Kingdom of Heaven 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Kingdom of Heaven 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 24, 2025

The erstwhile 20th Century Fox released a really sumptuous three (1080) disc edition of Kingdom of Heaven several years ago, one which offered three cuts of the film and a glut of bonus material. Now of course rebranded as 20th Century Studios (wouldn't coopting the Fox part of their name have made more sense for the 21st century?) and in collaboration with current corporate owners Disney / Buena Vista, they're back with this new 4K edition of the film (in SteelBook packaging), which offers two versions of the film (the theatrical version has been jettisoned), along with most but not quite all of the supplements that graced the earlier release (I suspect some of the licensing deals for supplements "on loan" from places like A&E may have expired and weren't renewed for this release).

My Kingdom of Heaven Blu-ray review of the old 1080 release is admittedly on the long side, but that perhaps indicates how much I appreciate this film. The review offers a plot recap, a list of supplements, and my reaction to the technical presentation.

Kingdom of Heaven 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

Kingdom of Heaven is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. As can perhaps be gleaned in doing screenshot comparisons between this release and the old one, both the 1080 and 4K presentations here offer slightly varying brightness and color temperature, and I suspect that may be the only point of contention for some videophiles. To my eyes these new versions are just slightly brighter than the previous version I reviewed, something that rather interestingly can add highlights to both the cooler and warmer ends of the spectrum at different times, especially in the 4K UHD's presentation featuring HDR / Dolby Vision. I also found the slightly brighter ambience in conjunction with HDR / Dolby Vision to noticeably improve shadow detail, one place I specifically pointed out as being at least a bit of a deficit in the first 1080 version I reviewed. Some of the crush I mention in that old 1080 review has also been noticeably ameliorated if not completely eliminated in the 4K UHD version, and I'd say maybe even a bit in the new 1080 version. Detail levels are typically impressive throughout, especially in the brightly lit scenes, where the palette pops even more impressively. Both the cool blue and warmer amber gradings that Scott and cinematographer John Mathieson employ really look sumptuous in the HDR / Dolby Vision grades. I will say that despite the almost Pavlovian response some have to the term, some of the blue material has a slightly teal quality in the 4K version in particular that I actually quite liked. This is another 4K presentation that proves grain can add a nicely organic quality without overwhelming things or degrading into splotchiness.

Kingdom of Heaven 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I gave top marks to the old 1080 set's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, and all of the positives I mention in my original 1080 review have been ported over here, with even more impressive immersion at times, courtesy of a new Dolby Atmos offering. Even in the Roadshow Version, for example, there's new breathing room and a noticeably more enveloping quality to the Overture, but once the film actually kicks into gear, the surround activity is consistently impressive. Early scenes like the men making their way on horseback offer a glut of well placed ambient environmental effects, but of course it may be some of the more sweeping epic moments in the film that offer the most arresting use of all of the surround channels. I am an admitted geek when it comes to what I've jokingly referred to as an as yet unknown genre called Feudal Fusion, as exemplified by such groups as Enigma or perhaps more saliently in terms of this film's score Mediæval Bæbes, but I had a whole new appreciation for Harry Gregson-Williams' gorgeous contributions to the film courtesy of the Atmos track. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout (and is often nicely directional). Optional subtitles in English, French, German and Spanish are available.

Kingdom of Heaven 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K UHD Disc

• Director's Cut Version (UHD; 3:09:34)


• Director's Cut Roadshow Version (UHD; 3:13:53) includes Overture, Intermission and Exit music.


• Ridley Scott Introduction to Director's Cut Version (somewhat comically upscaled to UHD; 1:01) plays automatically when either version of the Director's Cut is selected. This was offered in standard definition on the original release.


• Commentary by Producer/Director Ridley Scott, Writer William Monahan and Actor Orlando Bloom (Director's Cut Roadshow Version Only)


• Commentary by by Executive Producer Lisa Ellzey, Visual Effects Supervisor Wesley Sewell and First Assistant Director Adam Somner (Director's Cut Roadshow Version Only)


• Commentary by Film Editor Dody Dorn (Director's Cut Roadshow Version Only)


• The Engineer's Guide (Director's Cut Roadshow Version Only) brings up factoids about things like the cast's filmographies as the film plays.

1080 Disc One

• Director's Cut Version (HD; 3:09:34)


• Director's Cut Roadshow Version (HD; 3:13:53) includes Overture, Intermission and Exit music.


• Ridley Scott Introduction to Director's Cut Version (HD; 1:01) plays automatically when either version of the Director's Cut is selected. This was offered in standard definition on the original release.


• Commentary by Producer/Director Ridley Scott, Writer William Monahan and Actor Orlando Bloom (Director's Cut Roadshow Version Only)


• Commentary by by Executive Producer Lisa Ellzey, Visual Effects Supervisor Wesley Sewell and First Assistant Director Adam Somner (Director's Cut Roadshow Version Only)


• Commentary by Film Editor Dody Dorn (Director's Cut Roadshow Version Only)


• The Engineer's Guide (Director's Cut Roadshow Version Only) brings up factoids about things like the cast's filmographies as the film plays.

1080 Disc Two

• The Path to Redemption (SD; 2:21:49)


• Production Sequence includes video content, galleries and text extras devoted to:

  Development, including:

  Tripoli Overview

  Early Draft Screenplay by William Monahan

  Story Notes

  Location Scout Gallery

Pre-Production, including:

Cast Rehearsals (SD; 13:23)

Ridleygrams

Colors of the Crusade (SD; 32:14), devoted to costume and production design

Costume Design Gallery

Production Design Primer (SD; 6:52), more on the film's production design with the Production Designer and Set Decorator

Production Design Gallery

Production, including:

Creative Accuracy: The Scholars Speak (SD; 26:38) features talking heads discussing the film's historical veracity

Unholy War: Mounting the Seige (SD; 17:04) shows the behind the scenes activity involved in one of the film's big set pieces

Storyboard Galleries

Unit Photography Gallery

Post-Production, including:

Deleted and Extended Scenes (SD; 30:09) features optional commentary by Director Ridley Scott and Editor Dody Dorn

Sound Design Suite features a fun interactive grid where you can do your own ADR and foley mixes

Visual Effects Breakdown (SD; 21:53)

Release and Director's Cut, including:

Press Junket Walkthrough (SD; 6:17)

World Premieres: London, New York and Tokyo (SD; 3:41)

Special Shoot Gallery

Poster Explorations

Trailers and TV Spots features four Trailers (HD; 2:34), (SD; 1:34), (HD; 2:34), (HD; 2:25), and an amazing total of 50 TV Spots in SD, varying from 00:16 to 00:32, many of which trace the film's somewhat bumpy marketing efforts to various demographics.

Paradise Found: Creating the Director's Cut (SD; 8:29)

Director's Cut Credits

• Archive, including:

  Interactive Production Grid (SD; 1:23:45), additional featurettes which are accessible via various categories, or playable all at once.

  Ridley Scott - Creating Worlds (SD; 2:37)

  Production Featurette (SD; 2:18)

  Wardrobe Featurette (SD; 2:12)

  Orlando Bloom - The Adventure of a Lifetime (SD; 2:11)

In addition, Disney / Buena Vista is offering a handsomely designed SteelBook that is strikingly mostly in black and white, with a Baroque looking mask on the front panel and sword on the rear panel. The interior panels offer a take on the key art featured on the original 1080 release I reviewed, with Orlando Bloom springing into battle. A J-card is affixed to the SteelBook. A digital copy is also included.

Kingdom of Heaven 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As is probably clear from both my prior review and this review, I am a huge fan of this film and was delighted to see it announced for 4K. There may be some niggling qualms from some in terms of both some differences in appearance and the absence of both one version of the film and a couple of supplements, but for this fan, I found this to be a hugely appealing release with excellent technical merits and handsome SteelBook packaging. Highly recommended.