Amazon's video service launched in 2006 as Amazon Unbox and now combines a Prime subscription tier with a store for renting and buying films, streaming up to 4K HDR. For many silent, early-sound and studio-era titles with no Blu-ray, its HD streams or downloads are the best available copy. Amazon has owned MGM since 2022.
Amazon
25 films on Best BluraysBest video release: 3 in 4K19 in HD2 in SD1 with no official release7 more for audio only
Best 4K release by tier:
Films where Amazon's release is the pick. How picks are made
Films where Amazon's release is the pick. How picks are made
3 in 4K
Best video release on UHD Blu-ray or 4K streaming
19 in HD
Best video release on Blu-ray or HD streaming · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Francesco Rosi
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Amazon HD Streaming
Sources: letterboxd.com (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Radiance tried to license it in 2023 but failed https://letterboxd.com/radiancefilms/list/failed-licenses-2023/ so not expecting home media release any time soon.
Director: Guru Dutt
Director: Jean Rouch
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Amazon HD Streaming
Sources: amazon.com (opens in a new tab)
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Amazon US HD Streaming is from the 2018 UCLA restoration. Olive Films Blu-ray is from an older scan and quite rough. caps
Best Audio:
Audio Notes:
Olive Films Blu-ray is again rough, with distortion, crackle and other issues, but sounds much more natural. With some EQ the restored track can be significantly improved
Director: Mark Sandrich
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Amazon HD Streaming
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab) · amazon.com (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
IVC Japan Blu-ray is clearly from a higher generation film element and looks terrible. Comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/XUTwiv7B
Additional Info:
Best English-Friendly & Video:
SD: 2019 Warner Bros DVD
HD: Amazon Prime Streaming
Director: Robert Flaherty
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Amazon HD Streaming
Sources: amazon.com (opens in a new tab)
2 in SD
Best video release on DVD, SD streaming, LaserDisc or VHS · by Letterboxd rating
Best English-Friendly & Video:
AlphaVideo DVD, Mill Creek DVD, or Amazon SD Streaming
1 with no official release
Unofficial sources only, no home media, or lost · by Letterboxd rating
Director: David Butler
Sources: archive.org (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
The DVD isn't an official one, and according to a user review on Amazon:
This DVD comes from Archive.org, where the movie can be viewed for free. The original source, comes from the Fox Movie Channel
1 with a weaker 4K
Best 4K release rated Disappointing or Worse Than BD · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Best English-Friendly:
Amazon Streaming
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Upcoming Release:
Video Notes:
The 4K Blu-ray is an upscale with strong sharpening. Caps
Best Audio:
2026 Japan Avex 4K Blu-ray
Audio Notes:
Includes original 5.1 and an Atmos remix. The HD disc only includes 5.1.
7 for audio only
The best audio is Amazon's; the video and English-friendly picks are other releases · by Letterboxd rating
TV series
Best Audio:
Amazon Streaming
Audio Notes:
Amazon Streaming has the original 5.1 audio mix
Best English-Friendly & Video:
2026 Warner Bros Blu-ray
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Best Audio:
iTunes/Amazon WEB-DL
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Know a film where the Amazon release is the one to buy? Suggest it