Kubo and the Two Strings 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Kubo and the Two Strings 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"Steelbook" is my middle name.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 12, 2024

Offered alongside the standard 4K/Blu-ray edition released last year, Shout Factory has also collaborated with Laika Entertainment on this 4K Steelbook edition of Travis Knight's well-received 2016 film, Kubo and the Two Strings. Not surprisingly, disc contents are exactly the same as that more common version, so this is yet another release aimed at die-hard fans and packaging collectors with a strong visual design that suits the film's tone perfectly.

For a synopsis and appreciation of the main feature, please see Martin Liebman's review of Universal's 2016 Blu-ray, Brian Orndorf's review of Shout Factory's 2021 Blu-ray, or of course Neil Lumbard's coverage of the recent 4K edition. Needless to say, Kubo and the Two Strings has been extremely well-represented on home video since its debut; a 3D Blu-ray and DVD were released too, which makes this Steelbook the sixth (and possibly final) iteration.

Kubo and the Two Strings 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For thoughts on the 4K's 2160p/HDR10 (Dolby Vision compatible) transfer, please see Neil Lumbard's review of Shout Factory's standard 4K edition. Brian Orndorf also provided details about the included Blu-ray's 1080p/SDR transfer in his separate review of that disc. Not surprisingly, the former option comes out ahead on this native 4K film.

Kubo and the Two Strings 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, more information about the UHD's effective Dolby Atmos mix can be found in Neil's 4K review; again, Brian's separate Blu-ray review covers the included 1080p disc's DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix.

Kubo and the Two Strings 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in attractive Steelbook packaging that features an eye-catching composition on its front cover with Monkey, Kubo, and Beetle surrounded by swiuling origami papers and decorative lanterns from the festival; the back cover opens up the image to reveal a striking blue-dominant moonlit river scene with origami Moon King battling a paper shark in midair. Inside is a similarly colorful (but more peaceful) moonlit splash image with both discs seated on overlapping hubs on the right side. A booklet is also included, similar to the previous edition.

Bonus features can be found on the 1080p disc only, and are detailed in Brian Orndorf's Blu-ray review.

Kubo and the Two Strings 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Travis Knight's Kubo and the Two Strings is undoubtedly Laika Entertainment's finest film to date, even eight years after its theatrical debut, and it's been very well-represented on home video in basically every format possible. This 4K/Blu-ray Steelbook combo pack is basically a variant of Shout Factory's standard 4K edition and features attractive design elements along with very impressive A/V merits and great extras as well. It's an absolute must-have for die-hard fans and packaging collectors alike, so do yourself a favor and get this one while it's still available.