Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		2.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.0

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 31, 2026

Marty Scorsese's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Ellen Burstyn; new program with film editor Marcia Lucas; archival audio commentary with Martin Scorsese and cast members; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

It is very easy to tell exactly how good Marty Scorsese’s film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is. Its biggest strength is supposed to be its unfiltered realism. All one has to do is think whether what Ellen Burstyn’s character goes through, which is not pretty, is relatable to another, real person. One may not even have to look elsewhere for this real person because, sooner or later, everyone experiences elements of Burstyn’s story.

One of these elements is succinctly encapsulated in a famous quote many have misattributed to John Lennon. “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” Another concerns one’s inevitable search for a soulmate. A segment of Burstyn’s story is about the inevitable realization that happiness is a state of mind.

Burstyn plays Alice Hyatt, a middle-aged wife and mother whose reality is permanently transformed after her husband dies in a tragic accident. While still grieving, Hyatt decides to relocate with her teenage son, Tommy (Alfred Lutter II), from Socorro, New Mexico to Monterey, California, where she grew up, to pursue a career as a singer. However, on the way to Monterey, Hyatt looks for temporary work in Arizona -- first in Phoenix, then Amado, and eventually Tucson -- and quickly realizes there is significantly more demand for waitresses than aspiring middle-aged singers. Following a disastrous fling with an abusive cheater (Harvey Keitel), Hyatt eventually allows a handsome rancher (Kris Kristofferson) to enter her life, but begins questioning whether he is the right man for her.

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is structured as a mosaic of seemingly random events, virtually all beginning and ending abruptly, emulating the chaotic nature of real life. Each of these events is also part of an ongoing struggle for survival in a world that appears reluctant to notice strangers like Hyatt. To make progress, strangers like Hyatt must make themselves noticed, give the people around them a chance to want to help them, too.

The absence of a conventional storyline is what makes Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore an intriguing but also somewhat frustrating film. Indeed, it is a genuinely realistic film that easily forces its audience to ponder the nature of contemporary existence. (The fact that Scorsese directed it more than fifty years ago does not make it any less relevant. The game of survival remains the same). From there, comparisons with individual experiences, usually surprising ones, that have profoundly altered one’s life become inevitable. In other words, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is pretty effective at deconstructing the big picture.

At the same time, it must be acknowledged that there is intimate material in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore that feels unexplored. For example, Burstyn’s relationship with Diane Ladd’s character, also a hardworking survivor, is abandoned as it becomes most intriguing. Kristofferson’s rancher needs more time to undergo a proper transformation as well.

Apparently, there was some uncertainty about Scorsese’s ability to direct a film whose star was not a dominant male character. While all events in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore are seen from Burstyn’s point of view, her character’s struggle is universal.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet provided with this release:

"Supervised and approved by director Martin Scorsese, this new 4K restoration was created from the 35mm original camera negative. A 35mm print from Scorsese's personal collection was used as a color reference. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic track.

Mastering supervisors: Lee Kline, Giles Sherwood.
Colorist: Greg Fisher, Company 3, London.
Image restoration: Resillion, New York.
Audio restoration: The Criterion Collection."

The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release. I viewed it in its entirety on 4K Blu-ray and later spent time with its 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray.

The 4K restoration is very frustrating because it replaces the film's native period appearance. The new appearance is significantly cooler, promoting different variations of teal. In many areas, the tealing is as damaging as the one seen on the recent 4K restoration of Point Blank. (Both 4K restorations were graded at Company 3, London). Elsewhere, the smaller but still damaging color shifts are similar or identical to the ones present on the recent 4K restorations of Testament and The Hitcher. Select darker indoor footage has somewhat tolerable primaries, but the tealing and the cooling that is associated with it is always impossible to miss. The outdoor footage can be very distracting because it makes the Arizona landscape look surreal. (Plenty of this footage has a very bizarre neon-esque quality). There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks immaculate as well. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the 4K restoration of Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore on 4K Blu-ray and later spent time with its 10870p presentation on the Blu-ray. The comments below are from our review of the combo pack release.

Music has an important role in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. However, it is not used to create big and memorable dynamic contrasts. The original soundtrack incorporates plenty of organic sounds and noises to support the film's pursuit of realism. All exchanges are very clear and easy to follow, but in some areas small, inherited fluctuations are easy to notice. I did not encounter any troubling encoding anomalies to report in our review.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Martin Scorsese, Ellen Burstyn, Alfred Lutter, Jodie Foster, Kris Kristofferson, and Diane Ladd for Warner Bros. in 2003. Burstyn reveals that she contacted Francis Ford Coppola with a request to recommend a director for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and was told to take a look at Mean Streets. Scorsese then describes in great detail how Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore was put together and what the shooting process was like. Foster recalls her initial encounter with Scorsese as well. Later in the commentary, Ladd has some quite interesting comments about her character and what she was going through in her real life. The commentary was enhanced by Criterion in 2026.

• Ellen Burstyn - in this new program, Ellen Burstyn discusses her career and contribution to Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore with critic Farran Smith Nehme. The program was produced by Criterion in 2026. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Marcia Lucas - in this new program, film editor Marcia Lucas discusses her career and her work on Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The program was produced by Criterion in 2026. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Second Chances - in this archival program, Ellen Burstyn and Kris Kristofferson discuss the production of Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The program was produced in 2003. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered vintage trailer for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring critic Stephanie Zacharek's essay essay "At Home in the World", as well as technical credits.

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This release of Marty Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore was highly anticipated by many people. I was one of them. Unfortunately, it brings a new 4K restoration that effectively replaces the film's native period appearance. The switch is very similar, almost identical to the one that made the recent 4K restoration of Point Blank problematic. This is most unfortunate because the raw 4K files are of exceptionally high quality. If you wish to have Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore in your library, you should definitely test Criterion's release before committing to a purchase. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack release.