Outland 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Outland 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 23, 2025

There's been a lot of lip service and/or bandwidth (one assumes newsprint is no longer a thing) given over to so-called "neo Westerns" over the past several years, but Outland is so "neo" it's a "western" set in 2132. This riff on the western idiom casts Sean Connery as a marshal attempting to keep things calm on a mining colony fraught with worker unease and corporate malfeasance. Outland had a long ago 1080 release way back in 2012 courtesy of home studio Warner Brothers, but Arrow Video is now offering the 4K debut of the film (without an accompanying 1080 disc), culled from the original 35mm negative and with Arrow's typical assortment of interesting supplements.

As mentioned above, Outland had a (1080) Blu-ray release over a decade ago from Warner Brothers, and Michael Reuben's Outland Blu-ray review offers plot information, a list of supplements on that release, and Michael's reaction to the technical presentation. As I often state, "different reviewers means different opinions", and my overall score for the film reflects that difference of opinion.

Outland 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: This release does not include a 1080 Blu-ray, so these screenshots are taken directly from the 4K UHD disc and downscaled to 1080 and SDR. Color space in particular is therefore not accurate, and I recommend those interested to look at some of the screenshots in Michael's old 1080 review for a probably better representation of the palette. Since this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

Outland is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.35:1. Arrow's insert booklet has the following information on the presentation:

Outland has been exclusively restored by Arrow FIlms and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 [sic] with stereo and 5.1 audio.

The film is presented in 4K resolution in HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K 16 bit at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging.

The film was restored in 4K and colour graded at Silver Salt.

The original stereo track was restored by Bad Princess.

All materials sourced for this new mater were made available by Warner Bros.

QC review was completed by Pixelogic.

Michael was quite enthusiastic about the old Warner Brothers 1080 presentation, but of course a 4.5 score in 2012 might not get the same reaction from contemporary audience members' eyes. While not a huge difference, the first improvement this release offers is that it is correctly framed at 2.35:1 . I mentioned before how often I see spec submissions from members which mistake 2.35:1 for 2.39:1, and somewhere along the way the original aspect ratio for this film was mistakenly set to 2.39:1, which is de facto incorrect since this was sourced from the negative and is in 2.35:1 (I've corrected the original aspect ratio to reflect this). More importantly for some will be the overall look of the presentation, which offers some noticeable differences from the older Warner 1080 release especially in terms of overall brightness (this one is darker) and even more especially with regard to the palette nuances provided courtesy of the HDR / Dolby Vision grades. There are any number of standout examples fans of this film can look for in this 4K version, but some of the oranges in the "outer space" views of the planet and its mining operations, and even some isolated indoor scenes, are noticeably more vibrant in this version. Blues like those in the ubiquitous uniforms are also incredibly vivid. There are also (at least) two very memorable moments which won't be spoiled but which feature crimson red blood contrasted against stark white spacesuits where the HDR grades really make things pop (yes, that may be a pun alluding to the first example). Michael mentions Hyams' predilection for dark scenes, and they are certainly in abundance here, and the HDR grades can aid at least marginally in delivering more shadow detail at times. There are some observable upticks in fine detail in some of the close-ups in particular, even some where faces are seen through helmet visors. Once again it may an intermittently very heavy grain field which may be a niggling qualm for some. The opening Ladd Company logo is awash in both yellow splotchiness and "insect" like black grain, and that same combo platter tends to accompany some of the more brightly lit material, as in several of the lab scenes in the space station, as well as in the handball court. Grain resolves much more tightly (or at least less overtly observably) in the majority of the presentation, even in some potential problem areas like a dimly lit and smoke filled bar.

Note: While it's moving up on a year since I visited, I still hear from readers who didn't see my interview with the Silver Salt team when it originally posted, and so here's a link for those who may want an insight into their operations.

Outland 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Outland features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 options. Michael's review provides some good background information on the film's 70mm exhibition and the soundtrack accompanying that version, which presumably formed the basis for the surround track. I'm perhaps a bit more favorably inclined toward the surround track than Michael was, which may be due to some improvements over the older DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. One way or the other, there is substantial immersion offered throughout the presentation which includes bountiful ambient environmental effects spread generously through the side and rear channels. As Michael mentioned with regard to the 5.1 track on the disc he reviewed, there are at least intermittent bursts of rather forceful LFE attending some of the spaceship material in particular. Scoring also resides audibly in the surround channels throughout. The addition of the original (35mm) stereo track in lossless audio is also a big plus for this release. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

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

Note: New supplements are designated with an asterisk (*). Note that the image gallery is in full UHD resolution.

• Audio Commentaries

Commentary by Peter Hyams




Commentary by Chris Alexander*

• Interviews

A Corridor of Accidents: An Interview with Peter Hyams* (HD; 52:08) is a new interview with director Peter Hyams.




Outlandish: Stephen Goldblatt Remembers Filming Peter Hyams' Outland * (HD; 29:01) is a new interview with the film's director of photography.




The Introvision Files: William Mesa on Outland * (HD; 34:05) is a new interview with the film's visual effects supervisor.

• No Place for Heroes* (HD; 18:22) is an appreciation of the film by Josh Nelson.


• Hollywood Outland (HD; 21:22) is an interesting deconstruction of Peter Hyams' oeuvre, described here as "insider/outsider auteurism", from the enjoyable Howard S. Berger.


• Teaser Trailer* (HD; 1:55)


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:55)


• Image Gallery* (UHD)

While this doesn't have the exorbitant packaging of some of Arrow's other limited editions, this one does feature a reversible sleeve and a double sided foldout poster offering the same two images as the sleeve. An illustrated collector's booklet has new writing by Priscilla Page and Brandon Streussnig. Packaging features a slipcover.

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

Outland is ultimately maybe just a tad hackneyed in terms of offering a corporate villain that is virtually twirling its imaginary mustache, but the setting is so unique and Connery so appealing in the lead that niggling qualms tend to fade. This release offers solid technical merits and Arrow's typical supply of well done supplements. Recommended.