Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		4.0

Contagion 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

A variant worth importing.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 11, 2024

Released internationally alongside Warner Bros.' recent domestic 4K edition, this 4K Steelbook combo pack of Steven Soderbergh's highly prescient 2011 thriller Contagion is a fine alternative with superior design elements and a "bonus" Blu-ray copy of the film. Although otherwise identical to the standard 4K release (A/V quality, extras), this Steelbook's currently competitive price makes it a low-risk upgrade for die-hard fans and packaging collectors alike.

For two different write-ups about the film, please see either Kenneth Brown's 2012 Blu-ray review or my much more recent coverage of the standard 4K edition, which offer differing opinions of the main feature -- much of it a direct result of the respective review dates, obviously. Simply put, Contagion's stature has grown exponentially since 2020, where its laser-focused predictions can now be more fully appreciated, and it plays better then ever in 4K.

Contagion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For my thoughts on the new 2160p/HDR transfer of Contagion, please see my review of the standard 4K edition.

Please note that the region-free Blu-ray included in this combo pack (which is the source of this review's screenshots) is clearly a reprint of Warner Bros.' 2012 Region B Blu-ray, which means that it's encoded on a dual-layered disc (BD-50) rather than a single-layered disc (BD-25) like the 2012 Region A Blu-ray. Those hoping that the extra real estate would translate to a slightly improved 1080p presentation shouldn't get their hopes up, however: both discs are indeed encoded at the exact same average bit rate of 16.84 Kbps so I've no choice but to assume that the second layer is wasted. Either way, this is no huge loss: though well over a decade old and thus not downsampled from the new 4K master, this respectable 1080p/SDR image should hold up decently well on a small to mid-sized display.

Contagion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Since the perfectly suitable DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix included on both discs is basically identical to my ears aside from slight volume differences, please see Kenneth's coverage of the 2012 Blu-ray for more details.

Contagion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a glossy Steelbook with a familiar poster-themed design meant to visualize the quick spread of Contagion's fictional MEV-1 virus on a global scale. The film's vertical title is slightly debossed and the outer design favors a sickly mustard color with a worn appearance and a red "Biohazard" sticker image at the top, while its back cover depicts a few virus-related symbols and film credits at the bottom. The interior features a two-panel still with Jennifer Ehle's character "Dr. Ally Hextall" hard at work in the lab, while both discs sit in overlapping hubs on the right. It's a decent design overall and quite a bit more compelling than the standard 4K edition, with both options interestingly avoiding the 2012 Blu-ray's predictable cast-heavy collage. No digital copy is included.

The on-disc extras are all recycled from Warner Bros.' 2012 Blu-ray and are listed below in name only.

• The Reality of Contagion (11 minutes)

• The Contagion Detectives (5 minutes)

• How a Virus Changes the World (2 minutes)

Contagion 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Steven Soderbergh's highly prescient 2011 thriller Contagion has grown from "speculative sci-fi" to documentary-like realism since its 2011 release. Though slightly bogged down by too many primary characters and a somewhat deflated third act, it's almost mandatory viewing nowadays and is ripe for rediscovery. Warner Bros.' wide-release 4K edition is highlighted by an outstanding new 2160p/HDR transfer, but this region-free Steelbook import adds in better design elements and a bonus Blu-ray copy at a surprisingly similar price point. Highly Recommended.