BEST 4K TRANSFERS OF ALL TIME | Reference Quality 4K Discs Everyone Must Own! | 4K Kings

What's up everyone! Today we are back discussing some of the best 4K transfers the format has to offer. While there are too many great titles to name in one video, we present 20 knockout discs that define the 4K format , including old films, new films, and a few personal favorites.
00:00 Intro
01:34 What does "Best" mean?
02:36 Best 4K's the Format Has To Offer
08:21 Our Personal Favorites
What else should be included on this list? What are your favorite 4K's? Let us know below!
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[@4K_Kings]

What else should be included on this list? What are your favorite 4K's? Let us know below! 00:00 Intro 01:34 What does "Best" mean? 02:36 Best 4K's the Format Has To Offer 08:21 Our Personal Favorites

[@sean7899]

Dune Part 2 is now my #1 reference 4K

[@redrock425]

The "best" ones are always the modern ones, high quality source, great sound and HDR. The best improvement is seen on the restored old films, especially the darker ones. My wife and I were shocked at The Thing, where did all the gore come from 😂 So much clearer than when we last saw it, probably on VHS! The old 70mm stuff looks fantastic on 4K. The one thing 4K does, more than any other format, is it shows up poor source material very clearly. That's when "reference" disks are useful, to check if a new disc is a poor transfer and not your AV equipment having a fit 😉

[@bryanp4827]

Hey boys, what about The Matrix Resurrections? I've not much comes close

[@4K_Kings]

I haven't seen The matrix Resurrections in 4K, how is it? The original Matrix looks outstanding

[@nwilkerson2365]

Gemini Man, Titanic, Ten Commandments, Gran Turismo, The Revenant, Saving Private Ryan, Encanto, Moana, and Elemental. I’m all about the movies that make your family and friends stop and stare at your tv and wonder why their tv doesn’t look that way.

[@JohnDoe-bz4yl]

Blade runner was the first movie i ever watched on 4K and I was blown away

[@earledward5763]

Lawrence of Arabia is the first blu-ray I purchased before 4k was a thing. The 4k is considered to be one of best transfers ever.

[@Tooliar]

I was amazed at how good 'The Ten Commandments' looked. IMO the best "classic" 4k (as far as picture goes)

[@branscombe_]

💯 my fav movie of all time

[@robertfaulkner1824]

I own and still haven’t watched. Can it be much better than Lawrence of Arabia?

[@Tooliar]

@@robertfaulkner1824 it's probably not much better but I think it edges LoA. Both are amazing of course.

[@raisedonfiction]

Gorgeous transfer on The Ten Commandments.

[@branscombe_]

@@robertfaulkner1824 once I buy LoA, I'll let you know : )

[@josephagundez5336]

Denis Villeneuve is up there with Christopher Nolan in terms of picture quality and sound design on his physical 4k releases. Dune pt 1 & 2, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario, Arrival, Oppenheimer, Dunkirk, Interstellar, and Inception all look incredible and will take your home theater system to its limits.

[@agpablo2885]

You forgot to mention Alfred Hitchcock's 'Vertigo'--absolutely stunning in 4K!

[@DariusSinclair]

I picked up the 4 film collection with that and Rear Window. It's so good.

[@jkong00]

My vote for hands down best 4K transfer I’ve watched has to be Vertigo.

[@breadordecide]

Bladerunner 2049 was my first 4k in 2018 when it first released.

[@stevenmackay8053]

"Jaws" is phenomenal on 4K. So is childhood favorite "Superman: The Movie." I was 5 when that came out. Loved it. Call me nostalgic.

[@scotttravis8654]

I love this channel! Out of all the channels out there. This aligns itself with my taste in films and is always interesting. Thank you!

[@4K_Kings]

Thanks a lot!

[@EM-ve9bh]

I’d add “the Ten Commandments”, “vertigo”, “Spartacus”, “my fair lady”, “the matrix” “Django” I’d say Sony has some of the best transfers I’ve ever seen with titles like “Remains of the day”, “in the line of fire” “I know what you did last summer” “taxi driver”

[@southwestkinema9149]

My Fair Lady. Probably the best transfer of a film of that era. It really is that good. Everything pops off of the screen.

[@peterm.4355]

The encode on The Matrix is terrible.

[@TheKillTable]

I still know what you did last summer looked amazing

[@iExcaliburWorld]

Any thing 4K from Sony is amazing I think

[@444chroma]

I didn't get started until 2019 and Apocalypse Now was my first 4k. Needless to say it made an impression.... 250 discs later here's a few more which I consider standouts. Black Hawk Down Suspria(1977) Barbarella Heavy Metal (best animation I've seen on 4k) Spartacus Django A Few Good Men Jaws The Fugitive

[@4K_Kings]

Great list!

[@FrenzyV3]

Loved this video , will be definitely adding some to my collection I don’t have yet !

[@4K_Kings]

Awesome! You can't go wrong with any of these

[@jcr321]

Great video guys! Love it when you add in some side by side comparison shots.

[@4K_Kings]

Thanks!

[@box510motorcycles3]

2001 was one of the 1st 4ks i ever got. Early in the film, when Dave is playing chess with HAL, when they do the close ups of Dave, you can count the hairs of his eyelashes. It's truly amazing. And then Ford Vs Ferrari on 4K may have a better sound track than even Top Gun Maverick. Definitely something to check out if you haven't already.

[@iwontshareyourdelusion]

Great video guys....you r stuff is informative and humorous 😂....keep up the great work

[@4K_Kings]

Thank you!

[@WeberEnthusiast]

Great upload , a lot of movies I need to upgrade and see in 4k. Thanks for the reviews

[@4K_Kings]

Thanks! So many great titles out there to check out. A great time to be a Physical Media collector!

[@Nick-4K]

Jaws and Shawshank 100% must own 4ks

[@luisvazquez-gw6ks]

Loving the channel guys I just subscribed keep the reviews and list going 👍👍👍

[@4K_Kings]

Awesome, thank you so much!

[@TheAlexZorba]

Another excellent video. You boys do a fantastic job.

[@4K_Kings]

Thanks a lot, Alex!

[@LittleBruno933]

Two 4K’s that blew me away were the Synapse release of Suspiria (1978) and Almost Famous. Those are my favourite transfers so far.

[@Adeniyidairo]

Lol I'm cracking up Matt holding those Indian Jones steelbooks like a gangster. 😂😂😂

[@4K_Kings]

It was fun pretending they were mine for a few moments.

[@themtgdude486]

Glad you mentioned Jaws. That plus Shining and 2001 are my favorites. Lawrence of Arabia too.

[@rcordiner]

Dr sleep is mind blowing too

[@karstenquast7503]

Oh man guys i am saving this episode for after work. So lookin fwd to it…and i dont even have a 4K TV 🙈. I am a 41 year old movie lover here in germany with almost 2000 Blu Rays, mostly Steelbooks and Mediabooks but i am thinkin about selling many. But still i have to say yours is my favorite channel atm, i guess its just so relaxing to you 2 funny dudes not taking things too seriously. And since i have kids its great that your vids are not too long. So please never stop whatcha doing. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🙏😎 You guys rock

[@4K_Kings]

Thank you so much for the kind words! We really appreciate it!

[@karstenquast7503]

Well deserved 😎

[@Ringmaster138]

No love for Suspiria (1977) or Dawn of the Dead (1978)?!! They are the best 70s horror 4k discs out there!

[@Muahaha651]

Loved the video, really good quality and editing on this too. Just subscribed! You guys deserve way more subs

[@4K_Kings]

Thank you so much!

[@qasimmir7117]

Spartacus. Shot on Supertechnirama 70 and scanned in to 4k. Excellent source.

[@dljameyson]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, but I would add John Carpenter's THE THING to the list of "must-owns." The 4K looks so crisp and clean!

[@tonyorob]

I'm actually disappointed with the 4K transfer of The Thing, it still looks 'fuzzy' to me and I have a top of the line Panasonic 4K player.

[@bhav213]

Agreed. The Thing is stunning in 4k for me.

[@kristopheralonge2813]

The 4K LOTR set doesn't deserve the recognition since it was DNRed to death. Wax faces everywhere and people looking like they are floating over the backgrounds due to detail being scrubbed out by the DNR. Such a shame too since the HDR was implemented well. I'd rather have the blu-ray w/o no HDR, but also no DNR tho.

[@chad9049]

I agree it's trash. Did they do that to make it look closer to the Hobbit?

[@kristopheralonge2813]

@@chad9049 Yeah, Peter Jackson, much like James Cameron, has become obsessed with trying to make their old work shot on film look like their digitally shot work, by any means necessary.

[@Mowglibaloo2]

Just because

[@nicolascourtecuisse8201]

Yes, and LOTR have not a 4k DI ! The version of this vidéo have a 2k DI so it's a upscaled 4k, but, a new release arrive, with a 4k DI ! 🙌🏽

[@kristopheralonge2813]

@@nicolascourtecuisse8201 Wait, are you saying they released a fixed version w/ proper 4K scan and DI (and hopefully no DNR)?

[@richardansley]

Great reviews guys! Awesome movies. James Caan’s shoulders never looked so broad - indeed! 👍😁

[@mig1017]

Pacific Rim & Black Hawk Down fr me. Amazing transfers

[@TheWaynos73]

Black Hawk Down and Mad Max Fury Road looked incredible in 4K. Two of my favourites.

[@CoinOpTV]

lotsa classics made this list! Glad to see no mention of Gemini Man

[@adamegan8352]

Alien was the first 4k I ever purchased, got me totally hooked. Quick psa that a few of the titles mentioned here are in Amazon’s 3 for $33 4k sale going on right now!

[@fredm4197]

Alien was an amazing transfer! 👍

[@tedmetalhead6177]

Alien was my first also. It really needs to be watched in HDR10+ as intended. My bar was set pretty high for my first 4k.

[@mr_movieguru]

The revenant was also one of my first 4k's in 2018.

[@Franksmediaandreviews]

Another banger video guys!

[@kirksmith6791]

Love your Blowfly shirt. I saw him every chance I could in Houston. Got to be at a birthday party show for him one year. Another year got to hang out with him backstage after the show in which he gave a few of us another whole show.

[@clintongodsall9943]

The very best 4k movies I own in my collection are John Wick (Part 1) Training Day Blade Runner 2049 The Martian Batman Forever The Amazing Spiderman Cruella & The Shawshank Redemption Each of the above films I felt were impeccable and flawless transfers, certainly among the very best titles 4k has to offer.

[@RenePeraza]

I'm with Russ on Criterion! I contacted Jon Mulvaney at Criterion back in Feb 2020 (he goes back to the Laserdisc days at Criterion), asking him about all these cool Blurays in 4K scans I'd been buying (Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, etc.). He told me, I quote: "as much as I hate to say it - there are no immediate plans for 4K releases." They then began releasing UHD discs in November 2021! It felt like a big bait-and-switch!

[@oliviersavard1390]

Excellent list! I own and agree with most of them. Got the same Shining steelbook which I had to pay a premium to import it here in Canada and I'm glad I did. Phenomenal disc for my favorite movie. I would also add: Jaws, Vertigo, 1917, Malcolm X, JFK, M:I-Fallout, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman Returns, Paths of Glory, The Raid, Ran, and yes of course, Lawrence of Arabia (get it guys, it's sooo good!)

[@4K_Kings]

Great list!

[@jkong00]

Upvote for the Paths of Glory mention

[@markrothery5720]

Inxs live baby live one of the best 4k releases makes me wish i was there even more

[@Frikkieman]

Three 4Ks that hit me like a hammer with the step-up in quality, in no particular order are: 1. The Fifth Element 2. Bladerunner 3. Scarface

[@yamasas]

Hi fellas, I was impressed with the new "Once Upon a Time in the West" How about exercising your double influence to get "the Wild Bunch" and "Once Upon A Time in America", two Masterpieces that deserve some premiere box 4K love.

[@russceasetheruss5360]

Day one pick-up on The Wild Bunch...

[@javix2013]

I rescue 2 old movies with excellent remastering: Midnight Cowboy, the award-winning film with Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman from 1969, very good image, good contrast, natural colors and with a fine grain that makes the film feel alive and natural as it was seen in that year and maybe even better, another Criterion's success. And DUEL, Steven Spielberg's first film, another excellent quality remaster that looks like a modern film because of the impeccable image it has, it's hard to believe it's from 1971.

[@bdso9593]

My top 3 4K so far: The Fifth Element. Robocop. Halloween 3

[@mss490]

While the quality of the movies themselves is debatable, Detective Pikachu and Colour Out Of Space really make the most of a 4K set. Throwing in some classic movies, The Wolfman and the ‘50s War Of The Worlds look just amazing as well.

[@crxdave]

Just here to say you two doing an awesome job. Can really see you on top of the “physical media niche”

[@4K_Kings]

Thank you so much!

[@keithwashburn5062]

Jaws 4K looks absolutely incredible, also the Shout 4K of Halloween, and the Arrow 4K of RoboCop look amazing as well

[@michaelkristensen6622]

Jaws, Vertigo, and A Clockwork Orange also looks Amazing. 😊

[@patricklena9062]

Oppenheimer is my favorite in my collection, amazing transfer

[@interdimensionalsteve8172]

That movie was soooooo boooooring :)

[@patricklena9062]

@@interdimensionalsteve8172 for those that might have a short attention span Maybe due to the amount of stuff that is going on in it there's a reason it took best picture just saying

[@airem5861]

Great list, I will like to recomend the studio Kino Lorber for making amazing 4K tranfers!

[@scottstark5528]

Psycho, HalloweeN(78), and Jaws should all be covered in a future video as they have never looked or sounded better than they do in the in the 4K format. Top Gun Maverick is the best looking/sounding movie that I own. Viewed it three times at the cinema, bought the 4K digital/streaming version when it was first available and the 4K UHD disc several months later upon release. The 4K UHD disc is a masterpiece.

[@4K_Kings]

Agreed, we will definitely be back to discuss another wave of these, especially as great 4K transfers continue to get released. We threw Jaws in at the very end, but should have given it It's full due because it is fantastic.

[@Gothic55]

Great list - I am glad to say I have them all - you need to add Lawrence of Arabia and Bridge on the River Kwai. 🎉🎉🎉

[@kennethgross8079]

Great list! My two 4K demo movies are Dunkirk and The Dark Knight.

[@ShadyKidd518]

i know what you did last summer from Sony, is my reference disc. top 5 4k transfers for me.

[@josephmayfield945]

Apocalypse now is my second fav film, and I just blind bought the 4k last night. It has not arrived yet, and I've been so worried it was going to be a hatchet job. So glad and excited it's on your list -- cant wait!

[@4K_Kings]

It looks stellar

[@aaronrawnsley6726]

For me, as a personal all time favourite movie of mine, JAWS. It got an amazing remaster/restoration and it's a brilliant upgrade to the and my 4K collection

[@s3any1977]

Dredd is a top notch 4K transfer. It was my first 4K. Alien is really good and I'm one of the people who likes the Aliens 4K

[@FrederickLopez]

Great list! I love The Godfather Trilogy and Top Gun: Maverick on 4K. Other film transfers that are impressive are Real Genius, Lawrence of Arabia, Scream 2, Conan The Barbarian, Young Guns, The Crow, The Matrix, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and The Karate Kid.

[@frankcouper9377]

Dune 2 is jaw-dropping.

[@tonyOn1ce]

It's almost a crime they didnt give us IMAX versions for the 4k. Neither Dune or Dune 2. A shane because the IMAX in theatre was incredible.

[@michaelcollier9893]

My picks: 1. Dunkirk (simply stunning) 2. The Ten Commandments 3. Suspiria (amazing colors) 4. Jaws 5. Lawerance Of Arabia Side note: LoA was the most I ever paid for a 4k $130.00 on ebay when it was out of print. I'm such a sucker😂

[@jkong00]

Thank you for your service. I picked it up last week for $26 :)

[@MichaelSTaylor]

Sorry, not a fan of Jaws 5 (Cruel Jaws). The rest of your list is pretty good though.

[@sethm.woodiwiss786]

THE FUGITIVE 4K UHD #1, 8K SCAN!!!!!

[@Hossmcpizza]

You left a couple off the list. Dune, Tenet, aquaman, casino, vertigo, mortal engines, 1917, Batman 89, jaws, misery, pacific rim, coraline, Wonder Woman 84, joker. To name a few 😅

[@4K_Kings]

Great list! Maybe we'll come back with a part two at some point

[@creatora123]

I've got THE GODFATHER book as well it doesn't fit anywhere but i still love it :)... My first 4K was Saving Private Ryan and i was hooked for good, great movie and even greater transfer, and the ATMOS... oh my.

[@MusclesMustache]

The best 4k movie I have seen so far is "Inglorious bastards"

[@MAFion]

Perdita Durango was the one that really won me over to the 4k game.

[@nwilkerson2365]

Say what you want, but Transformers 5 literally has every type of reference demo scene in one movie. Cars chase, space, period piece, cgi, battles…etc. each one is gorgeous.

[@thomasschlieben5945]

Picnic at Hanging Rock looks and sounds terrific.

[@4K_Kings]

I'm super curious about that film. Would you strongly recommend it?

[@thomasschlieben5945]

@4K_Kings absolutely swear by it and also Don't look now is another great example. Obviously it's a personal opinion.

[@adamobrien1945]

LOTS of great live-action transfers, but as far as animated/CG movies transfers, don't sleep on Criterion's transfer of Wall-E. It's freaking stellar.

[@dankairgadam8841]

Best 4K Dics: 2001: A Space Odyssey Top Gun: Maverick Alien Blade Runner Blade Runner 2049 Interstellar Dune (both parts) The Dark Knight Rises Django The Ten Commandments Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Apocalypse Now The Shining

[@SoonerThunderFan]

Great list guys! Here are a few more for you- 1907, The Professional, V for Vendetta, American Sniper (just released and worth the wait!), and the new releases of The Abyss and Titanic.

[@ANDRE1mang]

Love your picks and just other 4K blu ray enthusiasts out there :) my personal 4k favorites include 300, Tenet, Interstellar, Top Gun: Maverick, Oppenheimer, and The Batman (2022). Btw Christopher Nolan's 4K releases are my personal favorites hands down :)

[@4K_Kings]

Great picks. I (Matt) haven't seen the Batman but Russ has.

[@possiblystevo9141]

bridge over the river kwai is insane

[@steveandhishobbies]

After losing all my shit years ago I just started back up my 4K collecting today with a steal of a deal at Goodwill and that's Everything, Everywhere, All at Once for $1.99! Loved this movie in IMAX, I was stoned lol, so here's hoping it made this list but if not I'm sure it's a good transfer still I mean I feel like with it being a newer film and a best pic winner that'd be pretty derpy if they effed that up. 1:09 in alrighty as coolduder would say "into this video we go" 😂

[@nutsoaids5577]

Epic Blowfly shirt!

[@disastervillain]

Great list I own most of these - I would add Drive (second sight), John Wicks, Dune p 1 and 2 obviously, Joker, Matrix 1, Mad Max Fury Road, The Green Knight

[@branscombe_]

13:45, wow... damn my late brother was in the hospital a lot as a child, and the only two movies they had on the movie cart was never ending story and the say no to drugs all-star cartoon. we watched this everytime he was in.

[@gnarwhal7562]

Cool Hand Luke has to be the best that I've seen. Enter the Dragon is another great one as well, but more so because that movie is in my top 10 haha

[@leslieyeo9720]

Arrow's Bruce Lee 4K transfers were amazing. I wish Warner Bros allowed them to do Enter the Dragon

[@DarkSideOfTheMoon90]

How's it going? Curious what TV's you both use? I currently have a XH95 from 2020, upgrading to the Bravia 7 this year.

[@battfinkz]

Don't see war of the worlds much on these lists, but imo it's an outstanding 4k transfer

[@thegrimyeaper]

The first Star Wars is the 4K I'm most impressed with so far.

[@JackAnoff]

Too bad it’s the fake version

[@ctestestestest]

all quiet on the western front from 2022 is so much better on disc than the netflix stream. mi dead recogning looks and sounds superb. Dont look now got a splendid restauration as well as lawrence of arabia. and dont forget rope and vertigo from hitchcock.

[@CowboyKing]

Neverending Story and Bloodsport are my personal favourites in my collection.

[@SiincereARC]

I'll speak on the films you didn't mention that made me believe the hype (as someone who's been into films since VHS was still at blockbuster) 1. Training Day 2. Do the Right Thing 3. Malcolm X 4. First Three Bourne films 5. Oceans 11/12 6. The Driver 7. The Samurai/Le Samurai 8. Le Heine 9. The Sound of Music 10. The Warriors 11. Devil in a Blue Dress 12. Star Wars Episode IV-VI 13. All Harry Potter films 14. Various Westerns (I'm forgetting the names, sorry) 15. Touch of Evil 16. Juice 17. Super Cop trilogy The film The Fall badly needs a 4K release.

[@russceasetheruss5360]

Very solid list... Your top 3 in particular, I wholeheartedly agree with.

[@Adeniyidairo]

35k views take a bow. Great video 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@4K_Kings]

Thanks, Adeniyi!

[@PhilipGuest]

Saving Private Ryan, Gemini Man (though the film itself isn't great) and Nightmare Alley are 4K discs I often use for demos. I'd also argue that Lawrence Of Arabia is the best 4K transfer of all time.

[@raisedonfiction]

Starship Troopers is a solid transfer. Micheal Ironside's closeup shots are unreal.

[@4K_Kings]

"Really..?"

[@raisedonfiction]

@@4K_Kings must be the lenses and film stock they used but the film looks amazing and the practical shots of the ships look incredible. The CG stuff is obviously a little wonkier but it's a must watch 4K. The Crow 4k is my most recent favorite transfer. That disc looks perfect.

[@4K_Kings]

Wow, that's great to hear about the Crow. People would have been pissed if that got screwed up.

[@southwestkinema9149]

I heard Starship Troopers was a meh transfer. I gonna pick it up then

[@Danjoker.]

I still have to pick up a lot of these titles in 4k, but I did buy Pulp Fiction in 4k and it looks incredible!

[@Joe_Brig]

Do a list of the best 16x9, no black bars, 4Ks.

[@chad9049]

The LOTR transfer is amazing with the overused DNR wiping out so much detail, especially on the faces any time they stop then move.

[@RetroCRTified]

The Crow is at the top of my list, what a transfer. Others include Kurosawa's Ran, and Mad Max Fury Road and any of the Godzilla films!

[@jamied1579]

Was going to get Bloodsport, but it was insanely expensive for some reason, even more so when you have to import it You should have a look at Mortal Engines - that flick is the very definition of Reference Quality Also great is: Alita: Battle Angel Misery Hugo The Frighteners Barb Wire 1917 Aquaman 1+2 Avatar - The Way of Water Flash Gordon Chaos Walking District 9... To name but a few

[@roachman1412]

I agree with a lot on your list and lot of the one's in the comments one of my favorites Proposition with Guy Pearce and John Hurt

[@ELSA-ex4ph]

Rad vinger syndrome, ferris Bulers day off, training day, Christine all excellent transfers as well

[@TheLastSamurai813]

What equipment did you do the viewing on for your list

[@davidhgbp6917]

the first 3 John Wicks are amazing

[@TheAlexZorba]

Russ your plan for the Criterion 4k makes perfect sense to me. That packaging is garbage not made for people who actually watch the movies. I sent mine straight back to Amazon and picked up the far superior WB UK box set. Matt I also picked up the giant Godfather Album packaging and then had to double dip for the individual steels. Like you guys I actually watch my movies and like easy access.

[@Harjawaldar]

My favorite 4k discs: E.T., Alien, 2001 space odyssey, batman and robin (lol), creep show

[@dereckliebscher8240]

I know it’s kind of recent… but the job synapse did in Cemetery man was insane.

[@dereckliebscher8240]

Severin.. excuse me

[@AmericaIsWorthSaving]

The MAD MAX Trilogy (4K) is pretty well done, not quite on the scale of 2001 or The Shining but there's only one Kubrick (we love you too George Miller).