Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		5.0

North by Northwest 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"That's funny, that plane's dustin' crops where there ain't no crops."

Reviewed by Randy Miller III November 19, 2024

Just in time for its 65th anniversary, Alfred Hitchcock's outstanding thriller North by Northwest starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint finally arrives on UHD. Featuring a terrific new 2160p/HDR10 transfer, two lossless audio options, and a nice collection of mostly familiar extras, it's a perfectly well-rounded disc and the best overall in WB's November slate of catalog 4K reissues. This is truly a landmark film, and not just because it features Mount Rushmore.

Bad puns, dead ahead.

For a synopsis and appreciation of North by Northwest, please see Casey Broadwater's review of the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray. I've nothing to add and 100% agree with his five-star rating, so let's just keep things moving.

North by Northwest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: These slightly compressed screenshots are sourced from the new 4K disc but downscaled to 1080p/SDR; therefore, they should not be considered a 100% accurate representation of this release's video quality.

I simply can't say enough good things about Warner Bros.' new 2160p/HDR10 transfer of North by Northwest, which is advertised as being sourced from a brand-new restoration and clearly advances upon previous discs including the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray. As seen in these accompanying screenshots (some of which, along with a few I posted for my 4K Steelbook, serendipitously line up with several from that older Blu-ray), there are obvious differences on display here that make this an inarguably definitive home video presentation. Aside from the correct framing at 1.85:1 (as opposed to the Blu-ray's open-matte 1.78:1), color timing has improved quite a bit as this 4K image no longer has the Blu-ray's slightly cooler green hue. Colors are more tastefully robust overall and so is fine detail, which is clearly more visible in close-ups and extremely wide shots alike; this also brings forth more organic textures and overall depth as well. The entire image is spotless while still retaining a tangible level of film grain, not to be confused with the Blu-ray's video noise and other processing byproducts. (There is one exception: the third-act forest scene looks to be "managed" a bit, but not enough to deduct any real point values.) As expected, the new HDR application is also extremely tasteful and heightens contrast levels as well as color saturation while not exaggerating skin tones or blowing out bright whites. Capping it all off is outstanding disc encoding, as the lengthy film runs at a supportive bit rate on this triple-layered (100GB) disc, which is more than enough real estate for the main feature and collection of extras.

North by Northwest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with WB's other 4K catalog reissues (Blazing Saddles and The Terminator), North by Northwest gets both a new Dolby Atmos mix built from previous 5.1 surround tracks as well as the original theatrical audio, which in this case is DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono in a split-channel container. This is likewise something that's been left off of basically every home video release during the last few decades, so to have the original mono as an option this time around will absolutely thrill purists. It's a well-rendered track and obviously faithful to its source material with crisp, dialogue, well-balanced effects, and plenty of room left over for Bernard Hermann's iconic original score. The new Dolby Atmos mix isn't a bad substitute, all things considered, and like the one for Blazing Saddles is quite a bit more robust in certain areas while still being faithful to the original's intent (and you just know it takes advantage of Atmos' height channels during that unforgettable plane flyover.) For obvious reasons, this is basically a perfect sonic scenario: we get a nicely reimagined remix and the genuine article, so a full five-star rating is perfectly warranted in this case.

Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are included during the main feature and all extras listed below.

North by Northwest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with attractively stylized cover artwork (which, of course, mashes together two iconic scenes from the film), a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy redemption code. Much like the other WB 4K catalog re-releases this month, the extras are a mixture of familiar supplements and one mystery newcomer. Sadly, a few legacy supplements have also been dropped from the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray including the feature-length PBS documentary Cary Grant: A Class Apart, trailers, an isolated score track, and a still photo gallery.

• Audio Commentary - A legacy track with screenwriter Ernest Lehman from the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray.

• NEW! North by Northwest: Cinematography, Score, and the Art of the Edit (23:06) - This undated but obviously recent retrospective piece, much like a similar one seen on Blazing Saddles, was produced by Outpost Media and appears to be newly created for this release (though likely before the new transfer was completed, as all supportive film clips are presented in 1.78:1). It of course touches upon all three elements in its title, among other related items, and includes comments from film historian Jonathan Kuntz, film critic Pete Hammond, film scholar Richard Edwards, the wonderful film historian Julie Kirgo, author Steven C. Smith, and others.

• Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest (39:27) - From the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray.

• The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style (57:32) - From the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray.

• North by Northwest: One for the Ages (25:29) - From the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray.

• A Guided Tour with Alfred Hitchcock (3:16) - From the 50th Anniversary Blu-ray (under "Trailers").

North by Northwest 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

North by Northwest is quintessential entertainment from Hollywood's Golden Age and also one of Alfred Hitchcock's most celebrated films. Its strengths are many and it's routinely placed on Top 100 lists for very good reason, but luckily it's been well-represented on home video during the last few decades. Due to an usually long 15-year gap between its last major edition (WB's solid 50th Anniversary Blu-ray), the studio's long-awaited new UHD release beats it in almost every category and is highlighted by an absolutely top-tier A/V treatment including an outstanding new 2160p/HDR10 transfer, solid Dolby Atmos audio, and of course the long-missing original theatrical mix. It's an essential purchase whether you choose this regular edition or the Steelbook and comes very, very Highly Recommended.