Best Blurays IconBest Blurays
Films
/
The African Queen (1951)
The African Queen (1951) poster
Letterboxd

3.7

The African Queen (1951)

Romance, Adventure, Drama • 1h 45m

Overview

At the start of the First World War, in the middle of Africa’s nowhere, a gin soaked riverboat captain is persuaded by a strong-willed missionary to go down river and face-off a German warship.

Director: John Huston

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Best Audio Release

Eureka Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. Older DVD or LaserDisc probably even better

Additional Info

All blu-ray releases so far is from the 2010 scan.

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Excellent
Studio Canal:

review

Featured Lists

TSPDT

2026: #899
2025: #887
2024: #884
2023: #869
2022: #869

Length

105 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

5 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
Best Audio Release

Eureka Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. Older DVD or LaserDisc probably even better

Additional Info

All blu-ray releases so far is from the 2010 scan.

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Excellent
Studio Canal:

review

Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #899
2025: #887
2024: #884
2023: #869
2022: #869
Length
105 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
5 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

See more →
The Sound of Music poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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.

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

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.

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

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

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

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

12 Angry Men poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray is the best. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has heavily filtered audio

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

Die Hard poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

70mm Six-track mix: THX AC3 or DTS LaserDisc

How Green Was My Valley poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Best English-Friendly:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Fox Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Fox Blu-ray mono mix

As noted at Blah-Ray, the mono mix on the Fox Blu-ray, although not perfect, sounds better than the 5.1 remix and at least as good as earlier LaserDiscs, which suffer from being murky.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 Warner Bros LaserDisc (for original mono track)

Additional Info:

1996 Warner Bros 25th Anniversary LaserDisc has isolated music and effects track (incorrectly labeled "music minus vocals") not present on any other release

All That Jazz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Fox Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray

All That Jazz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Fox Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Fox Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray

Baby Face poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

HD Streaming 

Best Video:

HD Streaming

Baby Face poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

HD Streaming 

Best Video:

HD Streaming

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

Rebel Without a Cause poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

More from John Huston

See more →
The Maltese Falcon poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2023 WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2023 WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

HBO MAX WEB-DL/2000 R1 MGM DVD

Best English-Friendly:

2023 WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2023 WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

HBO MAX WEB-DL/2000 R1 MGM DVD

The Asphalt Jungle poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray 2k scan

Best Audio:

1993 MGM LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray 2k scan

Best Audio:

1993 MGM LaserDisc

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

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray see nic's review "fantastic restoration, beautifully graded with tasteful HDR and solid encoding"

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray from nic: "4.0 audio is brilliantly detailed, rich and spacious without audible filtering or processing"

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

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray see nic's review "fantastic restoration, beautifully graded with tasteful HDR and solid encoding"

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray from nic: "4.0 audio is brilliantly detailed, rich and spacious without audible filtering or processing"

Fat City poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray

Fat City poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray

Casino Royale poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

MGM Blu-ray 

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite dated master

Best Audio:

Sony Columbia 1994 LaserDisc Mono

Best English-Friendly:

MGM Blu-ray 

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite dated master

Best Audio:

Sony Columbia 1994 LaserDisc Mono

The Night of the Iguana poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Reflections in a Golden Eye poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Escape to Victory poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Key Largo poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

Key Largo poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive Blu-ray

More from StudioCanal

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

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has solid encode but controversial colors by Hiventy

Best English-Friendly:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Arrow 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has solid encode but controversial colors by Hiventy

Mulholland Drive poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is closer to the original DVDs than the 2015 Criterion release, not sure about whether the StudioCanal 4K is like the Criterion 4K/original DVD

Additional Info:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray has FEL Dolby Vision, StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has MEL

Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is closer to the original DVDs than the 2015 Criterion release, not sure about whether the StudioCanal 4K is like the Criterion 4K/original DVD

Additional Info:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray has FEL Dolby Vision, StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has MEL

Belle de Jour poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray uses a newer 4k scan than Criterion Blu-ray or older StudioCanal Blu-ray see https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=4373

Belle de Jour poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray uses a newer 4k scan than Criterion Blu-ray or older StudioCanal Blu-ray see https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=4373

The Big Blue poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal / Gaumont / Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal / Gaumont / Sony 4K Blu-ray

SC caps. Great-looking 4K master except for DNR'd higher-gen shots such as the opening sequence. StudioCanal resolves finer detail but has encoding issues in highlights, the non-Original Camera Negative shots and traces of chroma noise. Sony used a low-pass filter which makes the film look less sharp and finely detailed but the encode is more consistent.

The Big Blue poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal / Gaumont / Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal / Gaumont / Sony 4K Blu-ray

SC caps. Great-looking 4K master except for DNR'd higher-gen shots such as the opening sequence. StudioCanal resolves finer detail but has encoding issues in highlights, the non-Original Camera Negative shots and traces of chroma noise. Sony used a low-pass filter which makes the film look less sharp and finely detailed but the encode is more consistent.

La Strada poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion

Best Video:

Criterion

Best Audio:

2017 StudioCanal Blu-ray

La Strada poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion

Best Video:

Criterion

Best Audio:

2017 StudioCanal Blu-ray

Kind Hearts and Coronets poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2024 StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2024 StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2006 R1 Criterion DVD

Best English-Friendly:

2024 StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2024 StudioCanal UK 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2006 R1 Criterion DVD

Terminator 2: Judgment Day poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2015 Lionsgate Blu-ray or 35mm scan for Theatrical Cut

For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre 2017 transfer, but has DNR.

Best Video:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray is heavily denoised and smoothened, best Blu-ray is the 2015 Lionsgate Blu-ray (missing the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, which is on the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is DNRed), 35mm scan for the theatrical cut also available.

For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre 2017 transfer, but has DNR.

Best Audio:

Original Kodak CDS mix likely on the Artisan DVD and other Japan DVD.
Differences and review of the mix. There are earlier stereo mixes and many subsequent remixes on DVDs but it is unclear how many of them are really unique.

Additional Info:

2017 Blu-Ray (which has the DNRed transfer), the 2009 Skynet Edition Blu-Ray, and the 2000 Ultimate Edition DVD have exclusive extras. The 2003 Extreme Edition DVD has some exclusive easter eggs.

Best English-Friendly:

2015 Lionsgate Blu-ray or 35mm scan for Theatrical Cut

For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre 2017 transfer, but has DNR.

Best Video:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray is heavily denoised and smoothened, best Blu-ray is the 2015 Lionsgate Blu-ray (missing the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, which is on the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is DNRed), 35mm scan for the theatrical cut also available.

For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre 2017 transfer, but has DNR.

Best Audio:

Original Kodak CDS mix likely on the Artisan DVD and other Japan DVD.
Differences and review of the mix. There are earlier stereo mixes and many subsequent remixes on DVDs but it is unclear how many of them are really unique.

Additional Info:

2017 Blu-Ray (which has the DNRed transfer), the 2009 Skynet Edition Blu-Ray, and the 2000 Ultimate Edition DVD have exclusive extras. The 2003 Extreme Edition DVD has some exclusive easter eggs.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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

Additional Info:

UK StudioCanal has more extras

Best English-Friendly:

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

Additional Info:

UK StudioCanal has more extras

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

StudioCanal 4K

Best Video:

StudioCanal 4K caps.Criterion Blu-ray better encode than StudioCanal Blu-ray.

Best Audio:

1987 Criterion LaserDisc

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

StudioCanal 4K

Best Video:

StudioCanal 4K caps.Criterion Blu-ray better encode than StudioCanal Blu-ray.

Best Audio:

1987 Criterion LaserDisc

Edit History

3 edits
The African Queen (1951) backdrop

Made with ❤️ 📀 by vanshady