On the standard Blu-ray, the film is presented in a static 2.39:1. It is gorgeous, but it feels contained.

While not marketed with the aggressive branding of today’s Disney+ IMAX signatures, the physical 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray of Blade Runner 2049 contains a hidden, controversial, and visually superior secret: . The Framing War: 2.39:1 vs. 1.90:1 To understand the value of this disc, you must understand cinematographer Roger Deakins’ intent. Deakins shot the film with the Arri Alexa XT Studio, framing primarily for the standard widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio. However, he simultaneously protected the frame for IMAX’s 1.90:1 ratio.

5/5 Replicant Owls.

The bass drop when K first enters the sea-wall is infamous among subwoofer enthusiasts. It is a single, tectonic 15Hz pulse that will reveal if your subwoofer is a toy or a tool. Purists will argue that Blade Runner 2049 is not "true" IMAX. Unlike Christopher Nolan, who shoots 70mm IMAX film (1.43:1), Villeneuve shot digitally. The 1.90:1 ratio is a "DMR" (Digital Media Remastering) expansion, not a native capture.