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The Gold Rush (1925)

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Germany Arthaus 4K Blu-ray, and it has both 1925 version and 1942 version

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Excellent
Arthaus

Featured Lists

TSPDT

2026: #93
2025: #93
2024: #93
2023: #92
2022: #92

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 7, Audio: 8, Extras: 8

Length

82 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

6 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

Germany Arthaus 4K Blu-ray, and it has both 1925 version and 1942 version

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Excellent
Arthaus
Featured Lists
TSPDT
2026: #93
2025: #93
2024: #93
2023: #92
2022: #92
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 7, Audio: 8, Extras: 8

Length
82 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
6 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

See more →
Touch of Evil poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

MoC 4K Blu-ray and Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray are similar

Best Video:

MoC 4K Blu-ray and Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray are similar

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

More from Charlie Chaplin

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Modern Times poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Cut info: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=31209

Best Video:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2016 Kadokawa Blu-ray

Modern Times poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Cut info: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=31209

Best Video:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2016 Kadokawa Blu-ray

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

Theatrical: Image Entertainment LaserDisc International: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical: Image Entertainment LaserDisc

International: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 Image Entertainment DVD

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

Theatrical: Image Entertainment LaserDisc International: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Theatrical: Image Entertainment LaserDisc

International: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 Image Entertainment DVD

The Great Dictator poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Germany Kinowelt Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray and Germany Kinowelt Blu-ray are similar

Best Audio:

Germany Kinowelt Blu-ray. Kadokawa/MK2/Park Circus/Artificial Eye probably even better

Best English-Friendly:

Germany Kinowelt Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray and Germany Kinowelt Blu-ray are similar

Best Audio:

Germany Kinowelt Blu-ray. Kadokawa/MK2/Park Circus/Artificial Eye probably even better

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

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, 4k restoration. Superior to Germany Kinowelt or Japan Kadokawa, see caps-a-holic

Best Audio:

2000 Image Entertainment DVD

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

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, 4k restoration. Superior to Germany Kinowelt or Japan Kadokawa, see caps-a-holic

Best Audio:

2000 Image Entertainment DVD

The Immigrant poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Charlie Chaplin Mutual Comedies Blu-ray boxset

Best Video:

BFI or Flicker Alley Charlie Chaplin Mutual Comedies Blu-ray boxsets use the same restoration, no comparison available

Additional Info:

BFI Blu-ray has commentaries while Flicker Alley doesn't

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Charlie Chaplin Mutual Comedies Blu-ray boxset

Best Video:

BFI or Flicker Alley Charlie Chaplin Mutual Comedies Blu-ray boxsets use the same restoration, no comparison available

Additional Info:

BFI Blu-ray has commentaries while Flicker Alley doesn't

The Circus poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1928 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1969 version: Criterion Blu-ray

The Circus poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1928 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1969 version: Criterion Blu-ray

The Kid poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1921 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1972 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

1921 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1972 version: Criterion Blu-ray

The Kid poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1921 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1972 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

1921 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1972 version: Criterion Blu-ray

A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

1923 version: Image Entertainment DVD. 1976 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

1923 version: Image Entertainment DVD 1976 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

1923 version: Image Entertainment DVD. 1976 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

1923 version: Image Entertainment DVD 1976 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Monsieur Verdoux poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion, 2k transfer

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion, 2k transfer

More Adventure on Blu-ray

The Hidden Fortress poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR

Best Audio:

Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray

BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.

Additional Info:

The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.

Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.

Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR

Best Audio:

Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray

BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.

Additional Info:

The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.

Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Majority of film (theatrical and extended cuts): 1991 Columbia US VHS (or possibly 1994 Columbia LaserDisc?)

32-second scene (extended cut): 1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Best English-Friendly:

2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Majority of film (theatrical and extended cuts): 1991 Columbia US VHS (or possibly 1994 Columbia LaserDisc?)

32-second scene (extended cut): 1993 Criterion LaserDisc

Howl's Moving Castle poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Best Video:

2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray has better detail and grain, 2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray from the Hayao Miyazaki box set for MGVC with added bit-depth for supported players

Best Audio:

2011/2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray for original 6.1 audio mix, Cinema DTS for the English dub

Best English-Friendly:

2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Best Video:

2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray has better detail and grain, 2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray from the Hayao Miyazaki box set for MGVC with added bit-depth for supported players

Best Audio:

2011/2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray for original 6.1 audio mix, Cinema DTS for the English dub

Red Cliff II poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Best Video:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Additional Info:

Hong Kong Blu-ray has extras not on the US release

Red Cliff II poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Best Video:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Additional Info:

Hong Kong Blu-ray has extras not on the US release

Red Cliff poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Best Video:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Additional Info:

Hong Kong Blu-ray has extras not on the US release

Red Cliff poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Best Video:

International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray

Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?

Additional Info:

Hong Kong Blu-ray has extras not on the US release

The Abyss poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray's artificial smoothening of facial textures making actors look unnatural, grain reduction and other changes to make the film look less like a product of its time

Old WEB-DL or HDTV rip for non AI version

Best Audio:

LaserDisc

The Abyss poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray's artificial smoothening of facial textures making actors look unnatural, grain reduction and other changes to make the film look less like a product of its time

Old WEB-DL or HDTV rip for non AI version

Best Audio:

LaserDisc

First Blood poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray (2026 Rambo set)

Best Video:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray (2026 Rambo set)
caps #1 (with FEL), caps #2

Best Audio:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray (2026 Rambo set)

Additional Info:

The compression is underwhelming on all discs, but despite trading blows in various frames, Lionsgate's re-released 4K disc wins.

The Lionsgate 4K re-release includes original matrixed Dolby Stereo mix, transferred from a LaserDisc, with missing cues at side changeover points corrected, and consistent volume throughout, as well as two remixed variants in 5.1 and 7.1 Atmos. The 5.1 is incorrectly labeled as original on the menu.

First Blood poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray (2026 Rambo set)

Best Video:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray (2026 Rambo set)
caps #1 (with FEL), caps #2

Best Audio:

Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray (2026 Rambo set)

Additional Info:

The compression is underwhelming on all discs, but despite trading blows in various frames, Lionsgate's re-released 4K disc wins.

The Lionsgate 4K re-release includes original matrixed Dolby Stereo mix, transferred from a LaserDisc, with missing cues at side changeover points corrected, and consistent volume throughout, as well as two remixed variants in 5.1 and 7.1 Atmos. The 5.1 is incorrectly labeled as original on the menu.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Capelight Blu-ray

Best Video:

Capelight Blu-ray, better encoded than MGM Blu-ray

Best Audio:

MGM Blu-ray's stereo track.

MGM's 7.1 track is a remix with a few flaws and much worse fidelity. Capelight's stereo and 7.1 track are both from the remix.

Additional Info:

The movie was originally premiered as a roadshow release, with a a 70mm 6-Track Stereo mix. This mix, unfortunately has not been released on home video.

The closest thing to that mix, is the stereo track included on the 2010 Blu-ray. It sounds great, with high fidelity and little filtering. It's lossy, but that doesn't matter very much.

Both the DVD 5.1 and the Blu-ray 7.1 tracks (identical on both discs) are a new remix, rather than a repackaging of the original mix. The 7.1 track sounds quite muffled, though not evenly so. The Capelight Blu-ray's lossless stereo track uses the same remix, but with higher fidelity than the surround tracks, sounding significantly less muffled. Compared to the original, this remix sounds wider and more "cleaned up". The remix contains a handful of errors, for example the intermission cue fades out, rather than ending correctly.

Comparison samples

Best English-Friendly:

Capelight Blu-ray

Best Video:

Capelight Blu-ray, better encoded than MGM Blu-ray

Best Audio:

MGM Blu-ray's stereo track.

MGM's 7.1 track is a remix with a few flaws and much worse fidelity. Capelight's stereo and 7.1 track are both from the remix.

Additional Info:

The movie was originally premiered as a roadshow release, with a a 70mm 6-Track Stereo mix. This mix, unfortunately has not been released on home video.

The closest thing to that mix, is the stereo track included on the 2010 Blu-ray. It sounds great, with high fidelity and little filtering. It's lossy, but that doesn't matter very much.

Both the DVD 5.1 and the Blu-ray 7.1 tracks (identical on both discs) are a new remix, rather than a repackaging of the original mix. The 7.1 track sounds quite muffled, though not evenly so. The Capelight Blu-ray's lossless stereo track uses the same remix, but with higher fidelity than the surround tracks, sounding significantly less muffled. Compared to the original, this remix sounds wider and more "cleaned up". The remix contains a handful of errors, for example the intermission cue fades out, rather than ending correctly.

Comparison samples

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

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The Gold Rush (1925) backdrop

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