Legend 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Legend 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 19, 2025

Brian Helgeland's "Legend" (2015) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include director's audio commentary; various archival cast and crew interviews; archival featurettes; footage from the film's world premiere; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

That Reggie and Ron Kray (both played by Tom Hardy) became so famous and remained invincible for as long as they did undoubtedly says more about the people who, at the same time, ran London, and by default, the rest of the country. There was nothing unique about these guys. They were bullies who came out of the gutter, smashed some heads, made some dough, and then, for a short period of time, hooked up with Meyer Lansky’s crew. Expanding their business with Lansky was not something they had considered, either -- Lansky’s people came to them, offering opportunities and partnerships that could bring them closer to the big players. Then, they blew it all. It was an unavoidable development. One of the brothers was far more reckless than the other, presumably because he had some mental issues, but they were both dangerously loose cannons, constantly gambling with their freedom and lives. The many utterly corrupt and, frankly, astonishingly indifferent people in powerful positions across London simply delayed the inevitable for as long as possible.

Brian Helgeland’s film is, of course, a very close relative of Peter Medak’s earlier film about the brothers. However, they are effective and ineffective for different reasons.

In Helgeland’s film, the rise and fall of the brothers is described by Frances Shea (Emily Brown), who married Reggie and then took her life, which is an interesting but ultimately odd trick that gives their story a somewhat surreal quality. It also makes the unhappy wife a major character in this story. Apparently, she was very important to Reggie, but the woman who had the biggest influence on the brothers and their lives was, without a shadow of a doubt, their mother (Jane Wood). Helgeland’s film downplays this crucial detail.

It makes sense that so much of Helgeland’s film is dedicated to the scandalous and shocking events that shaped the brothers’ public image. Even before they became London’s most violent celebrities, the brothers could not stop behaving as if they were constantly auditioning for a horror film. They routinely engaged in violent acts. One of them was an unabashed homosexual who often organized bizarre orgies. Both loved to publicly demonstrate how much they detested police officials, including the important ones they had on a payroll. And yet, Helgeland’s film works pretty darn hard to sell the two as working-class boys who simply had an unorthodox plan to escape their miserable environment.

It is admirable that Helgeland’s film digs a little deeper and exposes more of the important people who benefited from and protected the brothers. Some were at the very top in Scotland Yard. Some were members of the House of Lords. But Helgeland’s film also remains very, very careful with the people who, at the right time, betrayed the brothers. It was not only Leslie Payne (David Thewlis), their flexible accountant-business partner, who walked away from them after surviving an assassination attempt and became an informer for the police. A lot of important city officials and politicians coordinated their efforts to destroy the brothers and ensure their safety, and, as in Medak’s film, they remain unnamed.

Helgeland and Medak’s films are both worth a watch because they provide mostly decent, familiar entertainment. But their summation of the brothers’ lives and ugly legacy is neither complete nor admirably illuminating. Medak had a good excuse for directing his film as he did. He had become a good friend of the brothers and sought their approval of the material that ended up in it. Helgeland did his own research and shot his film without external pressure. However, his enthusiasm for the brothers’ public image made it impossible for him to retell their story objectively.

Legend 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

StudioCanal's release of Legend is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-B "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-30 are taken from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #35-40 are taken from the 4K Blu-ray.

In native 4K, Legend looks sensational, almost too perfect. Obviously, it is a very recent film shot with the latest modern cameras, but the overall quality of the visuals is still hugely impressive. For example, some of the close-ups look so sharp and nicely detailed that they can be mistaken for digital photographs. The bright outdoor footage looks sensational as well. However, I think that it is the more nuanced indoor footage, where often there are various darker shadows, that looks most striking in native 4K. The HDR grade handles these areas exceptionally well, too. Again, there is contemporary stylization work applied to the entire film that carefully and very effectively enhances crucial elements of its appearance, but I think that the HDR grade further enhances the strengths of the original photography. The 1080p presentation produces fantastic visuals as well. However, this very rich, wonderfully nuanced appearance is superior and easier to appreciate in native 4K. The native 4K and 1080p presentations both produce visuals whose fluidity is impeccable. The stylization work emphasizes particular warmer colors and supporting nuances, so color balance is unique. My impression is that it is properly replicated on the 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. I did not notice any encoding anomalies to report in our review.

Legend 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this release: English Dolby Atmos, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and English LPCM 2.0. A DTS 2.0 descriptive audio track is available as well. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they split the image frame and the black bar below it.

I viewed the entire film with the Dolby Atmos track. It is a very aggressive track that does not shine only during the busier action scenes. I thought that even some of the busy footage from the streets and the nightclub sounded terrific. All dialog is clear and stable, but there are quite a few sequences where Ron sort of mumbles, and with his thick accent, it could be difficult to get everything he says. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report.

Legend 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - in this commentary, writer/director Brian Helgeland discusses in great detail his research work and various truths and half-truths about Reggie and Ron Kray, the decision to tell their story via Frances Shea, the East End of London and its role as a character in his film, and some of the major business decisions and relationships that are at the heart of its narrative. Helgeland also has some interesting comments about the unique visual style of his film and Tom Hardy's performance.

• Myth & Legend - in this program, Brian Helgeland discusses his (American) background, his early writing and directing work, and the conception and production of Legend. Helgeland also highlights some of the key differences between American and British gangster films, as well as his grasp and cinematic interpretation of Reggie and Ron Kray's story. In English, not subtitled (36 min).

• The Legend of The Krays - in this program, various people who knew Reggie and Ron Kray, including one of their associates, Chris Lambrianou, discuss the East End of London during the 1960s, and the criminal environment in which the two brothers became famous. In English, not subtitled (15 min).

• Interviews with Cast and Crew - in this program, various cast and crew members discuss their contributions to Legend. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Brian Helgeland (7 min).
  2. Tom Hardy (3 min).
  3. Emily Browning (5 min).
  4. Christopher Eccleston (4 min).
  5. David Thewlis (4 min).
  6. Charley Palmer Rothwell (2 min).
  7. Mel Raido (2 min).
  8. Sam Spruell (2 min).
  9. Taron Egerton (3 min).
  10. Dick Pope (24 min).
  11. Tom Conroy (4 min).
  12. Tim Bevan (2 min).
  13. Chris Clark (3 min).
  14. Quentin Curtis (4 min).

• Interactive Map of East London - presented here is a unique interactive map of the East End of London, which Reggie and Ron Kray called home. Each location is presented with a short video and a few also with comments by Brian Helgeland. In English, not subtitled. (Approximately 20 min).

• World Premiere Featurette - presented here is footage from the world premiere of Legend in London, with short comments by some of the people who made it. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - in this commentary, writer/director Brian Helgeland discusses in great detail his research work and various truths and half-truths about Reggie and Ron Kray, the decision to tell their story via Frances Shea, the East End of London and its role as a character in his film, and some of the major business decisions and relationships that are at the heart of its narrative. Helgeland also has some interesting comments about the unique visual style of his film and Tom Hardy's performance.

• Myth & Legend - in this program, Brian Helgeland discusses his (American) background, his early writing and directing work, and the conception and production of Legend. Helgeland also highlights some of the key differences between American and British gangster films, as well as his grasp and cinematic interpretation of Reggie and Ron Kray's story. In English, not subtitled (36 min).

• The Legend of The Krays - in this program, various people who knew Reggie and Ron Kray, including one of their associates, Chris Lambrianou, discuss the East End of London during the 1960s, and the criminal environment in which the two brothers became famous. In English, not subtitled (15 min).

• Interviews with Cast and Crew - in this program, various cast and crew members discuss their contributions to Legend. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Brian Helgeland (7 min).
  2. Tom Hardy (3 min).
  3. Emily Browning (5 min).
  4. Christopher Eccleston (4 min).
  5. David Thewlis (4 min).
  6. Charley Palmer Rothwell (2 min).
  7. Mel Raido (2 min).
  8. Sam Spruell (2 min).
  9. Taron Egerton (3 min).
  10. Dick Pope (24 min).
  11. Tom Conroy (4 min).
  12. Tim Bevan (2 min).
  13. Chris Clark (3 min).
  14. Quentin Curtis (4 min).

• Interactive Map of East London - presented here is a unique interactive map of the East End of London, which Reggie and Ron Kray called home. Each location is presented with a short video and a few also with comments by Brian Helgeland. In English, not subtitled. (Approximately 20 min).

• World Premiere Featurette - presented here is footage from the world premiere of Legend in London, with short comments by some of the people who made it. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Booklet - a 48-page booklet including an essay by Brian Helgeland and the original production notes, as well as technical credits.

• Posters - two posters.

• Cards - four collectible art cards.

Legend 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Peter Medak's film is too careful not to expose the many important people who, at the right time, betrayed Reggie and Ron Kray. Brian Helgeland's film digs a little deeper, but humanizes the two criminals way too much, creating the impression that they were just working-class boys who tried to escape the misery of their environment. The Krays were bullies who loved to abuse and hurt people, and, for a while, their brutality was what kept them ahead of their competitors. Then, after evolving into London's favorite violent celebrities, they blew it all. StudioCanal's upcoming combo pack presents a terrific new remaster of Helgeland's film, together with a very good selection of bonus features. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to the fans.