
2024: #237
2023: #231
2022: #231

Part of The Matrix

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Directors: Lilly Wachowski & Lana Wachowski

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

Additional Info:

The Ultimate Matrix Collection DVD/Blu-ray has extras not on the 4K Blu-ray box set

Different colors compared to the DVD/2009 Blu-ray/Theatrical cut

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Directors: Lana Wachowski & Lilly Wachowski

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

Additional Info:

The Ultimate Matrix Collection DVD/Blu-ray has extras not on the 4K Blu-ray box set

Different colors compared to the DVD/2009 Blu-ray/Theatrical cut

Featured in National Film Registry

Blackboard Jungle (1955)

Director: Richard Brooks

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Video Notes:

4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Director: Jonathan Demme

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray > Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Orion LaserDisc vs 2024 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion Blu-ray has exclusive extras

Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)

Director: George B. Seitz

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Video Notes:

4K restoration from safety preservation elements

A New Leaf (1971)

Director: Elaine May

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Cinématographe 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Cinématographe 4K Blu-ray > MoC > Olive Films. From nicolas:

The master is good but it’s not that big an upgrade from the Olive Films disc and Vinegar Syndrome’ encode has some blocky highlights. A shame that they didn’t hire David Mackenzie here.

Best Audio:

Olive Films Blu-ray / Masters of Cinema Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

Cinématographe has unnecessary noise gating not present on the previous releases.

12 Angry Men (1957)

Director: Sidney Lumet

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber US / Capelight DE 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

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

1.66:1: Criterion 4K

Video Notes:

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

Audio Notes:

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

Easy Rider (1969)

Director: Dennis Hopper

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Sony UK 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Director: F. W. Murnau

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

Flicker Alley 4K confirmed for 2027 https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=24404584&postcount=1

Audio Notes:

MoC audio is better https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=225532&page=3

Spartacus (1960)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Included in the Complete Kubrick box set with FiM encode of the same master from the Universal release without the filtering.

Audio Notes:

DTS:X mix on Universal 4K Blu-ray most closely approximates original surround mix

Additional Info:

Criterion DVD and Universal 4K Blu-ray has additional features not found on the Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Director: Sam Peckinpah

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Plaion Germany Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

4K Blu-ray said to be coming from Criterion, per Bill Hunt

Video Notes:

Includes Director's Cut and Roadshow Version

Same master as old WB Blu-ray but better encoding

North by Northwest (1959)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

WB 4K

Sources: YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

An undeniably significant improvement from the BD yet still severely flawed. See DFIC's review.

Best Audio:

1984 MGM Hi-Fi VHS

More from Lana Wachowski

Speed Racer (2008)

Directors: Lana Wachowski & Lilly Wachowski

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Directors: Lana Wachowski & Lilly Wachowski

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Germany Capelight Blu-ray

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Directors: Lana Wachowski & Lilly Wachowski & Tom Tykwer

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray / Warner Bros Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

(no audible difference)

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· last reviewed 6 months ago

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