Here are my 4 most anticipated new 4K Blu-ray releases from January 2026

Including the oldest movie I'll have ever reviewed on disc!

04 Jan 2026, 17:00 · TechRadar

Features By James Davidson published 4 January 2026

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We love 4K Blu-ray here at TechRadar and regularly use it as one of our main sources for testing the latest AV equipment.

In November 2024, we started the Blu-ray Bounty, a monthly column where we review the latest 4K Blu-ray releases. But we don’t write about the movies themselves. Instead, we use the best TVs and best soundbars to evaluate each disc’s picture and sound quality.

We’ve decided to increase our 4K Blu-ray coverage going forward, and to that end, I’ll be regularly previewing announced discs that I hope to feature in future editions of the Blu-ray Bounty. Here’s my January 2026 wishlist:

Captain Blood (1935) - The Criterion Collection

Captain Blood (1935) Trailer HD | Errol Flynn | Olivia de Havilland - YouTube

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Based on the 1922 novel of the same name, Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn, is a classic swashbuckling pirate adventure that tells the story of the pirate Peter Blood. It was the movie that made Flynn a star in Hollywood.

I’ve found during my testing for the Blu-ray Bounty that some of the most impressive discs are 4K restorations of older movies. Double Indemnity, one of my favorite discs, really shows what 4K can do for classic titles. Add Seven Samurai, Godzilla (1954) and Sunset Boulevard to that list, and the lineup of superb releases of older movies just keeps growing.

Captain Blood would be the oldest movie I’ve evaluated to date. Released in 1935, it’s a full ten years older than the current oldest (Dead of Night), so I’m very curious to see if The Criterion Collection has worked its magic once again. As it's shot in black and white, I’m hoping for a restoration that demonstrates strong contrast, revitalized textures and a cleaner overall look, but with some film grain maintained.

Dead Man (1995) - The Criterion Collection

Dead Man (1995) Official Trailer - Johnny Depp Movie HD - YouTube

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Referred to as a "psychedelic Western” by director Jim Jarmusch, Dead Man follows William Blake (Johnny Depp), an accountant on the run who encounters a Native American named Nobody (Gary Farmer) who becomes convinced Blake is the reincarnation of the famous poet of the same name.

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