So I'm baffled here.
Most movies I play will fill the screen just fine.
However, certain movies have black bars all around them.
The movies in question, I've tried multiple versions, multiple release groups, multiple resolutions. Same deal every time, black bars at the sides and the top and bottom. Really don't understand why. Is this something weird happening with Plex? or something else. I'm stumped.
Posted Jul 8, 2023, 4:46 AM UTC
I will assume that you maybe playing them on a none 16:9 screen, in this case the suggestion will be to check the specific media's video stream's display aspect ratio in the Mediainfo, if it says 16:9 then you will need to crop the blackbar out using the app like handbrake. This usually happen only on BDremux file, you could also try the web or encoded version of the same movie and see if the problem still persists.
Thing is, I would understand black bars down the sides, but not over the top too. And I see the same behaviour on a 16:9 screen as I do on a 21:9 screen.
You’re not providing enough info. The media info on the files in question would be helpful. Also is it possible that when you are taking about trying multiple versions of the same file - it is in fact picking and playing the same one each time? Meaning you’ve not removed the first on with the problem/hardcoded aspect ratio bars but just adding others files but plex is still picking the one that has the baked in larger (more data though it is black) images and so all your testing is on the same copy while options grow alongside it unselected?
Definitely not the same files. They were deleted each time.
I'm using radarr, and trying both 1080p and 4k Blu-ray versions. The file sizes were normal for downloads of those respective qualities. Going down the list from a manual search in Radarr and grabbing multiple 1080p blu-ray versions from different release groups, all around 15-20 gig, yielded the same result for all of them.
What movie? I'd be interested in testing to see what I get.
Both Dark Knight movies. Not sure if it's anything to do with it being filmed for IMAX. The IMAX versions I've downloaded do work as expected but they also change aspect ratio constantly, which is by design so it uses the full height of the IMAX screen for action shots and a more traditional aspect ratio otherwise. Which still isn't ideal for watching at home, although better than black bars all around.
Thinking about it, I saw the same behaviour with Interstellar, so I wonder if it's something to do with the way Nolan shoots his movies.
I’ll check them out and see what I get.
The dark knight movies change aspect ratios (internally with black bars) as the movie goes on. I suspect you do not have an issue, but aren’t spot checking completely enough or watching through to see the transition moments.