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Disney is finally bringing Dolby Vision HDR support to its upcoming 4K Blu-ray releases, according to a report by Forbes. This is exciting news for home theater enthusiasts, as Dolby Vision is known for significantly enhancing picture quality. The first two movies to include this feature are major summer blockbusters: Deadpool & Wolverine, which is set to release on October 22, and Alien Romulus, which will follow on December 3. This marks the first time Disney is adding Dolby Vision support to its Blu-rays since the 2018 release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, apart from a few James Cameron films.
Dolby Vision is an advanced HDR (High Dynamic Range) format, supported by many of today’s top TVs—even some budget-friendly options like the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED. What makes Dolby Vision special is its ability to optimize color, contrast, and brightness on compatible displays, creating a more dynamic and visually striking experience, especially in challenging scenes with deep shadows or bright highlights.
Up until now, Disney has mostly stuck with the HDR10 format for its physical releases, and it’s unclear why they’ve decided to shift gears and embrace Dolby Vision—especially since their streaming service, Disney Plus, has been using it for a while. Some speculate that Sony’s recent acquisition of Disney’s physical media production could be influencing the move, given that Sony is a strong proponent of Dolby Vision, as seen in its popular Bravia TVs and Blu-ray players.
Regardless of the reasons, this shift is great news for fans of physical media and home theater setups.Physical media, especially 4K Blu-rays, has faced tough times lately. Disney, for instance, stopped selling 4K Blu-rays in Australia last year, raising concerns about the future of physical formats. Thankfully, boutique publishers like Arrow Video and Criterion Collection have kept the format alive, and there have been some positive signs this year. Several major retailers in the U.S. began stocking 4K Blu-rays again, and in the UK, HMV reported a rise in physical media sales.
With Disney now adding Dolby Vision to its 4K Blu-rays, this could signal a renewed interest in physical media, which many had considered to be on its last legs. Kicking off with a major Marvel release like Deadpool & Wolverine might highlight the advantages of Dolby Vision in home viewing, potentially sparking further growth in the physical media market. This comes at a time when streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus are raising their prices, so it’s possible that physical media could make a comeback as a more appealing, cost-effective alternative for some viewers.