Nothing puts you right into a great movie experience more than completely immersive sound quality without outside noise or distraction. The best headphones for watching movies deliver exactly that with big sound in a small package. Whether you are watching at home and need to keep the noise down, or you are watching during travel and wish to block out annoying travel noise like jet engines and passenger chatter, headphones make your movie-watching experience private, immersive, and completely absorbing.

Using headphones for movie-watching not only puts the best sound quality directly into your ears for balanced acoustics and a dynamic sound range to make you feel like you are actually living the events in the movie, but they also have the same effect as expensive sound equipment in a home theater without the bulk, wires, complex setup, and outrageous expense. Instead of filling the room with dynamic sound which could upset roommates, annoy neighbors, or wake up the baby, the immersive sound quality stays within the earcups, so while it sounds big and bold to you, no one else need share in your sound experience.

If you are looking for the best headphones for watching movies, we’ve put together a list of some of today’s absolute best products with anything you might be looking for, from wired to wireless, from compact and lightweight, to earcups with large-aperture drivers and active noise cancellation for all the bells and whistles.

When it’s time to choose the best headphones for watching movies, the options can be overwhelming. While you don’t have to be an audiophile to be familiar with some of the big brand names in headphones, you do have to know some of the basics to look for in headphone hardware so you know what you are getting and whether or not it compares to the biggest brands. It turns out that you don’t have to skimp on sound quality with some of the less budget-breaking brands if you know what to look for.

Factors To Consider

So what do the best headphones for watching movies have to provide the dynamic, immersive movie-watching experience that puts you right into the action?

Dynamic Drivers

Drivers are the tiny speakers inside the earcups of your headphones. These are tiny but powerful devices that convert electronic signals into sound. They are disc-shaped and hidden inside the headphone’s earcups. The combination of drivers—typically 30 to 40mm in size—and the encompassing shape of the earcups combine to deliver high-quality stereo sound in a dynamic range. The larger the driver size, the deeper and more resonate the bass sound in your drivers.

Dynamic drivers use a coil and a neodymium magnet to move to sound waves. The air movement created contributes to great bass sound quality. Other driver types include planar magnetic drivers, electrostatic drivers, and tiny balanced armature drivers used in in-ear sound devices. Some drivers are hybrids and use a combination of technologies for more layered and nuanced sound quality.

Active Noise Cancellation In Your Cans

Another great advantage of the best headphones for watching movies is the noise cancellation technology. Nearly all over-ear headphones offer some degree of passive noise cancellation by blocking out ambient sounds in your surroundings through the padded cups of the headphones. Some of the best headphones also use built-in microphones to sense the sounds in your environment so the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) can use feedback to counteract the noise. This effectively prevents your ears from picking up outside noise to provide a more immersive sound experience with less outside distraction.

Bluetooth Wireless

Wireless headphones with advanced Bluetooth technology offer freedom from wires for greater movie-watching comfort. Many of the best headphones for watching movies will include Bluetooth wireless function. Look for the latest Bluetooth technology with easy pairing, stable connection, and a wide range. Most also offer the option of using a wired connection. Bluetooth technology lets you take hands-free calls while you are watching a movie or listening to music, and some offer voice command capability through Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant.

Comfortable Wearing

Regardless of sound quality, the best headphones for watching movies are only good if they are comfortable enough to wear throughout your movie or binge-watching session. Look for pressure-free or adjustable headbands and cushiony, comfortable earpads with soft outer materials. Memory foam pads not only offer exceptional comfort, but they also help to enhance sound isolation by conforming to any ear shape.

Long Battery Life

To enjoy wireless headphones, it’s important to not have to worry about your battery giving out halfway through a great movie—especially when you are traveling. Look for headphones offering a long battery life. Some also include a five-minute quick charge feature to buy you another 4-5 hours of usage. This is a great feature for travelers who need a quick recharge during a short layover.

No matter what you are looking for in the best headphones for movie watching, you are sure to find it one of the many great options available today. And often at surprisingly affordable prices!