Edward Scissorhands 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Edward Scissorhands 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 19, 2025

The "partnership" between Disney and Tim Burton might seem to be a case of strange bedfellows, but really when you get right down to it, all sorts of Disney classics have had a dark undertone and many of them have in fact featured "misfits" trying to matriculate into the "normal" world much like a square peg in a round hole, and in that regard, the fact Disney is releasing this new 4K UHD edition of Edward Scissorhands (in SteelBook packaging) rather than the erstwhile 20th Century Fox (still present via the "legacy" 25th anniversary 1080 disc included in the package may seem perfectly appropriate in its own way. If the 1080 presentation here is "nothing new", the 4K UHD presentation offers Dolby Vision and HDR grades along with a Dolby Atmos track that should certainly whet the appetites of Burton fans.

As alluded to above, Edward Scissorhands had a 25th Anniversary (1080) Blu-ray release a decade or so ago, though that was actually not the first 1080 release of the film. Those interested can find more information in my Edward Scissorhands Blu-ray review of 20th Century Fox's 1080 Blu-ray from 2015. That review contains a link to a review of the first 1080 release of the film, which came so early in the format that our review doesn't even offer screenshots (and I'm frankly unacquainted with the reviewer who wrote that original take).

Edward Scissorhands 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc in this package.

Edward Scissorhands is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista and 20th Century Studios with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. This is another 4K release from Disney that kind of maddeningly doesn't include any information about a restoration or new scan in any of the press materials sent to accompany the release, and that's especially weird since the 25th Anniversary edition from a decade ago was reportedly based on a then new 4K scan of the negative. The press materials do offer a generic "stunning new restoration", but at least the 1080 disc to my eyes and ears looks and sounds exactly like the older 1080 release (which is not a bad thing at all). This 4K UHD version offers an often spectacular accounting of the film's candy colored production design courtesy of the Dolby Vision / HDR grades, but rather interestingly in that regard, the increased dynamic range can also tend to point out a slightly desaturated or at least monochromatic look at times with regard to Edward himself. Contrast Edward's "introduction" with Peg, and you can see a slight but noticeable "black and white" ambience to the imagery that is not as overt in the 1080 version. But of course it's the color in this film that benefits the most from the Dolby Vision / HDR grades, and the mad midcentury modern pastels in particular have some really inviting highlights throughout this presentation. Outdoor material also pops incredibly well a lot of the time. Detail levels see some improvement in this version, if arguably not quite as noticeable as the difference in the palette. Close-ups of Edward, to cite just one example, offer more texturing on his facial scars and the like, and fabrics on all of the outfits also can see some improvements in fine detail. This is another 4K presentation where grain can be very heavy at times, especially in some of the interior scenes against brighter backgrounds. A pretty large spike in grain is evident from the first "real" interior scene featuring neighbor Joyce having her dishwasher repaired, where grain can frankly kind of swarm over the image, and that tends to be the case in any number of interior scenes with either white or yellow backgrounds. Kind of interestingly, there are no huge spikes in many of the darker scenes, including some of the mansion material with Vincent Price as the Inventor. In fact some of that "castle" material is especially interesting to see in this 4K version since it is able to offer a better contrast between near black and white set design and little pops of color here and there, as in the bright red "robot eyes".

Edward Scissorhands 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1080 disc in this package repeats the DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0 track that was offered a decade ago, while the 4K UHD disc offers a new Dolby Atmos mix. This is frankly not the "showiest" mix in terms of an all encompassing vertical and horizontal surround experience, but it does noticeably open up the four channel track in terms of both ambient environmental sounds (including that quicksilver sound of scissor blades swiping past each other) and especially Danny Elfman's score. Some isolated moments, like Peg's first foray into the Inventor's domain, arguably present a more spacious overall "hall ambience" than the 4.0 track does. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional subtitles in several languages are available.

Edward Scissorhands 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no new supplements on either the 4K or 1080 discs included in this package.

4K UHD Disc

• Commentaries:

  Audio Commentary with Tim Burton

  
  

  Audio Commentary by Danny Elfman

1080 Disc

• Featurette (HD; 4:39) is a vintage EPK with behind the scenes footage and interviews.


• Commentaries:

  Audio Commentary with Tim Burton

  
  

  Audio Commentary by Danny Elfman

• Theatrical Trailers (HD; 4:17)

The SteelBook itself tends to mirror the almost black and white ambience of sections of the film, with front and back panels largely emphasizing darker tones, but with hints of color on Edward's face (on the front panel) and Kim's face (on the back panel). Both faces are "framed" in a way, with Edward surrounded by his scissors (including a reflected image of Kim on one blade), and Kim's face surrounded by shattered glass. The interior panels offer a photograph of Edward in the castle. A digital copy is also included. A J-card offers credits an a synopsis.

Edward Scissorhands 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I had a somewhat horrifying but potentially prophetic idea as I watching Edward Scissorhands this time around, namely thinking that this is exactly the sort of property Disney might love to "musicalize", offering first a stage version, then a film version. That may never come to pass (thankfully or otherwise), but in the meantime this extremely gonzo Burton-Depp collaboration gets a nice 4K UHD upgrade in both the video and audio departments. Fans may be disappointed in now new supplements, but the evocative SteelBook design may help to ameliorate that feeling. Recommended.