You know that feeling when a movie ends and you realize you haven't taken a full breath in about ninety minutes? That’s Good Time. It’s a panic attack on celluloid. Directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, this 2017 neon-soaked nightmare cemented Robert Pattinson as one of the best actors of his generation, long before he put on the cape and cowl. But here’s the thing: watching it on a streaming service just doesn't hit the same way. If you really want to experience the grime of Queens and the pulsating synth score by Oneohtrix Point Never, you need the Good Time Blu ray on your shelf.
Physical media is making a massive comeback, and for good reason. Bitrate matters. When you stream a movie like this, the dark, shadow-heavy cinematography by Sean Price Williams often turns into a blocky, pixelated mess. The blacks look grey. The neon pinks lose their punch. On the disc, though? It’s a different world.
Why the Good Time Blu Ray Beats Streaming Every Single Time
Let’s be real. Convenience is great, but it’s the enemy of quality. Most people watching movies on Netflix or Max don't realize they're seeing a compressed version of the director's vision.
The Safdie brothers shoot on 35mm film. That’s important. Film has texture. It has grain. In Good Time, that grain is part of the storytelling—it makes the whole experience feel dirty, tactile, and dangerously close. The Good Time Blu ray preserves that organic film grain in a way that 4K streaming simply can't handle without smearing the image. Honestly, if you’re a cinephile, seeing the fine details of Pattinson’s bleached hair or the sweat beads on Benny Safdie’s forehead is why you buy the disc.
Then there’s the audio.
Oneohtrix Point Never (Daniel Lopatin) won the Soundtrack Award at Cannes for this film. The score is a character itself. It’s loud, intrusive, and hypnotic. On the Blu-ray, you get a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It’s uncompressed. When those synthesizers kick in during the opening credits, your subwoofers will actually do their job. Streaming audio is often thin; it lacks the "oomph" required for a movie this sonically aggressive.
The A24 Collector Factor
A24 fans are a different breed. We like our shelves looking good. Lionsgate handled the initial home video release for this title, and while it isn't one of those massive, $60 "Special Edition" books that A24 sells directly on their site, it’s a rock-solid release.
It’s becoming harder to find at a decent price, too.
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Have you noticed how movies are just... vanishing? Digital licenses expire. Servers go down. A film like Good Time might be on Paramount+ one month and gone the next. Owning the Good Time Blu ray means you aren't at the mercy of a CEO’s tax write-off strategy. You own the data.
Breaking Down the Special Features (What You’re Actually Getting)
Most people skip the extras. Don't do that here.
The Safdie brothers are chaotic, brilliant filmmakers who talk about their process with a level of energy that’s honestly exhausting to watch. The commentary track on the disc is a masterclass in independent filmmaking. They talk about "street casting"—finding real people on the streets of New York to play pivotal roles. This isn't just "behind-the-scenes" fluff; it’s a breakdown of how they managed to shoot a high-octane heist movie in the middle of a functioning city without the cops shutting them down every five minutes.
- The Making of Good Time: A featurette that actually dives into the grit.
- Audio Commentary: Featuring the Safdies, producer Sebastian Bear-McClard, and others.
- Music Video: "The Pure and the Damned" featuring Iggy Pop. It’s haunting.
The Iggy Pop track at the end of the film is a gut-punch. Seeing the music video on the disc, directed by the Safdies themselves, adds a whole other layer to the tragedy of Connie Nikas.
Robert Pattinson and the Performance of a Lifetime
We have to talk about Connie.
Before this, a lot of people still saw Pattinson as the Twilight guy. Good Time changed that overnight. As Connie Nikas, a low-level crook trying to get his brother out of jail after a botched bank robbery, Pattinson is a frantic, manipulative force of nature.
Watching this performance on the Good Time Blu ray allows you to appreciate the subtle work he’s doing. The movie uses a lot of extreme close-ups. Like, really close. The camera is often inches from his face. On a high-quality disc, you see every flicker of desperation in his eyes. It’s an ugly role, but Pattinson makes him magnetic. You almost want him to succeed, even though he’s a terrible person who ruins every life he touches over the course of one night.
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It’s Not Just About the Lead
Benny Safdie’s performance as Nick, Connie’s brother who has an intellectual disability, is incredible. It was a risky role. In the hands of a lesser director or actor, it could have felt exploitative or "award-baity." Instead, it feels raw and honest. The chemistry between the two brothers is what grounds the movie. Without that emotional core, the neon lights and the synth music would just be style over substance.
Technical Specs for the Nerds
For those who care about the numbers: the transfer is 1080p High Definition with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio.
While some fans are holding out for a 4K UHD release, it hasn't happened yet in the US market. There have been rumors of a boutique label like Criterion or Vinegar Syndrome picking it up for a 4K scan, but until then, the standard Blu-ray is the definitive way to watch it. The color timing is intentionally harsh. You’ll see a lot of deep reds, sickly greens, and police-light blues.
If you have an OLED TV, this disc is a great way to test your black levels. The scenes in the Adventureland amusement park at night are a visual feast.
Why You Should Care About Physical Media in 2026
The world has changed. Digital "ownership" is a lie. If you "buy" a movie on a digital storefront, you’re actually just buying a long-term rental that can be revoked at any time.
The Good Time Blu ray is a physical object. It’s a piece of film history.
Beyond the technical superiority, there’s the ritual. Taking the disc out of the case, putting it in the player, and letting the menu music loop while you dim the lights—it’s an intentional way to watch a movie. Good Time isn't a "background" movie. You can't scroll on your phone while watching this. If you look away for a second, you’ll miss a crucial beat in Connie’s increasingly insane plan.
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Common Misconceptions
People think Blu-rays are dead. They aren't. Sales are actually stabilizing among enthusiasts.
Another misconception is that 4K streaming is "better" than 1080p Blu-ray. It’s not. A standard Blu-ray has a much higher bit rate than a 4K stream on Netflix. This means less compression, more "depth" to the image, and significantly better sound. If you have a decent soundbar or a surround sound setup, the difference is night and day.
How to Get Your Hands on a Copy
Finding a brand-new copy of the Good Time Blu ray is getting trickier as stock fluctuates.
- Check Boutique Shops: Sites like Orbit DVD, DiabolikDVD, or Grindhouse Video often carry A24 titles and ship them with care (no cracked cases).
- Used Markets: Check eBay or local record stores. Sometimes you can find the slipcover version, which is highly sought after by collectors.
- Big Box Stores: Amazon still carries it intermittently, but the packaging can be hit or miss.
If you see it for under fifteen bucks, grab it. It's a steal for a movie of this caliber.
Practical Steps for the Best Viewing Experience
If you’ve just picked up the disc or you’re planning to rewatch it, here is how to maximize the chaos:
- Turn off "Motion Smoothing": This is the "Soap Opera Effect." If your TV has this on, the film grain will look weird and the movement will feel fake. Turn it off to keep that cinematic 24fps look.
- Kill the Lights: This movie takes place almost entirely at night. Any glare on your screen will ruin the immersion.
- Crank the Volume: Don't be polite to your neighbors for this one. The score needs to be felt in your chest.
- Watch the Credits: The ending of this movie is one of the most emotional "cooldowns" in recent cinema. Let the Iggy Pop song play all the way through. It gives you time to process the adrenaline dump you just experienced.
Investing in physical media like the Good Time Blu ray ensures that as the streaming landscape continues to fracture and disappear, you’ll always have access to one of the most vital pieces of 21st-century filmmaking. It’s a movie that demands to be owned, not just "accessed." Keep your discs clean, keep your firmware updated, and never trust a digital cloud to hold onto your favorite stories.