Apple Upgrading iTunes Disney Movie Purchases to 4K HDR

Apple today began sending out emails to iTunes and Apple TV customers who have purchased a Disney movie in the past, letting them know that their titles have been upgraded to 4K HDR at no cost.

disneyappletv4k
Several MacRumors readers have received the emails, which come a week after Disney titles in the iTunes Store began showing up as 4K in the United States and Canada.

Many Disney titles are now showing up in the iTunes Store as 4K HDR, including Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars movies. 4K support for Disney movies has been a long awaited feature and it has been notably absent for years following the debut of 4K iTunes content in 2017.

Until recently, Disney movies purchased from the iTunes Store were only available in HD.

Tags: 4K, Disney, iTunes
Related Forum: Mac Apps

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...

Top Rated Comments

21CenturyDigitalBoy Avatar
67 months ago
Nice gesture. Anybody wish they would apply your rental fee to the subsequent purchase if you should choose to purchase after renting??
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GermanSuplex Avatar
67 months ago
Seems to only apply to movies originally purchased in HD. SD copies have been upgraded to HD, but not 4K HDR. Hardly a complaint, though. 1080p looks better than the 480p versions I originally had.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
827538 Avatar
67 months ago
Hoping the same thing happens with the Lord of the Rings 4K remaster.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ryanmcv Avatar
67 months ago

Wait, what? Normally the strategy has been to sell you a DVD, then a Blu-ray, then a 4K version, and on and on. Now they are giving away free upgrades? I wonder if Vudu, Amazon, Google Play, etc. will offer a similar deal for Disney movies? And what about other studios?
If you purchase a movie in HD at iTunes, and the studio later upgrades that movie to 4K on iTunes, you are automatically given the upgraded 4K version for free -- regardless of studio. The only outlier up until now was Disney. Vudu and Google Play have done some free 4K upgrades, but not nearly as comprehensive as iTunes.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmChimera Avatar
67 months ago
Sucks that some of my marvel movies came from Disney instead of iTunes. They’re not upgraded.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
julesme Avatar
67 months ago
Normally the strategy has been to sell you a DVD, then a Blu-ray, then a 4K version, and on and on. If they are giving away free upgrades, I wonder if Vudu, Amazon, Google Play, etc. will offer a similar deal for Disney movies.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)