Beetlejuice 4K Gift Set Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Beetlejuice 4K Gift Set Blu-ray Movie Review

Day-1!

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 3, 2020

Now available alongside the standard 4K edition, Warner Bros.' new Amazon excluisive 4K gift set of Tim Burton's classic Beetlejuice continues the studio's long history of deluxe, oversized packaging variants. Much like the 4K gift set offered for The Goonies (also released this week), it contains a few movie-themed collectibles and the thick outer box directly ties in to the movie itself -- but instead of One-Eyed Willie's treasure chest, everything here is packed neatly inside a replica "Handbook for the Recently Deceased". (Hey, it was that or a miniature banana boat.)

For a synopsis of the film, please see our review of Warner Bros.' 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Blu-ray. Incidentally, the Blu-ray packed inside this 4K combo pack is indeed a recycled disc rather than a newly-remastered one, meaning that its A/V specs, subtitles, bonus features, and menu interface are all identical to that previous release.

Beetlejuice 4K Gift Set Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For my thoughts on Warner Bros.' new 2160p transfer, please see our separate review of the standard 4K edition.

Beetlejuice 4K Gift Set Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For my thoughts on the new Dolby Atmos audio mix, please see our separate review of the standard 4K edition. Please note that the list of available dubs and subtitles is different on this 4K disc and that information can be seen above.

Beetlejuice 4K Gift Set Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Obviously, the main attraction here is the packaging itself. As for the (disappointingly slim) on-disc bonus features, they're identical to those on the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition -- aside from the bonus soundtrack CD, which is not included -- and are all housed on the recycled Blu-ray disc.

• Gift Set Packaging - Nicely designed to mimic Beetlejuice's "Handbook for the Recently Deceased", this Digipak case is indeed a hefty one and feels similar in size and build quality to Warner Bros.' new gift set of The Goonies: slightly rugged, but with a few textured embellishments. Although it looks like a genuine book (and a few actual paper pages would have been welcome), the inner spine is actually held together with a magnet and its interior houses the standard 4K keepcase, which does not include a slipcover. Also tucked inside the "book" are three movie-themed collectibles: a torn poster resembling Betelgeuse's "bio-exorcist" advertisement, a nifty glow-in-the-dark embroidered patch of Betelgeuse's gravestone...and, of course, three pieces of genuine "collectible chalk" that will go down in Warner Bros.' gift set history alongside other gems like the Looney Tunes shot glass, Scooby-Doo Funko Pop keychain, and soul-sucking Bugs Bunny figurine. All jokes aside, though, this is a well put-together set and that helps to make up for the disappointing lack of new on-disc extras.

Beetlejuice 4K Gift Set Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Tim Burton's Beetlejuice was the first major showcase of his visual sensibilities and a truly unique film in its own right. Most of it went right over my head as a kid, I still didn't fully appreciate it well into my twenties, but as a somewhat mature and responsible adult/husband the film really clicked for me this time around. Amazon's exclusive new gift set builds upon Warner Bros.' already-great 4K edition to create as definitive a package as we're likely to get on home video...even though it's missing the original audio mix and better on-disc bonus features. (The lack of a newly-minted Blu-ray is annoying, too, as it may have tempted future 4K adopters.) But if you're already set up for the format and a big Beetlejuice fan, this is a pricey but extremely cool-looking gift set. And did I mention the chalk?