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Born in Flames (1983)
Born in Flames (1983) poster
Letterboxd

4.0

Best English-Friendly Release

US First Run Features Blu-ray

Best Video Release

US First Run Features Blu-ray

Format

1080p Blu-ray

TSPDT

2026: #766
2025: #758
2024: #761
2023: #739

External Links

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 7, Audio: 7, Extras: 8

Length

79 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

2 years ago

Contributors

-

Best English-Friendly Release

US First Run Features Blu-ray

Best Video Release

US First Run Features Blu-ray

Format
1080p Blu-ray
Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #766
2025: #758
2024: #761
2023: #739
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 7, Audio: 7, Extras: 8

Length
79 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
2 years ago
Contributors

-

Featured in Sight and Sound’s Greatest Films

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Portrait of a Lady on Fire poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Artificial Eye UK Blu-ray? Supposed to have better translation than Criterion.

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release

Best Video:

Pyramide France Blu-ray

Streaming in 4K on Netflix

Best English-Friendly:

Artificial Eye UK Blu-ray? Supposed to have better translation than Criterion.

Upcoming Release:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray scheduled for October 2026 release

Best Video:

Pyramide France Blu-ray

Streaming in 4K on Netflix

Pierrot le Fou poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2020 Criterion

Best Video:

2020 Criterion > StudioCanal > 2009 Criterion

Best Audio:

2007 StudioCanal DVD

Best English-Friendly:

2020 Criterion

Best Video:

2020 Criterion > StudioCanal > 2009 Criterion

Best Audio:

2007 StudioCanal DVD

Breathless poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray/2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray (preference)

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The HDR grading has messed up highlights, so some may prefer the 2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 Optimum DVD

Additional Info:

Criterion's subtitles seem to be better than StudioCanal's which omits too much IMO.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray/2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray (preference)

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The HDR grading has messed up highlights, so some may prefer the 2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 Optimum DVD

Additional Info:

Criterion's subtitles seem to be better than StudioCanal's which omits too much IMO.

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

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

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

MoC and BFI differing restorations and scores

Best Video:

2006 Restoration: Eureka Blu-ray
1995 photochemical restoration: BFI Blu-ray that some may prefer

Best Audio:

Eureka with Murnau institute restoration featuring score based on original score, BFI uses Photoplay restoration with James Bernard score

Additional Info:

Both Eureka and BFI BDs are worthy of owning. Each restoration has unique positives and extras. The James Bernard score on the BFI is outstanding and the image tinting is different to how the Murnau institute official restoration was done. The Eureka MoC BD is stuffed with extras and remains one of the best-made BDs of all time. Whatever you do: AVOID THE Kino Lorber BD!!! It uses the same Murnau institute restoration but drops frames for the whole feature - thus it loses a significant portion of the film! This was never acknowledged or addressed. The Kino Lorber BD remains one of the worst BDs of all time for this reason.

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

MoC and BFI differing restorations and scores

Best Video:

2006 Restoration: Eureka Blu-ray
1995 photochemical restoration: BFI Blu-ray that some may prefer

Best Audio:

Eureka with Murnau institute restoration featuring score based on original score, BFI uses Photoplay restoration with James Bernard score

Additional Info:

Both Eureka and BFI BDs are worthy of owning. Each restoration has unique positives and extras. The James Bernard score on the BFI is outstanding and the image tinting is different to how the Murnau institute official restoration was done. The Eureka MoC BD is stuffed with extras and remains one of the best-made BDs of all time. Whatever you do: AVOID THE Kino Lorber BD!!! It uses the same Murnau institute restoration but drops frames for the whole feature - thus it loses a significant portion of the film! This was never acknowledged or addressed. The Kino Lorber BD remains one of the worst BDs of all time for this reason.

Once Upon a Time in America poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

251 min cut (Extended): Fox Blu-ray. Eagle Pictures has forced Italian subs in some parts

229 min cut (Theatrical): WB Blu-ray

139 min cut (US theatrical): VHS

Best Video:

Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray, caps

The 4K includes both theatrical and extended cuts. It's overall a solid upgrade over previous discs, but some will strongly dislike the color grading.
There are some issues with encoding and grain management.


Nic's review:

Some definitely messed with it as there’s grain management going on that resulted in magnetic, squishy grain movement. Both cuts (4K discs) are affected and it doesn’t look like an encoding issue to me as the bitrates don’t drop down to single digits á la Paramount or StudioCanal. During opticals, the lowest I’ve noted on the Extended 4K was around 30 MB/s vs. ~5 MB/s more for the theatrical cut.

Darker scenes are mostly (but not always) better but when it gets brighter, particularly in exteriors or scenes like the Jennifer Connelly dance scene at minute 38, I can’t unsee the digital tinkering as it does some damage texturally.

I compared it with the Eagle Pictures and Warner Bros Fox Blu-ray of the extended cut and they all look fine without grain management like that. Eagle Pictures’s Blu-ray is an older one if anyone’s curious and credited to another authoring house than 64Biz, which did the 4K.

Other than that, except for some encoding-related chroma noise that peeks through in the DV layer, Eagle Pictures did everything right. They corrected the framing to 1.85, kept the original English titles, the English restoration note, subtitles, HDR/DV is gentle and respectful of the source black levels are better than on the Warner Bros/Fox Blu-ray. Without that grain management, this would’ve been the all-timer release we all longed for.

Best Audio:

251 min cut: Fox Blu-ray (24-bit, Eagle Pictures is 16-bit, not audible)
229 min cut: Warner Bros LaserDisc (missing 2 minutes, but original mono mix was never released on DVD/Blu-ray)

Additional Info:

Extended edition adds scenes cut from the theatrical, but from a much lower quality source. It's intended to approximate the original cut, but to what extent that is true is debatable.
US theatrical cut is infamously bad, was panned at release and never re-released on home video.

Best English-Friendly:

251 min cut (Extended): Fox Blu-ray. Eagle Pictures has forced Italian subs in some parts

229 min cut (Theatrical): WB Blu-ray

139 min cut (US theatrical): VHS

Best Video:

Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray, caps

The 4K includes both theatrical and extended cuts. It's overall a solid upgrade over previous discs, but some will strongly dislike the color grading.
There are some issues with encoding and grain management.


Nic's review:

Some definitely messed with it as there’s grain management going on that resulted in magnetic, squishy grain movement. Both cuts (4K discs) are affected and it doesn’t look like an encoding issue to me as the bitrates don’t drop down to single digits á la Paramount or StudioCanal. During opticals, the lowest I’ve noted on the Extended 4K was around 30 MB/s vs. ~5 MB/s more for the theatrical cut.

Darker scenes are mostly (but not always) better but when it gets brighter, particularly in exteriors or scenes like the Jennifer Connelly dance scene at minute 38, I can’t unsee the digital tinkering as it does some damage texturally.

I compared it with the Eagle Pictures and Warner Bros Fox Blu-ray of the extended cut and they all look fine without grain management like that. Eagle Pictures’s Blu-ray is an older one if anyone’s curious and credited to another authoring house than 64Biz, which did the 4K.

Other than that, except for some encoding-related chroma noise that peeks through in the DV layer, Eagle Pictures did everything right. They corrected the framing to 1.85, kept the original English titles, the English restoration note, subtitles, HDR/DV is gentle and respectful of the source black levels are better than on the Warner Bros/Fox Blu-ray. Without that grain management, this would’ve been the all-timer release we all longed for.

Best Audio:

251 min cut: Fox Blu-ray (24-bit, Eagle Pictures is 16-bit, not audible)
229 min cut: Warner Bros LaserDisc (missing 2 minutes, but original mono mix was never released on DVD/Blu-ray)

Additional Info:

Extended edition adds scenes cut from the theatrical, but from a much lower quality source. It's intended to approximate the original cut, but to what extent that is true is debatable.
US theatrical cut is infamously bad, was panned at release and never re-released on home video.

Sunset Boulevard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray or Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray. See caps
HDR/grading: nice, but some blown out
Encoding: inconsistent, smeared motion
DNR: inconsistent, frozen
Old Paramount Blu-ray is arguably a solid alternative choice

Best Audio:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray mono is different version of the BD mono from the same old 2000 DVD transfer.

Additional Info:

The 5.1 remix on the 4K Blu-ray is an appalling remix done by going wild with artificially generated stems from Park Road Post who were given the surviving mono to separate. The experience is jarring and fidelity to original mix in terms of level balance, directionality and impact is nonexistent. Not only does this sound painfully weird, but the Paramount mixers then did whatever they wanted in terms of LFE, sound pans and effect changes.
The original mono mix was not restored and still needs it badly. The 4K master is filled with frozen grain examples coming and going plus some HDR issues in addition to the usual Paramount problems. It is simultaneously better and worse than the Blu-ray master.

Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray or Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray. See caps
HDR/grading: nice, but some blown out
Encoding: inconsistent, smeared motion
DNR: inconsistent, frozen
Old Paramount Blu-ray is arguably a solid alternative choice

Best Audio:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray mono is different version of the BD mono from the same old 2000 DVD transfer.

Additional Info:

The 5.1 remix on the 4K Blu-ray is an appalling remix done by going wild with artificially generated stems from Park Road Post who were given the surviving mono to separate. The experience is jarring and fidelity to original mix in terms of level balance, directionality and impact is nonexistent. Not only does this sound painfully weird, but the Paramount mixers then did whatever they wanted in terms of LFE, sound pans and effect changes.
The original mono mix was not restored and still needs it badly. The 4K master is filled with frozen grain examples coming and going plus some HDR issues in addition to the usual Paramount problems. It is simultaneously better and worse than the Blu-ray master.

Double Indemnity poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MCA LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MCA LaserDisc

Spirited Away poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki Collection Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Video:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki Collection Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki Collection Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

For English dub: OOP US 2015 Disney Blu-ray

Additional Info:

US GKIDS Blu-ray is missing some features from the OOP US Disney Blu-ray but has an exclusive 12-page booklet.

Spirited Away poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki Collection Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Video:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki Collection Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki Collection Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

For English dub: OOP US 2015 Disney Blu-ray

Additional Info:

US GKIDS Blu-ray is missing some features from the OOP US Disney Blu-ray but has an exclusive 12-page booklet.

More Drama on Blu-ray

Ruby Sparks poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Good Morning, Vietnam poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1999 Disney DVD has the original 70mm 6-track mix in 4.1 (mislabelled as 5.1 in the US release)

Best English-Friendly:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Video:

Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1999 Disney DVD has the original 70mm 6-track mix in 4.1 (mislabelled as 5.1 in the US release)

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.

Bo Ba Bu poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Mondo Macabro Blu-ray is the only one available as of Aug 2026

Best Video:

Mondo Macabro Blu-ray is the only one available as of Aug 2026. Restored from the original camera negative.

Bo Ba Bu poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Mondo Macabro Blu-ray is the only one available as of Aug 2026

Best Video:

Mondo Macabro Blu-ray is the only one available as of Aug 2026. Restored from the original camera negative.

An American Tail poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray
Universal DVD for 4:3 open matte version

Best Audio:

Universal LaserDisc for the original Dolby Stereo mix

Blu-ray only has a 5.1 remix that alters some dialogue and sound effects

An American Tail poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal Blu-ray
Universal DVD for 4:3 open matte version

Best Audio:

Universal LaserDisc for the original Dolby Stereo mix

Blu-ray only has a 5.1 remix that alters some dialogue and sound effects

The Right Stuff poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Harold and Maude poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount new 4K master

Best Audio:

Criterion/MoC Blu-ray

Harold and Maude poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount new 4K master

Best Audio:

Criterion/MoC Blu-ray

Stand by Me poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Sony 2023 Steelbook Edition 4K Blu-ray > Sony 2019 Standard Edition 4K Blu-ray

US Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray added Dolby Vision and more extras

Best Audio:

Original Mono mix: Columbia Pictures LaserDisc, Sony 4K Blu-ray

5.1 remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray Sony Blu-ray

DVD and Blu-ray both have lossy Mono

Additional Info:

The DVD has an isolated score track 
In addition to the new Atmos track, both 4K Blu-ray releases have ported over the previous lossless 5.1 remix from the older 1080p Blu-ray in DTS-HD MA 5.1 and also include the original theatrical mono mix in lossless DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono

Only the US Steelbook has Dolby Vision

Stand by Me poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

US Sony 2023 Steelbook Edition 4K Blu-ray > Sony 2019 Standard Edition 4K Blu-ray

US Sony 2023 Steelbook 4K Blu-ray added Dolby Vision and more extras

Best Audio:

Original Mono mix: Columbia Pictures LaserDisc, Sony 4K Blu-ray

5.1 remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray Sony Blu-ray

DVD and Blu-ray both have lossy Mono

Additional Info:

The DVD has an isolated score track 
In addition to the new Atmos track, both 4K Blu-ray releases have ported over the previous lossless 5.1 remix from the older 1080p Blu-ray in DTS-HD MA 5.1 and also include the original theatrical mono mix in lossless DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono

Only the US Steelbook has Dolby Vision

A Bronx Tale poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MVD 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

MVD 4K Blu-ray

Edit History

No edit history available

Born in Flames (1983) backdrop