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Melancholia (2011)
Melancholia (2011) poster
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3.8

Melancholia (2011)

Drama, Science Fiction • 2h 16m

Overview

Justine and Michael are celebrating their marriage at a sumptuous party in the home of her sister Claire, and brother-in-law John. Despite Claire’s best efforts, the wedding is a fiasco, with family tensions mounting and relationships fraying. Meanwhile, a planet called Melancholia is heading directly towards Earth…

Director: Lars von Trier

Best English-Friendly Release

No disc has correct frame rate (25fps) and English subtitles

Best Video Release

Best Audio Release

Nordisk NOR Blu-ray / Potemkine France Blu-ray, about the same

Format

1080p Blu-ray

TSPDT

2026: #319
2025: #311
2024: #321
2023: #306
2022: #306

Length

136 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

9 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release

No disc has correct frame rate (25fps) and English subtitles

Best Video Release
Best Audio Release

Nordisk NOR Blu-ray / Potemkine France Blu-ray, about the same

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #319
2025: #311
2024: #321
2023: #306
2022: #306
Length
136 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
9 months ago
Contributors

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Some Like It Hot poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Capelight/Kino Lorber which has heavy noise reduction and opening snare hit is missing, Capelight is slightly better encoded than Kino Lorber

Best Audio:

1992 MGM LaserDisc [ML102699], but still a bit overly noise-managed.

1984 CBS/Fox Hi-Fi VHS maybe better?

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > Capelight/Kino Lorber which has heavy noise reduction and opening snare hit is missing, Capelight is slightly better encoded than Kino Lorber

Best Audio:

1992 MGM LaserDisc [ML102699], but still a bit overly noise-managed.

1984 CBS/Fox Hi-Fi VHS maybe better?

Singin' in the Rain poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MGM LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MGM LaserDisc

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

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Box Set

Best Video:

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1999 WB DVD

Additional Info:

No Blu-ray or DVD release has presented the movie in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 for the US cut or 1.66:1 for the International cut.

The packaging on the back of the 4K Blu-ray incorrectly states it as 1.85:1 when the movie is actually 1.78:1 as is the original Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Box Set

Best Video:

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1999 WB DVD

Additional Info:

No Blu-ray or DVD release has presented the movie in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 for the US cut or 1.66:1 for the International cut.

The packaging on the back of the 4K Blu-ray incorrectly states it as 1.85:1 when the movie is actually 1.78:1 as is the original Blu-ray

Blade Runner poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Final Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray (Caveat: No Dolby Vision from Streaming)

Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set for a better AVC encode

Best Video:

Final Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray (Caveat: No Dolby Vision from Streaming)

Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set for a better AVC encode

Best Audio:

1982 Theatrical Mix: Embassy Video releases, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

International Cut Dolby Stereo: Criterion Collection LaserDisc, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

1992 Director's Cut Dolby Stereo: WB CAV LaserDisc 2.0 PCM-best fidelity of any mix, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set DTS-HD MA 5.1

2007 Final Cut remix: Blu-ray Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Additional Info:

WB 4K Blu-ray only has Final Cut and contains a bad Atmos remix with new sound effects. Original Final Cut mix was removed.

Blade Runner poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Final Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray (Caveat: No Dolby Vision from Streaming)

Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set for a better AVC encode

Best Video:

Final Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray (Caveat: No Dolby Vision from Streaming)

Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set for a better AVC encode

Best Audio:

1982 Theatrical Mix: Embassy Video releases, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

International Cut Dolby Stereo: Criterion Collection LaserDisc, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

1992 Director's Cut Dolby Stereo: WB CAV LaserDisc 2.0 PCM-best fidelity of any mix, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set DTS-HD MA 5.1

2007 Final Cut remix: Blu-ray Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Additional Info:

WB 4K Blu-ray only has Final Cut and contains a bad Atmos remix with new sound effects. Original Final Cut mix was removed.

Histoire(s) du cinéma poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Radiance Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance Blu-ray

The Seventh Seal poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1993 Japan LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1993 Japan LaserDisc

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

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS, crystal clear, albeit with some distortion in louder areas

The 4K Blu-ray reuses the same poor mastering used on the 2006 WB Blu-ray, only with a completely unnecessary bass cut and extra noise reduction.

Additional Info:

Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video. The old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.

That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNRhttps://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l

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

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS, crystal clear, albeit with some distortion in louder areas

The 4K Blu-ray reuses the same poor mastering used on the 2006 WB Blu-ray, only with a completely unnecessary bass cut and extra noise reduction.

Additional Info:

Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video. The old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.

That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNRhttps://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l

Sansho the Bailiff poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kadokawa Blu-ray is new 4K restoration

Best Audio:

1991 Daiei LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kadokawa Blu-ray is new 4K restoration

Best Audio:

1991 Daiei LaserDisc

Harlan County U.S.A. poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Satantango poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray see caps

Additional Info:

For BD:

Satantango poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray see caps

Additional Info:

For BD:

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Breaking the Waves poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

4K Restoration: Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Theatrical Presentation: 2013 Japan King Records Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion  Blu-ray contains exclusive interviews.

The 2013 King Records Blu-ray is the only Blu-Ray release with the video processed look that appeared theatrically, all following Blu-Ray releases use an restoration straight from the original camera negative.

Best English-Friendly:

4K Restoration: Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Theatrical Presentation: 2013 Japan King Records Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion  Blu-ray contains exclusive interviews.

The 2013 King Records Blu-ray is the only Blu-Ray release with the video processed look that appeared theatrically, all following Blu-Ray releases use an restoration straight from the original camera negative.

Dogville poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray or France Potemkine Blu-ray (needs gamma correction)

Best Video:

The movie was shot in HD and  France Potemkine Blu-ray (needs gamma correction) has slightly stronger encoding than Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-rayCurzon Blu-ray is the worst of all three (not by much) see caps.

Dogville poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray or France Potemkine Blu-ray (needs gamma correction)

Best Video:

The movie was shot in HD and  France Potemkine Blu-ray (needs gamma correction) has slightly stronger encoding than Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-rayCurzon Blu-ray is the worst of all three (not by much) see caps.

Dancer in the Dark poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Curzon Blu-ray

Antichrist poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best Video:

DK Zentropa/Germany Blu-ray presented in original 25fps framerate. Otherwise, Criterion Blu-ray.

Antichrist poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best Video:

DK Zentropa/Germany Blu-ray presented in original 25fps framerate. Otherwise, Criterion Blu-ray.

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

UK Curzon Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon > Potemkine

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

UK Curzon Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon > Potemkine

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The Trial of Joan of Arc poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray: strong VDMS encode of a 4K scan.

No comparisons available against France Potemkine or Japan IVC. They are presumably from the same master, but do not feature English subs.

Best Audio:

TBD: BFI Blu-ray’s mono sounds clean. No hiss but not noticeably muffled/filtered either. No known comparisons against older releases.

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray: strong VDMS encode of a 4K scan.

No comparisons available against France Potemkine or Japan IVC. They are presumably from the same master, but do not feature English subs.

Best Audio:

TBD: BFI Blu-ray’s mono sounds clean. No hiss but not noticeably muffled/filtered either. No known comparisons against older releases.

Stalker poster
4K Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Mosfilm official 4K Youtube Streaming

Best Video:

Mosfilm official 4K Youtube Streaming is the only release for the new 4K restoration. Mosfilm's release has no sepia, and whether or not if this is the original color grading is still under debate.

For other releases: Netherlands Lumière Blu-ray is best, but all releases of the 2K restoration have issues:

Stalker poster
4K Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

Mosfilm official 4K Youtube Streaming

Best Video:

Mosfilm official 4K Youtube Streaming is the only release for the new 4K restoration. Mosfilm's release has no sepia, and whether or not if this is the original color grading is still under debate.

For other releases: Netherlands Lumière Blu-ray is best, but all releases of the 2K restoration have issues:

My Night at Maud's poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Rohmer Potemkine set vs Criterion set?

Best Audio:

Netherlands 2006 Homescreen DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Rohmer Potemkine set vs Criterion set?

Best Audio:

Netherlands 2006 Homescreen DVD

La Belle Noiseuse poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Cohen Blu-ray

Best Video:

Cohen 4k resto, good bitrate but teal, no info on Potemkine France

Best Audio:

2004 New Yorker DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Cohen Blu-ray

Best Video:

Cohen 4k resto, good bitrate but teal, no info on Potemkine France

Best Audio:

2004 New Yorker DVD

Tabu: A Story of the South Seas poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Eureka MoC Blu-ray

Best Video:

MoC > Kino Lorber (see slowpics for comparison). No information on Potemkine.

Additional Info:

MoC has higher bitrate than Kino Lorber, also the contrast is increased. But there is no noticeable reduction in visible film damage presented between the two offerings.

Best English-Friendly:

Eureka MoC Blu-ray

Best Video:

MoC > Kino Lorber (see slowpics for comparison). No information on Potemkine.

Additional Info:

MoC has higher bitrate than Kino Lorber, also the contrast is increased. But there is no noticeable reduction in visible film damage presented between the two offerings.

Holy Motors poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory BD (caveat: burned-in English subtitles)

Best Video:

France Potemkine Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The Indomina release (and possibly some other releases) censor a scene of full frontal nudity via optical blurring, the Shout release is uncensored.

Holy Motors poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory BD (caveat: burned-in English subtitles)

Best Video:

France Potemkine Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The Indomina release (and possibly some other releases) censor a scene of full frontal nudity via optical blurring, the Shout release is uncensored.

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

UK Radiance Blu-ray or OOP Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Radiance Blu-ray or OOP Criterion Blu-ray

Additional Info:

France Potemkine Blu-ray has exclusive extras and scores

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

UK Radiance Blu-ray or OOP Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Radiance Blu-ray or OOP Criterion Blu-ray

Additional Info:

France Potemkine Blu-ray has exclusive extras and scores

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > France Potemkine 4K Blu-ray > Germany StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray see caps. Criterion has the best encode.

While the framing of Criterion is different, they are actually both faithful to the original theatrical versions see post1 and post2 by b0b.

Best Audio:

1993 New Line LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > France Potemkine 4K Blu-ray > Germany StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray see caps. Criterion has the best encode.

While the framing of Criterion is different, they are actually both faithful to the original theatrical versions see post1 and post2 by b0b.

Best Audio:

1993 New Line LaserDisc

The Wind Will Carry Us poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion > Potemkine: caps

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion > Potemkine: caps

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Melancholia (2011) backdrop