Michał Stekla
A few years ago, watching movies in the comfort of your home didn't come with high expectations – it was enough for the TV to be large and reasonably bright. Today, when most of us use platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, or Prime Video, the requirements are increasing. Movies and series offer excellent picture quality, and many are prepared with cinematic standards in mind – with HDR, Dolby Vision, or spatial sound. And to truly enjoy their quality, the right TV 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 TV for movies or series?
If the TV is primarily going to be a window to the world of movies and series, then an OLED screen should be at the top of your selection list. Why? Because it is the OLED technology that best conveys the intentions of the director and cinematographer — without compromises. Each pixel in the OLED matrix lights up independently, meaning perfect black and contrast so high that even scenes taking place at night in the woods do not lose detail. There is no backlighting seeping through the dark parts of the image, as is the case with classic LCD TVs. For the viewer, this means one thing: a screening in the living room can resemble that of a movie theater! Or even better! Especially when we are talking about top HDR productions. Special effects in high resolution, play of light and colors — all of this looks spectacular and natural on OLED. For cinema lovers seeking immersion — OLED is what vinyl is to music lovers: not necessary for everyone, but anyone who tries it once knows it's hard to go back to older solutions.
In our ranking, you will find several suggestions for OLED TVs that – in our opinion – most deserve your attention if you are 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, will likely provide very good picture quality and cinematic experiences. It may simply be less cost-effective compared to the competition or offer a slightly worse price-to-performance ratio. But in purely cinematic terms: it will still be a great choice.
The best OLED TVs for movies and series!
Samsung S95D
Samsung S95D is undoubtedly one of the best home theater TVs you can buy today in the 2024 model year sale. This model won the prestigious HDTV Shootout in the Best Home Theater TV category, outperforming its competitors thanks to excellent picture quality for 4K materials due to the third-generation QD-OLED technology. This panel offers not only perfect blacks and impressive color 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 living room (especially after professional calibration). However, it has its shortcomings – the Samsung S95D, like every TV from this brand, does not support the Dolby Vision format. While HDR10+ has been gaining popularity lately on platforms like Netflix and Disney+ (partly due to the absence of licensing fees), it is still a less common format. You need to be aware of this, but... the subsequent proposals 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-notch quality at a reasonable price (at least compared to its competitors). In the overall HDTV Shootout, it performed excellently – and to be precise, it was the best of all. It may not handle top-quality signals as well as QD-OLED matrix TVs, but it still offers phenomenal image quality, very high brightness, and broad support for HDR formats, including of course Dolby Vision.
The television performs excellently in motion reproduction, has features that enhance image 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 S95D and LG G4. The manufacturer uses a top QD-OLED matrix here, as Samsung does, but adds its own patents – including a classic, glossy screen coating that appears more natural in cinematic conditions than the matte versions of the competition. Additionally, we have full support for Dolby Vision, an excellent motion smoothness feature, a great XR processor that can improve low-quality materials, and a refined Google TV system.
However, A95L is not the cheapest – it is definitely a premium offering. If price is not an issue for you and you want the absolute best in terms of color reproduction, format support, and cinematic presence, this Sony model is an almost complete choice.
Panasonic Z95A
The Panasonic Z95A is another TV that appeared in the HDTV Shootout comparison, and while it ranks lower overall than 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 just debuting in Panasonic TVs and can be quite annoying at times. But this model makes up for it with something that no other option in this comparison offers—a phenomenal sound.
It is the only TV with a built-in physical soundbar, designed in collaboration with Technics. And it shows. Of course, more demanding users might say that for the price of the G4 or S95D, one could buy a better external audio setup. But if someone is looking for an all-in-one construction and doesn't want extra cables, the Panasonic Z95A is an absolute exception among competitors—and it's an exception that can be easily liked.
Which one to choose? Blind TV test
If you are considering one of the four TVs we discussed, be sure to check out our YouTube channel. Perhaps this material will help you resolve any last doubts before your purchase.
OLEDs at a more affordable 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 recommendations. 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-tier QD-OLED matrix, 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, colors, etc. With its excellent price-to-quality ratio – this is a model we can recommend without hesitation.
LG C4
However, one must be careful – other sizes of the S90D already use WOLED panels, and then… a better choice will be the LG C4. It’s an OLED that combines many advantages of top models, although with slightly lower brightness. Nevertheless, it performs remarkably well – especially in its price class, which today does not differ significantly from classic “budget” OLEDs, such as the Panasonic Z85A, Philips OLED769, or even the LG B4. So if you are considering a size other than 65 inches – for home theater 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 already quite a few OLED televisions in this ranking – and to be honest, we could end the ranking here if the main criterion is image quality in home theater. But we know well that many of you – often completely unnecessarily – are worried about burn-in or are simply looking for a more affordable 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. Sure – it won’t offer the deep blacks of organic matrices, 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 is impressive. 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 video about it on our ChooseTV channel:
Hisense U6NQ
For those with a smaller budget, or 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 TV for movies and series. Of course, it cannot be compared to the previously mentioned models, but its huge advantage is the price – several, and sometimes a dozen times lower than top OLEDs. This is a Mini LED screen with a 60 Hz matrix, but... when it comes to watching movies and series, higher refresh rates are not that significant, so it can be used comfortably without major compromises.
Which TV to choose for movies?
Whether you're aiming for the absolute top or looking for the best possible quality-to-price ratio – in our ranking, every movie buff will find something for themselves. OLEDs remain unmatched in terms of picture quality, although a few LCD models are also worth recommending.
Of course, there are more TVs that could make it to this ranking, but currently, these TVs are worth paying attention to. However, if you're still unsure what to choose – take a look at 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 watching your favorite movies and series is waiting for you there?
