Kung Fu Panda 2 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		5.0

Kung Fu Panda 2 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"Anything is possible when you have inner peace."

Reviewed by Justin Dekker September 15, 2025

Continuing the story of an unlikely hero, DreamWorks' 'Kung Fu Panda 2' arrives on 4K UHD disk courtesy of Universal. Featuring the considerable voice talents of Jack Black ('Be Kind Rewind') as the newly minted Dragon Warrior, Po, he's aided in his quest to bring peace and security to the land by five other kung fu masters brought to life by Angelina Jolie ('Lara Croft: Tomb Raider') and Michelle Yeoh ('Everything Everywhere All at Once'), among others. The second installment in the franchise, the 4K UHD disc features a lovely 2160p presentation alongside an impressive Dolby Atmos track. A Blu-ray disc, an embossed slipcover, and a Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere are also included.

For an appreciation of Kung Fu Panda 2, please follow this link.

Kung Fu Panda 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

My colleague, Martin Liebman, had nothing but praise for the original Blu-ray release from 2011. That praise was certainly justified at the time, and his comments remain accurate despite the passage of time. The 1080p presentation still looks just as great as it ever did. As I put in the disc, I was curious to see just how much the image could be improved. After watching the film a few times (it is something of a favorite), improvements are present but are more modest or subtle in nature. Blacks are slightly deeper with more pleasing gradations in darkened or shadowy areas. This also results in improved depth and dimensionality. Primaries, particularly reds (which are frequently on display), present with an increased pop, and fire effects are more dazzling. Thanks to the plot, they are often on display. Textures of fur, fabric, wood, and stone present with incredible tactile realism. Wood and iron set elements reveal age and wear. I did not detect any defects or issues. The improvements on display here may not be substantial, but they do result in this being the most visually appealing presentation of the film.

Please note that screenshots are sourced form the included 1080p disc.

Kung Fu Panda 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Kung Fu Panda 2's Dolby Atmos track is a bit of a surprise. Considering the occasionally over-the-top and ridiculous nature of the film, it would have been fair to anticipate an extremely boisterous audio accompaniment. In the tradition of the Blu-ray's excellent track, the Dolby Atmos track focuses on clarity, sound separation, and immersion rather than raucousness. Which isn't to say it can't be more riotous when it needs to be, but it endeavors to be more cinematic instead of cartoonish. The track is a relentlessly busy one, with objects and characters frequently running, falling, and flying through the sound field. Directionality never fails to impress with flawless use of surrounds and heights. Immersion is nearly constant. It's often subtle, but even in quieter moments, ambient sounds and softer background scoring position the viewer in the midst of every scene. Music reproduction is precise, with delicate strings, bright horns, crisp percussion, and booming drums. Bass is deep, offering convincing depth to explosions, kung fu action, and music alike. Explosions and fireworks are particularly satisfying, with their thumping initial bursts and lifelike echoes and reverberations. Dialogue is clear, clean, and center-focused. It's an excellent track.

Kung Fu Panda 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are a fair number of on-disc extras included on the 4K UHD disc, but it's a trimmed-down assortment of what was found on the 2011 Blu-ray. It's a somewhat frustrating decision to be sure, for which a half-point is deducted. The supplements found on the new 4K UHD disc are as follows.

• Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters

• Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness

• Kickin' It with the Cast

• Deleted Scenes

• Panda Stories

• Filmmakers' Commentary

You may read about these offerings by following this link. There you'll also find the larger list of extras with multiple items only housed on the included Blu-ray disc.

Kung Fu Panda 2 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Kung Fu Panda 2 is perhaps the strongest entry in the series to date, with a forthcoming fifth installment that is due out sometime in 2027. Whether that chapter will unseat this one in that regard remains to be seen. Hitting a slightly more serious tone than the original, Kung Fu Panda 2 nevertheless finds natural opportunities to work in numerous instances of its trademark humor and sight gags, while simultaneously being more heartfelt, and managing to effectively toe the line between sincere and sappy. The voice cast is pitch-perfect, and the 2160p presentation and Dolby Atmos track provide subtle but noticeable improvements. While not one of the more revelatory upgrades, fans will no doubt wish to add Kung Fu Panda 2 4K to their libraries. Very highly recommended.