Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Shazam! 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"Big" with tights.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III July 15, 2019

Though it was only moderately profitable (at least by comic book movie standards), David F. Sandberg's surprisingly great Shazam! is easily one of DC's best films in recent memory. Our story follows frequent runaway Billy Batson (Asher Angel) on the streets of Philadelphia, whose regular run-ins with the law are only outnumbered by his amount of foster parents and failed attempts to contact his biological mother. Billy now lives with Rosa and Victor Vasquez (Marta Milans and Cooper Andrews), who already have five foster kids living under their roof including superhero fan Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer). Everything changes once Billy is summoned to the "Rock of Eternity" by ancient wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou), who's seeking someone pure of heart to take his place. It was the same opportunity given to dozens of other kids during the last few decades -- but none were worthy, including Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong), who now dedicates his adult life to stealing the wizard's magic for himself. Nonetheless, Billy is chosen and, as the full-grown Shazam (Zachary Levi), has almost unlimited powers and is psyched to try them all out.

Shazam! is currently available in a variety of home video options from Warner Bros., with the most common being a standard Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and this 4K/BR package. The latter predictably offers a noticeable boost to this visually impressive production, thanks to its (slightly) upscaled 2160p transfer and outstanding use of HDR color grading. Aside from different language and subtitle options -- as well as the poster-themed cover artwork, of course -- all other aspects of this release are identical to the Blu-ray edition in my review linked above, which also contains an additional 25 1080p screenshots and a more detailed evaluation of the film itself.

Shazam! 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shot digitally with Arri Alexa Mini and SXT cameras at a native 3.4K resolution, Shazam! is ever-so-slightly upscaled for this 4K release. It's similar to the technical specs of Aquaman, with the obvious disclaimer that both films vary quite a bit in their visual styles and the number of CGI effects used. And while Shazam! obviously aims for a much more down-to-earth atmosphere (or at least out-of-water), the benefits of this 2160p transfer and HDR color grading are absolutely not wasted on it. There are too many highlights to count: Shazam's glowing chest emblem (practically lit, not CGI-enhanced), the wizard's lair, magic-oriented effects, and real-world locations such as the climactic carnival visit, just to name a few. Primaries pop amazingly well and really jump out in darker scenes, while subtle variants of blue and red create a great deal of visual interest in unexpected areas. Image detail is outstanding during wide shots and close-ups alike (Shazam's costume, for example, is layered with Green and Roman textures that are more "readable" in 4K), with crisply-defined edges and excellent contrast levels that give the image a smooth but not waxy appearance.

My only reservations about the Blu-ray were in regard to occasional noise during darker scenes and banding on subtle gradients (especially during one scene where Freddie touches Shazam's emblem); while not eliminated completely, these issues are dialed back to almost zero thanks to the film's substantially higher bit rate and more robust color grading. (In fact, I am all but convinced that any remaining issues, no matter how minor, may be part of the original source material at this point.) In motion, all but the most eagle-eyed viewers will notice absolutely no shortcomings. Shazam! is simply a great-looking film and this 4K edition represents the strongest option currently available.

For an evaluation of the Blu-ray's 1080p transfer, please see my review of the Blu-ray.

Shazam! 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For an evaluation of the Dolby Atmos mix, please see my review of the Blu-ray. Please note that the 4K disc features different language and subtitle options during the main feature, listed above.

Shazam! 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

For an evaluation of the on-disc bonus features (contained on the Blu-ray only), please see my review of the Blu-ray. These included extras are listed below in name only.

• The Magical World of Shazam (26:56)

• Super Fun Zac (3:13)

• Deleted & Alternate Scenes (37:27)

• Gag Reel (3:16)

• Who is Shazam? (5:42)

• Carnival Scene Study (10:22)

• Shazamily Values (6:06)

• Exclusive Motion Comic: "Superhero Hooky" (4:05)

Shazam! 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

David F. Sandberg's Shazam! is the rare modern superhero movie that seems to get everything just about right: it maintains a (mostly) light tone while throwing in a few well-placed darker elements, establishes great characters that interact well with each other, doesn't overstay its welcome, and avoids loading up on overcooked special effects. I'll admit to not being overly familiar with the source material, but I enjoyed myself a lot and that's something I rarely say about films in this genre. (Perhaps its closest companion in overall scope and success is Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man, which I similarly enjoyed.) Though not without a few speed bumps, Shazam! is clearly a best-case scenario for any modern-day adaptation of a superhero who debuted before the world's first color TV was built. Warner Bros.' excellent 4K edition easily beats the standard Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with the help of a rock-solid 2160p transfer and effective HDR color grading, although its default Dolby Atmos audio mix and bonus features remain exactly the same. If you're already set up for 4K or plan to be in the near future, Shazam! is a highly recommended purchase.