E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

A classic film earns one of the finest UHD releases to date.

Universal has released the classic film 'E.T.' to the UHD format with 2160p/HDR-enhanced video and a new DTS:X soundtrack. And, yes, it's the 'proper' version of the film with guns as guns, not walkie-talkies. No new extras are included on the UHD disc, but the included Blu-ray, a copy of the same disc released and widely acclaimed back in 2012, carries over all of the supplements. Universal has also released a collector's edition that includes a few added physical goodies.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

It's safe to say that E.T. has never looked this good for home viewing. Universal's UHD presentation, which would appear to be from the same 4K scan as the previous and very well-received 1080p Blu-ray, ranks amongst the finest the format has seen thus far. The image is richly filmic, boasting a refined grain structure, superb detailing, and expert colors that are enhanced, but not necessarily altered, by the HDR workmanship. Comparing to the Blu-ray yields an image that's effectively firmer, sharper, more inherently crisp and accurate. Both images impress, but the UHD offers a more prominent, yet nevertheless very fine, grain structure. Details enjoy a modest, but critical, uptick. Colors are noticeably deeper and punchier but, again, never betraying the core E.T. experience, as evidenced right off the bat with the purple-on-black title card. The image's inherent sharpness is evident even in the film's many dark exteriors and lower-light interiors. Shots of terrain reveal extraordinarily fine natural qualities. Distance shots of the town are clear and precisely detailed even at distance. E.T.'s wrinkly, somewhat slimy body reveals all. Odds and ends throughout the house are sharp as a tack. Even something as simple as the sheet that covers E.T. during trick-or-treat reveals a much more filmily organic texture about it. The HDR color scheme produces a mildly darker image, but shades are a bit more densely defined and more richly realized. Natural greens, decor around the house, E.T.'s glowing orange finger and chest, and the red Speak and Spell toy all present with more stability and lifelike accuracy. On the very slight downside, blacks aren't quite as inherently deep here, but shadow detail is excellent throughout the film's many low-light scenes. No source or encode flaws are readily apparent; even a densely foggy early shot poses no challenge to Universal's excellent, must-see UHD presentation.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

E.T.'s DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack doesn't phone it in. While the film was originally released with a 2.0 soundtrack (which Universal has also included), the DTS:X track adds an overhead component to the previous Blu-ray's 7.1 lossless soundtrack. To be sure, there's not a significant change. The top end never screams and only rarely really makes its presence all that immediately obvious. It offers some finely complimentary support engagement in a few key moments. E.T. magically sends a few balls swirling into the air in one scene, and the resultant swooshing effect grabs a bit of the upper end. Thunder booms off to the right-hand side of the stage around the 75-minute mark and comes supported by a gentle overhead presence, as does a helicopter a few moments later. Bikes race through the town in the third act and, at one point, zip right atop a government sedan, which offers, arguably, the most distinctive overhead presence in the track. But rest assured, much like the HDR colors, there's not a significant alteration to any core E.T. sound element. As for the rest of the track, it's superb. John Williams' score plays with beautiful stage saturation, effortless width and depth, and pure, distinctive accuracy. It pleasingly swells with unmatched richness and clarity at every turn and is particularly agreeable as it accompanies key moments, such as when Elliot and E.T. ride the bike across the moon. The opening title card is matched by a somewhat haunting rear-channel dominant presence, an interesting immersive moment with sound distinctly rearward and the screen frontward. Atmospherics are very well integrated; beeps and rustling leaves in the opening sequence, drips within the alien craft, and quality separation of voices and medical equipment in the third act offer pinpoint placement and exacting clarity. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and naturally positioned in the front-center.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

E.T. contains no extras on the UHD disc proper, but it does carry over all of the extras from the 2012 Blu-ray release. Below is a quick listing of what's included; see the original Blu-ray.com review here for more in-depth analysis. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

• Deleted Scenes
• Steven Spielberg & E.T.
• The E.T. Journals
• A Look Back
• The Evolution and Creation of E.T.
• The E.T. Reunion
• The Music of E.T.: A Discussion with John Williams
• 20th Anniversary Premiere
• Designs, Photographs and Marketing
• Theatrical Trailer
• Special Olympics TV Spot

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The UHD presentation is certainly exceptional, but the question is, and always will be for any UHD -- particularly if the film in question has already earned a top-flight Blu-ray -- "is it worth it?" The answer is a resounding "yes." The UHD does right by the film. It's not necessarily a revelation, particularly not over the Blu-ray, but it offers a wonderful refinement, enhancement, and textural boost, capable of adding sharpness and a greater filmic quality to the picture that's certainly there on Blu-ray, but not to this extent of uniform cinematic excellence. Colors are better, too, but never to the alteration of any element; they're simply fuller, deeper, more tangible presentations of the same shade. The DTS:X audio isn't a revelation, either, but the added channels allow for a fuller experience and a few hints of overhead support; the engineers haven't gone crazy and fundamentally altered the sound design. No new extras are included, but what's available on the Blu-ray is certainly worthwhile. This is an absolute must-own UHD (whether this or the pricier, but more attractive, boxed set) of one of the great films of its, or any, time. E.T.'s UHD release earns my highest recommendation.