Soundbars are a great way to enhance your movie-watching experience when you don't have space for a full home theater setup. You can get great surround sound reproduction from soundbars that will give you an immersive movie-watching experience. However, not all soundbars are equal. While some are only capable of recreating stereo content, many have Dolby Atmos support that can help create an immersive experience, while others combine object-based audio format support with an arsenal of discrete speakers to envelope you, whether you're watching from a dedicated home theater room or the comfort of your bed. There's a soundbar that suits every space to bring the cinema home to you.
We've tested over 225 soundbars, and below are our recommendations for the best soundbars for movies. See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best budget soundbars.
Quick Look
Our recommendations are built upon our thorough testing and rigorous reviews. Every soundbar we evaluate goes through multiple testing stages with different teams to ensure accurate, authentic results. No cherry-picked units or data.
Curious how we've tested over 200 soundbars (and counting)? Look at our How We Test Soundbars article for a behind-the-scenes look at our lab and process.
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Best Soundbar For Movies
Movies8.4Stereo Frequency Response8.5Stereo Dynamics8.7Surround 5.18.2Height (Atmos)6.8Low-Frequency Extension27.5 HzSee all our test resultsChannels11.1.4The top soundbar for movies we've tested is the Samsung HW-Q990F. This flagship 11.1.4 model improves on the winning formula of the last generation Samsung HW-Q990; the newer HW-Q990F has a redesigned sealed subwoofer that doesn't rattle as much as the previous generation, but the overall setup has similar tuning and features. In addition to the bar and subwoofer, the model includes two satellite speakers to spread a clear representation of the source audio in the surround. Plus, the setup can get loud enough to fill your room without too much compression to maintain the dynamics of the movie's mix.
This bar supports Dolby Atmos with a myriad of correction tools to help tweak the sound to suit your space, like Adaptive Sound, room correction, and a graphic EQ. It also works with Eclipsa Audio, Google, and Samsung's open-source spatial audio format meant to compete with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, though there's a limited catalogue at the moment. It has HDMI 2.1 features and bandwidth, enabling passthrough of dynamic HDR metadata (Dolby Vision and HDR 10+), making it great as a device hub for a Blu-ray player and current-gen console.
If you've got extra space in your home, the Nakamichi DRAGON is a very large 11.4.6 soundbar that gets louder than the Samsung with ample thumpy bass. The Nakamichi boasts a slightly wider stereo soundstage and a bit better surround performance than the Samsung. However, between the bar's imposing size that can block out the bottom of your TV on a lower-profile stand, and its slightly less-even tuning, the Nakamichi isn't as practical for most homes. While it's a great alternative for your home cinema, it's also considerably pricier than the Samsung, while not exactly proving to be objectively better across the board.
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Best Mid-Range Soundbar For Movies
Movies8.2Stereo Frequency Response8.1Stereo Dynamics8.3Surround 5.18.4Height (Atmos)6.5Low-Frequency Extension32.2 HzSee all our test resultsChannels9.1.4The Samsung HW-Q930D is a more affordable alternative that's also great for watching movies. Released in 2024 and exclusive to Best Buy, this premium soundbar offers a stand-out performance with multi-channel content like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, both of which you're likely to come across on streaming platforms and Blu-rays. Though it comes with two fewer surround channels than the Samsung HW-Q990F, this soundbar still provides a clear and real feel with sound effects thanks to its two discrete satellite speakers. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, and its sub brings plenty of rumble in action-packed scenes.
This soundbar doesn't get quite as loud as its high-end relative, and there's more compression in the treble when you push it to max volume. Still, you may find it offers better value since it has many of the same sound enhancement tools for less. For example, the room correction feature automatically optimizes the sound based on your room's unique acoustics. If you prefer to manually adjust the bar's sound, a graphic EQ and presets are also on hand. Overall, this versatile setup is a great way to watch movies and so much more. The brand also released the updated Samsung HW-Q930F in 2025. We haven't reviewed it yet, but you can probably expect similar performance if you manage to find the newer generation at a lower price than the HW-Q930D.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Soundbar For Movies
Movies7.9Stereo Frequency Response7.8Stereo Dynamics8.6Surround 5.17.0Height (Atmos)6.5Low-Frequency Extension33.2 HzSee all our test resultsChannels7.1.4The TCL Q85H outperforms its lower mid-range price point. This 2024 soundbar has a 7.1.4 configuration in an attractive and well-built design. Complete with surrounds, a subwoofer, and up-firing drivers, it provides a full and warm sound with a good amount of punch in the bass range. While its surround sound frequency response isn't as even (by default) as the Samsung HW-Q930D's surround tuning, the TCL keeps up in terms of output loudness and dynamics. You can also play around with the sound enhancements like treble and the EQ presets to adjust the TCL's surround tuning, though it's still pared back compared to the Samsung's graphic equalizer.
The TCL's audio format support is fantastic: you can use Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-X, Dolby Atmos, and more, all without downmixing. Thanks to its HDMI In, the soundbar also supports video passthrough, so you can use it as an entertainment hub if your TV's HDMI ports are less accessible (due to a wall mount, for instance). However, if you don't have the room for satellites, the 2024-release Samsung HW-Q800F is a great alternative that consists of the bar and sub-only. Despite being only a 5.1.2 setup, it sounds a little more balanced out of the box than the TCL and includes more in-depth EQ, but its Dolby Atmos and surround performance isn't as impressive. While prices fluctuate, the Samsung also usually costs more than the TCL, so you're not getting quite as much value for your money.
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Best Budget Soundbar For Movies
Movies7.6Stereo Frequency Response8.4Stereo Dynamics8.3Surround 5.16.9Height (Atmos)5.1Low-Frequency Extension26.7 HzSee all our test resultsChannels5.1The best budget soundbar we've tested for movies is the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus with Sub + Speakers. It's a 5.1. configuration with satellite speakers and a sub for an affordable price, that often gets even more affordable on sale. While its sound enhancement features are a little pared-down compared to other bars, like the Samsung HW-Q930D, the Amazon does the basics well. The default frequency response is very balanced, with plenty of low-end punch that doesn't interfere with mid-range dialogue clarity. It also offers solid dynamics performance, as well as Atmos compatibility, although it must downmix vertical audio channels.
Of course, there are other compromises to bring the bar down to this price point. There's no HDMI In port, so you can't use the bar as a hub between a console and display, for example. When it comes to wireless connectivity, you're also limited to just Bluetooth. Still, it offers a low-latency, no-nonsense package at a low price point, which is hard to come by. If you're looking for a model with up-firing drivers that can better render Atmos content, consider the Hisense AX5125H. This 5.1.2 bar offers HDMI passthrough capabilities, but its default sound isn't as balanced. Plus, it can be difficult to find it in stock at major retailers.
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Best Soundbar For Soundstage In Movies
Movies7.9Stereo Frequency Response8.1Stereo Dynamics7.7Surround 5.18.0Height (Atmos)6.9Low-Frequency Extension32.7 HzSee all our test resultsChannels4.1.4Your local movie theater doesn't use a soundbar, so if you're looking to replicate the movie-going experience in the comfort of your home, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module approximates the big soundstage of the cinema with discrete speakers. It doesn't look like a conventional soundbar. Instead, it uses separate left and right stereo speakers that sit on either side of the TV with a small wireless receiver control box, two satellites, and a subwoofer, so you'll need room on either side of your TV. The kit is able to create a wide soundstage, in part because the L/R speakers are ideally already placed on either side of the screen, rather than a standard soundbar, which is rarely longer than your TV.
Each speaker has up-firing drivers for object-based audio formats like Dolby Atmos, which yields the illusion of height while objects track well as they move in the surround space. The kit includes a few presets to enhance the sound, like Sound Field Optimization and 'Voice' and 'Night' modes, in addition to a room calibration feature. That said, the lack of a discrete center speaker means the Sony creates a phantom center channel, which produces speech that's less clear than the Samsung HW-Q990D. For dialogue-heavy genres like dramas, the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra may prove a more flexible choice than the Sony due to its discrete center channel. Like the Sony, it can create a big soundstage, although it's not quite as expansive, but the upside is better dialogue clarity in the center channel. However, the Sony still offers greater audio format support and wired connectivity.
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Best Small Soundbar For Movies
Movies7.2Stereo Frequency Response7.4Stereo Dynamics7.1Surround 5.15.9Height (Atmos)5.7Low-Frequency Extension50.4 HzSee all our test resultsChannels5.0If your setup has limited space, a small soundbar like the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a great option. At under 26 inches in width, this compact soundbar fits easily into your living room, and despite its small size, it packs a punch with your favorite movies. The bar uses psychoacoustic principles to make its soundstage seem wider than the bar itself, so sound effects seem to stretch to the space around your couch. With Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital support, you can enjoy movies from different sources, including streaming platforms and Blu-ray discs.
Like the standalone Sonos Arc Ultra, this bar has a room correction feature called TruePlay that adjusts the bar's output to meet the unique acoustics of your space. Given its smaller size, though, it's not much of a surprise that it doesn't get quite as loud as the Arc Ultra, and its Atmos performance isn't quite as impressive since it can't mimic as much height in the soundstage. Still, it's a great choice for its size, and you can always upgrade it to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers if you want to improve its performance.
Notable Mentions
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Samsung HW-Q990D:
The Samsung HW-Q990D is the previous generation version of our top pick, the Samsung HW-Q990F, and it's still a great soundbar for a bit less cash. If you don't care about Eclipsa Audio, this 11.1.4 bar provides plenty of sound enhancement features like EQ and Adaptive Sound. Both bars' subwoofer design and sound is slightly different, and more a matter of preference than performance.
See our review -
JBL Bar 9.1:
The JBL Bar 9.1 is a 5.1.4 setup with a room correction feature and two unique, detachable, truly wireless satellites you can place anywhere in your room. However, its sound profile isn't as well-balanced out of the box, and its soundstage performance isn't as impressive as the Samsung HW-Q990F.
See our review - Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX: The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX is a solid choice for listeners who want a standalone soundbar with a good movie performance. That said, its large, bulky design isn't ideal if you don't have a lot of space, especially compared to standalone models like the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). See our review
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LG S90TR:
The LG S90TR is a solid mid-range 7.1.3 soundbar with a great sound that retains dynamics. While it doesn't have very impressive Dolby Atmos height and a slightly less balanced surround sound compared to the Samsung HW-Q930D, it still supplies you with a rumbling low-end for action scenes and a clear treble region.
See our review -
LG S95AR:
The LG S95AR is a top-of-the-line soundbar with 9.1.5 configuration complete with satellites and a sub. It has a balanced sound and plenty of audio format connectivity, but the Samsung HW-Q990F has a slight edge in customizability and connectivity options.
See our review -
Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC:
The Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2 eARC is a unique 9.2.4 soundbar with two subwoofers and four satellites, making it ideal for those with large living spaces. However, its default sound isn't quite as balanced as the Samsung HW-Q990F, and it lacks a room correction feature.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 24, 2025:
We've replaced the Hisense AX5125H with the Amazon Fire TV Plus Soundbar with Sub + Speakers, as the Hisense is becoming hard to find in stock, and the Amazon offers some key sound upgrades. Otherwise, our picks remain unchanged.
Aug 12, 2025:
We've updated the article's picks to reflect more recent and readily available products. Notably, we switched the Samsung HW-Q990D to the Samsung HW-Q990F as our top pick, and the LG S95TR to the LG S95AR in the Notable Mentions due to its improved performance over the previous gen.
Apr 14, 2025:
This article's picks have been updated to reflect availability and price fluctuations in concert with performance. The TCL Q85H has been added as the lower mid-range pick. The Nakamichi DRAGON was added as an alternative to the Samsung HW-Q990D, and the Samsung HW-Q800D is now an alternative to the TCL. The LG S90TR was moved to the Notable Mentions.
Jan 14, 2025:
This article has been refreshed, and the Samsung HW-Q930D and Hisense AX512H have been added to the recommendations. The Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc Ultra and Sonos Arc Ultra are also mentioned in the article. The Nakamichi DRAGON has been added to the Notable Mentions.
Sep 18, 2024: This article has been updated to add the LG S90TR as the mid-range pick and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module as the soundstage pick. The Samsung HW-Q800D and Vizio M Series M51ax-J6 are acknowledged in the text, and the LG S95TR has been added to the Notable Mentions.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best soundbars for movies for most people to buy. We factor in the price (a cheaper soundbar wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no soundbars that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you want to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our soundbar reviews, sorted by their movie performance. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. No soundbar is perfect. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.