Universal Pictures' home-video division, based in Universal City, California, started in 1980 as MCA Videocassette and has used its current name since 2016. It releases the studio's library, from the 1930s monster films and Hitchcock's later work to new releases, on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD. Since 2021 North American discs have gone through Studio Distribution Services, the Warner Bros. joint venture that disc maker Conectiv bought in August 2026.
Universal
269 films on Best BluraysBest video release: 170 in 4K86 in HD13 in SD20 more for audio only1 more announced
Best 4K release by tier:
- Excellent61
- Solid38
- Disappointing3
- Worse Than BD10
Films where Universal's release is the pick. How picks are made
86 of 269 films match
Films where Universal's release is the pick. How picks are made
86 in HD
Best video release on Blu-ray or HD streaming · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Edgar Wright
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Old Universal Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Old Universal Blu-ray is better than 2019 4K Blu-ray: black crush, color is off, DNR has been applied whereas on Shaun and World's End it has not
Director: Leo McCarey
Best English-Friendly:
Universal Blu-ray
Best Video:
Universal - The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection
Best Audio:
1999 Image Entertainment DVD
Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Director: Joss Whedon
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Universal Blu-ray
Video Notes:
(4K Blu-ray has DNR)
Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Director: Spike Lee
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Universal Blu-ray
Upcoming Release:
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray upcoming
9 with a weaker 4K
Best 4K release rated Disappointing or Worse Than BD · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Edgar Wright
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Old Universal Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Old Universal Blu-ray is better than 2019 4K Blu-ray: black crush, color is off, DNR has been applied whereas on Shaun and World's End it has not
Director: Joss Whedon
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Universal Blu-ray
Video Notes:
(4K Blu-ray has DNR)
Best English-Friendly & Video:
2015 Universal Blu-ray
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
The new Universal 4K is AI upscaled https://slow.pics/c/5jD2BjKT and sharpened, see discussion on BR https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=377660&page=9
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Universal Blu-ray
Video Notes:
(4K Blu-ray has DNR)
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Universal Blu-ray
Sources: caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
4K Blu-ray has DNR, see caps https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&a=0&d1=11748&d2=11747&s1=115760&s2=115776&i=0&l=0
Additional Info:
Best Buy Blu-ray has a bonus disc
Director: Joe Alves
Best English-Friendly & Video:
2D version: 2016 Universal Blu-ray
3D version: Universal 3D Blu-ray
Sources: fanrestore.com (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
(caveat: 3D Blu-ray has misaligned eyes)
Nick_M's 3D version is better than Universal 3D Blu-ray
Director: Doug Liman
Best English-Friendly & Video:
International Cut: International Universal HD-DVD
Video Notes:
The Universal Blu-ray is slightly filtered and DNR'd compared to the HD-DVD, and the Universal 4K Blu-ray, on top of being upscaled, adds additional DNR and is softer than both previous HD releases.
Best Audio:
Universal Blu-ray DTS-HD 5.1
Additional Info:
Versions:
- The International version contains a short additional scene (part of the "Farmhouse" extended scene from the special features). See additional detail below.
- The US version does not contain this scene during the film. Director Doug Liman confirms in his audio commentary that the scene was cut from the original US theatrical release "for time".
- "The Explosive Extended Edition" found on some DVD releases is not an alternate cut of the film, simply an access mode that plays "The Bookend Scenes" features via non-seamless branching.
Deck the Halls scene:
The U.S. release is 118:17 while the European/Australian/Japanese releases are 118:36. There is no difference between the two running times from the start, but at 81:21, the U.S. version cuts from a kitchen scene of Marie and Eamon washing dishes, to a scene of Eamon bringing blankets to Jason and Marie. On the European/Australian releases, at the same point, there is a scene of Jason, Marie, Eamon and his children eating dinner while "Deck the Halls" plays in the background. There is no dialogue, the characters just each exchange uncomfortable glances. The scene goes to 81:40, then picks up the same scene of Eamon bringing blankets. This scene is included as an extra ("Farmhouse" extended scene) albeit sans the holiday themed music. Many thanks to Rewind user Mark Bowen for comparing these releases and letting us know the difference.
Director: Peter Jackson
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Old Universal Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Old Universal Blu-ray is better than new 4K Blu-ray which has excessive DNR
3 for audio only
The best audio is Universal's; the video and English-friendly picks are other releases · by Letterboxd rating
Best Audio:
Universal DVD
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Audio Notes:
The 5.1 track is a new mix from the original elements, rather than a straight transfer.
Additional Info:
Criterion booklet notes:
> High Art is presented in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Supervised and approved by director Lisa Cholodenko, this new 4K restoration was undertaken by the Academy Film Archive and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, in conjunction with the Sundance Institute, using the 35 mm original camera negative. The 5.1 surround soundtrack was remastered from the DA-88 edit masters and mix masters. Funding was provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Frameline, the Sundance Institute, and the UCLA Film & Television Archive, with laboratory services by Roundabout Entertainment, Red Hook Post, and Monkeyland Audio.
1 announced
Universal's release is announced; until it is out, the picks are other releases · by Letterboxd rating
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
Upcoming Release:
Universal 25th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Vision and Atmos
Best English-Friendly & Video:
2011 Blu-ray
Video Notes:
(4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save space)
Best Audio:
Additional Info:
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
Know a film where the Universal release is the one to buy? Suggest it