If you've just set up your new TV that supports 4K resolution with HDR (High Dynamic Range), you might be wondering how to test its capabilities and see what it can do.
You could put on any movie and it would probably look great, but not all movies can take advantage of your TV's awesome features. You'll need a movie that can truly put your TV through its paces.
Fortunately, there are plenty of fantastic movies with jaw-dropping color and sharpness that can truly let your TV shine. Here are the best 4K HDR movies to watch on your new TV!
12. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
While Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets isn't as good a movie as director Luc Besson's other film on this list (The Fifth Element), but it's even more out there in terms of its visuals.
That's what makes it a great showcase for 4K TVs. The Dolby Vision HDR will make you think your TV is inventing new colors.
11. The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix was immediately hailed as a visual achievement when it was released in 1999. More than 20 years later, it seems not much has changed. In 4K and Dolby Vision HDR, this film looks better than it ever has, and that's saying something.
10. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
You could watch Thor: Ragnarok on a TV made in the 1960s and still be blown away by the color, so it's not all down to the technical details on this one.
But if you really want to experience the picture quality in all its Dolby Vision-enhanced glory, watch this one on UHD Blu-ray. Don't have it? That's OK. It looks great streaming, too.
9. Starship Troopers (1997)
Another movie from 1997 on a list of movies to show off your fancy new TV? Yes, it seems weird, but the 20th Anniversary re-release of this movie got the right treatment visually.
Plus, Starship Troopers has always been an exhibition of pure spectacle captured on film. Even though it's only HDR10, the color depth is noticeably improved.
8. Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)
Pacific Rim: Uprising may not be as gripping and visceral as the first film, but it's still tough to match when it comes to sheer bombast.
The film's settings are often less gritty and grimy than the first film, which isn't always a good thing, but the look of the movie is pure eye candy thanks to the upscale and Dolby Vision HDR.
7. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
It may not be as immediately gripping as the first John Wick movie, but John Wick: Chapter 2 has an edge over its predecessor when it comes to image quality.
The dim streets and bright neon were made to show off the contrast on your new TV, and the HDR has the colors more vibrant than the dark tone of this series would suggest.
6. The Fifth Element (1997)
Though it's the oldest movie on this list, this now classic sci-fi feature is worthy of a revisit.
While the HDR treatment actually presents a somewhat darker picture than the original, this makes the bright colors pop much more than they did on the older Blu-ray release.
5. Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
Hobbs & Shaw might have landed near the middle of our ranking of the Fast and Furious series, but that doesn't mean it isn't visually stunning.
Whether you watch the Dolby Vision or HDR10+ versions, the colors are impressive, especially during the final act!
4. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Blade Runner is a classic film. So classic that there are approximately 87 different cuts you can watch.
Even so, nobody would have thought it was get a sequel, but it did. Even fewer thought the sequel would be good, and it was.
Blade Runner 2049 took a surprisingly long time to get a 4K release with HDR, but it was worth the wait. The HDR10 version is fantastic, and the Dolby Vision version looks even better.
3. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker might not be most people's favorite Star Wars movie, but it's probably not many people's least favorite either.
What it does have going for it is that, like most of the rest of the franchise, it looks fantastic. Whether you're watching the HDR10 disc or the Dolby Vision streaming vision, the colors are as realistic as settings so fantastical can be.
2. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Writer-director George Miller's non-stop thrill ride looked great in regular high definition, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the UHD version looks great, whether streaming or on disc.
Whether you watch in HDR10 or Dolby Vision, the color in every scene is just unreal enough to remind you how glad you are you don't live in the same world as the characters.
1. Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
Though The Avengers came out in 2012, before HDR was a thing most of us knew about, the Ultra HD Blu-ray and 4K streaming versions of the movie look great.
While it uses HDR-10 instead of the superior Dolby Vision, the picture is crisp and as colorful as its comic book inspiration.
Take Your Home Theater Even Further
Upgrading your TV with 4K and HDR is a huge step toward a better visual experience when watching movies and TV shows at home, but there's a lot more you can do.
Better sound quality should come next. Mood lighting and physical comfort are important, too. And don't forget the streaming box, which lets you stream all this great content in the first place.
