Best Movies to Test Your New 4K TV

Unboxing a new 4K TV is exciting, but knowing which movies truly showcase its capabilities is key. This list combines visually stunning films with solid storytelling, ensuring a captivating experience to demonstrate your new television’s potential. Each film is available on 4K Blu-ray for those who prefer consistent quality without relying on varying streaming bitrates.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Sam Raimi’s direction in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022) delivers heavy visuals and dynamic camera work, making it ideal for showcasing a 4K TV. The film follows Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) as he teams up with America Chavez (Xochitl Gómez) to traverse the multiverse, encountering allies and adversaries along the way. The cast similarly includes Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Rachel McAdams.

The film currently holds a 73% Tomatometer score and an 85% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. Chris McCoy of the Memphis Flyer praised Raimi’s style, stating, “Sam Raimi doesn’t necessitate $200 million to make a great film, but when he has it, he shows everyone how it’s done.” It is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, and is available on 4K Blu-ray via Amazon for $35.00, with over 18,830 reviews and an Amazon’s Choice designation.

A Clockwork Orange

Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film, “A Clockwork Orange,” is renowned for its striking visuals and is frequently cited on lists of visually stunning films. The story, based on Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel, depicts a dystopian future England where Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his gang engage in “ultraviolence.” After imprisonment, Alex undergoes experimental behavior modification.

The film received nominations for Best Picture and Best Director at the 1972 Academy Awards. It currently holds an 86% Tomatometer score and a 93% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. Carys Soper of Medium described the film’s visual style as “a unique blend of vibrant colours, bold compositions, and meticulously designed set pieces.” “A Clockwork Orange” is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV, and the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is available at Best Buy for $29.99.

Pacific Rim

Guillermo del Toro’s 2013 film, “Pacific Rim,” features epic battles between giant monsters (Kaiju) and equally massive robots (Jaegers), providing a spectacle perfect for a 4K display. The film follows Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) and Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) as they pilot a Jaeger to combat the Kaiju threat and close the portal from which they emerge.

“Pacific Rim” holds a 72% Tomatometer score and a 77% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. Leah Sydney of Showbiz 411 praised the film’s visuals, stating, “‘Rim’ is scary, smart, and scientific, with humor weaved throughout. The visual effects are stunningly believable and artistic in every scene.” The film is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, Plex, or Apple TV, and the 4K UHD Blu-ray is available on Amazon for $17.01, with over 27,770 reviews and an Amazon’s Choice designation.

Akira

Released in 1988, “Akira” remains celebrated for its detailed, hand-drawn animation and fluid action sequences. Set in a Neo-Tokyo thirty years after World War III, the story centers on a motorcycle gang led by Tetsuo (Nozomu Sasaki) who become entangled in a secret military operation, resulting in psychic powers, and chaos.

The film holds a 91% Tomatometer score and a 90% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. Donald Munro of Eye for Film described the visuals as “stunning,” praising the attention to detail and utilize of light. “Akira” is available to stream on CrunchyRoll and to rent through Amazon Prime Video. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is available at Best Buy for $22.49, with over 1,020 reviews and a 4.8-star rating.

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

“Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) is a landmark in science fiction cinema, renowned for its practical special effects. The film follows Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as he trains with Yoda (Frank Oz) while Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) are pursued by Darth Vader (David Prowse) and Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch).

The film holds a 93% Tomatometer score and a 97% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes and ranks #15 on IMDb’s list of great movies. Roger Ebert praised the film’s production design, noting its generosity and attention to detail. It is streaming on Disney+ and available on 4K UHD Blu-ray via Amazon for $39.99, with over 9,400 reviews and an Amazon’s Choice seal.

How We Curated This List

The selection of these films prioritized both their ability to showcase a 4K television’s capabilities and their overall entertainment value, drawing inspiration from IMDb’s list of most visually appealing movies. When choosing 4K Blu-ray products, we focused on the best prices while considering user ratings, prioritizing items with a 4.0-star rating or higher and the Amazon’s Choice designation.