Top 20 must-have Blu-ray discs

By David Carnoy on 09 April 2009

A few years ago we used to highlight some of the top DVDs that made your home cinema really look and sound like one. With Blu-ray in full swing, we thought it's high time to come up with a similar round-up of our favourite Blu-ray discs that will help show off your home theatre in all its glory.

The list was compiled with input from our editors, who look at a lot of content in their day-to-day testing of products. We've also been keeping an eye on AVS Forum's Blu-ray picture and audio quality threads and have always appreciated the site's "tier" rating system.

This list is not set in stone, and we'll be adding and removing discs as new ones come out. As always, feel free to make comments below and suggest your own personal favourites. They may get added to the list in the future.

Also: if you're someone who likes demoing your system and skipping around between scenes, you'll want a fast Blu-ray player. Right now, the fastest players we've tested are the Sony PlayStation 3 and the LG BD370.

We've also included links to each movie's page on IMDB if you want to find out more about a particular title. Please be aware that some of the following titles may not be available in Australia yet.

2001: A Space Odyssey
While it was shot 30 years before HD was even invented, this is a beautiful disc to look at — thanks in part to a near-flawless transfer. The story is a bit bonkers, though.

(Credit: Warner Bros.)

Topics: blu-ray, top 20, best, home cinema, credit, blu ray, movie, disc, paramount, warner

Related Articles

Comments (20)

  • Tomboy commented on 08/11/2009 08:42 Report abuse

    Don't for get the BBC period dramas like Bleak House and Cranford also Lark Rise to Candleford Brideshead Revisited the UK release Zulu very impressive HD quality

  • Shayno commented on 06/11/2009 10:13 Report abuse

    I robot for picture Q,
    Not the best movie but it really brings out your set.

  • Danny Boi commented on 14/10/2009 21:32 Report abuse

    Yeah, I agree with Nino, 300 should have gotten a mention (and probably Sin City too), and Matrix is definately a must have in the library

  • sheesh commented on 01/09/2009 22:48 Report abuse

    Seriously folks, I'm in the market for a blu ray to match the 50 inch viera. are they as good as they are meant to be they players?

  • ultrahigh commented on 12/08/2009 22:43 Report abuse

    I would like to see Once Upon A Time In The West in 2k(Blu-ray) or 4k. One of my fav movies.

  • CGT867 commented on 18/05/2009 12:49 Report abuse

    Baraka is without doubt the most stunning film I have seen on Blu-Ray. If you want something to impress your friends this is it! On my Sony HD LCD set it's like the screen has become a glass window on a world with amazing scenes. Incredible!

  • Pedro commented on 16/05/2009 03:32 Report abuse

    I agree with Jarvis - the living planet must rate a place in the top 20.
    Seeing this demoed on a 58" Panasonic Plasma TV in JBHIFI blew my mind: I now own a panasonic 50" Plasma and the Living Planet Blu-ray set

  • blindman commented on 29/04/2009 10:28 Report abuse

    where's revenge of the nerds?

  • Ando commented on 22/04/2009 21:50 Report abuse

    I would have no hesitation in removing some from your list and replacing them with the following: Black Hawk Down- superb video and sound
    The Orphanage- superb reference sound quality.
    Apocalypto
    The Patriot
    Passage to India
    Memoirs of a Geisha
    Planet Earth

  • DaveC commented on 18/04/2009 17:40 Report abuse

    And Wall-E is not mentioned for the issues of not playing on so many players???????????????????????????????????

Post your own comment

You must read and type the 6 chars within 0..9 and A..F

You must read and type the 6 chars within 0..9 & A..F

Submit

Enter your personal information to the left, or sign in with your Facebook account by clicking the button below.

Connect

The Explain Series

Must read