NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: HBO/Warner 4K UHD (December 2020): HBO/Warner have transferred the excellent TV mini-series Chernobyl to 4K UHD. While released only a year after HBO last Blu-ray set of the mini-series, the 4K UHD image quality is striking for its improved 3840 X 2160 resolution presentation. It's the exact same source - with the same running time to the 1/1000th of  seconds, but it's simply mathematics why the new 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR image is a vast improvement at over double the bitrate. This shows up in color depth, contrast and detail. A notable upgrade.

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 78 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE.

That's about it - the exact same audio as the 2019 Blu-rays (see below) with the same extras included in the 4K UHD package. These supplements are available on the two 4K UHD discs.

I REALLY enjoyed this again - my third time. There is a justified reason it has a 9.4/10 rating on IMDb. This is a fascinating mini-series. The Chernobyl disaster was shrouded for years in such a mystery of lies and misinformation. It subtly pays homage to those who suffered - many surviving in pain for years after - by focusing on individual stories as well as giving an interesting take on the overview of the politicization of the tragedy. It follows what happened second by second on the control room that fateful day. Historically this is essential. New adopters shouldn't hesitate.  

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ADDITION: HBO Blu-ray (September 2019): Looking at these two transfers of the TV mini-series Chernobyl to Blu-ray. It is obvious that the Acorn has tried to mimic a disaster - perhaps in keeping with the theme of the brilliant docu-drama.

We can now see that the 1080i Acorn is in PAL speed (which may have been accurate for broadcast in Europe) but it is abnormally horizontally stretched as well as suffering the softness of the interlaced rendering practice. Totally unacceptable.

This is a huge difference and makes the HBO (US) Region FREE BD (actually 2 dual-layered Blu-rays) - the package to own. Add on lossless (DTS-HD Master) 5.1 surround audio, English and foreign language subs and DUBs, and some extras (albeit brief featurettes) - make for a very easy decision.

I don't usually state it as such - but buy the Region FREE HBO Blu-ray set and watch this series - it is deeply impacting. Essential TV, folks. Don't hesitate. Order now.

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ADDITION: Acorn Media Blu-ray (August 2019): Acorn Media have transferred the excellent 2019, Sky Atlantic, TV mini-series Chernobyl to Blu-ray.  While I thoroughly enjoyed the 5-part series, I can't help but be disappointed in the 1080i (as broadcast) image quality. Despite being shot on HD (Arri Alexa 4K) it looks decidedly soft with an unusual green/bluish/teal hue especially in the 4th and 5th episodes. It doesn't look anywhere near as good as the included 'Picture Gallery' stills (see sample HERE.) Another issue is that the first Blu-ray is dual-layered and the three episodes have a high bitrate, but the second Blu-ray is only single-layered and the bitrate is significantly decreased (over 1/3rd) - making it look even weaker. The image is dark, which is probably accurate, but detail appears to be compromised. I have my doubts that it looked this weak when it was broadcast but I admittedly don't know. I mean, you get used to it and it didn't affect my viewing enjoyment but I will just state that I was surprised as the inferior quality.

On their Blu-ray, Acorn Media offer the option of a DTS Dolby 5.1 surround track of a linear PCM stereo choice - both only 16-bit, in the original English language. It is fairly unremarkable with a theme credited to Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (Mary Magdalene, Tom of Finland) supporting the series well always keeping a consistent tension surfacing throughout. Acorn Media offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Acorn Media Blu-ray has 'Picture Galleries' for each of the five parts with a dozen or so images in a slideshow fashion. They look great (HERE) - much better than the features.

Chernobyl is excellent entertainment and we may compare this release to the US coming out in October. Perhaps it will look the same. Regardless we strongly recommend seeing it.

Gary Tooze