Films

Fox Blu-ray for original cuts without the extra scene added in the re-release and AI upscaling

Newer Blu-ray/4K has the extra scene, but is poor and has excessive AI upscaling

An additional scene was added to the ending of the movie in the 2022 re-release: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=493908

2012 Criterion Blu-ray is the most accurate

4K Blu-ray unrecommended because of controversial colours, no HDR, minimal resolution uptick, and DNR master

The 4K Blu-ray 5.1 adds additional foley and effects.

• SerialSquadron SD Blu-ray see caps even though in very bad quality is still the best available version

• Grapevine OOP DVD but no information

• AlphaVideo DVD is a "feature version" and apparently cut different episodes together in one DVD according to this Amazon review

Alternatively, HD Streaming on Apple TV or Amazon from Grasshopper

• This film received multiple blu-ray versions since its initial release. Be sure on whether the Dolby Atmos track, newer extras or 3D image is preferred. The 2024 release is a reprint of the Diamond Luxe. 

• 2024 Blu-ray/2013 Diamond Luxe Edition Blu-ray has new extras not present on previous releases

• Caps for France vs Germany vs UK vs Turkish release https://slow.pics/c/jYBS2CWE not sure what the correct grading is but Germany release looks too dark

UK New Wave Blu-ray, compared to the US Adopt Blu-ray, has the making of documentary and no burned in subtitles

1969 version: Criterion Blu-ray > UK Artificial Eye Blu-ray, see DVDBeaver caps.

Japan Kadokawa Blu-ray is the same as AE BD and inferior to Criterion too

• 2015 Lionsgate Blu-ray (but it's missing the extra scenes in the Ultimate Edition)

• 2017 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray and subsequent 4K Blu-rays are notorius for being heavily denoised and smoothened. Alternatively, 35mm scans for the theatrical cut is 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.

Differences of mixes on various releases: see thread and more info here.

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.

• Criterion 4k resto, but it was AI upscaled although supervised and approved by Lynch https://www.reddit.com/r/davidlynch/comments/12klbw9/inland_empire_and_ai_upscaling/

• Some may prefer previous Optimum/Kadokawa Blu-ray

• See another detailed review: https://www.dvdexotica.com/2015/05/lets-get-serious-about-inland-empire.html

See caps of Blu-ray vs DVD

• 1991 CAV LaserDisc includes an approximation of the original Fantasound mix in Dolby Surround using the surviving magnetic mixdown, using Stokowski's original mixing notes as a reference. Original aggressive pans and dynamic range are left in tact.

• The 2000 DVD uses this same mix in discrete 5.0, but with some unnecessary dynamic range compression + a redub of all Deems Taylor audio with Corey Burton.

• The 7.1 mix on the 2010 Blu-ray sounds poor, having been hit with excessive noise reduction, dynamic range compression, original aggressive pans no longer in tact, and the channel usage no longer resembles Stokowski's original intended sound design. 

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray: Huge improvement in colors and detail. The restoration was done by the Academy instead of WB MPI which explains that there’s no grain management or issues with colors. They also accessed the original credit optical and scanned that one instead of recreating them digitally

Theatrical: WB 4K Blu-ray, according to Saentz, the 5.0 is a recreation of the original and subsequently 70mm mix from original elements.

• the only track on Universal 4K, which is in DTS:X, has a mixing error of around 6dB too low on side channels, otherwise very similar to other 5.1 mixes.

Criterion 4K Blu-ray replacement disc for fixed audio (there were some dialogues missing)

While the video on the replacement disc is exactly the same as the original release, the Atmos with missing lines has been corrected as it was also corrected on the Criterion commentary. Criterion also included the 6-track which is almost identical to the PAL track; It’s 4.0 in a 5.1 container. This 6-track is slightly better than the PAL DVD track as the PAL has some flutter on some parts that Criterion doesn’t have.

The Atmos on the replacement is identical to the Imprint AUS Blu-ray track which also has all the lines. The compatibility track is also the same,

It is worth mentioning the Imprint only has the Atmos and no 6-track. The 5.1 surround is with LFE and split surrounds and it’s just a downmix of the Atmos. Ditto for the LPCM 2.0 on said Blu-ray.

The 4K Blu-ray has both a poor Dolby Atmos remix and the original theatrical Dolby Stereo mix in its best fidelity but only for the Theatrical Cut.

The Blu-ray has a 5.1 remix for the Director's Cut that, while inferior to the original theatrical Dolby Stereo mix, is still far superior to the Dolby Atmos remix on the 4K Blu-ray, and is the best option for the Director's Cut.

Only the DVD has the isolated score.

GKIDS 4K Blu-ray is a sharpened upscale. Caps

GKIDS 4K Blu-ray has a true lossless English dub and correct volume levels for the Japanese audio

GKIDS has correct English subtitles that change a few lines from the director-approved dubtitles, to match with the Japanese dialogue better while still remaining true to director Michael Arias' intent. The corrected GKIDS subtitles are director-approved.

Streaming is the only way to watch the film in HD and in the original widescreen (1.78:1) format it was filmed in:
Kaleidescape > Movies Anywhere > Disney+

Kaleidescape > Amazon > Disney DVD > Disney+ > Movies Anywhere