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The Best Blu-rays and DVDs of 2013

When all is said and done, we'll have reviewed exactly 300 DVD and Blu-ray titles released in 2013. Adding to that the handful of discs otherwise seen but not reviewed, the following releases represent roughly the top 10% of all of last year's physical home video output encountered. The list is obviously limited to what we covered, so a few things on our 2013 snubs list might or might not have cracked the list had we received them.

Without further ado, let's begin with ten titles that narrowly missed the Top 25 but still warranted mention.

Honorable Mention:

Cinerama Holiday: Deluxe Combo Blu-ray + DVD Edition -- click to read our review House of Wax: Blu-ray 3D/2D -- click to read our review Oliver! The Limited Edition Series Blu-ray -- click to read our review Nashville: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray + DVD Dual Format Edition -- click to read our review Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy - The "Rich Mahogany" Edition Blu-ray -- click to read our review

Cinerama Holiday & South Seas Adventure Blu-ray + DVD - These 1950s travelogues are dated and kind of corny,
but Flicker Alley's deluxe combo packs dazzle in numerous ways. Cinerama Holiday: Full Review, South Seas Adventure: Full Review

A Letter to Three Wives Blu-ray - Fox brought many catalog titles to Blu-ray this year with satisfying results. A stronger film and set of extras distinguish this one. Full Review

Monsters University Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - One of Pixar's lesser efforts, but still fun and a technical marvel full of good bonus features. Full Review

House of Wax Blu-ray 3D/2D - Warner put together a loaded disc for this 1950s 3D milestone, though I wish the film looked better. Full Review

Oliver! Blu-ray - You wouldn't expect this Best Picture-winning musical to get a limited run Twilight Time Blu-ray, but it suits it well. Full Review

Nashville Criterion Collection Blu-ray + DVDs - Everything you need to appreciate Robert Altman's contributions to 1970s cinema. Full Review

The Great Gatsby Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet - Baz Luhrmann's opulent adaptation got extras greater in quantity than quality, but this is still one of 2013's stronger movies and makes this section on that basis. Full Review

Cars Ultimate Collector's Edition Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - A strong set, but most of it has long been available. Full Review

Anchorman: The "Rich Mahogany" Edition Blu-ray - An exhaustive release of an eminently rewatchable comedy, but the general retail version of this 2010 Best Buy exclusive only added movie cash for the slightly disappointing sequel. Full Review

 

Twenty-five best Blu-ray and DVD releases released and reviewed in 2013:

Warm Bodies: Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet -- click to read our review Before Midnight: Blu-ray + UltraViolet -- click to read our review The World's End: Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD UltraViolet combo pack -- click to read our review The Best Years of Our Lives: Blu-ray Disc -- click to read our review The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: Blu-ray + DVD combo pack -- click to read our review

25. Mickey's Christmas Carol 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - Overpriced and/or underfilled, but an hour of classic,
seasonal Disney animation is too good to pass up. Full Review

24. The Master Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - Though clearly not everyone's cup of tea, Paul Thomas Anderson's technically magnificent and fascinating character study is treated to a unique and memorably packaged Blu-ray combo. Full Review

23. My Neighbor Totoro Blu-ray + DVD - This fairly straightforward leap to Blu-ray benefits from the fact it holds perhaps Hayao Miyazaki's greatest masterpiece. Full Review

22. Warm Bodies Blu-ray + Digital Copy - Surprisingly, this winter release hasn't been topped by many subsequent 2013 movies, keeping its suitable disc near the top of the year's class. Full Review

21. Before Midnight Blu-ray + UltraViolet - Cinema's most artistic active franchise strikes more poignant notes in a fine disc. Full Review

20. The World's End Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet - One of the year's most loaded sets holds one of the year's most entertaining films. Full Review

19. Mad Men: Season 6 Blu-ray - Though it contains far fewer bonus features than past seasons, it's still one of the best shows around and a delight to experience on Blu-ray. Full Review

18. The Best Years of Our Lives Blu-ray - A great-looking presentation of an enduring Best Picture winner is enough to land this lightweight disc here. Full Review

17. From Here to Eternity Blu-ray - A straightforward but satisfying BD debut for one of the stronger yesteryear Best Picture winners. Full Review

16. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - Aspect ratio questions remain and Disney's back to treating this with kid gloves, but the movie is nonetheless a treasure. Full Review

The Imposter (2012) DVD -- click to read our review Halloween: 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray -- click to read our review Wreck-It Ralph: Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray + Blu-ray 3D + DVD + Digital Copy) combo pack -- click to read our review Autumn Sonata: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray -- click to read our review On the Waterfront: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray -- click to read our review

15. The Imposter DVD - 2012's most powerful and gripping documentary and its subject matter aren't easily forgotten. Full Review

14. Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection: Thrillers DVD - You probably own (or should own) at least half of these movies, so this DVD box set isn't too timely. Still, it's a terrific assembly of exciting cinema from over the years that's heavy on rewatchable '90s classics. Full Review

13. Rectify: Season 1 DVD - There's nothing out of the ordinary about this release, which was DVD only. This Sundance Channel series is just that good. (Creative packaging didn't hurt, either.) Hopefully, Anchor Bay bundles this short season with the second one on a Blu-ray. Full Review

12. Frances Ha Criterion Collection Blu-ray + DVD - A great release of a great filmmaker's great new film. Full Review

11. Halloween: 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray - Not the film's definitive set, but a stunning presentation, good extras, and fancy Digibook packaging distinguish this from other catalog reissues. Full Review

10. Wreck-It Ralph Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - 2012's best animated feature and Disney Animation's best effort in years was good enough to crack this list without getting an especially remarkable combo pack. Full Review

8-9. Wild Strawberries & Autumn Sonata Criterion Collection Blu-rays - These two films provided my long overdue introduction to Ingmar Bergman and I'm delighted by each's loaded, dazzling disc. Full Wild Strawberries Review, Full Autumn Sonata Review

7. On the Waterfront Criterion Collection Blu-ray - This unusually mainstream Criterion selection is definitely a contender for the year's best Blu-ray release. Full Review

Argo: Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet Combo Pack -- click to read our review Badlands: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray -- click to read our review Silver Linings Playbook Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet combo pack -- click to read our review Mary Poppins: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy -- click to read our review The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + Digital Copy -- click to read our review

6. Argo Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet - A sturdy release for a worthy Best Picture winner, but a better edition is already on the way. Full Review

5. Badlands Criterion Collection Blu-ray - Criterion's first ever licensing from Warner Bros. does not disappoint,
with Terrence Malick's masterpiece being celebrated while deliberately leaving the director a mystery. Full Review

4. Silver Linings Playbook Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - The best movie of 2012 was treated to a substantial and satisfying combo pack. Full Review

3. Mary Poppins: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - Doesn't add much, but it deserves credit for retaining the majority of the film's many valuable DVD extras, plus the film has never looked or sounded better. Full Review

2. The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + Digital Copy - Disney's Muppet DVDs have raised more wrath than any of the studio's other releases, so the fact that this one was done right, with old DVD extras restored and some nifty minor ones added, is one of the year's great surprises. Full Review

The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy combo pack -- click to read our review1. The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy

One of Disney's greatest animated features gets treated to a Blu-ray so satisfying you don't mind the lackluster DVD that joins it. Full Review

Thanks for reading DVDizzy.com! Happy New Year!

Related Articles:
The Films of 2013: Ranked & ReviewedStudios That Care, Part II & The Biggest Snubs of 2013

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Posted January 1, 2014.



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