Audio Video News

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has announced the first six movies it plans to release on Blu-ray in the 4K Ultra HD format early next year.

The initial slate will include The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Salt, Hancock, Chappie, Pineapple Express, and The Smurfs 2, followed by a “growing roster of titles including new release film and television content.”

In addition to 4K resolution, which is four times that of standard high-definition, Sony’s UHD discs will support high dynamic range (HDR), which produces brilliant highlights, more vibrant colors and greater contrast on HDR-compatible TVs. The studio said many of the titles will also support next-generation immersive audio formats but did not mention Dolby Atmos or DTS:X by name, leaving us to wonder whether the new discs will support one over the other or both.

Sony Pictures has an extensive library of 4K content, including newer films and television shows, as well as classic catalog films restored from original film elements, including Fury, Captain Phillips, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Men In Black, Ghostbusters, The Fifth Element, Bad Boys, The Da Vinci Code, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Leon: The Professional, Lawrence Of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Guns of Navarone, Taxi Driver, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and many others.

"By some estimates, consumers will own over 100 million Ultra HD television sets by 2019," said SPHE president, Man Jit Singh. "Ten years ago this month, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment authored the world's first feature film on Blu-ray Disc, and we continue to bring consumers the most innovative, immersive home entertainment experiences available."