2019 was a great year for 4k Blu-ray! There were about 175 new Ultra HD Blu-ray titles released, so, deciding which ones to designate the best of the year was a real challenge. But, after careful consideration, we put together this grouping of the year’s top 4k Blu-rays. The discs here are listed in no particular order, but we have also ranked the Top 10 Best Blu-rays of 2019 in a separate article. Please also refer to our list of 2019 4k Blu-ray releases and complete list of Ultra HD Blu-ray releases since 2016 for more.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Another great Spider-Man movie that looks great on 4k Blu-ray! Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is so colorful and rich with detail that it’s hard to walk away from this film. Add to the video quality a fantastic soundtrack and fun story and you’ve got another must-have for your library. Buy on Amazon
The Daniel Craig Collection
The Daniel Craig Collection offers the first time any James Bond film has been printed to 4k Blu-ray, although some of the franchise’s films have made it already to Digital UHD. If we were to review Spectre only it probably would have the Top 10. Unfortunately, the other three titles in the collection add some sharpness but not much more. Buy on Amazon
Batman (1989)
The new 4k print of Batman (1989) presents a huge improvement over previous 1080p versions with a high bit-rate 4k presentation in HDR10. And, both the 4k Blu-ray and Blu-ray were given new Dolby Atmos soundtracks. If you were to buy one 80s/90s Batman film on 4k Blu-ray this would be the one. Buy on Amazon
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
A very good looking film on 4k Blu-ray with a solid soundtrack, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is incredibly sharp in the closeups but exhibits a consistent grain in the background. The sunlit portions of the film hold together nicely with Dolby Vision and is refreshing when compared to more CGI-created works. Buy on Amazon
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
The inclusion of Dolby Vision in this 4k Blu-ray edition of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi really helped open up the shadow areas of this film with more detail and color depth (read more in our review of 13 Hours). And, the Dolby Atmos soundtrack (not an upgrade from 1080p Blu-ray) provides excellent reference audio for multi-channel and Atmos systems. The 2-disc edition from Paramount doesn’t include a Blu-ray copy of the film (only extras), but that’s not why you are buying this disc, is it? Buy on Amazon
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Spider-Man: Far From Home was the second of two Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland and completed Phase 3 of the MCU film franchise. On Ultra HD Blu-ray, ‘Far From Home’ features Dolby Vision HDR and a Dolby Atmos/TrueHD 7.1 channel soundtrack. The 2-disc combo also includes over an hour of bonus features such as deleted scenes, bloopers, easter eggs, and the short film “Peter’s To-Do List.” Buy on Amazon
Aquaman (2018)
Aquaman is gorgeous on 4k Blu-ray! The Ultra HD Blu-ray edition from Warner Bros. features Dolby Vision & HDR10 for a wider range of color depth and a Dolby Atmos/TrueHD 7.1 channel soundtrack that sounds great at home. And, there are plenty of extras to dive deeper into the making of the film. Aquaman is yet another Disney title mastered in 2k but nevertheless a real showcase for 4k and HDR. Buy on Amazon
Forrest Gump (1994) – 25th Anniversary
The 4k Blu-ray edition of Forrest Gump celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the film that premiered in theaters in 1994. With a really nice video transfer to 4k Blu-ray with HDR10 for increased color depth, Robert Zemeckis’ 6-time Oscar winner also features an English Dolby Atmos soundtrack that, at times, surrounds you as if in an Atmos movie theater. It’s must-own for 4k TV owners and audiophiles who love movies! Buy on Amazon
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Avengers: Endgame was mastered in 2k like many Disney titles but still looks incredible on 4k Blu-ray. The film is presented in 2160p with HDR10 High Dynamic Range and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack allowing object-based multi-channel audio. With a total run time of 181 minutes, there’s never a dull moment in ‘Endgame’ — especially in 4k. There are also plenty of extras such as deleted scenes, a gag reel, “Remembering Stan Lee” featurette, and more. Buy on Amazon
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)
Once Upon a Time In…Hollywood was mastered in 4k for its theatrical presentation and the 4k Blu-ray is proof of Quentin Tarantino’s attention to quality. The cinematography resembles restored 35mm film from the late 60s, but with incredible sharpness even during nighttime shots. And, the memorable soundtrack is provided in 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio that does not disappoint even if lacking object-based DTS:X. Buy on Amazon
Black Hawk Down (2001)
If you already love war movies there is no need to tell you how good Black Hawk Down is. This Ultra HD Blu-ray makes it even better! With an incredible Dolby Atmos / TrueHD soundtrack and sharp 4k video resolution, Black Hawk Down has never sounded or looked so good at home. Admittedly, the video is a bit grainy at times and color slightly oversaturated at times, but it’s still a great 4k Blu-ray disc to have especially given the Oscar-winning accomplishments in audio. Buy on Amazon
Game of Thrones: Season 8
Season 8 of Game of Thrones on 4k Blu-ray is rich with details in 2160p resolution and HDR for a wider range of values in shadow and bright areas. The Ultra HD Blu-ray video fixes all the banding that was visible in the broadcast presentations, and the Dolby Atmos soundtrack makes Game of Thrones: Season 8 on 4k Blu-ray a must-own for fans of the show and anyone who owns a 4k TV. Read our review of Game of Thrones: Season 8 for more about the quality of this 4k Blu-ray edition. Buy on Amazon
Toy Story (1995)
We had to put at least one Disney/Pixar release on this list, why not the first Toy Story film? The movie was released to 4k Blu-ray this year along with other Toy Story franchise films and many more Disney/Pixar titles that feature HDR10 and Dolby Atmos audio for an immersive audio experience. Toy Story looks super sharp, colorful, and sounds great on Ultra HD Blu-ray. Be careful though, once you buy one Pixar title in 4k you many never want to go back to 1080p! Buy on Amazon
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum looks and sounds great on 4k Ultra HD Blu-ray. The film has a beautiful quality that may resemble a graphic novel and soundtrack that has a lot of punch. But it’s hard to rank this movie a must-have when the plot is so lacking in substance. Buy on Amazon
Oceans: Our Blue Planet (2018)
If you have to pick one documentary this year on Ultra HD Blu-ray let it be Oceans: Our Blue Planet. The BBC Earth production comes in a 2-disc combo edition with both 4k Blu-ray (2160p) and HD Blu-ray (1080p) disc copies. As well as incredible 4k video resolution the 4k Blu-ray features HDR10 that allows an incredible range of color on 4k HDR TVs. Order from Amazon
Apocalypse Now (1979) – Final Cut
Apocalypse Now on Ultra HD Blu-ray is presented in 4k resolution with Dolby Vision and does not disappoint. The original film negatives, including what was used in the Final Cut and Redux versions, were rescanned and remastered to 4k for this release. And, the soundtrack features a new Dolby Atmos mix that takes advantage of object-based audio mixes. The 6-disc set includes 4k Blu-ray versions of the Final Cut, Redux, and Original 1979 cut. Buy on Amazon
Glory (1989)
Edward Zwick’s 3-time Oscar-winning film Glory celebrated its 30th Anniversary this year with a new 4k master from the original negatives. And, the film is enhanced with HDR10 for a wider spectrum of color. Watching the Glory in 4k is like seeing it for the first time, and even better with a Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack. Glory even made our Top 10 list of the best Blu-rays of 2019. Buy on Amazon
The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a wonderful 4k upgrade from the original 35mm negatives featuring High Dynamic Range for increased color depth. We can’t recommend it more for your Ultra HD collection! Unfortunately, the soundtrack is only offered in DTS-HD 5.1 channel (not 7.1 or DTS:X) but still sounds really clean and dynamic. Buy on Amazon
Alien (1979)
We did a thorough review of Alien on 4k Blu-ray and found the 2160p resolution and HDR10 to really bring out details that were never visible in Blu-ray and DVD presentations. The 4k Blu-ray upgrade is the sharpest we’ve ever been able to view Alien, and can’t recommend it more to be part of your Ultra HD Blu-ray collection. Buy on Amazon
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
The 4k Blu-ray edition of Alita: Battle Angel reveals sharpness, color, and details in the shadow areas not possible with inferior formats. And, the film is one of the first to offer Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for compatibility with various 4k TVs and 4k Blu-ray players. The Dolby Atmos/DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack is also reference quality. The movie comes in a rare 3-disc edition with Blu-ray, 4k Blu-ray, and 3D Blu-ray. Buy on Amazon
