Blu-ray movies are still a thing, and as any video aficionado will tell you, Blu-ray was made specifically with home entertainment in mind, revolutionizing watching movies in high definition. If you want the best at-home movie viewing experience with engrossing visuals and sound, Blu-ray is the way to go. One huge benefit of movies being on Blu-ray, is that the format preserves and even enhances (via HD transfer) the picture and sound that the filmmaker intended. Seeing a movie at its best is what being entertained, and Blu-ray is all about.

And, because of the advances that Blu-ray brings to movies, when a movie receives the “Blu-ray treatment,” it can mean the movie will be complemented by bonus features such as commentaries, featurettes, and more, all of which can add to the excellent viewing experience provided by Blu-ray. Given the ubiquity of the format, there are tons of “special edition” versions of movies on Blu-ray, but not all of them are worth a rental or adding to your collection. Read on to learn more about special edition Blu-ray movies and check out this listing of the very best. Reports of the death of Blu-ray at the hands of digital streaming have been greatly exaggerated. Movie night at home has not completely succumbed to the clutches of streaming just yet, there’s still a lot of life left in Blu-ray and Blu-ray players. And, just like vinyl platters have had a resurgence as a viable, physical music format, Blu-ray discs have enjoyed a similar bump in interest. Whether Blu-ray’s viability will last is up for speculation, but there is no speculating about the advantages the format offers.

Gone With the Wind is an expansive romance film set during and after the Civil War and has long been considered one of the best movies ever made. Though problematic in its Southern revisionism, the film does feature sweeping vistas and top-notch performances from Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, and Hattie McDaniel who became the first African American to win an Oscar for her role in the film. The HD transfer brings the grandeur of the film to life in vivid cinematic splendor buttressed by the pop of the original mono soundtrack with a 5.1 mix option. Bonus material includes rather scholarly and welcome commentary from historian Rudy Behlmer and featurettes “Old South/New South” and “Gone with the Wind: Hollywood Comes to Atlanta.”

By every possible definition of the term, Gone With the Wind is an epic film, not only in its production but also in its period depiction. Its shortcomings may taint the perception of the film, but the film has endured. Befitting the spectacle that is Gone With the Wind, this 75th Anniversary Edition version is one of the best special edition Blu-ray movies.

Watchmen is set in an alternate reality U.S. and follows a band of “superheroes” as they investigate the murder of a former comrade. The investigation uncovers a plot more sinister and threatening than they could have imagined. When Watchmen hit theaters in 2009, there was much speculation about the flick not being able to live up to the graphic comics that were considered unfilmable (whatever that means). This “Directors’ Cut” on Blu-ray gets closer to the feel of the source material with an added 24 minutes as well as other special features like Maximum Movie Mode which incorporates additional features into the viewing experience. The HD visuals and soundstage are top-notch as well.

Whether you are familiar with the source material or not, Watchmen is an entertaining film. It fully lives up to the moniker “Director’s Cut” being a version that is not only what the director envisioned, but also places it close to its source material. Watchmen is a great entrant on the list of best Blu-ray special edition movies.

The Complete Metropolis is a fitting testament to the 1927 Fritz Lang classic Metropolis which chronicles a 2046 dystopian society and its sharp divide between the working class underneath the city and the ostentatious elite who live on the surface. Though in black and white and silent, the HD presentation is crisp and vibrant. Special features include the original score in 5.1 stereo surround, a documentary on the film’s restoration, interviews, and more.

The Complete Metropolis is film restoration at its best. Metropolis is an indelible part of cinematic history and this Blu-ray edition shows just how special the movie was and has been. With plenty of backstory and a beautiful HD transfer, The Complete Metropolis is outstanding on this list of the best Blu-ray special edition movies.

1999’s Galaxy Quest was surprisingly good at poking fun at sci-fi shows like Star Trek, but it is also a pretty good movie on its own. Galaxy Quest is a genuinely funny and entertaining story about actors from a canceled, cheesy sci-fi TV show who are abducted by aliens and taken on a space adventure aboard a fully operational version of the show’s ship to battle a warlord intent on destroying the aliens’ homeworld. The film is full of just about every sci-fi trope from futuristic tech to outlandish characters enough to tug at the heartstrings of any sci-fi fan. This 20th anniversary Blu-ray edition features the beautiful HD transfer, featurettes on special effects, casting, theatrical trailers, and more. There’s even a rap performed by Sigourney Weaver!

Even if sci-fi isn’t your thing, you will find yourself entertained by Galaxy Quest. It can be really fun learning about the ins and outs of a movie that catches the cinematic world by surprise and this 20th-anniversary setup really satisfies. Galaxy Quest is a surprise entry on the list of best special edition Blu-ray movies.

Sci-fi noir at its definitive best, Blade Runner is set in a dystopian 2019 and centers on Rick Deckard, a burned-out detective whose job is to hunt down and “retire” rogue bioengineered humans known as replicants. There are at least five disc versions of the film with this The Final Cut being the last (at least so far) and is the only version in which Ridley Scott had complete artistic control. And that is what makes The Final Cut truly a special edition. Image quality and sound are excellent in this HD transfer. Bonus features include commentaries and a ‘making of’ documentary.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut is a movie worth having in one's collection, it is a classic. This essential director's edition is a top-shelf member on this list of best special edition Blu-ray movies.

The Complete Adventures is a 5-disc set that includes the feature Indiana Jones films: Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The adventures of the thrill-seeking archeologist are brilliantly presented in HD and 5.1 audio. You can also get fully engulfed in all things Indy with introductions and commentaries as well as featurettes about filming each flick. The set is also packaged nicely in an impressive book-like binding with sleeves for the discs along with movie stills and artwork.

With what is most likely the final escapades for Indiana Jones coming to theaters soon, the chance is now to jump back into the adventures with Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures. Having all the movies from the franchise in great HD transfers and the bonus material makes this Blu-ray set one of the best special-edition movie collections available.

Sin City is an anthology of three neo-noir stories of corruption, revenge, and redemption from the Frank Miller graphic comics of the same name. Like the comic, the movie is all about style being shot in black and white highlighted with shots of vivid colors to match the vivid characters and hard-hitting action. Blu-ray treatment adds pop not only to the visuals and sound but also to the stories. Special features of this 2-disc set include audio commentaries, production featurettes, and much more leaving no stone unturned about how this cinematic jaunt came together.

Sin City is one of those rare treats that pays appropriate homage to its source material and actually turns out to be a pretty good flick. Getting the visual enhancements and tons of backstory on how it was created make Sin City one of the best special edition Blu-ray movies.

Some movies end up being more than the stories they try to tell, and Avatar is one of them. Much more than the tiresome reluctant hero trope it is centered on, Avatar is a stunning visual masterpiece that brought a new world to life. The visuals alone were enough to propel it to movie immortality and if you want to relive that experience, look no further than this Original Theatrical Edition. This two-disc set (the second disc has the movie on DVD) is movie-only, with no special features. What does make it special is the Blu-ray high-definition treatment with its bold and vibrant visuals and engulfing soundstage.

You may not be able to watch Avatar at home in 3D, but you certainly can be swept away by its visuals thanks to high definition. Avatar is at the top of the list of best special edition Blu-ray movies.

Harry Potter, the story of a youth discovering his magical heritage has been an unforgettable phenomenon both in the literary and cinematic worlds and this Blu-ray special edition is just as special. All eight movies are here with The Sorcerer’s Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Goblet of Fire, the Order of the Phoenix, the Half-Blood Prince, and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2, each on a separate disc. Special features include additional scenes, commentaries, and Maximum Movie Mode. The HD presentations of all the films are as magical as the whimsical world of Harry Potter itself.

You don’t have to be a Potterhead to be entertained by this franchise and Harry Potter: Complete 8-Film Collection is a great collection to keep you engaged in magic and wizards for hours upon hours. The Complete 8-Film Collection is all things Harry Potter and one of the best special edition Blu-ray movies available.

For those who inexplicably may not know, LOTR is the celluloid version of J.R.R. Tolkein’s books about hobbits, dwarfs, elves, wizards, and humans on a quest to destroy a ring that holds the fate of a fantasy world. The movies not only conquered the box office but the Oscars, as well, winning a total of 17 awards among them. This Blu-ray set includes the three LOTR films: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Matching the epic size of the films, this is a beautifully packaged 15-disc set with tons of extra features like two hours of extended movie content and hours of bonus material. The movies are expertly transferred to Blu-ray matching the stunning visuals and soundstage that made the in-theater experience so awesome.

The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy is Blu-ray done right. The cinematic enhancements transfer wonderfully to the smaller screen and the bonus materials complete the LOTR experience. Taking full advantage of the technology, The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy is far and above some of the best special edition Blu-ray movies.

Clear As Can Be

First and foremost, Blu-ray will deliver a high-definition picture as well as the best audio possible. To go along with outstanding visual performance, there are other advantages that come with Blu-ray that streaming can’t equally offer. While streaming can provide 4K resolution like Blu-ray, the quality of what you see is largely dependent on the quality of your broadband connection. Unlike the vagaries with an internet connection, Blu-ray offers consistent performance every time you play it. There’s also the lingering question of whether you actually own a purchased digital movie and the potential to lose access to it.

The Awesomeness of Owning

There are no such worries with a Blu-ray, you bought it, you can touch it, and it’s yours.

Among the other advantages are what I like to call the “Blu-ray treatment.” Usually, when you watch a movie via streaming, you’re just getting the movie and nothing extra. With the “Blu-ray treatment,” you’ll get an enhanced version of the film via remastering as well as bonus content like interviews, director’s commentaries, trailers, and more content all adding to the viewing experience. Such “Blu-ray treatment” can be presented as a special edition, director’s cut, anniversary edition, etc. Regardless of how it’s named, a movie given the “Blu-ray treatment” will be an entertaining experience.

The Best Blu-Rays to Own

When it comes to special edition Blu-ray movies, there can be many factors to help you decide which one to opt for. Whether you want to see the ultimate cut of a movie or take a deep dive into the making of the movie, there is a special edition Blu-ray available. To help you weed through the plethora of choices out there, here’s a listing of some of the best special edition Blu-ray movies. Some are single movies, some are sets, but all are excellent as special-edition Blu-ray presentations.