Last week was pretty eventful for fans of physical media. Sony announced that in 2028 it will end physical disc production for PlayStation games, meaning you will be able to access future titles only digitally.
In the same week, Sony also stated that users will lose access to more than 500 films and TV shows they bought from the PlayStation Store in the UK due to a content licensing agreement. Can’t we have anything?!
But physical media remains a steadfast necessity to theWhat Hi-Fi? team, with the majority of our AV testing relying on 4K Blu-rays to challenge the latest kit. That’s because they deliver the best picture and sound quality compared with even the top-performing streaming services. Plus, it’s reassuring to be able to hold your favourite movie in your hands without risking it being removed because of licensing agreements and the like.
We are always keeping our eyes out for upcoming discs, and there are three 4K Blu-rays that we cannot wait to get our hands on. These are our most anticipated releases, but which films are you most excited to see on 4K Blu-ray?
Obsession
![OBSESSION - Official Teaser Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters May 15 - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0G5CjgPw1x4/maxresdefault.jpg)
Curry Barker’s Obsession was made on a budget of around $1 million dollars, but it has just surpassed $400 million globally at the box office at the time of publication. That is pretty jaw-dropping for an indie horror film.
After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a young man named Bear finds himself getting exactly what he asked for; but he soon discovers that some desires come at a price.
The result is a chilling yet thoroughly entertaining watch that will have you cowering behind the sofa cushions.
Obsession is not yet available to watch on streaming platforms in the UK (although you can buy it in the US using Apple TV). It is still showing at a few cinemas, but its 4K Blu-ray release has already been announced.
The final artwork is yet to be released so we are not sure yet how it will look on your shelf, but if its artful filmmaking and disturbing cinematography are anything to go by, we should be in for a treat. Let’s just say, we are already obsessed.
Release date: TBC
Project Hail Mary
Who doesn’t love a sentient pile of rocks cracking excellent quips and bantering with Ryan Gosling? Project Hail Mary is a thoroughly gripping watch from start to finish, and that’s saying something considering its two-and-a-half hour run time.
The film follows Gosling’s Grace, a high-school science teacher who becomes embroiled in a last-ditch government effort to save the world from the dimming sun. After being sent to space as part of the operation, he befriends Rocky (the aforementioned sentient pile of rocks) and the two work together to save both of their worlds.
Apart from being an emotional rollercoaster, Project Hail Mary looks absolutely beautiful. It ditches the green screen, unlike most blockbusters these days, and relies primarily on practical effects to portray Grace’s spaceship and the vast expanse of space. That all adds to the film’s sense of realism, especially with Rocky, who was controlled by a team of puppeteers for much of the movie.
And, finally, the film is getting a physical release. The 4K Blu-ray is coming in August, and later in the year there will be a glorious Steelbook design with Kubrick-inspired artwork adorning the collection – although it has already sold out at HMV. Fingers crossed more will become available soon.
Release date: 10 August
K-Pop Demon Hunters
While obsession is the current talk of the town, we cannot forget one of last year’s most popular releases. That’s right, K-Pop Demon Hunters has finally announced its physical 4K release after more than a year, and it is joining the coveted Criterion Collection. There is no release date for the disc just yet, but the excitement is already palpable.
There are only 11 animated films included in the Criterion Collection canon, including Watership Down and Flow, so the Netflix original will be in good company.
The film follows three girls, all part of a K-Pop group named Huntrix, who also just so happen to fight demons. Clue’s in the name, I guess. When they sing as a group, a seal between our world and the demon realm is strengthened for another season. But when a rival boy-band group threatens to destroy everything they have worked so hard for, the fate of the entire world could be at stake.
We use the film, via Netflix, for testing a fair amount already. Its brilliant score has proved to be a great test of any home cinema sound system. And now that it is coming to physical disc, we can’t wait to test with it even more.
Release date: TBC
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