The 15 Best Dolby Atmos Movies to Watch at Home

The best surround sound movies for your home theater setup

By
Kayla Dube
Kayla Dube headshot
Kayla Dube
Writer and Lifewire Technology Review Board Member
  • J. Everette Light Career Center
Kayla Dube has 4+ years' experience in videography and filmmaking. She frequently works in production with indie film companies.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on June 7, 2023
Audio

If you love surround sound, you probably already know the power of Dolby Atmos. When a film uses this technology, the sound designers can place environmental sounds at different speaker locations, truly immersing you in the movie. If you have just set up a surround sound system, try testing it out with one of the great Dolby Atmos-capable movies below.

01
of 15

Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max title

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron

Director: George Miller

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 2 hours

For one of the best post-apocalyptic movies to date, check out Fury Road. It takes place in a wasteland where water is scarce, and tensions are high. The film is highly stylized and visually breathtaking, and the surround sound integrated into the movie really places you right in the middle of the gritty vehicle Road Wars. With plenty of deep, rich engine noises, explosion blasts, and the intense soundtrack, Mad Max: Fury Road is certain to take you and your speakers for a ride.

02
of 15

Baby Driver

Baby Driver title

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James

Director: Edgar Wright

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour 53 minutes

Directed by Edgar Wright, who also created Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver is a one-of-a-kind movie with sound being its main focus. The film is centered around a getaway driver who loves music, giving the filmmakers plenty of opportunity to play with sound. It's an important piece of the plot itself, and the experience is even better when you can hear it in Dolby Atmos.

03
of 15

Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 title

IMDb Rating: 8/10

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 2 hours 44 minutes

Already a stunning visual piece, the Dolby Atmos technology takes this movie to the next level, transporting you to this lush, futuristic world. You'll hear every sound within the environment, from the seemingly constant rain, to high-tech machinery, to the bustle of the city. Paired with the reverberating, rich soundtrack from Hans Zimmer, you'll be in for an experience you won't forget.

04
of 15

Soul

Soul title

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Genre: Adventure, Comedy

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey

Directors: Pete Doctor, Kemp Powers

Motion Picture Rating: PG

Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

One of the most original Pixar movies to date, the soundtrack for the film won a Golden Globe award, produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The music within the film is separated by two different worlds-- the afterlife, and Earth. This creates a beautiful dynamic of sound, full of both ambience and up-beat tunes.

05
of 15

Gravity

Gravity still shot

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama

Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hour 31 minutes

This movie which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Achievement in Sound Editing and Sound Mixing. It is an iconic work of depth and atmosphere, both visually and in sound design. During this movie you will really be able to feel all the sounds of space, or lack thereof, as the filmmakers realistically convey how sound would act in a vacuum. It is really this minimalism throughout Gravity that makes it an experience unlike any other.

06
of 15

The Martian

The Martian title

IMDb Rating: 8/10

Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Drama

Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristin Wiig

Director: Ridley Scott

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hours 24 minutes

Based on the novel of the same name, The Martian was directed by Ridley Scott, also well known as the creator of Alien. The film follows Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, an astronaut who gets stranded on a mission to Mars. Watching this film with Dolby Atmos allows you to get right within the windy, dust-swept environment of the planet. The beginning of the movie, during the wind storm, is especially powerful. If you want to be fully immersed in space, The Martian is a great choice.

07
of 15

Spiderman: Into The Spider-verse

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse title

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Genre: Action, Adventure

Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfield

Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman

Motion Picture Rating: PG

Running Time: 1 hour 57 minutes

Into the Spider-verse is a Spiderman movie unlike any other. It follows Miles Morales, who gains the powers of Spiderman after getting bit by a spider. The movie explores the different versions of Spiderman, with plenty of action and fun moments. The best part about the movie, though, lies in its unique animated world, full of vibrant colors and somewhere between 2D and 3D. Watching in surround sound only makes the experience that much better, as you take in all the bass-heavy action tracks as the multi-layered sound environments.

08
of 15

Ready Player One

Ready Player One title

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke

Director: Steven Spielberg

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

The premise of this movie focuses on a fully-immersive video game, where players put on a headset and truly feel like they are in the game's world. So, it makes sense the creators of this movie would try to emulate this effect as much as possible for viewers. Dolby Atmos allows this feeling to be actualized, as you experience the noises of a fast-paced race or subtle sounds of the game's world.

09
of 15

The Matrix

The Matrix title

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne

Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 2 hours 16 minutes

One of the most innovative and immersive movies of all time, The Matrix got a 4K release with Dolby Atmos in 2018, putting one of the best cinematic experiences up to today's standards. And it does deliver, with controlled bass you can really feel during tense sequences. You'll especially want to experience the famous shoot-out near the end, placing you directly in the action.

10
of 15

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place title

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Genre: Horror, Drama, Sci-Fi

Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds

Director: John Krasinski

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

You might think this movie wouldn't have much to offer surround-sound wise, since the focus is on a family who must stay quiet or risk being heard by alien-like creatures. However, it's this use of sound in the film that really propels it into an incredibly suspenseful experience. You may find yourself holding your breath once or twice during the close encounters with the movie's creatures, hearing every up-close and claustrophobic sound.

11
of 15

Us

Us title

IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elizabeth Moss

Director: Jordan Peele

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour 56 minutes

Director Jordan Peele, who was also the mind behind the movie Get Out, released his next thought-provoking film Us to great critical acclaim. It follows a family who decide to take a trip to their mother's childhood beach house, yet something deeply strange begins to take place. If you're a fan of horror, but want something a bit different, this is a great movie to pick up. Not least because of its impressive use of Dolby Atmos sound, which really starts to take hold when the doppelganger-versions of the family appear, adding an extra punch to the unfolding action.

12
of 15

Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim still shot

IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Starring: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hours 11 minutes

If you really want to be taken for an intense ride in your home theater, Pacific Rim offers a phenomenal delivery. The film is based around battles between huge, humanoid machines called Jaegers, and monsters originating from the ocean, known as the Kaiju. What ensues is nothing short of enthralling, feeling every clash as you are thrown into dizzying fight scenes.

13
of 15

Roma

Roma still shot

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Genre: Drama

Starring: Yalizta Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Alfonso Cuaron, who also directed Gravity, was a big fan of what Dolby Atmos could do. He believed the technology was actually better suited to more intimate environments, rather than in-your-face blockbusters. He provided some compelling evidence to this theory with Roma, a film where he gave his sound mixers many months to create their sound design. If you want to witness the subtle power Atmos can achieve, watch Roma.

14
of 15

Logan

Logan title

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen

Director: James Mangold

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 2 hours 17 minutes

Logan is a superhero movie unlike most others, following the much older and wearier Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman. This film is mainly a character study, however it is still a Wolverine film, and therefore has plenty of action. The Dolby Atmos usage in this movie spreads sound across all speakers, placing you right in the middle of any scene. The rating seriously on this film.

15
of 15

Deadpool

Deadpool still shot

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller

Director: Tim Miller

Motion Picture Rating: R

Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes

Speaking of unique superhero movies, Deadpool is a great movie to put on to see how far your speakers can go. It's extremely hilarious, but filled with gripping action sequences, and Dolby Atmos takes it to another level entirely. They compliment the movie's distinct visual style, and enhances the fourth-wall breaking elements. Sound effects, such as gun shots, crashes, and lots of explosions, are bolstered up with Atmos. This is a fun movie, but it's most definitely not for kids.

FAQ
  • How do I enable Dolby Atmos on a Samsung TV?

    Press Home on your remote control and go to Settings > Sound > Expert Settings. Select Digital Output Audio Format > Dolby Digital+ or Auto to play Dolby Atmos content from streaming apps. If you hooked up a Dolby Atmos soundbar through an HDMI eARC port, select and turn on HDMI eARC Mode and Dolby Atmos Compatibility.

  • How do I turn on Dolby Atmos on my Fire TV?

    First, make sure you're using a Fire Stick or Fire TV device with Dolby Atmos support and a compatible sound system. Go to Settings > Audio > Surround Sound > Best Available. Play Dolby Atmos content and then choose Options > Audio > Audio output > Dolby Atmos.

  • Where should you place your surround speakers?

    The ideal surround sound placement will depend on your room and whether you're using a 5.1, 7.1, or a 9.1 setup. However, there are a couple of evergreen rules to follow regardless of how many speakers you're using. You should try to have your speakers equidistant from each other with surround speakers placed in the corners around your listening area. You should also try to keep your speakers free of obstructions and away from alcoves, and if you can safely mount them on a wall, even better.

Was this page helpful?