Super 8 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Super 8 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Paramount brings Director J.J. Abrams' excellent 2011 film 'Super 8' to the UHD format with new 2160p/Dolby Vision video. No new primary audio track is included and the studio has chosen not to bring any new supplements to the table, either. All of the extras are located on the UHD disc and all of the extras are identical to those found on the original 2011 Blu-ray; there is no bundled Blu-ray.

Super 8 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Super 8's 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer is one of appreciable and, collectively, it would now appear, vital gains and improvements over the decade-old Blu-ray. But whether viewing the film in isolation or taking the time to conduct some A-B comparisons between the two, the UHD results prove quite good in every regard. Paramount's picture is terrific, overall, boasting a pure, organic, cinematic texturing. Fine grain is retained for the duration. There's absolutely no look of unwanted and unwarranted processing in play. It's very natural and very pleasing to the eye, a perfect film-like look and one that thrives at this resolution. Textures are resultantly razor sharp. Facial features are obviously of high priority for intimate detail and clarity and in various close-ups the image doesn't disappoint. Viewers will note extremely fine pores, freckles, hairs, and the like, all noticeably sharper and better defined over the Blu-ray, which even a decade later is no slouch in the looks department but that clearly takes second place with the same details appearing comparatively flatter and less natural and dynamic at the lesser resolution. This picture's sharpness and stability rival even the finest UHD presentations. IMDB reports that the film has been finished at 4K for a "2021 remaster" and while not corroborated by Paramount's press material -- which simply states the film was "newly remastered" -- by its looks a 4K digital intermediate would certainly seem feasible. This one looks fantastic, no two ways about it.

The Dolby Vision color grading further impresses and improves upon the Blu-ray's more limited and comparatively flat and bland color presentation. There's a very slightly greener tint to the image but on the whole this is a richly realized palette that is firm, deep, and dialed in to perfect contrast throughout. Color improvements are in evidence everywhere. Whether bright blue skies, crisp white snow, healthy flesh tones, colorful clothes, brilliant explosions, or warm accents around homes, the picture yields a color presentation that is striking for its faithfulness and natural inclinations. Take a look inside a low-light restaurant at the 8-minute mark. The UHD finds a much more natural color spectrum here, amplifying the darker corners and holding much more firmly to true black than the Blu-ray while also warming the picture, adding depth, and boosting essential integrity to everything from background light fixtures to foreground food. It's a fine example of the Dolby Vision grading's work on the film, which is not transformative but rather an amplification of the film's inherent color scheme and spectrum, bringing the very best of balance and purity to every shot, scene, and sequence. Lens flare color intensity is likewise improved for brightness and stability (14:47 being a terrific example, a purple horizontal streak against a near solid black nighttime background). Altogether the resolution and color improvements, not to mention the absence of any print damage or encode shortcomings, yield a wonderful UHD. It's absolutely one of the best on the market.

Super 8 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Rather than remix for Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, Paramount simply ports over the existing Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless soundtrack for this UHD release, and why not? Even a decade old it's still a legendary listen and compliments the new UHD visuals just as well as it did the old 1080p presentation. For a full audio review, please click here. Note that this UHD disc does add a handful of new alternate language and subtitle options not included on the 2011 Blu-ray.

Super 8 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Paramount has ported all of the existing supplemental content from the 2011 Blu-ray over to the UHD disc (and even uses the same menu screen). All of the extras are still in 1080p, even the deleted scenes. See below for a breakdown of what's included and please click here for full reviews. A digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Audio Commentary
• The Dream Behind Super 8
• The Search for New Faces
• Meet Joel Courtney
• Rediscovering Steel Town
• The Visitor Lives
• Scoring Super 8
• Do You Believe in Magic?
• The 8mm Revolution
• Deconstructing the Train Crash
• Deleted Scenes

Super 8 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Super 8 is one of the best genre films of the 2010s. The new 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD presentation is spectacular; no word describes it better. It's gorgeously filmic, perfectly sharp, and colors are just right. There's no change in the main audio track but the 7.1 presentation is just as good today as it was a decade ago. All of the legacy supplements are included. This UHD release of Super 8 earns my highest recommendation. Packaging collectors should look for the SteelBook packaging variant.