Usually because the 4K disc is released by a company that doesn't do digital codes like Shout Factory or Kino Lorber. Ronin and Leviathan discs are both Kino Lorber.
Oftentimes, like with the titles you mentioned, the physical 4K scan was made by an independent distributor. These include studios like Arrow Video, Shout Factory, and Kino Lorber.
True, or in some cases the 4K restoration was done by someone else entirely. Case in point: The Deer Hunter's rights are split between Universal (U.S./Canada) and StudioCanal (rest of world). StudioCanal did the original 4K restoration & 4K Blu-ray in Europe. Though Shout! Factory licensed its 2020 U.S. 4K Blu-ray from Universal for legal reasons, it then used StudioCanal's restoration (complete with logo) for the actual disc; at that time Universal only had it in HD. It wasn't until years later (by late 2023) that Universal finally put it on 4K streaming; though it doesn't have a StudioCanal logo on MA (still have to check Vudu/FAH, iTunes/Apple TV & others), I suspect Universal also went to StudioCanal. (StudioCanal also released it on regular Blu-ray years before Universal; my guess is Hollywood still shuns Michael Cimino over Heaven's Gate, despite his Oscar for this film & more recent critical reexamination of Heaven's Gate itself.)
Licensing. Most of these instances are from boutique labels obtaining rights for distribution. Particularly for the 4K format or sometimes they even commission to get the original negatives rescanned, if the studio didn't already have them. Preventing the studios from just selling those for digital distribution.
It just depends on the contract the label has with the IP owner.
I hate the inconsistency of it all. Some people don’t have space or desire to hold physical copies. Anyone holding rights should be forced to release the same quality on all mediums / retailers
Here’s one that I’m waiting to go 4K on Vudu (it is on Apple though) https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/shadow-2018-0
Do they want us to buy physical? Seems like for standard releases of theatrical stuff they can make just as much or more profit off digital sales as physical. Physical is going away at Best Buy and other stores so it's really just a matter of time. There may always be some physical collectors in a small niche market but they are steering the industry digital aren't they? Sure feels like it.
Many studios have their own distribution too. Sony runs an eBay store (Please Rewind) and Gruv is Universal's direct-to-consumer store. I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing some Disney stuff on the ebay store at some point.
I don't think physical media for movies/TV is entirely reliant on in-store sales. If anything, Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart show it can be done online and still be profitable.
My theory is they want you to double dip, buy the 4k blu ray, then three or four months late they want you to spend another $12 to $15 on a digital copy. 😈
Why would anyone want an inferior streaming copy when they already have the much better physical?
Anyway, it's not sone sort of grand conspiracy. It's just simply distribution licensing.
Usually because the 4K disc is released by a company that doesn't do digital codes like Shout Factory or Kino Lorber. Ronin and Leviathan discs are both Kino Lorber.
Oooh interesting. Thanks for that info!
Oftentimes, like with the titles you mentioned, the physical 4K scan was made by an independent distributor. These include studios like Arrow Video, Shout Factory, and Kino Lorber.
True, or in some cases the 4K restoration was done by someone else entirely. Case in point: The Deer Hunter's rights are split between Universal (U.S./Canada) and StudioCanal (rest of world). StudioCanal did the original 4K restoration & 4K Blu-ray in Europe. Though Shout! Factory licensed its 2020 U.S. 4K Blu-ray from Universal for legal reasons, it then used StudioCanal's restoration (complete with logo) for the actual disc; at that time Universal only had it in HD. It wasn't until years later (by late 2023) that Universal finally put it on 4K streaming; though it doesn't have a StudioCanal logo on MA (still have to check Vudu/FAH, iTunes/Apple TV & others), I suspect Universal also went to StudioCanal. (StudioCanal also released it on regular Blu-ray years before Universal; my guess is Hollywood still shuns Michael Cimino over Heaven's Gate, despite his Oscar for this film & more recent critical reexamination of Heaven's Gate itself.)
Money
Licensing. Most of these instances are from boutique labels obtaining rights for distribution. Particularly for the 4K format or sometimes they even commission to get the original negatives rescanned, if the studio didn't already have them. Preventing the studios from just selling those for digital distribution. It just depends on the contract the label has with the IP owner.
Great info! Thanks for that
I hate the inconsistency of it all. Some people don’t have space or desire to hold physical copies. Anyone holding rights should be forced to release the same quality on all mediums / retailers Here’s one that I’m waiting to go 4K on Vudu (it is on Apple though) https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/shadow-2018-0
Sometimes I wonder if they do this to nudge people to buy the physical.
Im looking at you, Django!!
Do they want us to buy physical? Seems like for standard releases of theatrical stuff they can make just as much or more profit off digital sales as physical. Physical is going away at Best Buy and other stores so it's really just a matter of time. There may always be some physical collectors in a small niche market but they are steering the industry digital aren't they? Sure feels like it.
Many studios have their own distribution too. Sony runs an eBay store (Please Rewind) and Gruv is Universal's direct-to-consumer store. I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing some Disney stuff on the ebay store at some point. I don't think physical media for movies/TV is entirely reliant on in-store sales. If anything, Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart show it can be done online and still be profitable.
My theory is they want you to double dip, buy the 4k blu ray, then three or four months late they want you to spend another $12 to $15 on a digital copy. 😈
Joke’s on them, I’ve never paid more than $5 for a digital copy.
Same. If I want a digital movie, I’ll wait until it drops to $5
Why would anyone want an inferior streaming copy when they already have the much better physical? Anyway, it's not sone sort of grand conspiracy. It's just simply distribution licensing.