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TSPDT

They Shoot Pictures, Don't They with "The 1,000 Greatest Films" list.
2025: #1
2024: #1
2023: #1
2022: #1
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Europe 4K Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion (caveat: missing Criterion extras)

1
Citizen Kane poster
2026: #1
2025: #1
2024: #1
2023: #1
2022: #1
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB Europe 4K Blu-ray slightly better encoding than Criterion (caveat: missing Criterion extras)

2025: #2
2024: #2
2023: #2
2022: #2
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Universal DVD

2
Vertigo poster
2026: #2
2025: #2
2024: #2
2023: #2
2022: #2
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Universal DVD

2025: #3
2024: #3
2023: #3
2022: #3
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray (early pressing has errors of a shot, later pressings fixed)

Best Audio:

1997 MGM LaserDisc, 1998 MGM DVD

3
2001: A Space Odyssey poster
2026: #3
2025: #3
2024: #3
2023: #3
2022: #3
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray (early pressing has errors of a shot, later pressings fixed)

Best Audio:

1997 MGM LaserDisc, 1998 MGM DVD

2025: #4
2024: #4
2023: #4
2022: #4
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Raro DVD

4
Tokyo Story poster
2026: #4
2025: #4
2024: #4
2023: #4
2022: #4
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Raro DVD

5
The Rules of the Game poster
Letterboxd
2025: #5
2024: #5
2023: #5
2022: #5
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Criterion 4K Blu-ray has marginally better detail and grain structure than ESC 4K Blu-ray

The ESC France 4K Blu-ray is an SDR grade erroneously presented in HDR, but if your player can force the HDR into SDR it looks very good.

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray has the least tampered with audio of the DVD era, but it's possible the 1993 Criterion LaserDisc or the 1998 Japan LaserDisc are preferable.

5
The Rules of the Game poster
2026: #5
2025: #5
2024: #5
2023: #5
2022: #5
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Criterion 4K Blu-ray has marginally better detail and grain structure than ESC 4K Blu-ray

The ESC France 4K Blu-ray is an SDR grade erroneously presented in HDR, but if your player can force the HDR into SDR it looks very good.

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray has the least tampered with audio of the DVD era, but it's possible the 1993 Criterion LaserDisc or the 1998 Japan LaserDisc are preferable.

6
The Godfather poster
Letterboxd
2025: #6
2024: #6
2023: #6
2022: #6
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 2008 Blu-ray Coppola Restoration

Best Video:

Paramount 2008 Blu-ray Coppola Restoration

Best Audio:

2008 Blu-ray lossy mono. (Britain release only has 5.1)

Additional Info:

The Paramount 4K "restoration" is a desecration. It has completely revisionist color timing, harsh HDR, treatment of stock footage, bad encoding, selective DNR and grain management so bad that the entire screen frequently freezes up with only characters moving around in grain soup. It is so bad that the film's restorer Robert Harris publicly washed his hands of it saying essentially the 2007 restoration (with Willis and Coppola supervising) is how the film was intended and made. This is Paramount's modern version done their way. The new 1080p SDR Blu-rays in print are the crap 4K desecration master with the same problems still there just harder to spot and with crap encodes.
The mono option is an unnecessarily processed version of the lossy mono from the 2008 Blu-ray. The 2008 Blu-ray of the 2007 Coppola Restoration while an imperfect outdated disc is LIGHT YEARS better than this 4K desecration. The only truly major issue is that it is very slightly redder than the 2007 finished master as seen on DCPs. The lossy mono on the 2008 Blu-ray is the best version of the original mix known to exist as it is better than the late 80's mastering for VHS and LaserDisc.
DFIC review of the hideous crap 4K Blu-rays: https://youtu.be/0uw6-Kcy_UA?si=ob1nDg0wTCvemjH0

6
The Godfather poster
2026: #6
2025: #6
2024: #6
2023: #6
2022: #6
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Paramount 2008 Blu-ray Coppola Restoration

Best Video:

Paramount 2008 Blu-ray Coppola Restoration

Best Audio:

2008 Blu-ray lossy mono. (Britain release only has 5.1)

Additional Info:

The Paramount 4K "restoration" is a desecration. It has completely revisionist color timing, harsh HDR, treatment of stock footage, bad encoding, selective DNR and grain management so bad that the entire screen frequently freezes up with only characters moving around in grain soup. It is so bad that the film's restorer Robert Harris publicly washed his hands of it saying essentially the 2007 restoration (with Willis and Coppola supervising) is how the film was intended and made. This is Paramount's modern version done their way. The new 1080p SDR Blu-rays in print are the crap 4K desecration master with the same problems still there just harder to spot and with crap encodes.
The mono option is an unnecessarily processed version of the lossy mono from the 2008 Blu-ray. The 2008 Blu-ray of the 2007 Coppola Restoration while an imperfect outdated disc is LIGHT YEARS better than this 4K desecration. The only truly major issue is that it is very slightly redder than the 2007 finished master as seen on DCPs. The lossy mono on the 2008 Blu-ray is the best version of the original mix known to exist as it is better than the late 80's mastering for VHS and LaserDisc.
DFIC review of the hideous crap 4K Blu-rays: https://youtu.be/0uw6-Kcy_UA?si=ob1nDg0wTCvemjH0

2025: #7
2024: #7
2023: #7
2022: #7
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Image Entertainment DVD is slightly better than Criterion 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD (all basically the same)
Other Blu-ray releases are all much worse.

7
8½ poster
2026: #7
2025: #7
2024: #7
2023: #7
2022: #7
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Image Entertainment DVD is slightly better than Criterion 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD (all basically the same)
Other Blu-ray releases are all much worse.

2025: #8
2024: #8
2023: #8
2022: #8
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Eureka MoC Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

SFFP new 4K restoration

Best Video:

MoC audio is better, OOP but available in ebay https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=225532&page=3

8
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans poster
2026: #8
2025: #8
2024: #8
2023: #8
2022: #8
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Eureka MoC Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

SFFP new 4K restoration

Best Video:

MoC audio is better, OOP but available in ebay https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=225532&page=3

9
The Searchers poster
Letterboxd
2025: #9
2024: #9
2023: #9
2022: #9
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS.

4K Blu-ray is muffled, even compared to already poor WB Blu-ray, from nicolas: "The most noise reduction of any release, leaving hardly anything above 8 kHz. Bass content has also been removed globally."

Additional Info:

Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video, the old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.

That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNR: https://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l

9
The Searchers poster
2026: #9
2025: #9
2024: #9
2023: #9
2022: #9
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1988/1990 WB Hi-Fi VHS.

4K Blu-ray is muffled, even compared to already poor WB Blu-ray, from nicolas: "The most noise reduction of any release, leaving hardly anything above 8 kHz. Bass content has also been removed globally."

Additional Info:

Even putting resolution aside, the Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray has the best video, the old Blu-ray master and earlier DVD both had massive issues with colour.

That said, picture on the 4K Blu-ray isn't perfect, with strange posterized magenta glints and some instances of DNR: https://bsky.app/profile/dagscott.bsky.social/post/3leahavqi7k2l

10
Seven Samurai poster
Letterboxd

4.6

2025: #10
2024: #10
2023: #10
2022: #10
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray or BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

No clear winner, Criterion SDR 4K Blu-ray has better defined grain and is cleaned-up more thoroughly. But looks grayer and flatter in daytime scenes. BFI 4K Blu-ray's HDR/DV is better in contrast but the grading can be debatable.

Best Audio:

BFI Streaming

Additional Info:

The subtitles of Criterion  and BFI are translated differently. See BR forum.

10
Seven Samurai poster
2026: #10
2025: #10
2024: #10
2023: #10
2022: #10
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray or BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

No clear winner, Criterion SDR 4K Blu-ray has better defined grain and is cleaned-up more thoroughly. But looks grayer and flatter in daytime scenes. BFI 4K Blu-ray's HDR/DV is better in contrast but the grading can be debatable.

Best Audio:

BFI Streaming

Additional Info:

The subtitles of Criterion  and BFI are translated differently. See BR forum.

11
Singin' in the Rain poster
Letterboxd

4.3

2025: #11
2024: #11
2023: #11
2022: #11
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MGM LaserDisc

11
Singin' in the Rain poster
2026: #11
2025: #11
2024: #11
2023: #11
2022: #11
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1991 MGM LaserDisc

12
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles poster
Letterboxd

4.3

2025: #12
2024: #12
2023: #12
2022: #12
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2025 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 BFI Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray, a lot better encoding. See caps https://slow.pics/c/DW2jtYxN Criterion seemed to did some additional adjustment to the original grading

Both France Capricci and Japan Blu-ray are worse than Criterion and BFI.

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray largely sounds better, but attentuates away some low-frequency ambient noises. BFI Blu-ray has hum, dropouts, pops, noticable patching and beeping.

12
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles poster
2026: #12
2025: #12
2024: #12
2023: #12
2022: #12
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2025 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 BFI Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray, a lot better encoding. See caps https://slow.pics/c/DW2jtYxN Criterion seemed to did some additional adjustment to the original grading

Both France Capricci and Japan Blu-ray are worse than Criterion and BFI.

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray largely sounds better, but attentuates away some low-frequency ambient noises. BFI Blu-ray has hum, dropouts, pops, noticable patching and beeping.

13
Apocalypse Now poster
Letterboxd

4.4

2025: #13
2024: #13
2023: #13
2022: #13
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray
Redux: Lionsgate vs Eagle Pictures?
Final: Lionsgate or Eagle Pictures

Best Video:

Theatrical Cut: Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray > US Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray
Redux Cut: Lionsgate vs Eagle Pictures?
Final Cut: Lionsgate or Eagle Pictures, both are not great (visible chroma noise)

Best Audio:

Theatrical: Germany 4K Blu-ray/US Blu-ray DD 5.1 (1979 mix)

Additional Info:

In the Lionsgate US/UK 6-disc set, there are 4 discs of the main feature. For whatever reason, the 4K discs lack the *original track. The Germany 4K Blu-ray release is different on this matter.

  1. UBD: Final Cut: Atmos, DD2.0

  2. UBD: Redux/Theatrical: Atmos

  3. BD: Final Cut: Atmos, DD2.0

  4. BD: Redux/Theatrical: Dtru5.1 (Redux mix?), DD5.1 (?), DD5.1 (Theatrical only), DD2.0 (downmix??)

    1. As a result the Theatrical Cut has 4 tracks, The Redux has 3. Differences are unclear.

  5. BD: Hearts of Darkness

  6. BD: Special Features

13
Apocalypse Now poster
2026: #13
2025: #13
2024: #13
2023: #13
2022: #13
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Theatrical: Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray
Redux: Lionsgate vs Eagle Pictures?
Final: Lionsgate or Eagle Pictures

Best Video:

Theatrical Cut: Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray > US Lionsgate 4K Blu-ray
Redux Cut: Lionsgate vs Eagle Pictures?
Final Cut: Lionsgate or Eagle Pictures, both are not great (visible chroma noise)

Best Audio:

Theatrical: Germany 4K Blu-ray/US Blu-ray DD 5.1 (1979 mix)

Additional Info:

In the Lionsgate US/UK 6-disc set, there are 4 discs of the main feature. For whatever reason, the 4K discs lack the *original track. The Germany 4K Blu-ray release is different on this matter.

  1. UBD: Final Cut: Atmos, DD2.0

  2. UBD: Redux/Theatrical: Atmos

  3. BD: Final Cut: Atmos, DD2.0

  4. BD: Redux/Theatrical: Dtru5.1 (Redux mix?), DD5.1 (?), DD5.1 (Theatrical only), DD2.0 (downmix??)

    1. As a result the Theatrical Cut has 4 tracks, The Redux has 3. Differences are unclear.

  5. BD: Hearts of Darkness

  6. BD: Special Features

14
Taxi Driver poster
Letterboxd
2025: #15
2024: #14
2023: #15
2022: #15
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook fixes duplicate shot from Columbia Classics 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1990 Criterion LaserDisc/1991 Columbia LaserDisc (slightly)

14
Taxi Driver poster
2026: #14
2025: #15
2024: #14
2023: #15
2022: #15
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2024 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook fixes duplicate shot from Columbia Classics 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1990 Criterion LaserDisc/1991 Columbia LaserDisc (slightly)

15
Bicycle Thieves poster
Letterboxd

4.3

2025: #14
2024: #15
2023: #14
2022: #14
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2020 Arrow Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 Arrow Blu-ray is new 4k resto

Best Audio:

2020 Arrow Blu-ray

15
Bicycle Thieves poster
2026: #15
2025: #14
2024: #15
2023: #14
2022: #14
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2020 Arrow Blu-ray

Best Video:

2020 Arrow Blu-ray is new 4k resto

Best Audio:

2020 Arrow Blu-ray

16
Persona poster
Letterboxd

4.4

2025: #16
2024: #16
2023: #16
2022: #16
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2022 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2022 BFI Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2003 Tartan UK DVD

16
Persona poster
2026: #16
2025: #16
2024: #16
2023: #16
2022: #16
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2022 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2022 BFI Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2003 Tartan UK DVD

17
In the Mood for Love poster
Letterboxd

4.4

2025: #17
2024: #17
2023: #19
2022: #19
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2012 Criterion Blu-ray, 4K Blu-ray unrecommended because of controversial colours, no HDR, minimal resolution uptick, and DNR master

Best Video:

2012 Criterion Blu-ray is the most accurate, but some may prefer the Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2002 Criterion DVD for original Dolby Digital 5.0 theatrical. The 4K Blu-ray 5.1 adds additional foley and effects.

17
In the Mood for Love poster
2026: #17
2025: #17
2024: #17
2023: #19
2022: #19
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2012 Criterion Blu-ray, 4K Blu-ray unrecommended because of controversial colours, no HDR, minimal resolution uptick, and DNR master

Best Video:

2012 Criterion Blu-ray is the most accurate, but some may prefer the Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2002 Criterion DVD for original Dolby Digital 5.0 theatrical. The 4K Blu-ray 5.1 adds additional foley and effects.

18
Breathless poster
Letterboxd

3.9

2025: #18
2024: #19
2023: #18
2022: #18
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray/2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray (preference)

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The HDR grading has messed up highlights, so some may prefer the 2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 Optimum DVD

18
Breathless poster
2026: #18
2025: #18
2024: #19
2023: #18
2022: #18
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray/2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray (preference)

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray. The HDR grading has messed up highlights, so some may prefer the 2020 remastered StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 Optimum DVD

19
The Passion of Joan of Arc poster
Letterboxd

4.4

2025: #19
2024: #18
2023: #17
2022: #17
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

19
The Passion of Joan of Arc poster
2026: #19
2025: #19
2024: #18
2023: #17
2022: #17
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

20
Battleship Potemkin poster
Letterboxd

4.0

2025: #21
2024: #21
2023: #20
2022: #20
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2012 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

The 2025 BFI Blu-ray isn't a new remaster, and itonly has a Pet Shop Boys score. it's somehow more cropped than the 2012 BFI Blu-ray.

See caps https://slow.pics/c/MaYpZjsV 2012 BFI Blu-ray > 2025 BFI Blu-ray (cropping) > 2010 Kino Lorber Blu-ray (worse PQ)

For the length it's also different and not just intros:

  • BFI 2025: 1:15:06

  • BFI 2012: 1:08:49

  • Kino Lorber: 1:12:12 the Russian intertitles playlist is 1:11:48

20
Battleship Potemkin poster
2026: #20
2025: #21
2024: #21
2023: #20
2022: #20
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2012 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

The 2025 BFI Blu-ray isn't a new remaster, and itonly has a Pet Shop Boys score. it's somehow more cropped than the 2012 BFI Blu-ray.

See caps https://slow.pics/c/MaYpZjsV 2012 BFI Blu-ray > 2025 BFI Blu-ray (cropping) > 2010 Kino Lorber Blu-ray (worse PQ)

For the length it's also different and not just intros:

  • BFI 2025: 1:15:06

  • BFI 2012: 1:08:49

  • Kino Lorber: 1:12:12 the Russian intertitles playlist is 1:11:48

Total: 1020 films

Made with ❤️ 📀 by vanshady