Back to the Future 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Back to the Future 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Universal has released the classic 1985 Sci-Fi film 'Back to the Future' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio. The UHD disc brings over the full suite of extras from the 2010 and 2015 releases. Note that this disc is currently only available as part of a three-film bundle with 'Back to the Future Part II' and 'Back to the Future Part III.'

Back to the Future 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from the newly remastered 1080p Blu-ray disc.

If fans were hoping that Universal would use the occasion of Back to the Future's 35th anniversary to overhaul the movie for high definition, to move past the studio's previously acceptable, but ultimately lackluster, Blu-ray effort, then those fans are going to be delighted. "History is going to change," Marty says in the movie, and indeed Back to the Future now looks stunning. Gone is the filtered and flatter appearance that was best suited for standard definition DVD. Universal has overhauled the film to give it a very natural, unabashedly filmic appearance. Grain is intact, complimentary and somewhere between fine and dense but always organic. It does have a slightly noisier appearance in lower light interiors: the first sequence in Marty's home, for example, when Biff confronts George. Later in chapter 11 when Marty and Doc roam the high school halls serves as another example. The picture struggles most during Biff's tussles with Marty and George late in the film when he's making his moves on Loraine in the parking lot; the picture here deals with the noisiest looking grain and definition falters here as well, almost looking like video rather than film. But overall the picture bears the fruit of a healthy, filmic texture which serves the movie well, and it probably looks better than it did projected in theaters decades ago.

Clarity is excellent on close-ups of Brown's doodads and gizmos, like the date readouts on the DeLorean dashboard or the remote control with which he controls the car in the mall parking lot. Clothing textures delight. Look at Loraine's sweater out in daylight after the skateboard chase though the town square. The definition is just striking. Everything is sturdy and high yield. Faces are naturally complex, environmental elements at the mall, around the 1950s town square, or on the dance floor late in the film are simply stunning. There's no shortage of high clarity finesse in play, and chances are longtime fans might even spot a couple of things that might have been missed in previous versions, like that the keys to the DeLorean when Marty starts the car in the mall parking lot have a little tag with Brown's name and contact information written on it. This is a treat.

The film is presented with Dolby Vision color grading which is largely a boon for the picture. Longtime fans will immediately note that the picture is a bit darker, skin tones appear more flush, whites look crisper, and blacks present with previously unmatched depth. Look at the parking lot sequence at Twin Pines Mall around the 20+ minute mark. The nighttime black density is perfect, the wet pavement has a quality sheen and depth about it, and there's very little crush, seen mostly in shots sourced from a camera mounted on the DeLorean as it travels back in time. Tones around 1950s Hill Valley out in daylight delight with bold greens, intense clothing tones (Loraine's sweater again), and all of the vintage signage around town benefit from improved accuracy and contrast. The warmer tones in Doc's 50s home couldn't be more inviting. The Dolby Vision grading even allows for fans to catch some small details that others versions really couldn't show with the contrast and color accuracy to see clearly, like the fact that Goldie Wilson's campaign poster, seen on a van plastered them, shows him with a single gold tooth. The image is free of any serious print faults or encode problems. What a delight!

Back to the Future 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Back to the Future's UHD presentation features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack which is exclusive to this disc. It's a fine listen that adds space and clarity, bringing the movie's iconic sounds and score to newfound life; it's the perfect compliment to the practically perfect UHD picture. There are some good examples of the overhead channels not necessarily overriding everything else but certainly adding some quality spacial depth. Two examples come in the opening scene with Marty in Doc's home. First, when he's blown back by the amp, a bookshelf falls behind him with a pleasant feel for the falling materials coming down on top of him. A few moments later all of the clocks go off with resounding, aggressive presence spilling from every channel. When Marty and Jennifer arrive at school, voices echo through the otherwise empty hallways. It's a little dense but the effect is quite good overall. Later in the film, insect ambience outside Doc's 1955 home when Marty first arrives seems to position some of those elements above as well as around, creating a full, impressive sense of place. Music is one of the critical elements in play and it does not disappoint. "Power of Love" blasts through the speakers with phenomenal detail and full-stage spread. "Johnny B. Goode" has never enjoyed such richness, detail in every note and lyric, and full immersion throughout the stage. Alan Silvestri's timeless score flows from the speakers with utmost precision to both spacing and fidelity. As with other elements, it's not discreetly above but the supports from those channels, as well as the surround-back speakers, only allows for fuller immersion into the music. Big action effects delight, particularly as the DeLorean zips down streets as it approaches 88 miles per hour. Some gunshots hit hard, punches land with authority, and even when Marty's head hits concrete the effect proves as squeamishly authentic as ever. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and center focused. It's a dream!

Back to the Future 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This UHD release of Back to the Future contains the same supplemental suite found on the concurrently released (and remastered) Blu-ray. All of the extras on this disc were originally included with the 25th Anniversary Blu-ray Collection released in 2010. See below for a listing of what's included and please click here for full coverage. As it ships in the larger DigiBook 4K collection, a Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Deleted Scenes
• Tales from the Future: In the Beginning
• Tales from the Future: Time to Go
• Tales from the Future: Keeping Time
• Archival Featurettes
• Michael J. Fox Q&A
• Behind the Scenes
• Music Video: "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News.
• Theatrical Teaser Trailer
• Join Team Fox
• Q&A Commentary: Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale.
• Audio Commentary: Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton.

Back to the Future 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Universal's Back to the Future UHD is terrific, reaching far and well beyond any previous standard or high definition release. It looks fresh from theaters and probably looks better than it did in 1985 on the big screen. The Atmos track is terrific, too, and there are plenty of carryover extras. Back to the Future's UHD release, as it's included in the above linked three film trilogy, earns my highest recommendation.