An independent UK distributor run by founder Chris Holden since 1994, Second Sight releases classic, cult and recent films on Blu-ray and 4K UHD for the UK market. Its limited editions come in rigid boxes with books and art cards, often built around new restorations and commissioned extras. The catalogue runs from Picnic at Hanging Rock and Mean Streets to Cronenberg horror and modern titles such as Drive.
Second Sight
38 films on Best BluraysBest video release: 30 in 4K8 in HD
Best 4K release by tier:
- Excellent22
- Solid7
- Disappointing1
Films where Second Sight's release is the pick. How picks are made
30 of 38 films match · Page 1 of 2
Films where Second Sight's release is the pick. How picks are made
Director: George A. Romero
Best English-Friendly:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Best Video:
2020 Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Best Audio:
Theatrical: 2017 Midnight Factory Blu-ray or 2013 Japan Happinet Blu-ray
European: 5.1 remix on 2016 Midnight Factory and 2021 ESC 4K Blu-ray
Audio Notes:
Theatrical: 2017 Midnight Factory Blu-ray or 2013 Japan Happinet Blu-ray
European: 5.1 remix on 2016 Midnight Factory and 2021 ESC 4K Blu-ray much more detailed than all mono mixes
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray has better encoding than Magnolia Pictures Comparisons
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray/France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray (preference)
Sources: caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
(Carlotta 4K Blu-ray has some better shots than Second Sight 4K Blu-ray and is more accurate to the theatrical grade: https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=18250&d2=18597&s1=210919&s2=219265&i=4&l=0&a=1)
Best Audio:
LaserDisc/VHS likely will have less filtered and correct audio. MPI 4K Blu-ray’s mono appears to be correct content-wise.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Best English-Friendly & Video:
2024 Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray has better encoding than Magnolia Pictures
Second Sight vs Nordisk Denmark Import - caps
Director: Robert Harmon
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray (review)
Director: David Cronenberg
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: David Cronenberg
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Directors: Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray/Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Director: David Robert Mitchell
Best English-Friendly:
Lionsgate Limited 4K Blu-ray
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Video Notes:
> Second Sight 4K Blu-ray (Lionsgate has Second Sight transfer and extras plus the extras from the old Blu-ray)
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray is very minimally better than Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray. Comparisons
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray encoded by FiM > US Decal Releasing > France 4K Blu-ray which has incorrect colors and foreign overlays
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Second Sight 4K Blu-ray
Best Audio:
Atmos on the Sony 4K Blu-ray maybe better?
Regarding the "original theatrical audio" 5.1 mixes:
The Sony UHD and the BD DTS-HD 5.1 mixes are the same but the UHD has been pushed slightly harder and has a lot of clipping. The UHD is 16 bit vs the BD's 24 bits.
The Second Sight UHD DTS-HD 5.1 is a downmix of its respective Atmos track. Definitely different from the Sony UHD/BD mix plus a little less dynamic. Whether or not that's representative of the theatrical Dolby Digital mix is anyone's guess.
So, if you want the best version of the original 5.1, the 2012 BD is the winner.
Know a film where the Second Sight release is the one to buy? Suggest it