The best 4K Blu-ray movies: great Ultra HD discs to buy

If you love film, then 2023 is the year you need to get into 4K movies. There's no better time to treat yourself to one (or all 20) of the best 4K Blu-rays.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format is so superior because you're getting a viewing experience as close to seeing the film at the cinema as possible. Or, as is the case with older movies, you'll get an even better experience thanks to brand new 4K restorations. There'll be no-one checking their Facebook feed or crunching on popcorn in the row in front either.

You need a UHD Blu-ray spinner to play the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays. Next generation consoles the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 can also play them, which is another reason to buy one if you've been looking for an excuse to upgrade your gaming set up.

UPDATE:We're added a couple of new, future-classic 4K Blu-rays from the legendary Arrow to our list. First up is a brand new restoration of Bruce Lee classic Enter the Dragon, and a new release and 4K master of the truly unsettling Naked Lunch, a film based on William Burroughs's dream-like, drug-addled novel.

Whether you’re buying for yourself or someone else, take a look at these 20 titles that will bring some silver screen sparkle to your home. There's no greater feeling for a film lover to see their favourite flicks in a whole new way, with added detail, rich and refined colour palettes and outstanding audio.

Best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies

at AmazonDirected by Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 is a science fiction sequel to the 1982 classic Blade Runner. It’s set thirty years after the original, and the story follows LAPD officer K (played by Ryan Gosling) who uncovers a long-buried secret that could plunge society into chaos. K embarks on an adventure to find retired Blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been missing for decades to try and solve the mystery.The legendary Roger Deakins was Blade Runner 2049's cinematographer and the 4K/HDR version is absolutely stunning. There’s a fantastic level of detail on faces and closer props, but it’s the immense cityscapes that look wonderful and incredibly realistic. We could just sit and watch those all day without even seeing characters and hearing dialogue.

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at Amazoneveryone was talking about Top Gun: Maverick last year and for good reason, it’s the sequel to Top gun and there are plenty of familiar faces and nail-bitingly tense flying sequences.

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at AmazonGranted this is a trilogy and not a movie, but we’ve included a few series in this list because we simply couldn’t choose just one movie and many come in wonderful 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray special edition boxes.This spectacular Batman run from Christopher Nolan, which includes Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, is breath-taking in 4K Ultra HD – even just for the gritty cityscapes alone. If you’ve seen all three movies before you’re likely to notice the biggest upgrade in Batman Begins, the HDR grading brings a contrast boost and there’s a phenomenal level of detail whether you’re looking at buildings or faces.

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at AmazonThe John Wick movies already look incredible, but they really pop in this 4K Ultra HD box set, especially night time scenes that are visually stunning with rain-soaked streets, colourful neon lights and fast-paced chase scenes. The enhanced HDR contrast works well for dark scenes too – of which there are many in this trilogy – allowing you to see even more of the action and fight sequences that might have been lost in previous iterations.If you’ve never seen the John Wick movies before, now is a perfect time as the fourth has just hit cinema screens. It’s about a man called John Wick, an ex-assassin who wants to get out of the business, but various events prevent him from leaving his dark past behind him. Except lots of violence, excellent choreography and gorgeous (and at times OTT in the best way) sets.

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at AmazonFrancis Ford Coppola says this version of his wartime masterpiece is his favourite, and it’s clear why. The Final Cut, running at 3hr 23min, is a visceral, cinematic experience that still excites more than 40 years after its release.Martin Sheen’s Captain Willard is on the hunt for a renegade colonel who has set himself up as a demigod in Cambodia during the Vietnam War. The 4K restoration and new edit does this groundbreaking war film ultimate justice and should be in every cinephile’s movie library.

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at AmazonChristian Slater and Patricia Arquette.

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The 4K edition's special features include a commentary from Oz historian John Fricke and Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of producer Arthur Freed) plus a "Making of" featurette. There’s also a singalong feature, a video storybook read by Angela Lansbury and more.

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at AmazonThe 1987 classic action movie Predator is always a joy to watch, following the story of a military rescue team deep in the South American jungle, led by Vietnam War veteran Major Alan ‘Dutch’ Schaefer (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger). Except things don’t go quite as planned when they’re hunted by a mysterious creature, the Predator. In this 4K version of Predator expect elevated detail and more vivid colours, however, some reviewers do notice a grainy quality.

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at AmazonAnother Christoper Nolan entry. But what can we say, the man knows how to make a great-looking movie. Tenet is a twisting, turning sci-fi action movie about a secret agent who’s sucked into a time travel mystery. Expect fantastic detail and depth from the 4K Ultra HD format here. It’s a visually arresting movie anyway, but watching in such high-definition really adds to the atmosphere. As well as how stunning Tenet looks, it also has a fantastic score thanks to composer Ludwig Göransson. It’s filled with thumping tracks and beautiful arrangements, tinged with sadness and dread.

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at AmazonFew films are as cult and quotable as Tarantino’s 1994 hit Pulp Fiction. We’ve seen reviewers describe the 4K Ultra HD as a boost over the original Blu-ray, which means it’s a must-see for big fans of Pulp Fiction. Sure not everything looks fantastic here given the movie is from the mid-90s, but you’ll see faces and expressions with more clarity than ever before. Which adds more authenticity and character to the story.

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at AmazonIf you like your sci-fi movies with a hefty dose of cosmic horror, then watch Event Horizon’s chilling, bloody gore in Ultra HD. We’ve seen reviewers describe the original movie as a “challenge” to make the jump to 4K, with some effects looking a little comical. However, in other respects the details, especially the facial detail, are a real treat for fans to see for the first time.For those who haven’t seen it before, Event Horizon follows the story of a rescue crew on a mission to investigate a spaceship that disappeared into a black hole and then returned, bringing back something dark and horrifying with it.

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at AmazonBruce Lee at Golden Harvest Limited Edition, a collection that includes a borderline ridiculous 18 versions of five films, including new and existing 4K cuts.

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at AmazonQuentin Tarantino’s latest is a love letter to Old Hollywood. It follows the misadventures of two best friends, TV actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), as they navigate the changing cultural landscape of 1969’s Los Angeles. Fledgling screen star Sharon Tate is settling into married life but soon her life collides with Rick's and Cliff's thanks to the ominous actions of the Manson Family.Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is everything you could want in a Tarantino movie, and includes a killer final act that will see you fist pumping the air. It looks gorgeous in 4K too.That’s not it, though. Special features include over twenty additional minutes of footage that delves deeper into the world of Rick Dalton’s Hollywood, from production design to costume design, cars and more.

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at AmazonThe 2001 movie Training Day features a truly stellar performance from Denzel Washington as narcotics officer Alonso Harris, alongside Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt. The latter is up for promotion and spends the day with Alonso to learn about the LA drug scene. But Alonso isn’t what he appears to be, and the movie takes the audience on a fast-paced, gritty, and tense journey full of twists and turns.If you already own the regular DVD, the 4K upgrade is definitely worth considering. It breathes new life into the movie and reveals a level of fine detail that may have gone unnoticed before, such as facial features and building textures. However, some reviews have pointed out that the restoration leans towards the green and teal side of the colour palette, creating a very cool but divisive effect that some people may love.

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If you’re yet to watch it, it’s a must-see in our books, an irresistible cat and mouse drama with plenty of thrills and phenomenal performances from Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer, among others.

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at AmazonOne David Cronenberg’s oddest films has previous great disc treatments over the years. The latest and greatest comes from Arrow, with a 4K restoration from the original negatives overseen by the film’s director of photography, and given approval by Cronenberg himself. It also includes an audio commentary track by the director and a new one from screenwriter Graham Duff and film historian Jack Sargeant. A great way to dissect what can seem to some an impenetrable text.

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at AmazonTerry Gilliam’s adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s psychedelic novel is a cult classic that deserved its 2019 4K restoration. The film follows Thompson alter-ego Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his attorney Dr Gonzo (Benicio del Toro) as they attempt to chase a story only to be derailed by their continuous intake of psychoactive narcotics.The 4K makeover brings a brilliantly rich quality to an already hallucinatory movie shot in widescreen Super 35. To go with a gorgeous restoration, the two-disc edition also includes the documentary For No Good Reason, about illustrator Ralph Steadman, a new Gilliam commentary moderated by Phil Stubbs, a featurette, behind-the-scenes and archival footage plus so much more.

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at AmazonThis 90s sci-fi classic, directed by Roland Emmerich, pits Jean-Claude Van Damme’s super-soldier Luc Deveraux against Dolph Lundgren’s deranged Andrew Scott. Both are used by a secret US government program as killing machines. When their memories start to return, so does the deep-seated animosity between the two. Chaos ensues.Picture quality is more rich and dynamic thanks to a new 4K restoration. This special edition also includes a commentary track from Emmerich, van Damme and Lundgren, two "Making of" featurettes, an alternate ending, behind-the-scenes footage, and the original trailer.

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• Fancy a movie night but don't have a way to play Blu-rays? Check out our guide to the best movies on Netflix

This article has been updated with additional entries by Becca Caddy.