King of New York 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

King of New York 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 19, 2025

It may admittedly not have the appeal of a briefly naughtily panty-less Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct 4K, Lionsgate Limited's other release for April, but King of New York should certainly find its own ardent fanbase in this new edition, as the only previously released standalone 1080 disc in Region A came out so long ago that our review doesn't even offer screenshots. As with Basic Instinct, Lionsgate Limited is offering a new and definitely improved 1080 presentation along with the new to disc 4K UHD version, along with bounteous supplementary material and another exclusive SteelBook.

King of New York also had a prior release for Region B courtesy of Arrow Video's UK branch, and those interested can read Svet Atanasov's King of New York Blu-ray review of that edition, since it does feature screenshots, along with a plot summary, list of supplements and Svet's reaction to the technical presentation.

King of New York 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

King of New York is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. As with this film's Lionsgate Limited "sibling" for this month, the aforementioned Basic Instinct, Lionsgate slightly but commendably corrects the aspect ratio from the previous 1080 release(s), the first of many positives for this release. Kind of interestingly, Basic Instinct struck me as at least a bit brighter looking in both its shiny new 1080 and 4K versions, while I'd probably argue the opposite is true here, with an at least occasionally somewhat darker, more burnished appearance, judging by the screenshots included with Svet's review (as mentioned, our Region A review doesn't have screenshots, but I have to assume that presentation was more or less the same as Arrow's). That may only help to support some really impressive suffusion throughout the 4K presentation in particular, one further aided and abetted by some really lustrous HDR / Dolby Vision. The 1080 release already offers what looks like a more vibrant accounting of the palette (again judging solely by the screenshots included with the review of the Arrow release), but colors are offered in even more spectacular fashion in the 4K version, and some of the gorgeously lit and/or graded material has stunning depth and nuance. (While not in the "mind blowing" category, contrast screenshot 3 of this review with screenshot 5 of Svet's review for just one example of how different general color timing and especially suffusion can be with this version.) Everything from cobalt blues to blood reds and almost tangerine oranges to some more "interstitial" pastel tones all have remarkable highlights in the 4K version. Detail levels are generally fantastic throughout, and the frequent use of close-ups can only help renderings of everything from facial crags to textures on costume fabrics. The one place where some may have occasional niggling qualms with the 4K version is once again with grain resolution, which I have to say I, as your resident curmudgeon when it comes to the appearance of grain in 4K, actually mostly resolved rather tightly to my eyes. That said, there are certainly moments, including in some of those aforementioned cobalt blue scenes in particular, but also against brighter backgrounds, where grain is undeniably splotchy and pixellated looking (this can be observed even in moments where only part of the frame may have cobalt blue, as in a shot through a hotel room window at around the 10 minute mark).

King of New York 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Some fans may quibble with the fact that Lionsgate didn't go back to the drawing board and/or soundboard and offer a Dolby Atmos track on this release, but this release duplicates the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 options that Arrow's Region B release did. This is a rather interesting set of tracks, as Svet in particular discusses in his review (somewhat hilariously, the original Region A 1080 release is old enough it offered DTS-HD HR 6.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX options). The original theatrical stereo presentation offers an obviously more "accurate" accounting of the actual exhibition of the film, but I found the overall amplitude a bit lacking. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track can struggle with "organic" sounding immersion, and it can suffer just slightly from a quasi-phased quality, but I have to say to my ears it noticeably opens up some ambient environmental effects (listen to the rather large difference in the mixes in the club scene at around 21 minutes for just one example). Both tracks deliver dialogue clearly and cleanly. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

King of New York 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Both the 4K and 1080 discs in this package sport the same slate of supplements:

• Audio Commentary with Director Abel Ferrara


• Audio Commentary with Composer Joe Delia, Producer Mary Kane, Casting Director Randy Sabusawa and Editor Anthony Redman


• The Sacred and Profane in King of New York (HD; 18:25) is a new piece with some interesting interviews.


• Flashback on King of New York - Christopher Walken (HD; 9:51) is a wonderful new interview with Walken.


• Flashback on King of New York - Paul Calderon (HD; 8:42) is another engaging new interview.


• Interview with Director Abel Ferrara (HD; 28:14) is an archival piece from 2012.


• Interview with Producer Augusto Caminito (HD; 20:20) is an archival piece, subtitled in English.


• A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (HD; 47:04) is a fun overview with some enjoyable interviews.


• The Adventures of Schoolly D: Snowboarder (HD; 42:11) is an archival piece from 2003.


• Schoolly D Music Video (HD; 3:20)


• Original Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:39)


• TV Spots (HD; 1:06)

Lionsgate Limited is also offering this release in exclusive SteelBook packaging. I have to say this is the first Lionsgate Limited SteelBook that didn't especially excite me with its design, though others may like the cool blue tinged depictions of all of the major characters splayed across the front and rear covers, with swaths of red indicating subway lines offering a "letterbox" of sorts. The interior panels show the inside of a subway, appropriately. A Mylar O ring offers very subtle renditions of skyscrapers along with the film's title. A digital copy is included.

King of New York 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lionsgate Limited seems to be finding their veritable sea legs, and both of this month's releases offer noticeably improved video, along with some really excellent supplements. I wasn't especially gobsmacked by the design of this particular SteelBook, but your mileage of course may vary. Recommended.