Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Howard the Duck 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Universal has released Director Willard Huyck's 1986 summer flop 'Howard the Duck' the UHD format. Universal previously released the film to Blu-ray in 2016. This UHD offers the same supplemental suite but upgrades the video to 2160p/HDR and the audio to DTS:X Master Audio.

Howard the Duck 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

Universal brings Howard the Duck to the UHD format with a 2160p/HDR presentation. While the studio's 1080p Blu-ray rates out as "watchable," this UHD offers a much more organic, authentic viewing experience. Gone is the somewhat chunky, processed grain structure and solid-not-spectacular detailing, replaced by a firm, fine, and fully faithful grain element. It's light but critical in conveying that accurate cinematic texturing. Details are notably sharper as well; while the old Blu-ray was clearly sharpened artificially, here the picture is reliant only on the natural film element details. There is no evidence of unwarranted processing, at least not to a plainly obvious degree, leaving the picture free to flow as it was filmed and finished, yielding a true image rather than one that has been tinkered with for lesser resolution formats. The upgraded resolution and pure film details bring Howard's fur, Beverly's hair and clothes, and Cleveland's various environmental details to life with a sharpness and definition that blow the Blu-ray away. This one looks stellar.

The HDR color grading is nothing short of transformative, at least in returning the color palette to a more genuine feel for accuracy and depth. Overall contrast has been tightened, individual colors are more precisely accurate, and the feel for tonal nuance and realism are unmissable. Just look at Beverly's red umbrella and jacket at the 12:55 mark. The newfound level of precision depth and clarity are absolutely remarkable. There's no questioning HDR's vast superiority in bringing every shot to life with a far greater sense of vividness and accuracy, well beyond anything the Blu-ray offers. Add terrifically bright lighting effects in the climax, brighter whites, superb blacks, perfect skin tones, and an absence of obvious print defects and encode artifacts and this is far and away the new definitive home video presentation for this film. It looks straight out of theaters. Fans are going to be beyond delighted and anyone just looking for a handsome film-sourced UHD will be thrilled to watch this one play on their 4K screens.

Howard the Duck 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Howard the Duck quacks onto Blu-ray with a new DTS:X soundtrack. The track is not a radical departure from the established presentation. It's smoother in the aggregate, bearing fruit from the additional channels at its disposal – particularly the surround back speakers – but not drastically altering the essential sonic landscape. There's a fuller and more fluid sense of audio engagement at work here as music and effects alike now emanate from a more complete soundscape. The track doesn't offer much in terms of tangibly discrete overhead information; driving rain early in the film is about as full as it gets on the top, at least in terms of readily identifiable above-ground content. The rest, whether music or action, usually occur up there in support rather than as part of any active, clearly defined top end component. And that is fine. The track enjoys the breathing room. Overall clarity is quite good for music and dialogue and even in some of the more chaotic action din the track delivers a healthy sense of competent definition even through the most rigorous sonic exercises. The biggest downside is the relative lack of bass; the explosion at the end, for example, could definitely use some more punch and depth. Dialogue is clear and center focused for the duration. It remains well prioritized even through the most complex audio cues.

Howard the Duck 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Howard the Duck's UHD disc contains the full compliment of extras found on the 2016 Blu-ray (which is also included). For a breakdown of what's included, see below. For full supplemental content reviews, please click here. This release ships with a Movies Anywhere digital copy code.

• A Look Back at Howard the Duck (1080p, 26:21).
• Releasing the Duck (1080p, 12:52).
• Archival Featurettes (1080p):
• News Featurette (1:49).
• The Stunts of Howard the Duck (2:44).
• The Special Effects of Howard the Duck (3:12).
• The Music of Howard the Duck (3:09).
• Teaser Trailers (1080p, 2:31 total runtime).

Howard the Duck 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It has to say something about the UHD format's viability and popularity when a stinker, albeit a cult classic stinker, makes its way to the premium format. Regardless of what one might think of the film, Universal's UHD should earn, well, universal acclaim. The picture is filmic and handsome and the new DTS:X soundtrack suits the movie well. No new extras are included but at least all of the legacy supplements are here, and on the UHD disc at that. Recommended, and packaging collectors can opt for the attractive SteelBook variant.