HMV is having a huge Black Friday sale on 4K Blu-ray – here are the 6 discs I’d pick

If you’re looking to add to your 4K Blu-ray collection, Black Friday has got you covered. HMV is having a huge sale on 4K Blu-ray discs, with 20% off using code ‘HIDEF20’. The sale ends on 1st December, 11PM, so be sure to get shopping!

• Shop HMV’s full Black Friday sale

Of all the Black Friday deals I’ve seen so far, this HMV 4K Blu-ray sale has got me the most excited. We’re huge 4K Blu-ray fans here at TechRadar. Not just because it’s our main source for testing the best TVs and best soundbars, but because we’re collectors ourselves.

We’ve even started a monthly column called the Blu-ray Bounty, where we review the latest 4K discs, looking at their picture and audio quality to see whether they’d give your home theatre system a chance to show off.

There are thousands of options to choose from, but I’ve picked my 6 top discs below that will really show off your setup in different ways.

Double Indemnity is easily one of the best restorations I’ve seen, with crisp upscaled textures and details that give the movie new life. Its black and white picture also has seriously powerful contrast that will look great on the best OLED TVs. This is one of the best examples of what 4K can do for an older movie.

The Mask looks fantastic in 4K. The movie’s bold, vivid colours are brought to life with this 4K restoration, capturing the gaudy cartoon vibe perfectly. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack also delivers all the whacky cartoon effects of The Mask with precision, especially when played through an Atmos soundbar or sound system.

Edward Scissorhands’ 4K disc really shines in its colour reproduction. The garish, brightly coloured houses and clothing of the neighbourhood are truly eye-popping in this 4K restoration, so if you have a bright TV with great colours, such as an OLED or mini-LED, you’ll be rewarded.

Dark City got a serious uplift in textures on this 4K disc, but details are also more refined, and contrast is more powerful than ever. Blacks are rich and deep, and there are plenty of high-contrast scenes to test a display’s local dimming chops. When I tested this on the LG G5 OLED, it looked staggering.

The Sound of Music is quite simply one of the most breathtaking 4K restorations I’ve seen. Everything from people’s skin to the rolling hillside and mountainous landscapes looks crisp, lifelike, and detailed, even down to more subtle objects. Colours also look glorious throughout, particularly with the bright green hills, blue skies, and the yellow and red fruit during a market scene. Its Dolby Atmos soundtrack now gives the chance for the movie’s iconic songs to be delivered with real clarity and immersion.

Finally, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is an excellent way to show your home theatre’s sound quality. When I tested this disc through a Samsung HW-Q990C Atmos soundbar, battles delivered punchy bass, pinpoint directionality of sound, and accurate mapping of effects such as the creaking hull and crashing of waves throughout. If you want to utilise every part of your sound system, this is a fantastic disc.

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