Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's first 4K Ultra HD discs will arrive early next year, with a varied lineup of flicks from the last seven years, like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (pictured), Salt, Hancock, Chappie, Pineapple Express, and The Smurfs 2. More titles will be added over time.
The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) in May revealed the new Ultra HD Blu-ray specification, which delivers super high-definition content via super high-definition discs—up to 3,840-by-2,160 resolution.
By comparison, a single-layer Blu-ray disc can hold up to 25GB of data, while a dual-layer disc carries up to 50GB. New Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, meanwhile, manage up to 66GB and 100GB on dual- and triple-layer discs, respectively.
The BDA began licensing the new format August, so DVD players that support it should be ready by the year's end.
"By some estimates, consumers will own over 100 million Ultra HD television sets by 2019," SPHE President Man Jit Singh said in a statement. "Sony Pictures' 4K Ultra HD Discs will deliver consumers the ultimate home theater experience, with stunning picture and sound quality."
The new product features four times the resolution of HD, and includes high dynamic range (HDR) for "brilliant highlights, vibrant colors, and greater contrast on compatible displays," the company said.
Sony already boasts an extensive library of 4K content: Captain Phillips, Men In Black, Ghostbusters, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Lawrence Of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Taxi Driver, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and more. So it's just a matter of time before they make their way to your living room.
"Ten years ago this month, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment authored the world's first feature film on Blu-ray Disc," Singh said, "and we continue to bring consumers the most innovative, immersive home entertainment experiences available."
For more, see What Is 4K (Ultra HD)?