These are the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays to show off your home theater

Though this movie has deservedly won numerous awards, and big props for Rami Malek’s performance as Queen’s front man, Freddie Mercury, let’s be clear: The final 20 minutes of Bohemian Rhapsody is what everyone is talking about. The meticulous recreation of the band’s unprecedented Live Aid set is a love letter to both Mercury, and every Queen fan. It’s so good, the 4K UHD Blu-ray ships with a special extended version of just that part of the film as its own feature. Mercury’s persona gets a thorough exploration in the script, but it’s his on-stage presence that thrilled concert goers. For those who never saw the band live, this is better than any archival concert footage. We wish this release had Dolby Vision, but the HDR10 still looks great.

A Star Is Born

An update of a classic, which was itself an update, Bradley Cooper’s version of A Star Is Born is mesmerizing. Cooper’s on-screen chemistry with co-star Lady Gaga is undeniable, and both actors turn in superb performances as a rock star with hearing loss and a debilitating drug addiction, and an amateur musician with incredible latent talent, respectively. The movie captures the excitement of live music in front of huge audiences, as well as the often painfully intimate moments off-stage with a deft hand. The extra resolution of 4K makes the live rock ‘n’ roll scenes intensely real, while HDR does what it does best: Let you forget you’re watching a movie at home on your TV.

Venom

If you prefer your superheroes to have a dark side, it doesn’t get much darker than Venom. Despite getting mediocre reviews from fans and critics alike, Tom Hardy’s turn as a washed-up reporter who is infected with a murderous alien symbiotic parasite is highly entertaining at times. Needless to say, the CG effects needed to bring his Venom alter ego alive on the screen are considerable, and all the more enjoyable when you can see every string of dripping saliva in 4K. Once again, Dolby Atmos adds an appreciated layer of sonic immersion, especially in the final battle scene, which blends the sounds of twisted steel, and rocket launches.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Tom Cruise’s stunts in this, the sixth installment of the Mission: Impossible film franchise, never seemed more death-defying than they do in 4K. The film sends Cruise’s secret agent Ethan Hunt on yet another dangerous, globe-hopping mission that features some of the most breathtaking scenery and action sequences of any installment of the series so far, and they’re made even more spectacular when viewed with the sort of pull-you-into-the-moment visual detail and immersive audio. This is a Blu-ray that makes every stunt and scenic location a treat for the senses.

Ready Player One

Ready Player One was one of the most anticipated films to hit theaters in 2018, and while the interpretation viewers saw broke heavily from the equally loved and loathed book from which it was spawned, Steven Spielberg’s rushing rainbow of a film is packed with fantastic moments to show off all your home theater has to offer. Hero Wade Wilson’s online persona, Parzival, and his many CGI friends are etched in striking detail, while the 4K rendering showcases the virtual world in which they exist, known as “OASIS,” in all its glorious hyper-realism. Dolby Atmos adds in immersive sound, pulling you deep into the virtual world. Are you ready?

The Revenant

Alejandro Iñárritu’s engrossing film is loosely based on the true story of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), a frontiersman who in 1822 was left for dead by his fur-trapping company in the wilderness of the American Midwest. The film follows Glass in his struggle for survival and his quest for vengeance against his betrayers. For his role as Glass, DiCaprio won his first Oscar for Best Actor after decades of nominations, but the film also earned awards for Best Direction and Best Cinematography. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki’s iconic natural lighting and long, single-take shots add tension to each scene, while also giving an uninterrupted view of breathtaking landscapes. The Revenant is a great pick for those looking for a film that will satisfy an itch for a gripping story, good acting, and of course, a way to show off just the sort of brilliance a 4K HDR TV can offer.

Kong: Skull Island

There have been many King Kong adaptations, but Kong: Skull Island increases the fantastical aspects of the King Kong mythos. Not only is this action-packed journey into the world of Kong and his prehistoric kingdom visually stunning, it also is full of fun characters and moments of levity that set it apart from other King Kong films — and monster movies in general. The varied and accomplished cast includes Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, and John C. Reilly. It’s also one of the first films in Warner Bro’s new “MonsterVerse” cinematic universe alongside 2014’s Godzilla.

The film has a striking color palette that will benefit from your TV’s HDR support. There are also several memorable action scenes that will look excellent in 4K. Skull Island also makes excellent use of Atmos channels if you happen to also have an Atmos speaker setup.