Michał Stekla
Just a few years ago, watching movies in the comfort of your own home didn't come with high expectations – it was enough for the television to be big and reasonably bright. Today, when most of us use platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ or Prime Video, the demands are rising. Movies and series offer excellent picture quality, with many prepared to meet cinema standards – featuring HDR, Dolby Vision, or spatial audio. And to truly enjoy their quality, you need the right television. In our ranking, we have collected the models that perform best as a home cinema screen.
Why should you choose an OLED screen when buying a TV for movies or series?
If the TV is primarily to be a window to the world of film and series, then an OLED screen should be at the top of your list. Why? Because it is the OLED technology that best conveys the intentions of the director and cinematographer — without compromise. Each pixel in the OLED matrix shines independently, which means perfect blacks and contrast so high that even scenes set at night in the forest do not lose detail. There is no backlighting that seeps through the dark parts of the image, as is common in classic LCD TVs. For the viewer, this means one thing: a screening in your living room can resemble that of a cinema! And even better! Especially when we talk about top HDR productions. Special effects in high resolution, the play of lights and colours — all of this looks stunning and natural on OLED. For cinema lovers seeking immersion — OLED is like vinyl is to a music lover: not necessary for everyone, but once you've tried it, you know it’s hard to go back to older solutions.
In our ranking, you will find several proposals for OLED TVs that — in our opinion — most deserve your attention if you're looking for the perfect screen for an evening session with Netflix, HBO, or Disney+.
However, if a specific OLED model is not in our list — don’t worry. Every OLED screen, even those not on the list, is very likely to provide excellent picture quality and cinematic experiences. It might just be less cost-effective compared to competitors or offer a slightly worse price-to-performance ratio. But in terms of pure filmmaking: it will still be a great choice.
Best OLED TVs for movies and series!
Samsung S95D
Samsung S95D is without a doubt one of the best home theatre TVs you can buy today during the 2024 end-of-year sale. This model won the prestigious HDTV Shootout in the Best Home Theater TV category, outperforming competitors thanks to its excellent picture quality for 4K content owing to the third-generation QD-OLED technology. This panel not only offers perfect black and impressive colour gamut coverage but also high brightness and a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which is useful not only for movies but also for dynamic content.
The picture is contrasty, detailed, and makes a huge impression in a dark lounge (especially after professional calibration). However, it has its drawbacks – Samsung S95D, like every TV from this brand, does not support the Dolby Vision format. Although HDR10+ has been gaining popularity recently on platforms like Netflix and Disney+ (among other reasons due to the lack of licensing fees), it is still a less common format. One must be aware of this, but... subsequent propositions can make up for it.
You can learn more about the Samsung S95D in our YouTube material:
LG G4
LG G4 is LG's flagship OLED and one of the most sensible choices for those looking for top-quality at a reasonable price (at least compared to its competitors). Overall, the HDTV Shootout rated it highly – in fact, it performed the best of all. It may not handle the highest quality signal as well as QD-OLED panel TVs, but it still offers phenomenal picture quality, very high brightness, and broad support for HDR formats, including of course Dolby Vision.
The television excels at motion reproduction, has features that enhance picture quality, and a well-developed webOS system. Importantly, for its class, it can be considerably cheaper than its competitors. For many, the G4 will be the golden mean between quality, price, and functionality. This is what we discussed on our channel:
Sony A95L
Sony A95L can confidently be described as a hybrid of S95D and LG G4. The manufacturer uses a top-tier QD-OLED panel, which Samsung does, but adds its own patents – including a classic, glossy screen coating that looks more natural in cinematic conditions than the matte versions of the competition. Additionally, we have full support for Dolby Vision, an excellent motion smoother, a fantastic XR processor that can enhance poor-quality materials, and a polished Google TV system.
A95L is not the cheapest, though – it’s definitely a premium offering. However, if price is not an issue for you, and you want the absolute top in terms of colour reproduction, format support, and cinematic presence, this Sony model is almost a complete choice.
Panasonic Z95A
The Panasonic Z95A is another television that has appeared in the HDTV Shootout comparison, and while it falls short in the overall rankings against models like the Samsung S95D, Sony A95L, or LG G4, it still offers a very good picture. However, the Z95A has its “growing pains” – mainly due to the Fire TV system from Amazon, which is making its debut in Panasonic televisions and can be annoying at times. But this model makes up for it with something that no other option in this comparison offers – phenomenal sound.
It is the only television with a built-in physical soundbar designed in collaboration with Technics. And you can hear it. Of course, more demanding users might say that at the price of the G4 or S95D, one could buy a better external audio setup. But for anyone looking for an all-in-one construction and who doesn’t want extra cables, the Panasonic Z95A is an absolute standout among the competition – and it’s a standout that’s easy to like.
Which one to choose? Blind TV test
If you're considering one of the four televisions we've discussed, be sure to check out our YouTube channel. Perhaps this material will help you dispel any last doubts before making a purchase.
OLEDs at a more accessible price
Samsung S90D (QD-OLED)
If you're looking for a great TV for movies and series but don't want to spend a fortune – we have two specific suggestions. The first is the Samsung S90D in the 65-inch version. This is the only size of this model that is equipped with the top QD-OLED panel, the same as in much more expensive premium models (at least that's the case in Europe). That's why in our rankings, the S90D 65" sometimes performs better than constructions several times more expensive, equalling the top performers in terms of contrast, colours, etc. With its excellent value for money – this is a model we can recommend unreservedly.
LG C4
However, you need to be careful – other sizes of the S90D already use the WOLED matrix, and then… a better choice would be the LG C4. This is an OLED that combines many advantages of top models, although with slightly lower brightness. Nevertheless, it performs excellently – especially in its price class, which today does not significantly differ from classic "budget" OLEDs like the Panasonic Z85A, Philips OLED769, or even the LG B4. So if you're considering a size other than 65 inches – for home cinema, we definitely recommend the LG C4 as the most versatile and cost-effective option.
And what if it's not OLED? We also have LCD options
As you can see, there are already quite a few OLED TVs in this ranking – and to be honest, we could conclude the list here if the main criterion is picture quality in a home cinema. But we know many of you – though often unnecessarily – are concerned about burn-in or simply looking for a cheaper solution. That's why we have two LCD options for you, which – while completely different – will perform excellently in their price category.
Sony Bravia 9
We begin with the absolute top, the Sony Bravia 9. It's the only LCD television that can genuinely compete with OLEDs in the context of home cinema. Sure – it won't offer the deep blacks of organic panels, but it makes up for it in other areas. It has a brilliant image processor and an unusual brightness for an LCD – even in very demanding scenes, the HDR effect is impressive. If you have a bigger budget but don't want to invest in an OLED panel – the Bravia 9 is a choice you won't regret. We even made a video about it on our channel ChooseTV:
Hisense U6NQ
On the other hand, for those with a smaller budget, or for those who simply don’t want to spend too much on a TV, we recommend the Hisense U6NQ model. In our opinion, it’s the best budget TV for movies and series. Of course, it can’t be compared to the previously mentioned models, but its huge advantage is the price – several, and sometimes dozens of times lower than top OLEDs. It has a Mini LED screen with a 60 Hz panel, but… when it comes to watching movies and series, a higher refresh rate doesn’t matter as much, so it can be used comfortably without major compromises.
Which TV should you choose for movies?
Regardless of whether you're aiming for the absolute top or looking for the best possible value for money – in our ranking, every film lover will find something for themselves. OLEDs remain unmatched in image quality, although there are a few LCD models worth recommending as well.
Of course, there are more televisions that could make it into this ranking, but these are the ones worth paying attention to for now. However, if you're still unsure about what to choose – check out our buying guides. We regularly recommend the most interesting deals and help you find a TV tailored exactly to your needs. Maybe your new screen for viewing your favourite movies and series is waiting for you there?
