The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Die unendliche Geschichte
Adventure, Fantasy, Family, Drama • 1h 41m
Overview
While hiding from bullies in his school's attic, a young boy discovers the extraordinary land of Fantasia, through a magical book called The Neverending Story. The book tells the tale of Atreyu, a young warrior who, with the help of a luck dragon named Falkor, must save Fantasia from the destruction of The Nothing.
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Cast: Noah Hathaway, Barret Oliver, Tami Stronach, Alan Oppenheimer, Sydney Bromley, Patricia Hayes, Moses Gunn, Frank Lenart, Robert Jadah, Gerald McRaney, Tilo Prückner, Deep Roy, Chris Eastman, Darryl Cooksey, Nicholas Gilbert, Thomas Hill, Donald Arthur, Bernd Eichinger, Wolfgang Petersen, Brian Wheeler, Silvia Seidel, Beth Andersen
Director: Robert Wise
Disney 4K Blu-ray, see caps https://slow.pics/c/hE3HUCdj
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.
Director: Robert Wise
Disney 4K Blu-ray, see caps https://slow.pics/c/hE3HUCdj
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.
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.
The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.
Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.
The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.
Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.
Director: John McTiernan
Director: John McTiernan
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Directors: Jean Vigo & Boris Kaufman
Directors: Jean Vigo & Boris Kaufman
Director: Danny Boyle
Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617)
Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617) > Criterion 2024 4K Blu-ray > Film4 4K Blu-ray
5.1: Universal EU Blu-ray - Criterion and Lionsgate are missing LFE, otherwise the same
Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray
Film4 4K Blu-ray is on a BD-66, both Criterion releases are on BD-100 discs.
Criterion 2024 release bitrate: 94.67 mbps
Criterion 2026 release bitrate: 93.66 mbps
Film4 bitrate: 62.00 mbps
Director: Danny Boyle
Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617)
Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617) > Criterion 2024 4K Blu-ray > Film4 4K Blu-ray
5.1: Universal EU Blu-ray - Criterion and Lionsgate are missing LFE, otherwise the same
Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray
Film4 4K Blu-ray is on a BD-66, both Criterion releases are on BD-100 discs.
Criterion 2024 release bitrate: 94.67 mbps
Criterion 2026 release bitrate: 93.66 mbps
Film4 bitrate: 62.00 mbps
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Like previous releases, the 4K Blu-ray was scanned from an interpositive rather than the original camera negative at Paul Thomas Anderson’s request which may explain the softness.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Like previous releases, the 4K Blu-ray was scanned from an interpositive rather than the original camera negative at Paul Thomas Anderson’s request which may explain the softness.
Director: Michael Mann
Arrow 4K Blu-ray is encoded by FiM encode is better than Criterion, see caps https://slow.pics/c/Z2RRQAAT
Criterion 4K Blu-ray vs Blu-ray: caps colors are more different and nuanced than anticipated even in the SDR-converted caps and the usual gain in highlight detail is also apparent. Encode looks excellent except for the brightest areas as usual.
Arrow/Criterion 4K Blu-ray. Only imperceptible differences in bit-depth: 20 vs 24.
Arrow and Criterion 4K Blu-rays have differing extras, Arrow LE has Theatrical cut Blu-ray from older HD master, most likely from a 2K scan of an interpositive.
Director: Michael Mann
Arrow 4K Blu-ray is encoded by FiM encode is better than Criterion, see caps https://slow.pics/c/Z2RRQAAT
Criterion 4K Blu-ray vs Blu-ray: caps colors are more different and nuanced than anticipated even in the SDR-converted caps and the usual gain in highlight detail is also apparent. Encode looks excellent except for the brightest areas as usual.
Arrow/Criterion 4K Blu-ray. Only imperceptible differences in bit-depth: 20 vs 24.
Arrow and Criterion 4K Blu-rays have differing extras, Arrow LE has Theatrical cut Blu-ray from older HD master, most likely from a 2K scan of an interpositive.
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray The DV FEL layer noticeably restores high-frequency detail that’s missing from the base layer. See caps. issue: the 4K disc is missing chyron in some beginning shots. TBC officially.
5.1: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Stereo: US Warner Bros LaserDisc
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray The DV FEL layer noticeably restores high-frequency detail that’s missing from the base layer. See caps. issue: the 4K disc is missing chyron in some beginning shots. TBC officially.
5.1: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Stereo: US Warner Bros LaserDisc
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Theatrical: Czech/Polish/Russian Warner Bros Blu-ray
Director's Cut: Warner Bros Blu-ray
Arrow 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
Theatrical: Czech/Polish/Russian Warner Bros Blu-ray
Director's Cut: Warner Bros Blu-ray
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Theatrical: Czech/Polish/Russian Warner Bros Blu-ray
Director's Cut: Warner Bros Blu-ray
Arrow 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
Theatrical: Czech/Polish/Russian Warner Bros Blu-ray
Director's Cut: Warner Bros Blu-ray
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray
Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray
Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Director: Peter Medak
Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
Director: Peter Medak
Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
Director: Roger Donaldson
88 Films & Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray
Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
88 Films tied with Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray (88 Films is FiM encoded)
88 Films and Scream Factory have exclusive extras
Director: Roger Donaldson
88 Films & Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray
Imprint 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 2026 release
88 Films tied with Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray (88 Films is FiM encoded)
88 Films and Scream Factory have exclusive extras
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Canada Blu-ray or Netherlands Blu-ray? better than Constantin Germany 4K Blu-ray
Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Canada Blu-ray or Netherlands Blu-ray? better than Constantin Germany 4K Blu-ray
Director: Roger Donaldson
Director: Roger Donaldson
Director: John Woo
UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray, correct grade and archival extras missing from the Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Criterion LaserDisc, both Arrow 4K Blu-ray and Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray are worse.
Criterion USA LaserDisc [CC1397L]: Original Cantonese mono.
Best Cantonese mono still was from Criterion LaserDisc, as the Shout one was boosted with clipping, with some filtering and losing dynamic range over the Criterion LD.
There’s no need for other Cantonese audio, as all 5.1 remixes are extremely bad and not worth including.
For English Dub the Shout offered the best, it was pure mono. All other 5.1 remixed of said dub are also terrible and offer no value, only less fidelity and more echo.
Director: John Woo
UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray, correct grade and archival extras missing from the Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Criterion LaserDisc, both Arrow 4K Blu-ray and Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray are worse.
Criterion USA LaserDisc [CC1397L]: Original Cantonese mono.
Best Cantonese mono still was from Criterion LaserDisc, as the Shout one was boosted with clipping, with some filtering and losing dynamic range over the Criterion LD.
There’s no need for other Cantonese audio, as all 5.1 remixes are extremely bad and not worth including.
For English Dub the Shout offered the best, it was pure mono. All other 5.1 remixed of said dub are also terrible and offer no value, only less fidelity and more echo.
Director: John Carpenter
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray for now
Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray upcoming, UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray possibly teased?
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray but bad compression
Director: John Carpenter
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray for now
Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray upcoming, UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray possibly teased?
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray but bad compression
Director: Ron Shelton
Director: Ron Shelton
Director: Martin Ritt
Director: Martin Ritt
Director: Phil Joanou
UK Second Sight Blu-ray maybe better than all the other Blu-rays?
Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray is disappointing with DNR and poor compression
Director: Phil Joanou
UK Second Sight Blu-ray maybe better than all the other Blu-rays?
Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray is disappointing with DNR and poor compression
Edit History
11/10/2025
Best Video Release
From
AUS Imprint UHD (FiM encode) > DE Constantin Film UHD caps
To
Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray > 2025 Germany Constantin Film 4K Blu-ray > 2021 Germany Constantin Film 4K Blu-ray caps
Imprint has a FiM encode, DV and lossless audio.
Constantin 2025 has a solid encode, DV but lossy DTS-HD HR audio.
Constantin 2021 has bad encoding, HDR10 only and lossy audio.
From
AUS Imprint UHD (FiM encode) > DE Constantin Film UHD caps
To
Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray > 2025 Germany Constantin Film 4K Blu-ray > 2021 Germany Constantin Film 4K Blu-ray caps
Imprint has a FiM encode, DV and lossless audio.
Constantin 2025 has a solid encode, DV but lossy DTS-HD HR audio.
Constantin 2021 has bad encoding, HDR10 only and lossy audio.
Best Audio Release
Added
Imprint 4K Blu-ray has the best audio among all UHDs
Added
Imprint 4K Blu-ray has the best audio among all UHDs
11/10/2025
Format
Added
UHD Blu-ray
Added
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly Release
Added
AUS Imprint UHD
Added
AUS Imprint UHD
Best Video Release
Added
AUS Imprint UHD (FiM encode) > DE Constantin Film UHD caps
Added
AUS Imprint UHD (FiM encode) > DE Constantin Film UHD caps
Blu-ray.com
Added
https://www.blu-ray.com/The-NeverEnding-Story/20778/#Releases
Added
https://www.blu-ray.com/The-NeverEnding-Story/20778/#Releases
caps-a-holic
Added
https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=5326
Added
https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=5326
