Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 8, 2023

Both the small screen and big screen adaptations of Superman have had some notable tragedies, two of them rather weirdly involving men with rather similar last names, as has been discussed ad infinitum by some more devoted conspiracy theorists. George Reeves, beloved star of television's Adventures of Superman, met a rather ignominious and some would argue mysterious end which decades later became fodder for its own film, Hollywoodland. Christopher Reeve of course was victim of a horrifying riding accident which left him paralyzed, a situation that probably inarguably led to his own early demise. Part of George Reeves' problem may have been that he was so closely identified with the character of Superman that he felt he couldn't escape (few even remember his film career, which included a memorable bit in the very first scene of Gone with the Wind ). Christopher Reeve was able to evade if not totally elude the formidable shadow cast by the venerable superhero, which perhaps only added to the feeling of melancholy after his accident and later death. But even if Reeve was able to contribute rather memorable performances in any number of non-Superman outings ranging from Deathtrap to Somewhere in Time, in his own way he'll probably be as firmly tethered to the character of Superman as George Reeve is/was, and this new collection of 4K UHD presentations of four or five Christopher Reeve Superman films (depending on how you want to count things) should provide fans with some memories of happier times when things like Kryptonite seemed to be the only threats to safety and well being. Those happy memories may nonetheless be intermittently interrupted by some kind of odd choices Warner has made with this release, which will be discussed in the various individual reviews.

For reviews of the films in this collection, please click on the following links:

Superman: The Movie 4K Blu-ray review

Superman II 4K Blu-ray review

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut 4K Blu-ray review

Superman III 4K Blu-ray review

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace 4K Blu-ray review

Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplements are detailed in the above linked reviews.

Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fans of this series may want to wait to see if/how Warner handles the soundtrack situation discussed in the Superman IV: The Quest for Peace 4K Blu-ray review, but otherwise this set offers generally solid technical merits and the previously available supplements. With caveats noted, Recommended.