Maze Runner: The Death Cure 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Maze Runner: The Death Cure 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

The Maze Runner's long delayed third and final installment came out to less than rapturous reviews but at least decent box office, and is now being released by Fox in both 1080p Blu-ray and 4K UHD formats. The film's kind of a mixed bag, but its technical presentation is top notch, so fans may well be interested in checking it out.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080p Blu-ray.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure is presented on 4K UHD courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with a 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. This is one of the nicer looking 4K presentations of a (reported) 2K DI, to the point that I'm almost wondering if the few online citations mentioning a 2K DI might be incorrect (the IMDb has no data as of yet, and to be clear I'm not claiming this isn't sourced from a 2K DI, just that it looks great in any case). One way or the other, detail levels are immediately more apparent from the get go in this version, with the opening establishing shots not only looking considerably more precise, but having a really amazing dimensionality that offers considerable depth into the frame. Fine detail levels on everything from costume fabrics to more ostensibly "palpable" elements like what look like the cast iron shields adorning the dune buggies are noticeably improved on the 4K UHD presentation. There are a number of nice tweaks that HDR adds to the presentation (interestingly, Maze Runner: The Death Cure is reported to have had Dolby Vision theatrical presentations, but it's not included on the 4K UHD disc). Some underground sequences and a lot of the lab material have a somewhat cooler blue tone now, but it's a couple of sequences that are bathed in a kind of orange glow (in one case courtesy of some conflagrations) that really have a new vividness and nuance in this presentation. The many dark scenes in the film have at least marginally improved shadow definition. This is another winning effort on 4K UHD from Fox, and my hunch is fans will be very pleased with the look of this disc.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I gave top marks to the 1080p Blu-ray version's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix, and as has tended to be the case, the 4K UHD's Dolby Atmos track takes that excellence and kicks it up (literally in some instances) a considerable notch. Again, right from the get go, in the few seconds before actual imagery shows up, the kind of washes of ambient environmental "whooshes" (for want of a better term) have clear overhead surround directionality now, and later moments like the Harrier like jet the bad guys utilize provide even more noticeable height elements. But over and over and again throughout this track there is regular engagement of all the surround channels. While the effects heavy sequences are of course standouts, even more subtle uses of background noises in the lab scenes are regularly immersive and engaging. Dialogue is always clear and well prioritized. Fidelity is impressive and dynamic range extremely wide on this great sounding track.

Note: As tends to often be the case with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment releases, the audio and subtitle specs are different for the 1080p Blu-ray and 4K UHD discs. The specs above are for the 4K UHD disc; please consult the above linked review for specs on the 1080p Blu-ray.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Only the Commentary from the supplements outlined in our Maze Runner: The Death Cure Blu-ray review is ported over to the 4K UHD disc. The collectible comic book is also included in non-disc supplemental material.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As with at least the second installment of this franchise (and maybe even arguably the first), some judicious pruning of a fairly bloated (perhaps even padded) "grand finale" might have helped things considerably. What's kind of odd about this supposedly big wrap up is how it kind of skimps on consistent action elements, concentrating instead on sometimes overly labored expository scenes. One way or the other, fans of this franchise in general or this film in particular may well want to experience it on 4K UHD, because the technical merits of this presentation are first rate.