First, a quick technical primer. Most films are shot using a sensor that captures a taller image than what ends up in theaters. The director and cinematographer then decide on a final "aspect ratio" (like 2.39:1) and essentially crop the top and bottom off the raw footage.

An Open Matte version removes that cropping. It "opens" the matte (the black bars), revealing the full, uncropped height of the camera’s original capture.

For Blade Runner 2049, the standard 4K Blu-ray is 2.39:1. The Open Matte version—sourced from certain international streaming services, TV broadcasts, and early digital releases—presents the film in 1.78:1 (or 16:9) , filling your entire TV screen.

To date, Warner Bros. has not released an official 4K Blu-ray of the Open Matte version. The 4K disc is strictly 2.39:1.

The circulating "Open Matte 4K" is a hybrid beast:

This is the philosophical heart of the issue.

Roger Deakins has publicly stated that he composes for 2.39:1. He shot the film with that crop in mind, protecting the frame edges for that ratio. The Open Matte version, in his view, is simply "more information"—not intended to be seen.

Conversely, fans of the Open Matte version argue that because Blade Runner 2049 was shot digitally on the Arri Alexa XT Studio (which records a native 1.85:1 or 1.78:1 frame), the "extra" image is not a mistake. They argue that the 1.90:1 IMAX screenings looked phenomenal, and the broadcast master offers a "director’s negative" experience—raw, unfiltered, and massive.