Judge a Blu Ray by its cover? Perhaps not, but atleast it should also be important however, if not sweetening the deal. Here are my examples of really bad covers from popular to well known films for the 4k blu ray format.
I’m a blu ray collector since quite a few years back and more of a quality before quantity kind a collector. When many covers can dazzle me, some might baffle me.
1. The Terminator
Ok so here we go, first out is The Terminator. James Cameron’s finest hour if you ask me. This Sci-Fi classic deserves a much better cover for this standard 4k release. It wouldn’t be too bad if it wasn’t for Chipmunk Arnold here. He is surely chewing away at something.
Another thing that sticks out is the reflection of Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese in the terminator’s sunglasses. Never a good designing choice and also the resolution is higher on the reflection of the two characters than of Arnold’s character, which makes it look kinda photoshoppy.
I mean it is not the concept is way off, it’s just things like the subtle chipmunkery, etc.
2. Blade Runner 2049
Here is a movie I actually don’t care for at all. Which makes this a fitting cover. It looks bleak and uninteresting, really. A case of bad photoshopping. Just look at the glow around the character(which is showing his backside), not helping at all. The background just looks old and dystopian and not alot of futurism going on, to pull you in the scene, Blade Runner style. Uninspiring cover to say the least. I’m not sure how this is suppose to sell the movie.
3. The Batman
This is not just Batman, this is just bad man. Quite an awful bad quality closeup on Pattinson’s Batman. Give me a break with the green questionmark in the eye. Not much else to add here. Very uninspiring. I thought the movie was pretty good though, for what it was.
4. The Lost Boys
Well, a bit of a notorious underwhelming 4k cover. It was discussed quite a bit upon release if I recall correctly. I have to say it doesn’t have alot of personality. I have seen this one way back when and I can’t say I’m an expert on this film, but this cover surely doesn’t make me want to revisit. Hanging on to dear life for another release.
5. Fight Club
Although there is significance to Fight Club with the pink soap, I still have trouble connecting this imagery to the acual film, atleast visually. To add, it is just way to plain and one colored. Sure it is clean and hi-res but I can’t feel the effort here. Can’t tell if it is 3d or AI generated image, or AI trying to mimic 3d, or maybe created with crayon. Who knows, the company knows that’s who.
6. Boogie Nights
Sadly, there is effort here. In what world is this not sleazy and offensive? I really don’t care about the subjectmatter here in context, this is a pretty awful cover.
7. Sorcerer
I am really interested in seeing this one by William Friedkin, but the cover actually made me hesitate to purchase this Criterion release, which is a shame ofcourse. If I’m going to pull the trigger on a 4k Criterion I’d want the full package, I mean a visually appealing package. This is just too simple and not even hinting at telling the story.
8. Hellboy
As much as I’m not a huge fan of Quillermo Del Toro, I’m not big on this cover. It looks like someone pushed a filter on to this image in PS. I’m not really concerned if it is true or not, it is what it looks like. A film I have not seen, should I?
9. Edward Scissorhand
This is not super awful but I got a few problems with it. Again with the reflection problem for example. As much as I like Winona Ryder, her reflection on Edwars’s scissors is kinda, I don’t know, on the scissor?
Once again, another not so good closeup.
10. Eraser
Sorry for the pun here but this cover needs to be erased. Again, Arnold’s face ruins the day.
Summary
So to sum this up I guess it is obvious that for most of these I have selected for worst blu ray covers lacks effort, or lacks decency.
This was mainly selected for amusement but it is however ashame when or if your favorite film gets a new 4k release and the cover is just lackluster and evades you from want to purchase. Thankfully there’s usually options these days with standard, steelbook or LE releases and from different companies for example Boutique Blu Rays. Hopefully one can get atleast one of them that is fulfilling.
Pontus Fredin 