RoboCop 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

RoboCop 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman April 12, 2022

Arrow is continuing with its kind of interesting strategy of releasing 4K UHD versions of previously released 1080 versions, typically some time after those 1080 versions have appeared, and without 1080 discs being included in the 4K UHD packaging, per what I'd argue is industry norm. In this particular case, Arrow is providing not one but two 4K UHD releases, one aping the packaging and non disc swag of their 1080 Limited Edition and another aping the packaging of the 1080 SteelBook. Our database initially might have made it seem like the SteelBook only contained the Director's Cut, but I can confirm that both releases share the same two discs and content, with the only differences being the packaging and, in the case of the "Limited Edition", things like the slipbox and insert booklet.

RoboCop has had a rather outsized number of releases through the years, but for a starting point that is hopefully helpful considering it's of Arrow's previous 1080 release of the film, please head over to my RoboCop Blu-ray review.

RoboCop 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of the 4K UHD presentation is assessed in the RoboCop 4K Blu-ray review.

RoboCop 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of the 4K UHD presentation is assessed in the RoboCop 4K Blu-ray review.

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

For an assessment of the look and feel of the SteelBook, Martin Liebman's RoboCop Blu-ray review provides good information. For on disc supplements, here's a detailed listing:

Disc One

• Director's Cut (UHD; 1:43:18)


• Commentaries

  Archive Commentary by Paul Verhoeven, executive producer Jon Davison and co-writer Ed Neumeier (originally recorded for the Theatrical Cut and re-edited in 2014 for the Director's Cut)

  
  

  New Commentary by film historian Paul M. Sammon

  
  

  New Commentary by fans Christopher Griffiths, Gary Smart and Eastwood Allen

• The Future of Law Enforcement (HD; 16:51) is a new interview with co-writer Michael Miner.


• RoboTalk (HD; 32:08) is a new conversation between co-writer Ed Neumeier and filmmakers David Birke and Nicholas McCarthy.


• Truth of Character (HD; 18:26) is a new interview with Nancy Allen.


• Casting Old Detroit (HD; 8:20) is a new interview with casting director Julie Selzer.


• Connecting the Shots (HD; 11:06) is a new interview with second unit director Mark Goldblatt, who has a long history with Paul Verhoeven.


• Analog (HD; 13:10) is a fun new featurette with Peter Kuran and Kevin Kutchaver discussing the pre-CGI "old school" special visual effects.


• More Man Than Machine: Composing RoboCop (HD; 12:04) is a new piece which focuses on composer Basil Paledouris and includes comments from Jeff Bond, Lukas Kendall, Daniel Schwieger and Robert Townson.


• RoboProps (HD; 12:50) is new tour of the collection of Julien Dumont, who has an insane amount of RoboCop memorabilia.


• 2012 Q &A with the Filmmakers (HD; 42:37) features Paul Verhoeven, Jon Davison, Ed Neumeier, Michael Miner, Nancy Allen, Peter Weller and Phil Tippett.


• RoboCop: Creating a Legend (HD; 21:10) is the first of several archival featurettes ported over to this release.


• Villains of Old Detroit (HD; 17:00) is another archival featurette focusing on the bad guys.


• Special Effects: Then & Now (HD; 18:21) is another archival featurette.


• Paul Verhoeven Easter Egg (HD; 00:39) is another archival piece, but is it really an easter egg when it's out in the open like this? (That's a joking rhetorical question, for those who may not get it.)


• Deleted Scenes (720p; 2:50)


• The Boardroom: Storyboard with Commentary by Phil Tippett (HD; 6:02)


• Director's Cut Production Footage (HD; 11:34) offers raw dailies.


• Trailers

  Theatrical Trailer 1 (HD; 1:38)

  
  

  Theatrical Trailer 2 (HD; 1:23)

• TV Spots (HD; 2:03)


• Image Galleries

  Production Stills (HD)

  
  

  Behind the Scenes (HD)

  
  

  Poster & Video Art (HD)

Disc Two

• Theatrical Cut (UHD; 1:42:47)


• Archive Commentary by Paul Verhoeven, executive producer Jon Davison and co-writer Ed Neumeier (originally recorded for the Theatrical version of the film)


• Two Isolated Score Tracks offer the original score by Paledouris and his final theatrical mix, both presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.


• Edited for Television Version (upscaled HD; 1:35:16) has alternate dubs, takes and edits of several scenes.


• RoboCop: Edited for Television (HD; 18:35) compiles alternate scenes from two edited for television versions, including outtakes that have been newly transferred in high definition from recently unearthed 35mm elements. This can be found under the Edited for Television Version menu.


• Split Screen Comparisons

  Director's Cut vs. Theatrical Cut (HD; 4:02)

  
  

  Theatrical Cut vs. TV Cut (HD; 20:16)

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

While some collectors may continue to quibble that Arrow isn't including 1080 discs in their 4K UHD (re-)releases, they may have a "new, improved" (?) beef to take up with the label since there are two different 4K UHD versions available, each with their own merits in terms of packaging and non disc swag. (That's a joke, in case it wasn't clear.) Real collectors may be tempted to get both, but for those with more reserved tastes (and/or budgets), both of the 4K UHD releases from Arrow offer secure technical merits and a really bounteous supply of excellent supplements, as well as their own packaging virtues. Highly recommended.