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A Knight's Tale (2001)
A Knight's Tale (2001) poster
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3.6

A Knight's Tale (2001)

Adventure, Drama, Romance, Action • 2h 13m

Overview

William Thatcher, a knight's peasant apprentice, gets a chance at glory when the knight dies suddenly mid-tournament. Posing as a knight himself, William won't stop until he's crowned tournament champion—assuming matters of the heart don't get in the way.

Director: Brian Helgeland

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Format

UHD Blu-ray

Length

133 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

Knight's Tale

Last Updated

9 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Format
UHD Blu-ray
Length
133 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
Knight's Tale
Last Updated
9 months ago
Contributors

More from Brian Helgeland

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

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

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

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

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

US Paramount Blu-ray for better picture quality of the director's cut

Warner Bros UK Blu-ray for having both cuts of the film

Best Video:

US Paramount Blu-ray has a better encoding of the director's cut see caps but only Warner Bros UK Blu-ray has both cuts of the film

Best Audio:

Warner Bros UK Blu-ray has Dolby TrueHD audio

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

US Paramount Blu-ray for better picture quality of the director's cut

Warner Bros UK Blu-ray for having both cuts of the film

Best Video:

US Paramount Blu-ray has a better encoding of the director's cut see caps but only Warner Bros UK Blu-ray has both cuts of the film

Best Audio:

Warner Bros UK Blu-ray has Dolby TrueHD audio

Legend poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Legend poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

More from Sony

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The Dark Crystal poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

LaserDisc, Shout! Factory's 2.0 is a downmix of the 5.1

Additional Info:

Old Sony DVD has an isolated score

Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

LaserDisc, Shout! Factory's 2.0 is a downmix of the 5.1

Additional Info:

Old Sony DVD has an isolated score

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.

The Fifth Element poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray vs 2017 Sony 4K Blu-ray (20th annivesary) vs 2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray (Luc Besson Box Set). The first two have totally different texture.

  • StudioCanal: More natural looking. Better defined grain. The white balance is rather yellow/orange. Some say it is closer to the original theatrical release.

  • 2017 Sony: More vibrant and impactful. The white balance is rather neutral. While color noise and grain can look busy because it had been sharpened and had micro-contrast boosted.

  • 2025 Sony: Supposedly an improved version of the 2017 release? Shows around 20mbps-higher overall video bitrate. caps

Best Audio:

2025 Sony US 4K Blu-ray has the original 5.1.

The Atmos on the Sony release is reportedly better than StudioCanal's.

Additional Info:

Disc info of the box set discs. This film have recieved multiple encode/versions in different regions over the years. The 2017 Germany4K Blu-ray is encoded differently than the 2017 Sony but not better. Also, the same can be said to 2024 France Gaumont 4K Blu-ray while comparing to the 2020 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray omits all the extras from previous releases, being barebones.

Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray vs 2017 Sony 4K Blu-ray (20th annivesary) vs 2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray (Luc Besson Box Set). The first two have totally different texture.

  • StudioCanal: More natural looking. Better defined grain. The white balance is rather yellow/orange. Some say it is closer to the original theatrical release.

  • 2017 Sony: More vibrant and impactful. The white balance is rather neutral. While color noise and grain can look busy because it had been sharpened and had micro-contrast boosted.

  • 2025 Sony: Supposedly an improved version of the 2017 release? Shows around 20mbps-higher overall video bitrate. caps

Best Audio:

2025 Sony US 4K Blu-ray has the original 5.1.

The Atmos on the Sony release is reportedly better than StudioCanal's.

Additional Info:

Disc info of the box set discs. This film have recieved multiple encode/versions in different regions over the years. The 2017 Germany4K Blu-ray is encoded differently than the 2017 Sony but not better. Also, the same can be said to 2024 France Gaumont 4K Blu-ray while comparing to the 2020 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray omits all the extras from previous releases, being barebones.

Easy A poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

Easy A poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

Bye Bye Birdie poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

While no comparison available, Twilight Time Blu-ray is OOP and reviewers say the transfer is likely the same

Bye Bye Birdie poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

While no comparison available, Twilight Time Blu-ray is OOP and reviewers say the transfer is likely the same

A Night to Remember poster
DVD
Best English-Friendly:

Sony DVD

Best Video:

Sony DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Sony DVD

Best Video:

Sony DVD

Disorder in the Court poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray in Columbia Classics vol 2

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray in Columbia Classics vol 2

Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray in Columbia Classics vol 2

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray in Columbia Classics vol 2

Anyone but You poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray see comparison

The 4K Blu-ray is low-passed, Sony Pictures Core Streaming is heavily DNR

Anyone but You poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray see comparison

The 4K Blu-ray is low-passed, Sony Pictures Core Streaming is heavily DNR

Before Midnight poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

Criterion Blu-ray uses the same transfer as Sony but the encoding is slightly worse than Sony and barely noticeable see caps

Best English-Friendly:

Sony Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony Blu-ray

Criterion Blu-ray uses the same transfer as Sony but the encoding is slightly worse than Sony and barely noticeable see caps

28 Days Later poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray see caps

Recovers quite a bit of highlight detail, looks less harsh and clipped in the video footage than the old BD.

Best Audio:

Dolby Atmos Remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1 mix: old OOP Fox Blu-ray

5.1 on the 4K is a downmix of the Atmos remix.

28 Days Later poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray see caps

Recovers quite a bit of highlight detail, looks less harsh and clipped in the video footage than the old BD.

Best Audio:

Dolby Atmos Remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Original 5.1 mix: old OOP Fox Blu-ray

5.1 on the 4K is a downmix of the Atmos remix.

More Adventure on Blu-ray

Walking with Dinosaurs poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 3D Blu-ray has both the theatrical cut and the "Cretaceous Cut"

Best Video:

Fox 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox 3D Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Fox 3D Blu-ray has both the theatrical cut and the "Cretaceous Cut" which removes the dialogue and the framing device, essentially serving as a director's cut of the film. The "Cretaceous Cut" is not available on the 2D Blu-ray or on digital streaming.

Best English-Friendly:

Fox 3D Blu-ray has both the theatrical cut and the "Cretaceous Cut"

Best Video:

Fox 3D Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox 3D Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Fox 3D Blu-ray has both the theatrical cut and the "Cretaceous Cut" which removes the dialogue and the framing device, essentially serving as a director's cut of the film. The "Cretaceous Cut" is not available on the 2D Blu-ray or on digital streaming.

The Incredible Hulk poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray 

France M6 4K Blu-ray has Dolby Vision, but is inferior with more washed out colors and inferior encoding plus no hardcoded subtitles for the Portuguese language parts

comparison

Best Audio:

Universal Blu-ray has the original DTS-HD 5.1

For the 7.1 remix, the DTS-X of the Universal is clipped on the front speakers while the Atmos of the M6 is a very tame mixdown.

Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray 

France M6 4K Blu-ray has Dolby Vision, but is inferior with more washed out colors and inferior encoding plus no hardcoded subtitles for the Portuguese language parts

comparison

Best Audio:

Universal Blu-ray has the original DTS-HD 5.1

For the 7.1 remix, the DTS-X of the Universal is clipped on the front speakers while the Atmos of the M6 is a very tame mixdown.

Project Hail Mary poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Amazon MGM 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Amazon MGM 4K Blu-ray SteelBook with mixed aspect ratio 1.43:1/2.39:1

Best English-Friendly:

Amazon MGM 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Amazon MGM 4K Blu-ray SteelBook with mixed aspect ratio 1.43:1/2.39:1

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

2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save space)

Upcoming Release:

Universal 25th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Vision and Atmos

Best Video:

2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save space)

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

Additional Info:

The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray

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

2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save space)

Upcoming Release:

Universal 25th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Vision and Atmos

Best Video:

2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save space)

Best Audio:

Cinema DTS

Additional Info:

The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray

Forbidden Planet poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros Blu-ray

The Emperor's New Groove poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:
  • 2001 DVD for uncensored cut with rock and extras

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray, caps

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray; 4K Blu-ray only has an Atmos remix with a phasing issue

Best English-Friendly:
  • 2001 DVD for uncensored cut with rock and extras

Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray, caps

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray; 4K Blu-ray only has an Atmos remix with a phasing issue

Popeye poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.

The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.

The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.

Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788

The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.

Samples

Popeye poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Paramount Blu-ray

Popeye was mixed for a failed Vistasonic system with 4 discrete tracks (L/C/R/S). That mix has never been released on home video in its original form.

The older 5.1 track appearing on older DVD/BD releases sounds excellent. It appears to be a slight upmix of the original mix, only splitting the surrounds and adding LFE. It sounds close to the old analog LaserDisc, which is likely the original mix in a matrixed form.

The 5.1 included on the UHD is a new remix which significantly differs from previous tracks. There are new foley effects all over the place. Music is jarringly spliced in from different sources. Unlike the old 5.1 which had clearly discrete surrounds, the channels surrounds overlap somewhat with the fronts here.

Details on the new mix from Paramount's former head of restoration: https://youtu.be/P-AmjqViJyE?t=788

The 2.0 tracks on all DVDs/BDs are just downmixes of their respective 5.1 mixes.

Samples

The Saint poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Audio:

Old Paramount Blu-ray

The 4K has lowered dynamic range.

The Saint poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Audio:

Old Paramount Blu-ray

The 4K has lowered dynamic range.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray

Cinema DTS-ES centre channel information unconfirmed

Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray

Cinema DTS-ES centre channel information unconfirmed

Brother Bear poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

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