Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Bad Boys 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 30, 2018

Sony has released 'Bad Boys' to the UHD format with new 4K/HDR video and a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The film was previously released in 2010 and again as a 'Mastered in 4K' Blu-ray in 2015. The UHD adds no new supplements. It is also currently only available in a bundle with 'Bad Boys II.'

Hotshot Miami Detectives Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence, 'Blue Streak') and Mike Lowery (Will Smith, 'The Pursuit of Happyyness') have recently impounded a large quantity of heroin, but just as the boys think they're off the case, the drugs jacked from inside the police department's own holding cell, and the dynamic duo are back on the hunt for the perps capable of pulling off such a precise job. All signs point to an inside job, and they have but 72 hours to crack the case before Internal Affairs gets involved. The stakes are raised when two people -- including an ex-cop -- are murdered, and Burnett and Lowery find themselves saddled with protecting a key witness, a young woman named Julie (Téa Leoni, 'Deep Impact'). As the investigation rolls on, Burnett and Lowery must juggle their own emotions, make personal sacrifices, and even take on one another's identity if they're to find the mole, retrieve the drugs, catch the killers, and keep their witness -- and themselves -- alive.

For a full film review, please click here; note that this link points to the original 2010 release and not the 2015 "Mastered in 4K" disc, which is the Blu-ray bundled in this set.

Bad Boys 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Bad Boys makes the jump to UHD from the "mastered in 4K" 1080p Blu-ray, and the results are impressive. The image enjoys a little more of a boost to both detail and the HDR color grading compared to Bad Boys II, which could understandably muster only modest refinements to an already picture-perfect Blu-ray. Bad Boys, on the other hand, finds details tangibly sharper across the board, whether some of the wide-angle vistas or tightly framed environments that Bay always uses to his cinematic advantage. Clarity is elevated from the Blu-ray, and textural finesse likewise enjoys a healthy, but not massive, upward boost. Skin textures are one of the great beneficiaries. Skin is sharper, deeper, more revealing of every insignificant pore and hair; close-ups are a treasure and medium shots are nearly a match. The picture is sharp as a tack from start to finish, even if it's a fairly dark movie, often bathed in orange-y sunset hues or dense and dark blue lighting. Grain is very fine, pronounced just enough to be a pleasing complimentary, filmic companion that puts the finishing touches on a gorgeous-looking movie that, on UHD and even on a "modest" 65" screen, plays larger-than-life.

The HDR-enhanced color palette offers about the same degree of upswing over the Blu-ray, doing nothing of massive, movie-altering significance but refining the palette, rendering the movie a little darker overall, and finding added depth and definition to the film's already somewhat dark color scheme. Contrast isn't overcooked even in daytime or sunset scenes, but the palette does run slightly warmer than usual as a general rule. There's incredible balance to lower light scenes, particularly as nighttime blue-ish lights merge with shadowy corners and backdrops with impressive fluidity and a total lack of any distracting artifacts. Even small light sources are rendered much brighter and more even on the UHD; take a look at a string of lightbulbs at the beginning of chapter 11. Brightness is up considerably, and the shot is also a good example of both black level depth and textural clarity, even in low light. Skin tones are very natural, handsomely firm and true to the various complexions seen throughout the film. This is a first-rate presentation that ups the movie's visual credentials a fair bit even over the "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray.

Bad Boys 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Bad Boys features a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack for its UHD release, but it's not a track that is going to set the sonic world on fire. It's a bit flat, with action scenes failing to offer the sort of excess, intensity, and absolute clarity one might expect of a Michael Bay movie. While action pieces enjoy full coverage surround, volume isn't prodigious and support effects -- gunfire, explosions, crashes, car chases -- lack the sort of blend of power and definition that sets the best apart. Gunshots are actually a little muddled, certainly not delivering prolific blows and struggling to produce even a modest amount of punch. Music plays with healthy spacing and rather consistent surround wrap. It's not absolutely aggressive and clarity really only rises to the level of "good." Ambient effects -- out on city streets, inside densely packed police stations -- enjoy good, essential placement and do well to support various quieter scenes. Dialogue is usually well prioritized and detailed. Slight muddiness is audible in a few places.

Bad Boys 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Bad Boys' UHD disc holds no extras beyond the cast and crew stills tab. The bundled Blu-ray is identical to the "mastered in 4K" release from 2015 and includes all the same extras. For convenience, below is a list of what's included. For full supplemental reviews, please click here (note that that link points to the 2010 release; here is a link to the 2015 release which details what's not included from the 2010 release). A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Audio Commentary
• Putting the Boom & Bang in the Bad Boys
• Music Videos
• Theatrical Trailers

Bad Boys 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's hard to believe that Bad Boys is pushing a quarter-centruty in age, but thanks to the magic of 4K UHD, the movie looks and feels brand new again. Sony's 2160p/HDR presentation doesn't disappoint, presenting the film with a textural finesse and color accuracy that stands above even the very strong "Mastered in 4K" Blu-ray from years past. Atmos doesn't reinvent the movie's audio, which is somewhat disappointing. It's still nowhere near as dynamic as the best Action film tracks, but it's a solid enough performer and a good compliment to the movie. The UHD adds no new extras. Recommended.