Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Rebel Without a Cause 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"I bet Luke Perry's friends don't treat him like this."

Reviewed by Randy Miller III April 5, 2023

Part of a sudden April flurry of catalog releases that also includes John Huston's seminal The Maltese Falcon and Stuart Rosenberg's excellent Cool Hand Luke, Nicholas Ray's classic coming-of-age drama Rebel Without a Cause finally debuts on 4K UHD courtesy of Warner Bros., despite the fact that it isn't celebrating an anniversary ending with a "0" or "5". Its new 2160p transfer is a spiritual successor to WB's terrific 2013 Blu-ray (later re-issued in keepcase packaging, and also included in this combo pack), with the same legacy extras and an exclusive Dolby Atmos mix.

For a synopsis and appreciation of the film, please read Michael Reuben's Blu-ray review linked above.

Rebel Without a Cause 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: This review's screenshots are sourced from the included Blu-ray, which is identical to WB's 2013 release.

Speaking of "identical to WB's 2013 release": Warner Bros. has been relatively quiet about the source materials used for their April slate of UHD titles, only noting that they're 4K restorations with HDR... so I wouldn't be all that surprised if Rebel Without a Cause used that same already-great master that decade-old disc, since Michael Reuben noted in his review that it was likewise sourced from a a 4k scan of the original camera negative, restored and color-corrected in the digital domain by MPI. This new 2160p transfer certainly displays a similar visual aesthetic but with unavoidably tighter results thanks to the boost in native resolution, more efficient HEVC encoding, and of course the built-in benefits of high dynamic range. They wring an awful lot of detail from the image, with suitably dialed-in contrast levels that are quite impressive in sunny outdoor settings -- one introductory scene at Dawson High School is almost disarming in its level of natural brightness, especially paired with the colorful clothes and shady foliage. Elsewhere, nighttime stretches get a nice boost as well due to the benefits of local dimming (depending on the capabilities of your display, of course), which increases the "readability" of certain moments without compromising their native appearance. The same applies to Rebel Without a Cause's color palette: there are no unscrupulous timing changes here, just a faithful reproduction of its WarnerColor roots. Unsurprisingly, there are no major compression issues to be found either, save for a few traces of artifacts and a bit of excess noise here and there. It's simply a solid-looking presentation, one that again is very much comparable to that older Blu-ray but with a few clear check marks in the "improved" column.

Rebel Without a Cause 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray's DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix has been decently repurposed for Dolby Atmos on the 4K disc (and is the default track to boot), meaning that Rebel Without a Cause may be one of the oldest studio catalog titles to be offered in this format. Yet anyone familiar with its surprisingly robust sonic roots should find this to be a fairly seamless remix: surrounds -- even the height channels, which are sparing -- are put to good use, dialogue sounds crisp, and there's a great overall presence that maintains its surprisingly robust dynamic range. Of course, its source material means that Rebel Without a Cause doesn't offer precise use of the format's object-based capability, which means it plays more like a slightly souped-up 5.1 track than something truly made for seven or more channels. But it's a welcome experiment... especially since Warner Bros. has also included the original mix, which the Blu-ray unfortunately did not.

This brings us to the 4K disc's other DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track, called "original theatrical" on the menu. Those who read Michael Reuben's Blu-ray review might recall that Rebel Without a Cause was released theatrically in both mono (optical) and four-track stereo (magnetic) formats; this presentation is definitely closer to the latter, as there's obvious separation and a relatively wide, full-bodied sound stage. Either way, having both the "original mix" -- whether or not it's identical to that four-track option -- and Dolby Atmos should appease both curious listeners and staunch purists alike. I can't say for sure if I truly prefer one over the other, but they're both quality presentations.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature and all applicable extras.

Rebel Without a Cause 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a dual-hubbed keepcase with attractive cover art, a handsome matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy redemption code tucked inside. Since the included Blu-ray is identical to WB's 2013 release, please see the linked review for more details. (One extra is thoughtfully included on both discs, as seen below.)

4K DISC

• Audio Commentary by "The Making of Rebel Without a Cause" author Douglas L. Rathgeb

BLU-RAY DISC

• Audio Commentary by "The Making of Rebel Without a Cause" author Douglas L. Rathgeb

• James Dean Remembered (106:22)

• Rebel Without a Cause: Defiant Innocents (36:30)

• Dennis Hopper: Memories from the Warner Lot (10:31)

• Screen Tests (3 clips, 6:27 total)

• Wardrobe Tests (5:05 total)

• Black & White Deleted Scenes Without Sound (5 clips)

• Color Deleted Scenes Without Sound (11 clips)

• Behind the Cameras (3 clips)

• Theatrical Trailer (2:25)

Rebel Without a Cause 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause is a classic coming-of-age drama led by James Dean's most iconic role of his tragically short career. Although pieces of its story remain fixed in the era in which they were captured, this is still a universally accessible film that holds up nearly 70 years later. It's also perhaps the most impressive and well-rounded of Warner Bros.' April 4K releases with a very satisfying restoration, exclusive Atmos audio (in addition to the original theatrical mix), and the best recycled Blu-ray of the bunch, which includes its own quality A/V presentation and a nice assortment of legacy bonus features. Highly Recommended to die-hard fans and newcomers too.