While 2015 was great for movies in theaters, it was also pretty good for the movie lover who doesn’t go to the theater very often. There were many fantastic releases for home video, specifically for the Blu-ray format.
As a classic film geek, I’m more inclined to buy Blu-rays for the classics, which sadly aren’t that many. Warner Bros., Universal and Paramount are still very slow when it comes to putting out their classic films, while 20th Century Fox has done a bit better. The studios have also allowed more independent labels, like the Criterion Collection, Kino and Olive Films to release films that they won’t be so inclined to. These labels, especially Kino and Criterion, are also important for U.S. film fans because they release films from the silent era, which definitely need to be released in high definition.
The home video market has also taken a hit when it comes to bonus features. New films often rarely get exciting bonus material any more and what’s included is usually puff pieces. There have been a few fantastic releases of new films... you just have to be really diligent about it.
Anyway, without any further delay, let’s take a look at some of the great releases of 2015.