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Snowden (2016)

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Solid
Shout Factory

External Links

Length

134 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

9 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Solid
Shout Factory
Length
134 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
9 months ago
Contributors

More from Oliver Stone

See more →
JFK poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Theatrical Cut 4K Blu-ray in August

Best Video:

Director's Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Theatrical Cut: Shout! Factory Blu-ray (included with collector's edition)

Best Audio:

Theatrical Cut: The Shout UHD DTS-HD 2.0 seems to be the same mix overall as the 1992 laserdisc PCM 2.0 but its not a straight port.  Even though there are some minor differences, it does not seem to be a downmix of the 5.1.  It could possibly be a new mastering.  It has just a tiny bit more dynamic range than the laserdisc, but the laserdisc has a bit more presence in the lower and midrange frequencies.

JFK poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Theatrical Cut 4K Blu-ray in August

Best Video:

Director's Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Theatrical Cut: Shout! Factory Blu-ray (included with collector's edition)

Best Audio:

Theatrical Cut: The Shout UHD DTS-HD 2.0 seems to be the same mix overall as the 1992 laserdisc PCM 2.0 but its not a straight port.  Even though there are some minor differences, it does not seem to be a downmix of the 5.1.  It could possibly be a new mastering.  It has just a tiny bit more dynamic range than the laserdisc, but the laserdisc has a bit more presence in the lower and midrange frequencies.

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

MGM Blu-ray

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray, better than 2022 Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray due to poor encode and heavy DNR (review)

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

MGM Blu-ray

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray, better than 2022 Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray due to poor encode and heavy DNR (review)

World Trade Center poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2025 Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Atmos remix: 2025 Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1 surround mix: 2007 Paramount Blu-ray (lossy AC-3 640k)

The original mix has better dynamics range. The 5.1 tracks on the SF release are downmixes.

Additional Info:

Target exclusive 3 disc DVD have extras omitted from the Shout! Factory release

Best English-Friendly:

2025 Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Atmos remix: 2025 Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1 surround mix: 2007 Paramount Blu-ray (lossy AC-3 640k)

The original mix has better dynamics range. The 5.1 tracks on the SF release are downmixes.

Additional Info:

Target exclusive 3 disc DVD have extras omitted from the Shout! Factory release

Salvador poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Twilight Time Blu-ray or MGM NTSC DVD for the original mono mix

  • Shout! Factory 4K only has a stereo downmix (which sounds muffled, as do the surround tracks)

  • Twilight Time Blu-ray has the mono track with seemingly the best fidelity, but its dynamic range has been heavily compressed

  • MoC UK Blu-ray has a proper dynamics and good fidelity, but bizzarely, everything is repeated after a few miliseconds, rendering echoey and metallic

  • MGM NTSC DVD has been denoised and has had a strong EQ applied and sounds muffled as a result, but it retains proper dynamics

  • Koch Media DE BD had poor dynamics and wrong pitch

  • Analog 1986 US LaserDisc sounds poor

Perhaps the digital JP LD would be better.

Salvador poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Twilight Time Blu-ray or MGM NTSC DVD for the original mono mix

  • Shout! Factory 4K only has a stereo downmix (which sounds muffled, as do the surround tracks)

  • Twilight Time Blu-ray has the mono track with seemingly the best fidelity, but its dynamic range has been heavily compressed

  • MoC UK Blu-ray has a proper dynamics and good fidelity, but bizzarely, everything is repeated after a few miliseconds, rendering echoey and metallic

  • MGM NTSC DVD has been denoised and has had a strong EQ applied and sounds muffled as a result, but it retains proper dynamics

  • Koch Media DE BD had poor dynamics and wrong pitch

  • Analog 1986 US LaserDisc sounds poor

Perhaps the digital JP LD would be better.

The Doors poster
UHD Blu-ray
The Doors poster
UHD Blu-ray
Savages poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Savages poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Alexander poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: WB Theatrical DVD

Director's Cut: WB Director's Cut DVD

Final Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Ultimate Cut: WB Ultimate Cut Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical: WB Theatrical DVD

Director's Cut: WB Director's Cut DVD

Final Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Ultimate Cut: WB Ultimate Cut Blu-ray

Alexander poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: WB Theatrical DVD

Director's Cut: WB Director's Cut DVD

Final Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Ultimate Cut: WB Ultimate Cut Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical: WB Theatrical DVD

Director's Cut: WB Director's Cut DVD

Final Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Ultimate Cut: WB Ultimate Cut Blu-ray

More from Shout! Factory

See more →
Coraline poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D Version: Laika/Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

3D Version: 2011 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D Version: Laika/Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

3D Version: 2011 3D Blu-ray caps 

Coraline poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D Version: Laika/Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

3D Version: 2011 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D Version: Laika/Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

3D Version: 2011 3D Blu-ray caps 

Labyrinth poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray, Shout! Factory doesn't have the low-pass filter that's on the Sony US 4K Blu-ray from 2021 with Dolby Vision (or the worse HDR10 only release from 2016). Shout! Factory retains more high-frequency grain and detail.

Labyrinth poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Shout! Factory replacement 4K Blu-ray, Shout! Factory doesn't have the low-pass filter that's on the Sony US 4K Blu-ray from 2021 with Dolby Vision (or the worse HDR10 only release from 2016). Shout! Factory retains more high-frequency grain and detail.

Fargo poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray scheduled for November 2026 release

Best Audio:

All the same

Fargo poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray scheduled for November 2026 release

Best Audio:

All the same

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray > US Shout! Factory

Arrow has a slightly better encode, edging out SF even with FEL, and has done some additional damage cleanup. Caps

Best English-Friendly:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray > US Shout! Factory

Arrow has a slightly better encode, edging out SF even with FEL, and has done some additional damage cleanup. Caps

Audition poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Original matrixed DTS Stereo mix: 2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray
5.0 surround remix: 2009 Shout! Factory US Blu-ray

Arrow includes three audio tracks, matrixed stereo, discrete 4.0, and a 5.0 surround remix. Unfortunately, only the first one is usable. The 4.0 desyncs partway through. The 5.0 has incorrect (lower) pitch. Fortunately, the matrixed stereo track sounds great, but it is still a major disappointment.

There has been no replacement disc announced. See nicwood's BR post.

Audition poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Original matrixed DTS Stereo mix: 2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray
5.0 surround remix: 2009 Shout! Factory US Blu-ray

Arrow includes three audio tracks, matrixed stereo, discrete 4.0, and a 5.0 surround remix. Unfortunately, only the first one is usable. The 4.0 desyncs partway through. The 5.0 has incorrect (lower) pitch. Fortunately, the matrixed stereo track sounds great, but it is still a major disappointment.

There has been no replacement disc announced. See nicwood's BR post.

Wild at Heart poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray upcoming included in After Dark Neo-Noir Cinema Vol. 4

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

Wild at Heart poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

Upcoming Release:

Australia Imprint Blu-ray upcoming included in After Dark Neo-Noir Cinema Vol. 4

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray

Uncensored version: old DVD

Hush poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Shout! Factory or UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Shout! Factory or UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray (similar encoding)

Hush poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Shout! Factory or UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Shout! Factory or UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray (similar encoding)

Cat People poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray has DNR applied and encoding could be better. Possible issues in Dolby Vision

Great source, poorly encoded but it does look significantly better than the Blu-Rays.

Cat People poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray has DNR applied and encoding could be better. Possible issues in Dolby Vision

Great source, poorly encoded but it does look significantly better than the Blu-Rays.

Point Break poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK ICON 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK ICON 4K Blu-ray (caps)

UK 4K Blu-ray has a slightly better encode than US Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray and Germany StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

5.1 mix is flawed on Shout! Factory/ICON, a phasey upmix instead of the proper discrete surround. The UHD 2.0 tracks are downmixes of that track.
2008 Fox Blu-ray sounds great, very close to the original 70mm mix, only with split surround.
2001 DVD has the original mix as 4.1 and matrixed 2.0.

Imprint 4K has a 4.0 track. The StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has a different 5.1, unclear if it's the same as Fox BD.

Best English-Friendly:

UK ICON 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK ICON 4K Blu-ray (caps)

UK 4K Blu-ray has a slightly better encode than US Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray and Germany StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

5.1 mix is flawed on Shout! Factory/ICON, a phasey upmix instead of the proper discrete surround. The UHD 2.0 tracks are downmixes of that track.
2008 Fox Blu-ray sounds great, very close to the original 70mm mix, only with split surround.
2001 DVD has the original mix as 4.1 and matrixed 2.0.

Imprint 4K has a 4.0 track. The StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has a different 5.1, unclear if it's the same as Fox BD.

Manhunter poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical/Director's Cut: Shout! Factory Blu-ray
Hybrid Theatrical Cut: Anchor Bay "Theatrical" DVD
Final Cut: upcoming UK StudioCanal Final Cut 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

UK StudioCanal Final Cut 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical/Director's Cut: Shout! Factory Blu-ray
Hybrid Theatrical Cut: Anchor Bay "Theatrical" DVD
Final Cut: upcoming UK StudioCanal Final Cut 4K Blu-ray

Manhunter poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical/Director's Cut: Shout! Factory Blu-ray
Hybrid Theatrical Cut: Anchor Bay "Theatrical" DVD
Final Cut: upcoming UK StudioCanal Final Cut 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

UK StudioCanal Final Cut 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical/Director's Cut: Shout! Factory Blu-ray
Hybrid Theatrical Cut: Anchor Bay "Theatrical" DVD
Final Cut: upcoming UK StudioCanal Final Cut 4K Blu-ray

More Drama on Blu-ray

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

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray: from 4K restoration but exhibits compression artifacts

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

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray: from 4K restoration but exhibits compression artifacts

Rogues and Romance poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Joe Harvat Kickstarter Blu-ray

Best Video:

Joe Harvat Kickstarter Blu-ray 2K restoration

Best English-Friendly:

Joe Harvat Kickstarter Blu-ray

Best Video:

Joe Harvat Kickstarter Blu-ray 2K restoration

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

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion = BFI, both HD resto: source

Best Audio:

BFI Blu-ray (slightly)

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

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion = BFI, both HD resto: source

Best Audio:

BFI Blu-ray (slightly)

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

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

Sanjuro poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray: intact grain compared to Toho/BFI UHDs' DNR'd master

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is good, derived from the 1995 Criterion LaserDisc (which would be minimally better due to its lack of filtering) see blah-ray

Sanjuro poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray: intact grain compared to Toho/BFI UHDs' DNR'd master

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is good, derived from the 1995 Criterion LaserDisc (which would be minimally better due to its lack of filtering) see blah-ray

Hunt for the Wilderpeople poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Visions 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Visions 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

UK Visions 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Visions 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:

Damnation poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray see caps

For BD, Curzon Blu-ray is similar to Arbelos Blu-ray

Damnation poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray see caps

For BD, Curzon Blu-ray is similar to Arbelos Blu-ray

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

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray

Best Video:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has a superior MPEG-4 AVC encode over the US Sony Blu-ray's MPEG-2 or France/Australia Universal Blu-ray's VC-1. Open matte version also included

Best Audio:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has a Dolby Atmos remix and the original audio in DTS 5.1.

Korea Blu-ray for lossless original 5.1 audio mix.

Additional Info:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray is completely uncut and uncensored, having none of Sony US's PG-13 edits or Pathé UK's BBFC horse trip cuts.

Best English-Friendly:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray

Best Video:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has a superior MPEG-4 AVC encode over the US Sony Blu-ray's MPEG-2 or France/Australia Universal Blu-ray's VC-1. Open matte version also included

Best Audio:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray has a Dolby Atmos remix and the original audio in DTS 5.1.

Korea Blu-ray for lossless original 5.1 audio mix.

Additional Info:

Germany Turbine Mediabook Blu-ray is completely uncut and uncensored, having none of Sony US's PG-13 edits or Pathé UK's BBFC horse trip cuts.

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Snowden (2016) backdrop