Red Sonja 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		2.5

Red Sonja 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 17, 2026

With the impending Blu-ray release of Fleischer Cartoons: Greatest Hits, Volume 1 not to mention previous Blu-ray offerings from the vaunted Fleischer Animation Studios as well as any number of films directed by Richard Fleischer, it might be a good reason for those unacquainted with this pretty incredible family to do some background research. If efforts like Max Fleischer's Superman may be considered as a paradigm of the quality the family could provide, Red Sonja may sadly prove that even someone with the legendary Fleischer name and facility couldn't save a doomed project. Arrow is offering a 4K release that is based off the same master as a Region B 4K release from Studio Canal a couple of years ago, but with additional colo(u)r grading and film restoration. As usual, Arrow has assembled a glut of newly produced interviews with various cast and crew members, and offers another handsomely packaged Limited Edition with some non disc swag.

As mentioned above, Red Sonja had a 4K UHD release in Region B courtesy of Studio Canal. Svet Atanasov's Red Sonja 4K Blu-ray review provides plot information, a list of supplements and Svet's reaction to the technical presentation.

Red Sonja 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.

Red Sonja is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1 (the Studio Canal release was framed in 2.35:1). Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the presentation:

Red Sonja is presented in the original aspect ratio of 2.39:1 with its original mono and 5.1 mixes. The film is presented in 4K resolution in HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K 16 bit at Picture Shop LLC. The film was restored by Hiventy on behalf of Studio Canal. Colour grading and additional picture restoration was completed by Arrow Films at Silver Salt. Audio restoration was completed by Portsteinn Gislason. All source materials sourced for this new restoration were made available by Studio Canal. Grading and additional mastering supervised by James Pearcey and James White, Arrow Films.

The Studio Canal Region B was met with some pretty variant reactions, with Svet's being decidedly negative, though with others in our Forum offering a more positive response. One way or the other, to my eyes at least the grading on Arrow's effort is much closer to what I remember seeing in theaters a lifetime ago. Arrow's release is noticeably darker than the Studio Canal release, something that in and of itself probably helps to tone down what Svet called a kind of "neon" look to the Region B release. The palette is generally very healthy looking, but there are admittedly large swaths, including a lot of the material in the first section in particular, that are on the brown side without a lot of pop. The HDR / Dolby Vision grades offer reds that can tilt slightly toward crimson on occasion, though other primaries are arguably less affected. Detail levels are frankly a bit variable based on framings and some of the composited FX work, but in moments featuring close-ups without any opticals, fine detail on practical sets and costumes is generally nice looking. Grain can be quite heavy at times, especially in some of those aforementioned opticals, but resolves without any major issues.

I'll simply mention in passing that this is another nice revision by the good folks at Silver Salt Restoration, whom I had the good fortune to interview after visiting them in December 2024.

Red Sonja 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Red Sonja features LPCM Mono and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 options. The surround track may frankly not reach the hyperbolic levels of modern day action epics, but it definitely opens up the original mono mix in terms of ambient environmental effects and other sound effects in particular. The glut of outdoor material definitely benefits from the surround track. Ennio Morricone's score is also more spaciously offered in the surround track. Dialogue (such as it is) is presented cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Red Sonja 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentaries

Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani & Troy Howarth




Commentary by Dave Baxter

• The Prince and Me (HD; 13:41) is a new interview with actor Ernie Reyes, Jr.


• Swords, Stunts and Sonja (HD; 14:59) is a new interview with action unit supervisor Vic Armstrong.


• The Last of the Invincibles (HD; 26:09) is a new interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger's stunt double Pietro Torrisi. Subtitled in English.


• The Danish Girl (HD; 16:08) is a new interview with stuntman Ottaviano Dell'Acqua. Subtitled in English.


• The 12 Labors of Red Sonja (HD; 30:43) is a new interview with assistant production manager Stefano Spadoni. Subtitled in English.


• The Marvels of a Primitive Technology (HD; 28:10) is a new interview with FX artist Domingo Lizcano, here discussing the work of Emilio Ruiz Del Rio. Subtitled in English.


• Moulding Fantasies (HD; 20:18) is a new interview with FX assistant Adriano Carboni. Subtitled in English.


• Bodybuilding the Imagery (HD; 22:34) is a newly released archival interview with the late poster artist Renato Casaro. Subtitled in English.


• A. Schwarzenegger: The Man Who Raised Hollywood (HD; 15:39) is an archival documentary about Ah-nold.


• Red Sonja vs. Kalidor: The Making of a Misunderstanding (HD; 12:03) is an archival featurette with assistant director Michel Ferry. Subtitled in English.


• Trailer (HD; 2:05)


• Image Gallery (UHD)

Additionally, this Limited Edition comes with an O ring type slipcover enclosing a slipbox which itself encloses the keepcase, a perfect bound collectors' booklet and a double sided foldout poster. The keepcase has a reversible sleeve and holds six postcard sized reproduction art cards. The booklet has three really good essays by John Walsh, Barry Forshaw and Nanni Cobretti.

Red Sonja 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Red Sonja is obviously not some under appreciated classic, but on its own kind of impressive camptastic level, it can weirdly enjoyable. Those concerned about the color timing of the Studio Canal 4K release may well find this version more to their liking, and as usual Arrow has assembled some top flight supplements, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.