Best Blurays IconBest Blurays
Films
/
Explorers (1985)
Explorers (1985) poster
Letterboxd

Explorers (1985)

Science Fiction, Adventure, Family • 1h 49m

Overview

Middle schooler Ben spends his free time watching sci-fi films, playing video games and reading comic books. Surprisingly, his affinity for all things fantastical yields a real result – when he has a vivid dream about technology, his prodigy best friend Wolfgang manages to create a working spacecraft. Joined by their buddy Darren, the boys take off into outer space and encounter some very odd extraterrestrial life.

Director: Joe Dante

Best English-Friendly Release

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Excellent
Vinegar Syndrome

External Links

Length

109 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

2 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Excellent
Vinegar Syndrome
Length
109 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
2 months ago
Contributors

More from Joe Dante

See more →
The 'Burbs poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

MCA 1989 LaserDisc or Universal 1999 NTSC DVD

The 'Burbs poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

MCA 1989 LaserDisc or Universal 1999 NTSC DVD

Gremlins poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1985 WB LaserDisc

Gremlins poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1985 WB LaserDisc

Innerspace poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray; caps

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Arrow includes the original 70mm 6-track mix in a discrete form (4.1), as well as the matrixed 35mm Dolby Stereo mix (2.0), both from new transfers. The German Blu-ray uses an earlier transfer dating back to the LaserDisc for the stereo. Both sound good.

Arrow includes a 7.1 Atmos remix, whereas earlier releases include a 5.1 remix.

Innerspace poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray; caps

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Arrow includes the original 70mm 6-track mix in a discrete form (4.1), as well as the matrixed 35mm Dolby Stereo mix (2.0), both from new transfers. The German Blu-ray uses an earlier transfer dating back to the LaserDisc for the stereo. Both sound good.

Arrow includes a 7.1 Atmos remix, whereas earlier releases include a 5.1 remix.

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

Scream Factory US 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Scream Factory US 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal UK for the inclusion of original mono, more extras

Best Audio:

Scream Factory US includes original mono

For the director/actor commentary, the 1995 Image Entertainment LaserDisc is uncut, subsequent releases are cut

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

Scream Factory US 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Scream Factory US 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal UK for the inclusion of original mono, more extras

Best Audio:

Scream Factory US includes original mono

For the director/actor commentary, the 1995 Image Entertainment LaserDisc is uncut, subsequent releases are cut

Small Soldiers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Small Soldiers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray

Piranha poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray

Piranha poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray

Matinee poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Matinee poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

More from Vinegar Syndrome

See more →
Cannibal! The Musical poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Refuse Films or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Refuse Films or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray

Both releases have two presentations: sourced from the original Betacam master tapes, and another that uses a filmout of the tapes.

Best English-Friendly:

UK Refuse Films or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Refuse Films or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray

Both releases have two presentations: sourced from the original Betacam master tapes, and another that uses a filmout of the tapes.

D.A.R.Y.L. poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray

D.A.R.Y.L. poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray

A New Leaf poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Cinématographe 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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

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

A New Leaf poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Cinématographe 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

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

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

Body Snatchers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray in July

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray in July

Last Tango in Paris poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

88 Films 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 17, 2026 release

Best Audio:

2011 MGM Blu-ray/1998 MGM DVD

Best English-Friendly:

Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

88 Films 4K Blu-ray scheduled for August 17, 2026 release

Best Audio:

2011 MGM Blu-ray/1998 MGM DVD

Putney Swope poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK Indicator Blu-ray or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Indicator Blu-ray or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray no comparison available but both from the same Academy 4K restoration

Best English-Friendly:

UK Indicator Blu-ray or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK Indicator Blu-ray or US Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray no comparison available but both from the same Academy 4K restoration

Jade poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Jade poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

More Science Fiction on Blu-ray

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

Predator poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Predator poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Mars Attacks! poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray caps. The HDR10 base layer is bright, so I'd recommended to watch it in Dolby Vision.

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray is missing the isolated score and Martian dub from the DVD

Mars Attacks! poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray caps. The HDR10 base layer is bright, so I'd recommended to watch it in Dolby Vision.

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray is missing the isolated score and Martian dub from the DVD

Threads poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray see comparison but HDR is on the bright side

Threads poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Severin 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Severin 4K Blu-ray see comparison but HDR is on the bright side

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the original Japanese audio with the best English subtitle translation

US Funimation Blu-ray for the Bandai dub
Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub

Best Video:

Italy Dynit Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japan "4K Remastered" Disney Blu-ray has the original 6.1 mix

Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the DTS:X remix

Funimation US Blu-ray for the Bandai dub

Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub

Additional Info:

Italy Dynit Blu-ray has the best picture quality but has no English subtitles or original theatrical 6.1 mix.

All "4K Remastered" and 4K Blu-ray releases (including from Disney) are taken from a 35mm filmout rather than the original digital source, and then heavily DNR'd, destroying original detail and making lines smearier than before. The Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray is the least bad presentation of the 4K remaster, being encoded with a very healthy bitrate and HDR10+ metadata, and with a top-notch DTS:X remix, with the original 6.1 mix included on the pack-in "4K Remastered" Blu-ray.

The film has multiple English subtitle translations, and the Disney subtitles done by Linda Hoaglund and Judith Aley with Aura are often seen as the best translation, with these subtitles present on the Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray, making this the definitive option for viewers who want to watch the film in Japanese with English subtitles.

Best English-Friendly:

Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the original Japanese audio with the best English subtitle translation

US Funimation Blu-ray for the Bandai dub
Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub

Best Video:

Italy Dynit Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japan "4K Remastered" Disney Blu-ray has the original 6.1 mix

Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray for the DTS:X remix

Funimation US Blu-ray for the Bandai dub

Manga Entertainment UK Blu-ray for the Manga Entertainment dub

Additional Info:

Italy Dynit Blu-ray has the best picture quality but has no English subtitles or original theatrical 6.1 mix.

All "4K Remastered" and 4K Blu-ray releases (including from Disney) are taken from a 35mm filmout rather than the original digital source, and then heavily DNR'd, destroying original detail and making lines smearier than before. The Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray is the least bad presentation of the 4K remaster, being encoded with a very healthy bitrate and HDR10+ metadata, and with a top-notch DTS:X remix, with the original 6.1 mix included on the pack-in "4K Remastered" Blu-ray.

The film has multiple English subtitle translations, and the Disney subtitles done by Linda Hoaglund and Judith Aley with Aura are often seen as the best translation, with these subtitles present on the Japan Disney 4K Blu-ray, making this the definitive option for viewers who want to watch the film in Japanese with English subtitles.

Ghost in the Shell poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Bandai Japan 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

All the Anime FRA 4K Blu-ray | Caps comparison: Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Slowpoke Pics

Best Audio:

All the Anime FRA 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The All the Anime FRA and the Lionsgate USA run to the same frame and come from the same source, while the Bandai JPN is a separate assembly, and these three discs do not share a master and are graded differently. The French and the Japanese hold the same hue throughout; the Lionsgate is shifted, and by different amounts from scene to scene. The Lionsgate is the only Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL (when the All the Anime is Dolby Vision Profile 7 MEL and The Bandai  is only HDR10) and the extra coding precision is genuine, but it buys nothing here: the grain dithers the gradients on its own and none of the three discs bands.

What separates them is texture, and it is not close. The All the Anime FRA is very clearly superior to both others: far more fine detail, tighter edges with no sign of sharpening, and real gradation in the shadows where the other two simply go to black. It is a beautiful master, filmic and untouched. Both the US and the Japanese discs have had DNR applied: flat areas and edges are smoothed alike, so a great deal of the texture the French keeps is simply gone. The Lionsgate also falls apart on darker shots, and the Bandai is the softest of the three on top of a very conservative grade.
The French disc is the one to get, by a wide margin.
Caps comparison: Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Slowpoke Pics

Be warned that the All the Anime FRA is not English-friendly at all: it carries no English audio track and no English subtitles while being well served on the Japanese side, with the 6.1 mix from Ghost in the Shell 2.0 and the original 2.0 mix, both retaining the original 1995 end credits music, alongside the modern Dolby Atmos track.

Worth noting: the KSM GER release may carry the same master as the All the Anime FRA, but without a copy on hand I can neither confirm nor rule it out.

Best English-Friendly:

Bandai Japan 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

All the Anime FRA 4K Blu-ray | Caps comparison: Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Slowpoke Pics

Best Audio:

All the Anime FRA 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The All the Anime FRA and the Lionsgate USA run to the same frame and come from the same source, while the Bandai JPN is a separate assembly, and these three discs do not share a master and are graded differently. The French and the Japanese hold the same hue throughout; the Lionsgate is shifted, and by different amounts from scene to scene. The Lionsgate is the only Dolby Vision Profile 7 FEL (when the All the Anime is Dolby Vision Profile 7 MEL and The Bandai  is only HDR10) and the extra coding precision is genuine, but it buys nothing here: the grain dithers the gradients on its own and none of the three discs bands.

What separates them is texture, and it is not close. The All the Anime FRA is very clearly superior to both others: far more fine detail, tighter edges with no sign of sharpening, and real gradation in the shadows where the other two simply go to black. It is a beautiful master, filmic and untouched. Both the US and the Japanese discs have had DNR applied: flat areas and edges are smoothed alike, so a great deal of the texture the French keeps is simply gone. The Lionsgate also falls apart on darker shots, and the Bandai is the softest of the three on top of a very conservative grade.
The French disc is the one to get, by a wide margin.
Caps comparison: Ghost in the Shell (1995) | Slowpoke Pics

Be warned that the All the Anime FRA is not English-friendly at all: it carries no English audio track and no English subtitles while being well served on the Japanese side, with the 6.1 mix from Ghost in the Shell 2.0 and the original 2.0 mix, both retaining the original 1995 end credits music, alongside the modern Dolby Atmos track.

Worth noting: the KSM GER release may carry the same master as the All the Anime FRA, but without a copy on hand I can neither confirm nor rule it out.

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray See caps


DE Nameless 4K Blu-ray is an extremely poor AI upscale. See caps

Best Audio:

UK 88 Films Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

UK 88 Films 4K Blu-ray See caps


DE Nameless 4K Blu-ray is an extremely poor AI upscale. See caps

Best Audio:

UK 88 Films Blu-ray

Soylent Green poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray see comparison

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

1992 MGM LaserDisc [ML102574] includes isolated score

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray see comparison

Best Audio:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

1992 MGM LaserDisc [ML102574] includes isolated score

The Empire Strikes Back poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas. If not, Disney 4K Blu-ray

Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D+97_V" on high seas.

Upcoming Release:

2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed

Best Video:

OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas

Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D_97_VI" on the high seas. If not, the 4K Blu-rays are generally considered an improvement over the 2011 Blu-rays. (although both restorations are DNR'ed and have issues).

Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

Best English-Friendly:

OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas. If not, Disney 4K Blu-ray

Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D+97_V" on high seas.

Upcoming Release:

2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed

Best Video:

OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas

Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D_97_VI" on the high seas. If not, the 4K Blu-rays are generally considered an improvement over the 2011 Blu-rays. (although both restorations are DNR'ed and have issues).

Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

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

Eureka MoC Blu-ray

Best Video:

1984 Giorgio Moroder restoration: MoC Blu-ray or Kino Lorber Blu-ray

2001 Murnau restoration: MoC 2-disc DVD set > Kino Lorber 1-disc Restored Authorized Edition DVD

2010 Murnau complete restoration: MoC Blu-ray > Kino Lorber Blu-ray

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

Eureka MoC Blu-ray

Best Video:

1984 Giorgio Moroder restoration: MoC Blu-ray or Kino Lorber Blu-ray

2001 Murnau restoration: MoC 2-disc DVD set > Kino Lorber 1-disc Restored Authorized Edition DVD

2010 Murnau complete restoration: MoC Blu-ray > Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Edit History

1 edit
Explorers (1985) backdrop