The 15 Greatest Movies Of All Time (To Show Off Your New 4K TV)

This is said every couple of years, but home viewing can’t get much better than this. Before, movie lovers were forced into the cinema if they wanted to view a movie at its fullest potential. At home, they were relegated to buying fuzzy VHS tapes that skipped and popped and provided a warped 4:3 ratio that tarnished the filmmakers’ cinematic intentions. Let’s not even talk about the horrid sound that accompanied tube TVs.

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Nowadays, sound systems provide booming cinematic surround sound, and 4K Blu Rays and TVs allow for crystal clear image and gorgeous HDR. It’s a theater at home. No wonder box office takings are quickly plummeting.

Updated on April 15th, 2021 by Mark Birrell: With the technology of home viewing rapidly evolving to meet changing needs within the modern world, there has never been a better time to become acquainted with what 4K movies can offer to cinephiles. But it can be difficult knowing where to start. With this in mind, we’ve added an extra 5 entries to this list to best showcase the full range of capabilities that the standard 4K TV can deliver. From classics to recent blockbusters, these movies should be the first port of call for anyone looking to see what all the fuss is about.

War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

War for the Planet of the Apes was shot using multiple ARRI ALEXA65 cameras to capture every angle of the action in 6.5K. Couple that with the groundbreaking motion-capture performances developed by Weta and this is an essential 4K HDR release for anyone looking to see the full capabilities of their home cinema setup.

Epic landscapes are a big selling point of the movie but the Apes, of course, take center stage. The tangibility of the various snow and water textures used on their fur is outdone only by the convincingness of the actors’ performances.

The Shining (1980)

If ever there was a movie where it’s not possible for fans to look too deeply into the details, it would have to be Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining and this 4K remaster in a new 1.78:1 ratio shows it off in all its iconic glory.

For the work of a filmmaker famed for their hyper-specificity when it came to the look of their movies, a fitting level of perfection goes into keeping the vivid colors of the wild story alive whilst making the Overlook Hotel itself seem so real that the audience could reach out and touch it. And for those feeling particularly blasphemous, it presents the opportunity to fully see the extent of the stunning detail captured by the original 35mm photography by taking the picture settings out of movie mode, as much as it diminishes the shadowy magic of the actual movie.

Black Hawk Down (2001)

Black Hawk Down may not be the first movie you rush out to buy, but it makes for some truly spectacular viewing in 4K HDR. The movie was shot in 35mm and given a 4K remaster through a digital intermediate, and the results couldn’t have been more stunning.

Clarity and detail have obviously received a substantial boost, which includes noticeably gritty film grain, horrifically realized gore, and even smoother letters in the subtitles. The HDR also helps the movie pop, whether it be the sandy browns, lush blues of the water, or deep red of the blood. It’s a gorgeous movie.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Any movie shot by Roger Deakins is bound to be beautiful, and Blade Runner 2049 is certainly no exception. The movie was shot on digital, so it’s absent the “warm” film grain that movie enthusiasts adore. But that doesn’t matter.

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The movie was shot at 3.4K and mastered at 4K, and the clarity needs to be seen to be believed. Faces and environmental artifacts are stunningly clear and detailed, and the HDR is simply extraordinary. Blade Runner 2049 is one of the most colorful movies of the 2010s, and its apocalyptic, futuristic setting pops off the screen in HDR.

Spider-Man: Into The Spiderverse (2018)

Another movie to show off your TV’s stunning HDR is Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. Even if you’re not a fan of superhero movies, this is a must-own for its gorgeous visual quality alone.

Textures show a noticeable improvement over the standard Blu Ray, and the movie’s unique animation style looks even better in 4K HDR owing to the sharper lines and greater contrast. The Spider-Man suit receives a small boost in color pop, and the psychedelic climactic sequence proves unbelievable in HDR. It’s a technical showpiece.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy was a landmark moment in blockbuster cinema that redefined what most believed to be possible in terms of worldbuilding and the tangible practicality of their recreation of Middle Earth is no more on show than it is in the first installment.

Another testament to the depth of detail that can be captured by relatively humble 35mm photography, The Fellowship of the Ring in 4K not only makes the twenty-year-old movie look as fresh as its digitally shot prequels from the 2010s but potentially unlocks a whole new level of detail for fans to discover in the meticulously designed costumes and sets.

1917 (2019)

Roger Deakins also shot Sam Mendes’ 1917, and the results are arguably even better than Blade Runner 2049. Of course, 1917 isn’t nearly as colorful as the latter, so it can’t be used as an HDR showpiece to the same degree. But that’s entirely by design. 1917 favors a more realistic color gamut, and the results are simply extraordinary.

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The movie was shot at native 4K using an Arri Alexa Mini LF, which provides amazing clarity and detail. But the real winner here is the Dolby Vision, which gives the movie’s color gamut a harshly realistic appearance. Never before has war been so horrifyingly captured at home.

The Revenant (2015)

The Revenant was released on 4K in April of 2016, making it one of the first adopters of the new home video format. It was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it confidently proved the value and qualities of 4K home viewing. A curse because few movies can measure up, making subsequent purchases seem a disappointment.

The movie was shot using ALEXA XT, ALEXA M, and ALEXA 65 cameras, resulting in a truly spectacular image. The detail is stunning (especially in the movie’s more grotesque sequences), and the HDR contrast and color grading are simply phenomenal.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

Opinions will generally vary regarding the quality of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But there’s one thing we can all agree on, and that’s that The Rise of Skywalker looks mesmerizing in 4K HDR. Unlike many recent movies, The Rise of Skywalker was filmed in 35mm, which helps give it an old-school cinematic look reminiscent of the classic movies.

The colors are superb, bright, and dazzling thanks to HDR and the 4K helps boost both image clarity and overall detail. This is pure movie magic.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Another 2019 movie that had its own fair share of criticism on release, but looks undeniably stunning in HDR and is another testament to the epic detail that can be produced by utilizing the ALEXA 65.

King of the Monsters is a great choice for showing off the power of a new TV as the 4K version is substantially different from the standard HD release, even being classifiable as an entirely different experience. The detail of everything, from wallpaper to hair and makeup, seems so much more real in 4K, not to mention what it does to the actual monsters of the movie, and it adds a surprisingly needed degree of shadow whilst not taking anything away from the bright primary colors that make up the movie’s overall aesthetic.

The Martian (2015)

It seems as if 2015 was the year of movies proving their worth in 4K. Along with The Revenant, Ridley Scott’s The Martian was released to widespread critical acclaim and jaw-dropping intensity on 4K.

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The terrain of Mars is richly detailed, allowing each grain of sand to remain focused with incredible clarity. The Martian red and orange also pops thanks to HDR. Facial features, environmental props and sets, and Matt Damon’s spacesuit all look spectacular. The Martian is a definite technical showpiece, both in terms of visual effects and 4K home viewing.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

The death-defying stunt work that went into Mission: Impossible – Fallout is made all the more impressive by its capturing in 35mm photography, scanned into 4K for an immersive action movie experience that’s best appreciated in Dolby Vision HDR.

As is the case with many modern movies, the harsh brightness of certain scenes in the HD version is greatly softened in the 4K release and it allows sequences, particularly near the beginning of the movie, to look much more naturalistic. With the locations and stunts being of such a dedicatedly high quality across the board, it would really be a shame to see Fallout any other way. 

Joker (2019)

Joker was one of 2019’s most popular movies, and it received a stellar 4K release. Joker was filmed in 5.8K through ARRIRAW and downscaled to 4K through a digital intermediate for mastering.

The clarity is outstanding, allowing every single detail to stand clear and pronounced, including props, facial features, and clothing. The Dolby Vision also helps color pop amid the intentionally dreary physical design of the film, including Arthur’s red suit, green hair, and clown makeup.

Logan (2017)

Many superhero films look great in 4K, but few look as great as Logan. Logan was filmed on a variety of cameras for different effects, including ARRI Alexa XT Plus’ with some visual effects shot being shot in 4K. The detail is obviously sharp throughout, and the picture is both incredibly clear and pristine.

The movie also receives a visual boost thanks to the HDR, which provides a more nuanced color palette. The climactic sequence in the woods looks particularly gorgeous, especially in the contrast between the green trees and blue skies.

Dunkirk (2017)

Christopher Nolan is a sucker for film. As such, Dunkirk was filmed on gorgeous 65mm, and the results are simply mind-blowing. For cinema purists like Nolan, it simply doesn’t get much better than this.

It makes sense, considering Nolan personally oversaw the mastering of this release. Home viewers would be hard-pressed to find a movie as clear and detailed as this, thanks in large part to the source 65mm film. It’s breathtaking, and it’s a definite must-own for anyone wishing to show off their new 4K TV.

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