8K? Sounds cool, but… where's all the content?

A few years ago, 8K was supposed to be the next big step in the evolution of home cinema. TVs with four times the resolution of 4K hit the stores, but... there’s still no content. You can find at most a few demo videos featuring the landscapes of Iceland on YouTube. Enthusiasm has waned, and many producers have begun to withdraw from further investments in this segment.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. is making a move that could change everything...

The studio has scanned over 20 hits in 8K

During this year's NAB 2025 trade show in Las Vegas, Warner Bros. (the studio known for hits like Barbie (2023), Dune (2021–2024), and the Harry Potter series (2001–2011)) announced that it has scanned over 20 classic films in 8K resolution. Many of these were shot on 70 mm film, so the potential quality is enormous. Theoretically – because the studio has not yet revealed which titles are involved and is not promising any releases at this time. For now, we are dealing more with an option than a concrete plan. But that’s still significantly more than what the competition offers.

How to deliver 8K to our living rooms?

And this is where it gets complicated. Currently, Blu-ray ends at 4K, and streaming – although convenient – relies on heavy compression that undermines the advantages of higher resolution. Services like Netflix or Prime Video don't even have plans to implement 8K. At least for now. Furthermore, even if they eventually decide to take such a step, it will mean gigantic bandwidth requirements that not all networks can handle. Not to mention a proper display or projector, which only a few home theater enthusiasts can afford.

Kaleidescape and high-end dreams

One hopeful option might be the company Kaleidescape – relatively unknown but specialized in streaming movies in reference quality, which is better than Blu-ray discs. Their solution involves downloading the movie to a local server and playing it offline, without compression or buffering. It sounds great, but it costs as much as a used or sometimes even a new car – it's a product for the most demanding movie enthusiasts. The company recently announced plans to implement 8K resolution in its new devices.

Is it enough to save 8K?

Interest in 8K has clearly waned. Sony announced that it does not plan new 8K models, and LG has been silent on the subject for three years. Essentially, only Samsung is holding firm and presents new televisions in this resolution every year. It is no secret that Samsung may have inspired Warner Bros., with which it previously collaborated to create 8K trailers for movies like Barbie and Dune: Part Two.

Source: flatpanelshd.com