Rushmore 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Rushmore 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 1, 2025

Note: This version of this film is available as part of Criterion's The Wes Anderson Archive: Ten Films, Twenty-Five Years 4K.

Considering Wes Anderson's penchant for symmetry and Academy Ratio framings, at least at times, about the only problem some diehard Anderson fans may have with Criterion's impressive new set documenting "10 films and 25 years" may be that it's in a rectangular rather than a square box. That oversized box measures nearly 13" wide by 7 1/2" high by 3 1/2" deep and which some "liner notes" from Anderson joke is "upholstered in a sort of burlap canvas". It has a magnetized hinged cover that opens to display ten individual DigiBooks, one for each Anderson film, and each offering two discs, 1080 and 4K UHD, along with a sewn in pamphlet devoted to that film. While all of the films have had previous 1080 releases (not necessarily by Criterion), this set offers the 4K UHD debuts of each film.

Rushmore received a 1080 release from Criterion back in 2011, and Svet Atanasov's Rushmore Blu-ray review provides plot information, a list of supplements, and Svet's reaction to the technical presentation.

Rushmore 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: This is an interesting release from Criterion in that the 4K and 1080 discs offer different aspect ratios (see below). I typically try to shy away from screenshots sourced directly from 4K discs, since the downscaling to 1080 and (especially) SDR makes things look inaccurate, but in this case I'm offering a few screenshots from each resolution / aspect ratio. Screenshots 1 through 5 are from the 1080 disc, and screenshots 6 through 8 are from the 4K disc and come with the above caveat about accuracy.

Rushmore is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Criterion with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. The pamphlet included with the DigiBook has the following information on the master:

Rushmore is presented in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 on the 4K Ultra HD disc and 2.35:1 on the Blu-ray. Supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson, the new 4K restoration presented on the 4K UHD disc was created from the 35 mm original camera negative. The original 5.1 surround soundtrack was remastered from the 35 mm magentic track. The feature is presented in Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range) on the 4K UHD disc and high definition SDR (standard dynamic range) on the Blu-ray.

This is another fantastic looking presentation that gets offers some especially lustrous tones courtesy of the HDR / Dolby Vision that are obvious from the get go with the incredibly deep blue tones in the opening (tones that are repeated memorably later in an almost gobsmackingly cobalt blue theater curtain). Overall color timing struck me as a little less flushed / pink looking in this new 4K environment, but things look robust and natural throughout. But detail levels can also see a noticeable improvement in this 4K version also from the get go, as in the immaculate fine detail on Jason Schwartzman's suit jacket sleeve (you can almost count individual fibers poking out from the side). The change in aspect ratio is obviously relatively small and what I'd term fairly subliminal in my estimation, and none of the framings really struck me as materially altered. Grain is organic looking and tightly resolved throughout.

Rushmore 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Rushmore features a wonderfully immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is a treasure trove of superb source cues from a variety of legendary artists. While all of the music is presented very spaciously, the outdoor scenes in particular have really nice attention to detail, with realistic engagement of the side and rear channels to establish environments. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

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

Note: More information on the supplements is available in Svet's original review, linked to above.

4K Disc

• Commentary is from 1999 and features Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman.

1080 Disc

• Commentary is from 1999 and features Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman.


• Auditions (HD; 8:40)


• 1999 MTV Movie Awards Shorts (HD; 4:13)


• The Making of Rushmore (HD; 16:49)


• Film to Storyboard Comparison (HD; 1:55)


• Storyboards are image galleries:

Geometry Dream (HD)




Yearbook Montage (HD)




Country Club Scene (HD)




"You Are Forgiven" (HD)




Vietnam Play, Act One (HD)

• The Charlie Rose Show (HD; 54:20) features Wes Anderson and Bill Murray.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:32)


• Archiva Graphica (HD) is a photo gallery.

The Archive edition features a wonderful pamphlet sewn/glued into the DigiBook with essays by Dave Kehr and Wes Anderson (the latter reprinted from his introduction to the published Rushmore screenplay), along with a glut of photos. Credits and technical information are also included.

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

It's almost inherently ironic to call all of Wes Anderson's films sui generis, but that's a completely apt description for Rushmore, at least within the confines of what are generally thought of as "coming of age films". Once again stylish (maybe to a fault) and filled with memorable performances, this new 4K edition of Rushmore offers secure technical merits and really appealing supplements (if nothing new). Highly recommended.