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
26 films on Best BluraysBest video release: 3 in 4K20 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
20 of 26 films match
Films where Amazon's release is the pick. How picks are made
20 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
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Amazon HD Streaming
Sources: amazon.com (opens in a new tab)
TV series
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.
5 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)
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