Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Scarface 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 11, 2022

Note: Collectors who value beautiful packaging and non-disc swag as much as whatever technical merits are in store had better start clearing some significant new shelf room for this impressive new series being distributed by The Film Vault. What's perhaps also going to be exciting for physical media buffs is that this new collection is being curated from both the Warner Brothers Discovery and Universal catalogs, which hopefully will increase the opportunities for appealing choices.

While The Film Vault's new releases branded with numbers 1 and 2, Blade Runner 4K and GoodFellas 4K, came from the Warner Brothers side of the distributor's bifurcated licensing deal(s), collectors will get their first chance at what this distributor can do with a Universal title with this release. In this case, both the 4K UHD and 1080 discs seem to be culled from Universal's so-called Gold Edition .

Like both Blade Runner 4K and GoodFellas 4K, Scarface had a rather large number of prior releases on Blu-ray, and readers are encouraged to spend some time reading the thoughts of my colleagues Martin Liebman and Ken Brown. In this particular instance, it doesn't look like there were any questionable reviews done early in the site's history that I would frankly warn readers to steer clear of. Ken reviewed the SteelBook 1080 release in 2011, and Marty reviewed a number of different formats and packaging versions in 2019, though his Scarface 4K Blu-ray review is probably the best single resource in terms of comparisons with what's being offered here.

Scarface 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc included in this package.

Scarface is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of The Film Vault with a 2160p transfer in 2.35:1. Marty does a very thorough job of outlining the strengths of this 4K presentation in his review of Universal's own release, and I'd only add that while detail levels definitely enjoy an uptick, to the point that some squeamish types may not like the increased "information" vis a vis some of the more troubling wounds, it's really the palette that repeatedly struck my eyes as I watched the film this time. HDR has added all sorts of highlights to any already Miami Vice-esque palette filled with a number of appealing pastel tones as well as brighter primaries, and everything tends to pop extremely well, especially once the film actually moves into its main story arc and there are some brightly lit outdoor moments. As Marty also mentions, this is a pretty grainy enterprise at times, and this is another shot on film production where I personally wouldn't be surprised to hear some viewers feel the grain field can look a bit on the noisy side. That said, I didn't notice anything that I would term an actual compression issue. That said, I'm just ever so slightly lowering Marty's 4K score for my review in the latest iteration of "different reviewers means different opinions".

To also confirm, the 1080 disc in this set is definitely the newer AVC encode Marty reviewed, not the older VC-1 encode Ken reviewed.

Scarface 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Scarface offers an often blistering DTS:X track that makes good use of spacious placement of both ambient environmental effects and an often pulsating score. As Marty mentions in his review, some of the crowd scenes offer great overhead activity and a real sense of immersion, though always within a well prioritized and clearly delineated layered sound design. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional subtitles in several languages are available.

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

On Disc Supplements

The 4K UHD disc contains the 35th Anniversary Reunion, while the 1080 disc has all of the supplements listed below. More information on the reunion can be found in Marty's review of the Gold Edition (linked to above), and details on the rest of the ported over supplements can be found in yet another write up of the film on Blu-ray, Ken Brown's Scarface Blu-ray review of the SteelBook release from several years ago.

• Scarface: 35th Anniversary Reunion (1080p, 27:06)


• The Scarface Phenomenon (SD; 38:32)


• The World of Tony Montana (SD; 11:38)


• The Rebirth (SD; 10:08)


• The Acting (SD; 15:05)


• The Creating (SD; 29:35)


• Deleted Scenes (SD; 22:29)


• Scarface: The TV Version (SD; 2:48)


• The Making of Scarface: The Video Game (SD; 12:05)

Packaging and Non Disc Swag

The Film Vault is obviously gearing these releases toward serious collectors, in terms of offering a unified appearance and the same sort of non disc supplements included in each package. The outer box is approximately 9" high by 7 1/8" wide by 1 5/8" deep. The box has an acetate O-ring slipcover branded with both the film title and The Film Vault's logo as well as numbering. This rigid clamshell box is emblazoned with newly commissioned key art and itself features a kind of cool magnetic clasp that opens to disclose a whole host of goodies. A CD sized digipack (in its own slipcover) holds both the 1080 and 2160 discs, there is a rather beautiful if possibly useless exclusive individually numbered crystal display plaque (again with the film's title), four collectible art cards (on glossy cardstock) with film facts, with the cards enclosed in another branded envelope. I've uploaded a picture of the packaging under the appropriate tab on the main review interface.

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

Nothing says "Happy Holidays!" quite like Scarface, but joking aside, this should be an interesting release at least for those who didn't pick up the Region A Gold Edition (or one of the many other editions released through the years). The Film Vault offers another gorgeously packaged release with generally secure technical merits and enjoyable on disc supplements with a nice supply of non disc swag. Recommended.