Top 10 Best Headphones For Watching Movies

There are hundreds of options to choose from when looking for headphones for movies. This list will narrow down the best choices.

Key Takeaways

  • Comfortable padding, noise cancellation, and good sound quality are key for movie headphones.
  • The Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best overall headphones for watching movies.
  • I highly recommend bluetooth for movie headphones. It removes the hassle of dealing with wires.
  • You can get good audio quality at any price point, make sure you know what your budget is.

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There are hundreds of options to choose from when looking for headphones for movies. This list will narrow down the best choices.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best movie headphones overall. For more affordable options, check out the OneOdio A11 or Anker Soundcore Q45. The best wired or wireless headphones for movies combine excellent sound quality with comfort and functional design.

I’ve worked as a composer and producer for film and game music, so I have a lot of experience testing headphones for movies. In this guide I dig into the specs and details to help you pick the best option.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Best Headphones for Watching Movies

Sony WH-1000XM4 - Best Overall Headphones for Watching Movies

Sony WH-1000XM4
Sony WH-1000XM4

If you are looking for the absolute best headphones for movies, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is a fantastic choice. With incredible audio quality, solid build construction, and a comfortable design, these headphones will fully immerse you in the watching experience.

Construction and Design

These headphones just feel high-quality from the moment you take them out of the box. They are made with high-end materials and are very solid and durable.

The padding around the ears and headband is ample, but not overdone, so you get a very comfortable fit.

The 30-hour battery life is fantastic and ensures your headphones won’t die in the middle of a movie.

Sound Quality

The sound quality on these headphones is simply outstanding. The bass is present without being overpowering and the audio quality is crystal-clear across the entire range.

Watching a movie with these wireless headphones, you’ll probably notice sounds you never heard before, it’s that clear and crisp.

These headphones also have very impressive noise cancelling. This system is one of the best in the industry and does an incredible job of filtering out background noise so you can focus on your movie.

Pros

  • The Sony WH-1000XM4 has fantastic sound quality.
  • The industry-leading noise cancellation lets you escape the noise around you.
  • These wireless headphones have an awesome 30-hour battery life.

Cons

  • These premium wireless headphones have a premium price tag.
  • These come in black or silver, so you don’t get many options for customizing the style.

OneOdio A11 - Best Budget Movie Headphones

OneOdio A11
OneOdio A11

OneOdio has made a name for themselves by selling high-performing headphones at incredibly low prices. The OneOdio A11 wireless headphones are no exception. At under $20, these hit an amazing price point but still manage to offer good construction and relatively high quality audio.

Construction and Design

At this price, you won’t see premium materials or high-end construction, but these headphones don’t feel overly cheap by any means. The pivots feel secure and the padding is comfortable and well-placed.

Sound Quality

The sound quality can’t compete with top-of-the-line models, but it’s impressive for the price. 40mm coil drivers deliver powerful bass and lots of detail.

The sound is a bit muddled in the mids, and the bass can be overwhelming at times, but that’s to be expected in headphones this inexpensive.

Pros

  • Ultra-affordable at under $20
  • Excellent performance for the price
  • Good built-in controls and connectivity

Cons

  • Round ear cup design might not be comfortable for some ear and head shapes
  • Bass-heavy sound won’t appeal to some people

Anker Soundcore Q45 - Best Mid-Range Movie Headphones

Anker Soundcore Q45
Anker Soundcore Q45

Coming in at a little over $100, the Anker Soundcore Q45 bluetooth headphones offer fantastic value with noise-cancelling, long battery life, and good audio quality.

Construction and Design

These headphones use high-quality materials and are durable and well-built. This helps ensure your investment will last a long time.

The folding design allows these surround sound headphones to collapse into a small package. If you are traveling or just storing them while not in use, this is a great way to minimize the space they take up.

Sound Quality

The Anker Soundcore Q45 wireless headphones deliver a true surround sound experience. With a wide soundstage, these feel very present and deliver every detail of the sound.

Pros

  • Fantastic noise cancellation
  • Long battery life
  • Excellent surround sound system and audio quality

Cons

  • You can get better sound quality from wired headphones

Bose QuietComfort 45 - Best High-End Movie Headphones

Bose QuietComfort 45
Bose QuietComfort 45

Bose is a powerhouse brand in the audio industry, and for good reason. They build some of the best products on the market. From speakers to earbuds to studio equipment, they have a lot of experience building high-quality audio products.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 is a premium headphone set from Bose that will level-up your experience when watching movies.

Construction and Design

These high-end bluetooth headphones have an understated, stylish design that speaks to their quality without any bells and whistles. I love the clean, minimalist styling of these headphones.

The padding is comfortable and the 24-hour battery life is excellent.

Sound Quality

The surround sound experience of these headphones is incredible. During movies it will sound and feel like you’re right there in the middle of the action.

The sound profile of the Bose QuietComfort 45 is professionally tuned to deliver the absolute best listening experience possible.

Pros

  • Outstanding sound quality
  • Durable, premium build with solid hinges
  • Excellent bluetooth range and battery life

Cons

  • These headphones are expensive at over $300
  • You don’t have many color choices

Beats Studio3 Headphones- Best Bluetooth Headphones for Movies

Beats Studio3 Headphones
Beats Studio3 Headphones

If you’re looking for the best headphones for watching movies without having to be tethered by a wire, the Beats Studio3 Headphones are a fantastic option to consider. These bluetooth headphones are stylish, comfortable, and sound amazing.

Construction and Design

Beats is one of the most popular brands of headphones, and for good reason. The Studio3 looks amazing right out of the box with crisp styling and premium-feeling materials. There is also a fantastic range of colors to choose from.

Sound Quality

Beats headphones are known for their impressive, deep bass, and it really shines in the Studio3. If you like cranking up the volume until you can feel the rumbly bass, you’ll love these headphones. It adds a level of immersion and presence when watching movies with these.

Pros

  • Deep, rumbly bass
  • Excellent styling
  • Premium build quality

Cons

  • Sound is a bit commercial with amplified lows and highs
  • More expensive than comparable options

Bose Sport Earbuds - Best Earbuds for Watching Movies

Bose Sport Earbuds
Bose Sport Earbuds

You typically don’t think of using earbuds for watching movies, but good-quality earbuds can still make for a great immersive experience. The Bose Sport Earbuds offer excellent sound quality in a compact true-wireless earbud package.

If you like to watch movies while exercising or traveling, these wireless earbuds are a fantastic choice.

Construction and Design

These water-resistant earbuds are designed to fit securely in your ear. Unlike other designs like AirPods, these are incredibly compact and low profile in your ear, so they are much less obtrusive.

The earbuds come in a protective carrying case with a battery bank for keeping them charged. You get 5 hours of playtime on a full charge. While this is much less than the full-sized wireless headphones on this list, it’s still enough to get through a film without trouble.

Sound Quality

Earbuds are notorious for having a tinny, unrealistic sound, but these earbuds stand out from the crowd. They sound very clear and present, and while the bass may not be as full as you get from larger drivers in headphones, it is impressive for such small headphones.

Pros

  • Extremely compact size
  • Secure fit for workouts or listening on the move
  • Great sound quality for earbuds.

Cons

  • Short battery life
  • Expensive for something you can easily lose

Sennheiser RS 192 RF - Best Home Theater Headphones for Movies

Sennheiser RS 192 RF
Sennheiser RS 192 RF

If you’re looking for the best headphones for watching movies in your home theater, the Sennheiser RS 192 RF is an all-in-one personal audio system that will immerse you in your film.

Construction and Design

The Sennheiser RS 192 RF is a totally unique system in that it doesn’t rely on bluetooth or a wired connection to the headphones. Instead, these wireless headphones come with a dedicated docking station that plugs into your TV audio system. The dock then sends signals wirelessly to the headphones.

This setup is extremely versatile for home use because it can support both digital and analog audio inputs. The dock also has controls for adjusting the audio and switching between surround sound listening modes.

The headphones themselves are well-built and comfortable. Uber-plush ear pads make these comfortable for long listening periods, and the 16-hour battery life ensures these headphones are ready for movie marathons.

Sound Quality

The sound quality of these headphones is impressive. They are clear through the highs, mids, and lows and are very enjoyable when watching a movie. If you are a true audiophile, you may want to look at something like the Sony WH-1000XM4, but most people will be very happy with these.

While there is no noise cancellation, the closed-back design and ample padding do a great job at sealing out background noise.

Pros

  • Good sound quality
  • Docking station provides easy charging and adjustments
  • Fantastic controls on the headphones

Cons

  • More complicated to set up with the docking station
  • Headphones can’t be used with other devices
  • No noise canceling

Audio Technica - Best Wired Headphones for Movies

Audio Technica
Audio Technica

Audio Technica builds premium quality products for studios and professional musicians. The Audio Technica ATH-M30x are their lower-mid range studio monitor headphones. You can expect the absolute best sound detail and clarity from these headphones designed for professional studio work.

Construction and Design

As these headphones are designed for studio work, you won’t find a big color selection or fancy trim features. They come in black, black, or black. Though the design is function-first, they still are quite good-looking.

The build quality is impressive, with solid materials and sturdy hinges. I love the folding design that allows these to become quite compact when not in use.

Sound Quality

As you’d expect from studio monitor headphones, these excel at delivering every detail in crisp perfection to your ear. Unlike many of the more commercial headphones on this list, these have a well-balanced response throughout the range for a crystal clear and realistic listening experience.

During movies, it will feel like you are right there in the middle of the action.

Pros

  • Superb sound clarity and definition
  • Solid build quality
  • Incredible value for the cost
  • Wired design means better audio and no worries about battery life

Cons

  • No noise cancellation

Edifier W820NB - Best Headphones for Movies on Airplanes

Edifier W820NB
Edifier W820NB

A good pair of headphones can make all the difference on a long flight. When you’re watching movies on a plane, you don’t want to be stuck with the cheap disposable headphones they give you.

The Edifier W820NB is the perfect set of headphones to get you through a long flight and help you enjoy watching movies like you’re at home.

Construction and Design

Edifier is known for making some of the best small speaker systems in the business. That build quality and attention to detail carries over to these headphones. These headphones feel well-built and have an understated styling that I really like. You also have a range of colors to choose from so you can find something that fits your personal style.

One key feature is that these headphones can work either wireless or with a traditional cable. This is great because it means you can plug them into the on-flight screens to watch movies on the airplane.

Sound Quality

For $70 headphones, the sound is quite impressive. While you won’t get the same level of detail as higher-end professional headphones, these are very enjoyable to listen to. You really get an immersive surround sound experience when watching movies with these headphones.

They also have great noise cancelling, which is a huge benefit while flying. You can tune out the background noise and focus on your film.

Pros

  • Excellent noise cancelling
  • Good value for your money
  • Great sound detail for the price

Cons

  • Can only connect to one device at a time

JBL Tune 760 NC - Most Comfortable Folding Bluetooth Headphones

JBL Tune 760 NC
JBL Tune 760 NC

JBL is one of the most popular audio brands right now and is especially known for their fantastic bluetooth speakers. They also make some excellent headphones at a variety of price points.

The JBL Tune 760 NC is a mid-range set of headphones with a solid design and outstanding comfort.

Construction and Design

These wireless headphones feel well-built and the materials are all high-quality. Nothing feels plasticky or cheap. The folding hinge design makes these easy to pack down for travel or storage.

The design of these headphones is nothing unique, but I’ve found it to be wonderfully comfortable for wearing long periods at a time. During 15-hour international flights, I have no problem wearing these straight through.

Sound Quality

The audio from these headphones is clear, though the tuning is a bit commercial. It definitely has noticeably amplified highs and lows. While many people like the amped-up quality this produces, it’s not for everyone and can lose some detail in the mids.

Pros

  • Super comfortable for long periods of time
  • Long battery life
  • Good folding design

Cons

  • The sound is a bit commercial

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