Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Cocaine Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Universal has released Cocaine Bear to the UHD format just five months -- almost to the day -- after the studio first brought the film to Blu-ray. This new UHD presentation offers 2160p/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio. No new extras are included. The Blu-ray which released only months ago is also included.

Cocaine Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Universal's 2160p/HDR UHD presentation of Cocaine Bear does indeed offer a fairly stout visual upgrade over the very excellent Blu-ray, but it's definitely more of a fine tuning than it is a complete overhaul, no surprise considering that the Blu-ray was awarded a perfect core for its 1080p visuals. The differences do present, however, and rather quickly. The opening white titles over a black background present with greater white balance and brilliance, and the blacks are just a touch deeper and more accurate. The brilliant white gains are evident moments later in the opening shots. White clothing (Olaf's t-shirt, for example) just leaps off the screen in all its newfound brilliance under the HDR parameters. Likewise, the contrast between bright sunlit areas and shadows is very well pronounced, and the characteristics of each are seamless and share the screen with excellent contrast and stability in each region of light and dark. The image deepens natural greens while also making them brighter and more vivid. The same is said of various support colors, including, of course, red blood, which is a color staple seen throughout the film.  Further, blacks are richer, more broadly speaking away from the ink-black opening background, and skin tones are fuller and healthier. The HDR grading nicely amplifies the film's colors without restructuring them in any way.

The 2160p resolution allows for a more finely clear and precise picture. There is no mistaking the natural glossy sheen to the image. It looks very organic and true to the digital source workmanship and characteristics. It is infinitely clean, noise is barely evident, and the encode work is spotless. Details are amplified throughout the film, including very fine skin and clothing details and certainly world elements like leaves and tree trunks. Likewise, various gore effects are available for squeamish scrutiny for all they're worth. While not vast gains over the outstanding Blu-ray, the higher resolution allows for more intricate clarity that does not make new information appear, but that renders the information that is here more readily apparent in the fullness of its natural state. Fans are going to find this to be a very high quality UHD image that suits the movie extraordinarily well.

Cocaine Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Alongside the boosted video, Universal also upgrades the audio from the wonderful DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack to an equally wonderful Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The track shares all of the same basic characteristics from the Blu-ray, and for much of this portion of this review, that review suffices (please click here for that review). The added top end layer certainly adds some atmospheric charm and immersion to the proceedings. Early shots in the forest spring to life with higher (literally) engagement to birds, insects, rustling leaves, and the like. The overheads, in terms of atmosphere, are more finely folded in rather than discretely utilized. In terms of more aggressive action, listeners will enjoy some amplified height effects to increase the sense of full stage involvement. While not so discrete as to make the listener look upward, the fuller landscape definitely adds some sonic intensity to the film.

Cocaine Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This UHD release of Cocaine Bear includes all of the extras from the Blu-ray. A Blu-ray copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. No slipcover is included.

• Alternate Ending
• Gag Reel
• Deleted & Extended Scenes
• All Roads Lead to Cokey: The Making of Cocaine Bear
• Unbearable Bloodbath: Dissecting the Kills
• Doing Lines
• Audio Commentary

Cocaine Bear 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cocaine Bear delivers just about everything that one would expect of a movie called Cocaine Bear: it's gory, irreverent, and unapologetic. It's certainly not for all audiences, but for those to whom the title beckons, it should prove to be a riot of a time at the movies. Universal's UHD releases to the market just five months after the Blu-ray in what feels like a very consumer-unfriendly move. Yet here it is for those wanting to double dip (already) or who waited to buy the first time. The UHD does offer very good UHD specs and presentation characteristics but...this close to the original issue and considering just how good the Blu-ray is, a recommendation for a repeat buy is difficult right out of the gate. First time buyers should definitely opt for this, however. The picture and sound qualities are improved to the point of being noticeable and worthwhile. Extras are a wash between both releases. So, overall, those looking to upgrade would be fine waiting for a steep discount, and first time buyers should certainly choose the UHD.