It goes under the radar a lot, but a big reason why 4K UHD Blu-ray discs always have a place in my home is because of their audio. Thanks to the larger disc sizes, it’s often the case that 4K Blu-ray discs run at a higher bitrate than their Blu-ray counterparts, and much higher than what you see with streaming. This means you can effectively eliminate compression from the mix, and it allows for formats like Dolby Atmos to hit much higher highs than what’s offered on other formats.

I have a lot of movies in my collection that standout thanks to their Atmos capabilities. Of course, I make sure they’re movies I like as well, because there’s no reason to buy a movie that you don’t enjoy just because it looks and sounds good. 4K Blu-ray discs are too expensive for that, but I do dabble in blind buys quite a bit if I’ve heard good things about the movie. Here’s a look at some of my favorite Atmos soundtracks in my collection.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy has never sounded better

Nothing to be mad about here

The Lord of the Rings 4K versions are often debated because of the digital noise reduction (DNR) that is present in the release. This has resulted in a more waxy look than people are used to. I wouldn’t compared it to Terminator 2 by any means, but it’s definitely closer to that than it is to something with plenty of film grain present. However, I’m not here to talk about how the movie looks.

As you might’ve guessed by Howard Shore’s incredible soundtrack on the DVD and Blu-ray discs before it, this score sounds excellent on 4K Blu-ray. It’s a full Dolby Atmos track, and it’s one I don’t feel bad about cranking up. There are so many moments where the soundtrack tells the whole story, and it’s really one of those times I should pick up a standalone version on CD or vinyl. I have nothing to complain about with how this trilogy sounds.

John Wick has a lot of Atmos action

They’re also really good movies

The John Wick franchise feels like it sort of came out of nowhere, but now that we’re four entries deep, along with a show and a spin-off movie, there’s a lot to dig into. If we stick with the mainline releases, these are some of the best implementations of Atmos I can find in the action genre. John Wick is packed with action, and it feels like the soundtrack continue to improve as the series goes on.

My favorite Atmos track is tough to pick, but I think I might give the slight edge to Chapter 3, but it’s hard to go wrong with any of them. If you’ve ever wanted to feel what it’s like to be in a firefight without actually being in one, these are the movies you can throw on. They also look pretty good too, so they’re the total package. If you’re an action movie fan, check them out.

Godzilla Minus One is a great showcase

Most Godzilla movies fit this bill

The Godzilla MonsterVerse movies have varying quality, but nobody would argue that they sound bad. Godzilla Minus One isn’t part of that world, but its Atmos track is still excellent. I want to single this one out because it’s my favorite Godzilla movie in recent memory, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the Godzilla movies.

Godzilla movies usually have a good soundtrack, and they deliver excellent subwoofer activity thanks to having a giant monster walking around with massive thuds with each footstep. That’s exactly what you can expect here. Keep in mind that this is a Japanese language movie, so you’ll need to flip on English subtitles to fully enjoy it. If that’s a deal-breaker, the MonsterVerse movies are what you should be looking for.

Twisters is a disaster movie done right

A great Atmos soundtrack

Twisters caught me by surprise by how much I liked it. I’m not typically somebody who’s excited about legacy sequels, but since this was released when Glen Powell was on a hot streak, I gave it a chance. I might end up liking this one a little more than the original, and the Atmos soundtrack plays a big part in that. Disaster movies usually have a lot going on, and that’s the case here.

Any time you’re put directly in the center of the storm, every speaker you have is getting action, and the directional audio is superb. I’m always excited to listen to something with rain in Atmos, and Twisters delivers on that in a big way. If you have a good subwoofer, this is a movie that showcases why spending decent money on one is worth it. Over the years since this released, it’s sort of become a comfort movie that I keep coming back to it. It’s not the greatest movie by any means, but it’s just a fun experience that is only enhanced by its Atmos soundtrack.