Better Off Dead Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		2.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		2.5

Better Off Dead Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount has widely released Writer/Director Savage Steve Holland's 1985 film 'Better Off Dead' in SteelBook packaging. The film was previously released in SteelBook packaging and was exclusive to F.Y.E. The SteelBook is identical, and so is the disc identical to that found in the 2011 wide release. New to this package is a digital copy code. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section of the review below for more on the SteelBook's look and feel.

Better Off Dead Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a full Blu-ray video review, please click here.

Better Off Dead Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For a full Blu-ray audio review, please click here.

Better Off Dead Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

For the Better Off Dead SteelBook, Paramount has smartly reused prolific poster artist Drew Struzan's artwork depicting Lane sitting on a bridge with several characters -- Monique, Yee, Ricky, Beth, and Charles -- huddled behind him. The background is a golden bronze color, and even the surrounding side accents take on that tone. The film's title appears in large red letters top center with John Cusack's name in blue above. The rear panel carries over the same color scheme but only depicts a single quote -- "I want my two dollars!" in large letters, center, in the same color scheme as the front with the first three words in blue and "two dollars" in red. It is also attributed to the Johnny the Paperboy, also in red. A Paramount logo (the CBS logo is now gone) and some legalese and a model number appear in black at the bottom. Both front and back are smooth and glossy. Fingerprints are visible but minimized in terms of visibility thanks to the color scheme. The spine carries over the same color with the film's title in red. The CBS Blu-ray logo has been removed from this SteelBook. A Paramount logo appears at the bottom.

Inside, the lone Blu-ray disc appears on the right in a central hub (the disc is now gray rather than blue). The digital copy code is tucked under the left hand side tabs. The inner print is a two-panel spread that features Lane and Monique sitting on the hood of Lane's black '67 Camaro while parked at home plate at Dodger Stadium. He's holding his saxophone, she's leaning her head on his shoulder. The characters are firmly on the left while the car's length extends across both panels. The stadium's yellow and red seats are seen behind them.

For full coverage of the on-disc supplemental content (a single trailer), please click here.

Better Off Dead Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a quality SteelBook that reuses its classic poster artwork and features an iconic image inside. The back is a little uninspired and that there's nothing new in the case is disappointing, but fans will find this to be a valuable addition to their SteelBook collection, and it is now widely available with a digital code as well. Recommended.