4K Ultra HD: What new and must-have titles are out in February?

Picking a favourite movie from John Hughes isn’t an easy task, but it’s fair to say that for many this is it.

The tale of a teenager, his girlfriend, and best mate taking a sick day so as to explore the various joys of Chicago still resonates and is a treat on the 4K Ultra HD format.

It comes to us in native 4K, complete with Dolby Vision/HDR10. A Dolby Atmos soundtrack delivers all the audio – including the excellent soundtrack featuring the likes of Yello and The Smiths - in style, while extras include a Hughes commentary, a making-of, and a selection of featurettes.

The smash hit musical makes its way to our home screens, in this first part of a planned two-movie pairing.

If you’ve missed the brief, it’s set in the world of The Wizard of Oz, before the arrival of young Dorothy, and presents the story of how Elphaba and Glinda became the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, respectively.

A visual feast, it’s sure to look amazing at home with a native 4K transfer featuring Dolby Vision and HDR10.

Expect a wild Dolby Atmos sound experience, all the better for checking out the included sing-along version, which accompanies the theatrical cut.

Everybody’s favourite gruff alien symbiote and his host return for the third and final outing in their series of Marvel movies, and they’re on the run from both the government and those not of this Earth.

All the action unfurls onscreen via a native 4K transfer that’s been bolstered by both Dolby Vision and HDR10, depending upon what your setup supports. Audio comes via Dolby Atmos.

As for extra stuff, there’s a bevy of brief featurettes, as well as a selection of deleted and extended scenes.

Steelbook collectors take note! Get in quick to secure yours for Venom: The Last Dance – check it out right here.

This sequel to hit psychological horror sensation Smile continues where the last one left off, this time following a global popstar who’s embarking upon a comeback tour. Between the pressures of fame and strange goings-on, it’s fair to say that her mental health is in for a battering.

Good news is that it’s all set to look and sound a treat, with a Dolby Vision and HDR10 boosted native 4K transfer, accompanied by Dolby Atmos audio.

Extras include a commentary track from director Parker Finn, seven featurettes, and a selection of deleted and extended scenes.

Rightly regarded as one of the great movies of all-time, Spike Lee’s riveting story of simmering tensions between the residents of a Brooklyn African American neighbourhood and the Italian American proprietors of a pizza joint remains an incredible watch.

And it’s never looked better than in this native 4K presentation, enhanced with HDR10. The killer soundtrack comes to our ears courtesy of DTS:X, while extras include two commentaries – one with Lee solo, the other with guests – as well as a making-of, deleted and extended scenes, and featurettes.

What ended up becoming Steven Spielberg’s first feature film – it started life as a shorter made-for-TV movie – had a simple, but incredibly gripping premise.

A travelling salesman innocently passes a 40-ton tanker truck on a remote highway, which triggers a desperate battle for survival as the truck driver unleashes a campaign of menace.

Restored in native 4K, with both Dolby Vision and HDR10 enhancement available, the soundtrack has also been restored and given the Dolby Atmos treatment.

Chief amongst extras is the original TV cut in HD, joining three featurettes, a gallery, and a trailer.

Upon release in 1995 it was the most expensive movie ever made, and at the time it was considered a flop, but in ensuing years the Kevin Costner starring post-apocalyptic action epic Waterworld has gone on to win many fans.

Whether you’re one of that number, or new to its the watery charms, rest assured that it looks superb via the native 4K transfer presented here, with HDR10 enhancement.

As for the audio side of things, get ready for a boisterous DTS:X track, while as an extra there’s the almost three-hour long cut, presented in 1080p.

This Oscar winning – it took home eight - period drama directed by Miloš Forman imagines a feud between 19th century Viennese composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri.

Starring F. Murray Abraham as Salieri and Tom Hulce as his rival, this captivating romp makes its way to 4K Ultra HD in its theatrical cut, via a native 4K transfer with the HDR10 treatment.

The all-important audio, meanwhile, hits via DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0. In the extras department you’ll find two making-of presentations, one new, the other a revisiting of a classic one that’s an hour long.

Joaquin Phoenix is stunning in this gritty crime drama from director Lynne Ramsay.

He portrays Joe, a former military man and FBI agent who’s now a hired gun who rescues trafficked girls by any means necessary while caring for his elderly mother. When a New York senator’s 13-year-old daughter goes missing, he’s on the case…

This gripping tale hits 4K with HDR10 enhancement, while the sound – including the amazing Jonny Greenwood score – comes to our ears via DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

Also featuring a standard Blu-ray, extras include an audio commentary, a video essay, a selection of interviews, and a trailer.