Michał Stekla
A few years ago, watching films in the comfort of your home did not come with high expectations – it was enough for the television to be large and fairly bright. Today, when most of us use platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ or Prime Video, the demands are increasing. Films and series offer outstanding picture quality, and many of them have been prepared with cinematic standards in mind – with HDR, Dolby Vision, or surround sound. And to truly enjoy their quality, the right television is needed. In our ranking, we have gathered models that perform best as a home cinema screen.
Why is it worth choosing an OLED screen when buying a television for films or series?
If the television is primarily to be a window to the world of film and series, then an OLED screen should be at the top of the selection list. Why? Because it is the OLED technology that best captures the intentions of the director and cinematographer — without compromises. Each pixel in the OLED matrix lights up independently, which means perfect black levels 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 often the case with traditional LCD televisions. For the viewer, this means one thing: a screening in the comfort of your living room can resemble that of a cinema! And even better! Especially when we talk about top-notch HDR productions. Special effects in high resolution, the play of lights and colours — all of this looks stunningly natural on OLED. For cinema lovers seeking immersion — OLED is to them what vinyl is to a music enthusiast: not needed by everyone, but once you try it, you know it’s hard to go back to older solutions.
In our ranking, you will find several proposals for OLED televisions that — in our opinion — most deserve your attention if you are looking for the perfect screen for an evening viewing of Netflix, HBO or Disney+.
However, if a specific OLED model is not in our selection — don’t worry. Any OLED screen, even those not on the list, will most likely provide very good picture quality and cinematic experiences. It may simply be less cost-effective compared to competitors or offer a slightly worse price-to-performance ratio. But in purely cinematic terms: it will still be a great choice.
Best OLED TVs for Movies and Series!
Samsung S95D
Samsung S95D is undoubtedly one of the best home cinema televisions you can buy today during the 2024 vintage sale. This model won the prestigious HDTV Shootout in the Best Home Theater TV category, beating rivals thanks to its excellent picture quality for 4K materials with the help of third-generation QD-OLED technology. This panel offers not only perfect black levels and impressive colour gamut coverage but also high brightness and a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which is beneficial not only for movies but also for dynamic content.
The image is contrasty, detailed, and makes a huge impression in a dark living room (especially after professional calibration). However, it does have its drawbacks – the Samsung S95D, like every television from this brand, does not support the Dolby Vision format. While HDR10+ has recently been gaining popularity on platforms like Netflix and Disney+ (partly due to the lack of licensing fees), it remains a less common format. It's important to be aware of this, but... the subsequent offerings can make up for it.
You can learn more about the Samsung S95D in our YouTube material:
LG G4
The LG G4 is LG's flagship OLED and one of the most sensible choices for those looking for top-notch quality at a reasonable price (at least compared to its competitors). In the overall HDTV Shootout, it performed excellently – in fact, it was the best of all. It may not handle the highest quality signals as well as QD-OLED panel televisions, but it still offers phenomenal picture quality, very high brightness, and broad support for HDR formats, including of course Dolby Vision.
The television handles motion reproduction excellently with features that enhance picture quality and a refined webOS system. Importantly: for its class, it can be significantly 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 the S95D and LG G4. The manufacturer uses a top-notch QD-OLED panel, like Samsung, 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, it offers full support for Dolby Vision, an excellent motion smoother, a great XR processor that can enhance low-quality materials, and a refined Google TV system.
However, the A95L is not the cheapest – it is definitely a premium proposition. If price is not an issue for you, and you want the absolute best in terms of colour reproduction, format support, and cinematic presence, this Sony model is an almost complete choice.
Panasonic Z95A
The Panasonic Z95A is another television that appeared in the HDTV Shootout comparison and although it ranks lower overall compared to models such as the Samsung S95D, Sony A95L, or LG G4, it still offers very good picture quality. However, the Z95A has its "teething problems" – mainly due to the Fire TV system from Amazon, which is making its debut in Panasonic televisions and can be irritating 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 discerning users might say that at the price of the G4 or S95D, a better external audio system can be purchased. But for anyone looking for an all-in-one construction and who doesn't want extra cables, the Panasonic Z95A is an absolute exception among the competition – and it's an exception that's easy to like.
Which one to choose? Blind TV test
If you are considering one of the four televisions we are discussing, be sure to check out our YouTube channel. Perhaps this material will help you clear up any last doubts before making a purchase.
OLEDs at a more affordable price
Samsung S90D (QD-OLED)
If you are looking for a great television for films 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 equipped with a top-notch 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, matching the leaders in terms of contrast, colours, etc. Thanks to its excellent value for money – this is a model we can recommend without hesitation.
LG C4
However, one must be careful – other sizes of the S90D already use a 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 such as the Panasonic Z85A, Philips OLED769, or even the LG B4. Therefore, if you are 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 not OLED? We also have LCD options
As you can see, there are quite a few OLED televisions in this selection – and truth be told, we could conclude the ranking here if the main criterion is the quality of picture in home cinema. But we know well that many of you – 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 – although completely different – will perform excellently in their price category.
Sony Bravia 9
We start with the absolute top, the Sony Bravia 9. It is the only LCD television that can genuinely compete with OLEDs in the context of home cinema. Of course, it won't offer such deep blacks as organic panels, but it makes up for it in other areas. It has a brilliant image processor and an unprecedented brightness for an LCD – even in very demanding scenes, the HDR effect impresses. If you have a larger 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 film about it on our ChooseTV channel:
Hisense U6NQ
On the other hand, for those with a smaller budget, or for those who simply do not want to spend too much on a television, we recommend the model Hisense U6NQ. In our opinion, this is the best budget television for films and series. Of course, it cannot be compared to the previously mentioned models, but its enormous advantage is the price – several, and sometimes even a dozen times lower than top OLEDs. It features a Mini LED screen with a 60 Hz panel, but... in the case of watching films and series, a higher refresh rate does not matter that much, so it can be used comfortably without major compromises.
Which television should you choose for films?
Whether you are aiming for the absolute top or looking for the best possible value for money – in our ranking, every cinema enthusiast will find something for themselves. OLEDs remain unmatched in terms of picture quality, although several LCD models are also worth recommending.
Of course, there are more televisions that could make it into this ranking, but these are the ones currently worth noting. However, if you are still unsure about what to choose – take a look at our buying guides. We regularly recommend the most interesting deals and help you find a television tailored exactly to your needs. Perhaps your new screen for watching your favourite films and series is waiting for you there?
