Leprechaun 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Leprechaun 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 19, 2026

Lionsgate released Leprechaun: The Complete Movie Collection on 1080 discs over a decade ago (!), offering franchise fans a chance to either revisit or get acquainted with a series that frankly probably showed pretty severe signs of diminishing returns as it went on. Lionsgate Limited is now offering the first film with both archival and new supplements on 4K UHD and 1080 discs in exclusive SteelBook packaging.

This first film was of course part of the above mentioned collection, and my Leprechaun Blu-ray review offers a bit of plot information, a list of supplements and my reaction to the technical presentation of that release.

Leprechaun 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Leprechaun is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films' Lionsgate Limited etailer with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Lionsgate Limited doesn't tend to provide a wealth of technical information with their releases, and while there's actually quite a bit of secondary information on the internet about this being a 4K scan of the original camera negative, I haven't been able to find anything "official" online. This is one way or the other a vastly superior presentation (in both 1080 and 4K) to Lionsgate's old 1080 release which, as I mentioned in my review at the time, was in 1.78:1 and rather weirdly anamorphically stretched. The aspect ratio has been corrected here, and color timing has also been improved, if perhaps arguably a little inconsistently. Comparing screenshot 2 in this review with screenshot 4 of my old review of Lionsgate's first 1080 release will clearly document some of the improvements on tap, at least in some of the better lit material. Some other moments, and frankly even some that are pretty well lit, have a different but still noticeable kind of yellowish cast than the old 1080 release, probably most noticeable in flesh tones. The HDR / Dolby Vision grades may not provide the amount of boost in shadow definition in the many dimly lit scenes (mostly with our titular nemesis) than some might expect. Grain is also fairly variable and spikes pretty aggressively at times, something that is inevitably more noticeable in the 4K presentation.

Leprechaun 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Both the 4K and 1080 discs in this package sport a new Dolby TrueHD 5.1 version of the soundtrack, with the original stereo presentation consigned to a lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 option (the old 1080 release at least had lossless stereo). The surround track is probably most noticeably fun in some of the "scampering" material featuring the leprechaun, where some attention has been paid to directionality and panning effects. Scoring also enjoys a bit of a spacious boost throughout. Otherwise, though, virtually all of the dialogue is front and center and is delivered cleanly and clearly. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

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

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

• Leprechaun Lore: Genesis of a Cult Classic (HD; 21:31) is a fun retrospective with Mark Jones.


• Designing Mischief & Mayhem: Special Effects Make-Up (HD; 13:04) features Gabe Bartalos.


• Leprechaun First Day On Set: BTS Footage (HD; 7:20)


• Vidmark Entertainment VHS Promo Screener (HD; 6:27)


• Legacy Special Features

Audio Commentary with Writer / Director Mark Jones and Special Make-Up Effects Creator Gabe Bartalos




Audio Commentary with Actor Warwick Davis




The Leprechaun Chronicles Part One: Beginner's Luck Documentary (HD; 24:25)




Behind the Scenes Footage (HD; 6:26)




Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:47)




Still Gallery (HD; 4:21)

A digital copy is included.

The exclusive Lionsgate Limited SteelBook packaging includes a Mylar O-ring featuring a pour of golden coins. The SteelBook's front panel offers a sinister view of the titular character surrounded by a dark green tone that pervades the rear panel as well with some dimly observable shamrocks. The interior panels offer more green tones with a rear perspective of the leprechaun and the effects of some of his bad behavior.

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

In my life as a musician I'm just closing a really fun St. Patrick's Day adjacent run of an immersive semi-improvised show called Flanagan's Wake which has evidently been running forever in Chicago and which in fact features a leprechaun late in its second act. I mentioned to one of the cast that Leprechaun had shown up in my review queue, and he responded that the first film was the only good one in the series, and even it was bad. I'll let that critical assessment stand without further comment, as it was offered by an actor portraying a Catholic Priest. Joking aside, this new Lionsgate Limited edition noticeably improves the video of Lionsgate's old 1080 release, though the consignment of the original stereo audio to a lossy codec may disappoint some. As usual, Lionsgate Limited has aggregated some really appealing new supplements along with legacy bonus features, and the SteelBook packaging should be an extra inducement for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.