I’ll be honest: For the most part, testing a TV isn’t exciting. Most of the process involves flashing differently colored boxes on the screen and measuring them with a doohickey. Thrilling.
But at some point, I get to tuck away my TV-testing equipment, toss on a few Blu-rays and treat myself to a feast for the eyes. Unfortunately, the better the TV, the longer it takes me to finish a review.
Over the years, I’ve put together a small collection of 4K Blu-rays that make the most out of the best TVs on the market. Some of these flicks feature scintillating lights and psychedelic colors — perfect fodder for a bright, punchy QLED. Others put the high-contrast characteristics of an OLED to the test. Here’s a peek at what I’m working with.
1. "Speed Racer" (2008)
Looking for something to showcase quantum-dot color? Or maybe you’re breaking in an all-new RGB LED TV and need a double-dose of dazzling, dream-like imagery.
In any event, the kaleidoscopic, kinetic visuals of Lana and Lilly Wachowski’s 2008 cult-classic is the perfect pick for people who want to push a TV to its limits. Best of all? It’s a damn good movie, to boot.
This 4K disc is brand-new, having just dropped back in May. Ahead of its release, fans of the film — myself included — crossed our fingers for a transfer that did this remarkable-looking movie justice. I’m happy to report that “Speed Racer” has never looked better on a TV screen. It ought to be a staple in any physical media-collector’s catalogue.
2. “The Northman” (2022)
Whenever I want to test a TV’s ability to render dark landscapes and shadowy sequences, I drop in a disc of one of the most atmospheric movies of the last several years: “The Northman.”
It’s not my favorite entry in Robert Eggers’s filmography, nor is it an easy watch. But few 4K Blu-rays do a better job of depicting gloom and glumness.
As a result of its dark, dreary presentation, “The Northman” is my go-to choice for seeing how well a TV preserves near-black shadow detail. It can be punishing on budget TVs, but on higher-end sets (particularly OLED TVs), it’s hard not to be swallowed up by the movie’s all-enveloping visual despair.
3. “Dune: Part Two” (2024)
One of the most successful sequels in the last few years is also a stunning cinematic showcase at home. Just as the spectacle of “Dune: Part Two” deserved to be seen on the biggest-possible screen during its initial theatrical run, it’s also best experienced on Blu-ray — not digital.
The “Dune: Part Two” 4K disc isn’t just a good way to show off a new TV’s HDR capabilities, it’s also a fine way to demonstrate the bass-heavy thumps of a dedicated soundbar. There aren’t too many sound bytes that fire me up as much as the first thing we hear in “Dune: Part Two”: a deep, bellowing voice declaring the ultimate power of Spice.
4. “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
Years ago, while discussing Stanley Kubrick’s sci-fi masterpiece, “2001,” a friend of mine said something that will never leave my mind: “That movie looks like it was made tomorrow.”
Despite being nearly 60 years old, I’d be hard-pressed to name more than a handful of sci-fi films that come close to matching the visual command on display during “2001.” Fortunately, the 4K Blu-ray looks nearly as impressive as the 70mm release I experienced several years ago.
From its balletic spacefaring sequences to the hallucinogenic laser lights of Jupiter (and beyond the infinite), the “2001” Blu-ray is a great way to demonstrate how impressive modern TVs are at presenting classic cinema.
5. "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015)
One of the most popular discs among TV-testers, George Miller's high-octane "Mad Max" legacy sequel is a perfect inaugural viewing for new TVs of all types. It's a regular feature in our testing labs for a reason.
"Fury Road" is especially eye-catching on high-performance QLEDs and souped-up, quantum dot-equipped OLEDs on account of its masterful use of color. For years, I've used it to benchmark how well a TV can showcase deep, rich reds in particular.
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