Rad Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Rad Blu-ray Movie Review

Mill Creek has released, now for the third time, a Blu-ray copy of the cult classic 1986 BMX bike film 'Rad.' The first release shipped in SteelBook packaging, while the second release, which was released only months later, dropped the SteelBook but added a few new extras. This release is not in SteelBook packaging, but it does bring over all extras (minus a trailer) while also adding a 63 minute retrospective documentary. Video and audio appear to be identical. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section of the review below for more on this new documentary.

Rad Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This appears to be the same transfer found in previous releases. Please click here for a full review.

Rad Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For this Blu-ray release of Rad, Mill Creek has simply dropped the same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the previous two issues here. Please click here for a full audio review.

Rad Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This is the third Blu-ray release for Rad from Mill Creek, and it's the most complete. It contains all of the legacy extras from the first 2021 release (that awesome MondoX SteelBook) as well as all of the extras from the second standard packaging 2021 release minus one (for whatever reason this issue drops the Trailer that was included on that disc). Nevertheless, this release houses all of that plus a 63 minute retrospective looking back at the film. It's a winner of a special feature and certainly alone worth the price of triple dip...if this issue didn't cost four times what the second 2021 issue costs (at time of writing). This release also includes an embossed slipcover with alternate front artwork and a slightly different spine design. The back matter is identical on both.

Below is a list of what's included. Please click here for coverage of the original release's extras and here for coverage of the extras that were new to the second 2021 issue.

• Against the Odds: Bill Allen on Rad
• Breakin the Ice: Sam Bernard on Rad
• Ace in the Hole: Hal Needham in the 80's
• Rad Q&A Session
• Archival Video Interviews with Cast and Crew
• Original Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
• Music Video
• NEW! A 'Rad' Documentary (1080p, 1:03:35): This is an hourlong documentary that explores the world of Rad, both then and now, its legacy and its future, through a compelling collection of interviews and retrospectives. The film has a fascinating history, stumbling out of the gate during its theatrical run but finding new life on VHS, so much so that it was frequently the top rented tape (ah...the good old days) for quite a while and often watched many times over on a single rental. The film's new life granted it something of a cult status and a widespread fanbase, and rightly so, with a good story and excellent photography, blending classic cinema narrative with extreme sports photography and action. This documentary takes a good, long, hard look at the film's history, style, script, story, casting, performances, Needham's direction, bike stunts, key scenes (including a great look at the "bike dance" sequence), appeal to most audiences, the film's legacy, and more. Really, this piece feels like an elongated exploration of the same information covered in the three "new" audio pieces that were on the second 2021 release. Still, there's plenty new here, too. It's infinitely watchable, and well worth a watch.

Rad Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mill Creek has finally released what appears to be a definitive edition of Rad, at least on Blu-ray. The legacy extras are certainly worth digging into again but the new hourlong documentary is the real draw here. However, it is worth noting that this release currently costs about 4X more than the second 2021 issue, making the cost of upgrade quite steep, especially with only a new hourlong documentary and an embossed slipcover being the major differences. However, the carryover video and audio content are both still impressive in 2025. Recommended, but still, here's hoping that, one, this release will get a dramatic price cut in the future, and two, that all of this is released again, but in 4K/Dolby Vision with a fresh SteelBook. That would be Rad.