I thought it right, just like every year, to highlight some of the best releases on physical media over the last 12 months. Here are the Popcorn Cinema Awards 2024 for 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD film and TV titles released in the UK.
I’ll be handing out awards for the best that 2024 had to offer from the film and television releases. Plus I will also naming the best UK Television Channel.
Popcorn Cinema Awards 2024
Label That Goes The Extra Mile 2024
- Winner: Indicator
- Runner-Up: Arrow Video
This award always seems to be a straight contest between Powerhouse Films, Indicator label and Arrow Video. That said both Second Sight Films and 88 Films also delivered lots of quality 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray releases throughout 2024.
However it’s the Indicator label that takes the 2024 award for Label That Goes The Extra Mile.
The Label With The Most Consistently Interesting Releases
The Label With The Most Consistently Interesting Releases
- Winner: 88 Films
- Runner-Up: Arrow Video
2024 saw titles such as The Flesh & Blood Show: The Horror Films Of Pete Walker, Fist of Legend (1994), Absurd (1981), Night Of The Big Heat (1967), Funeral Home (1980), The Sorcerers (1967) and Mortuary (1982) arrive on 4K UHD or Blu-ray.
I think it’s fair to say it was another good year for 88 FIlms.
Best 4K Ultra HD Release 2024
- Winner: North by Northwest (1959) (Warner Bros)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, North by Northwest (1959) stars Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason, this new 4K Ultra HD release is a must have upgrade for fans of the film.
Noteworthy Mention 2024
- Winner: Fabulous Films
2024 saw yet another set of excellent releases from Fabulous Films. Blu-ray highlights included Farscape: The Complete Series, Columbo: The 1970s Complete Collection, Willo the Wisp: Complete Collection, Paddington Bear: The Complete Series and The Wombles Complete Collection.
Favourite Blu-ray Release of 2024
- Winner: The Box Of Delights (BBC)
The BBC brings this magical 1984 children’s television series, The Box Of Delights starring Devin Stanfield, Patrick Troughton and Robert Stephens to Blu-ray. It’s also packed full of interesting extras. It’s a must watch every Christmas!
Best DVD Release 2024
- Winner: The Likely Lads Complete Collection (BBC)
The Likely Lads Complete Collection includes all episodes of ‘The Likely Lads’ and ‘Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads’ including audio recordings of 10 lost episodes.
Best UK Television Channel 2024
- Winner: Talking Pictures TV (Freeview 82, Sky 328, Virgin 445, Freesat 306)
- Runner-up: That’s TV (Freeview 65, Sky 183, Freesat 178)
Talking Pictures TV is again the winner but they are facing quality competition from the likes of That’s TV that now offers three channels of classic television.
However in 2024 there even more competition in the form of the new kid on the block, Rewind TV (Freeview 95) who offer a great blend of classic British TV and American TV (Married With Children has just been added) along with plenty films.
However Talking Pictures TV has also upped its game adding the classic British police drama Z-Cars and crime drama, Travelling Man (1984-85) to their schedules. Oh and let’s not forget their continuing excellent Friday night horror or Saturday mornings children’s TV.
It’s actually a great time for lovers of classic television and older movies!
Popcorn Cinema Awards 2024 – Final Thought
With all the doom and gloom surrounding the imminent demise of physical media formats such as 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD, HMV actually stated in July 2024 that sales had gone up in the UK.
However a bitter blow came on the 12th December 2024 with the news that LG had decided to discontinued its entire range of 4K Blu-ray players. I long been worried about the actual hardware, as no new models seemed to be being developed by any of the main players. Sure you can still purchase the current range of players but usually companies refresh the line-up annually and this has not been happening for a few years.
We all know the film / TV companies such as, Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros, Amazon, Apple all wanted everyone to movie to a streaming only model. However we also know that streaming does not make them money.
In 2024 Disney seemingly changed its mind and went on to release as many titles on physical media as possible, as have Warner Bros and Paramount. Streaming subscriptions have gone up yet again, Netflix has just announced a price hike, whilst they remove even more content from their servers to reduce costs.
I mean have you gone to watch a film or show recently only to find its suddenly disappeared? Well you better get used to it. In fact yo may soon struggle to find certain films and TV series on any of the streaming services. At the moment you can simply pick them up on 4K UHD, Blu-ray or DVD, but what happens when that is no longer an option. Some films and TV shows could lost forever, relying on the whim of a streaming service to add it back!
That’s why I believe its important to support physical media formats for as long as we can!
On a more positive note there companies such as Arrow Films, Powerhouse Films, 88 Films, Second Sight Films, Fabulous Films and many others are doing their best to bring us restored versions of our favourite movies and television series on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. Clearly there is still enough demand and money to be made doing just this.
A quick word on the state of cinema reveals yet more bad new with Cineworld shutting another six of it cinemas in the UK as part of its restructuring process.
This is certainly not helped by the lack of quality movies during 2024. The big studios have heavily cut back on spending on new productions and the little output they are releasing is generally very poor. In fact I believe this is the worst time in the history of cinema to be move lover.
One or two hits in single year is not enough to tempt people away from their comfortable sofas. There needs to be a massive change in the quality of the writing, directing and all-round production. Movies should entertain, surprise and bring us close to tears all in three hours or less. It’s why I prefer films over these multi season television series.
Why tell a story over three hours when you can stretch it out to ten or more, it purely designed to keep you subscribed to that particular streaming service for as long as possible. Its no longer about trying to produced the best TV show, its all about hours watched!
Here’s to a great 2025 of physical media releases, more great TV from Talking Pictures TV, Rewind, That’s TV and some outstanding cinema releases!
Don’t forget you can keep up to date with all the upcoming 4K/Blu-ray Release Dates & DVD Releases Dates right here on Popcorn Cinema Show.
If cinema’s more your thing no worries you can find all the upcoming movies on our Cinema Release Dates page.
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