Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Dirty Dancing 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

DD in UHD.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 7, 2021

Lionsgate's soft 4K UHD release of the 1987 sorta-classic Dirty Dancing is a rare bird indeed: this Best Buy exclusive Steelbook flew under the radar of all but the film's most devoted fans, only a fraction of whom are videophiles with Dolby Atmos setups. Nonetheless, that vocal minority should appreciate Lionsgate's efforts to finally pull this romantic drama into the 21st century after a series of lackluster and recycled Blu-ray editions... including the 20th Anniversary Edition, which was the worst thing to happen to Dirty Dancing until The Black-Eyed Peas. Sadly, one of those recycled discs -- the uneven 30th Anniversary Edition -- is included here instead of a newly-authored Blu-ray... so unless you're planning to upgrade your player soon, this combo pack is pretty much worthless for non-4K fans.

For a plot synopsis of Dirty Dancing, please refer to our 2010 review of Lionsgate's Limited Keepsake Edition written by Dustin Somner. Otherwise, see below for my thoughts on this 4K disc's strengths: a brand-new 2160p, HDR-enhanced transfer, a fantastic Dolby Atmos mix, and a couple of new extras piled on top of the old ones. (The packaging is pretty nice too, of course.) All told, it's probably as definitive a home video release as this film is going to get.

Dirty Dancing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Although somewhat contested in our always-entertaining forums, Dirty Dancing's new 1.85:1 4K presentation offers what appears to be a solid upgrade from earlier home video editions -- especially the infamous 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray, which is rightly regarded as one of the worst-looking transfers on that format. From the very welcome Vestron opening logo onwards, the most easily-seen improvement here is a more satisfying level of film grain and richer black levels, both of which give overall image detail a perceivable boost. It also reveals other shortcomings in those earlier transfers, which all had boosted contrast levels and artificial sharpening that gave many edges an unusually feathered appearance. These are absolutely not a problem on the 4K disc which, due to its lack of reliance on heavier processing tricks, ends up looking a lot more natural and "relaxed" than previous versions. Colors get a fairly nice facelift too, although the disc's HDR enhancement doesn't necessarily translate to substantially dialed-up hues; more often than not, Lionsgate's transfer again seems to aim for accuracy rather than base-level saturation boosts. Although a few stray scenes looked surprisingly soft -- perhaps even more so than the included Blu-ray -- this could be due to that lack of artificial sharpening and, in almost all cases, this issue is so infrequent that it barely registers. As for its occasional moments of blooming (most noticeable in sunny outdoor locales), they're largely kept under control and, combined with those deeper black levels, once again just gives the film a more natural appearance. Overall, complaints are few and far-between here and, while Dirty Dancing will never look slick or glossy due to its original source elements, this really does feel very close to a best-case scenario considering the film's troubled history on home video.

As mentioned earlier, the Blu-ray included with this release is 100% identical to Lionsgate's 30th Anniversary Edition, which in turn contains the same 1.78:1 1080p transfer as featured on 2010's Limited Keepsake Edition; this Blu-ray is also the source for my review's decorative screenshots. (Hey, at least it's not the 2007 disc.)

Dirty Dancing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

From an audio perspective, earlier Blu-ray editions of Dirty Dancing seemed more than adequate on paper, sporting either PCM 6.1 or full DTS-HD 7.1 Master Audio tracks that, considering prior home video editions on VHS and DVD, likely sounded pretty good at the time. But after hearing this brand-new Dolby Atmos remix, the shortcomings of those earlier mixes become incredibly obvious. Perhaps the best analogy I can make is that those previous lossless tracks, though not without a few stray highlights, sounded as if you were watching the film from a slight but very perceptible distance: in short, it kept the listener at an arm's length. This new mix feels like you're right in the middle of the action, with totally immersive moments of surround activity that completely envelop the listener in an extremely convincing and effective way. Dialogue clarity is substantially improved as well; I'm not sure if this is due to overall fidelity, better volume leveling, or both, but the end result is much cleaner than ever before. Yet it's some of the film's most famous music breaks -- "Hungry Eyes", "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", etc. -- that propel this Atmos audio mix to its greatest heights, as smoother channel separation and a beefier LFE presence increases the overall width and weight of these memorable moments. Height channels are not discretely dominant due to the film's subject matter, but they are put to good use during crowded scenes and other suitable moments. Overall, this audio mix is the best reason to upgrade and, if you're a huge fan of Dirty Dancing's soundtrack, it'll be worth the price of admission alone.

Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are offered during the main feature and some extras.

Dirty Dancing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in exclusive Steelbook packaging (detailed below) with attractive design elements and a Digital Copy slip. Two new extras, marked with an asterisk, are on the 4K disc as well as two vintage commentaries; all other recycled extras can be found on the Blu-ray, which is identical to Lionsgate's 30th Anniversary Edition.

• Steelbook Packaging - The illustrated front of this stylish case sets its two leads, Baby and Johnny, mid-dance against a steamy pink and purple background; its background continues the neon palette with a silhouette image of their famous lifting pose. Like most other Lionsgate 4K steelbooks, a clear slipcover is included which features white-printed titles, credits, and other descriptive text on the front and back covers. A half-tone shadow on the slipcover's front also adds a sultry lighting touch to its two leads. None of these extra elements seriously intrude as-is but, when removed, lets fans appreciate the virgin artwork on its own. The interior design is much more straightforward, with a movie still of Baby and Johnny crawling towards each other during a particularly hot and heavy rehearsal section. Both discs are stacked in overlapping hubs on the right hand side.

Disc One (4K UHD)

• Audio Commentary #1 with writer / co-producer Eleanor Bergstein

• Audio Commentary #2 with dance choreographer Kenny Ortega, actor Miranda Garrison (Vivian Pressman), cinematographer Jef Jur, costume designer Hilary Rosenfeld, and production designer David Chapman

• Establishing Shot* (12:59) - The lone brand-new extra on this release is a fairly recent video interview with cinematographer Jef Jur, who offers a few retrospective shots on his early career, in television, being asked to film Dirty Dancing, his visual approach to the film, and more. He also speaks approvingly of Lionsgate's new 4K transfer but, unfortunately, doesn't go into any technical detail. Also seen during this interview are a handful of Jur's personal photos from the set, which is a nice touch.

• Theatrical Trailer* (2:26) - This vintage promotional piece, like the film, appears to be newly remastered. Since this was not included on most earlier Blu-ray editions, it's nice to have here.

Disc Two (30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray)

• Audio Commentary #1 with writer / co-producer Eleanor Bergstein

• Audio Commentary #2 with dance choreographer Kenny Ortega, actor Miranda Garrison (Vivian Pressman), cinematographer Jef Jur, costume designer Hilary Rosenfeld, and production designer David Chapman

• Happy Birthday, Dirty Dancing (29:19)

• Patrick Swayze: In His Own Words (12:52)

• Eleanor Bergstein - Thoughts on a Lifetime of Dirty Dancing (6:40)

• Patrick Swayze: Uncut (13:34)

• Dirty Dancing: The Phenomenon (13:45)

• The Rhythm of Dancing (4:08)

• Music Videos

• "Hungry Eyes" (3:54)
• "She's Like the Wind" (3:59)
• "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" (4:51)

• Cast and Crew Interviews

• Jennifer Grey (11:14)
• Eleanor Bergstein (18:38)
• Miranda Garrison (13:19)
• Kenny Ortega (15:23)

• Deleted Scenes (11:53)

• Extended Scenes (7:50)

• Alternate Scenes (2:40)

• Screen Tests and Outtakes (various)

Dirty Dancing 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Chances are good that you formed an unwavering opinion about Dirty Dancing long ago, which might mean you already own this new 4K edition. If you don't, it's a small to massive upgrade in every department, especially the redemptive Dolby Atmos track that really does the film's soundtrack justice. Throw in stylish Steelbook packaging and you've got what looks to be the most definitive home video edition of the film to date. Nobody puts Baby in a corner... except for Best Buy, of course. They might have a copy in the dusty corner of their dwindling physical media section. :(