The Addams Family Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

The Addams Family Blu-ray Movie Review

To coincide with MGM/UA's forthcoming animated version of The Addams Family, Paramount has reissued its 2017 BD-25 of 1991's The Addams Family, which was first released on Blu-ray by Warner Bros. in 2014. The original live-action feature is also part of Paramount's new twin pack, which also includes the sequel, Addams Family Values (1993). To see Michael Reuben's observations of Barry Sonnenfeld's gothical comedy-fantasy and his evaluation of Warner's A/V specs, please click here.

The Addams Family Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This is actually the third time The Addams Family (1991) has appeared on Blu-ray and disc content is identical on all editions. The front of Paramount's disc even lists 2017 as the copyright year. The MPEG-4 AVC encode replicates the two previous transfers' average bitrate of 21923 kbps. The film is presented in 1.78:1 which has been slightly opened up from the theatrical's 1.85:1. I second Michael's citing of the DNR. Only a thin layer of grain remains. The print is free of age-related artifacts but digital sharpening is pretty apparent.

Paramount provides eighteen chapter selections.

The Addams Family Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three audio tracks on this disc: the default English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround (4145 kbps, 24-bit), a French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (224 kbps), and a Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (224 kbps). The original English stereo is still missing. The audio encode is practically a facsimile of not only the two US BDs, but also the European Fox BDs. Paramount's remix is fairly aggressive in its directional f/x, particularly the swooshing wind and Fingers Addams' movement on hard surfaces. The filmmakers give a very brief nod to Vic Mizzy's classic TV theme, which should have been extended to play over the main titles (at the very least).

Paramount supplies subtitling options in English (SDH), French, and Spanish.

The Addams Family Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most unfortunately, Paramount hasn't added any new extras on this release.

• Theatrical Trailer 1 (1:21, 480i)

• Theatrical Trailer 2 (1:28, 480i)

The Addams Family Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I derived moderate enjoyment from revisiting The Addams Family, which was my first full viewing since seeing it on the big screen in the autumn of '91. Most of the performances, the production design, lighting, and camera work are first-rate. But the threadbare script barely has a plot and it gains and loses momentum in places. As a whole, the film has difficulty sustaining much tension, even in its taut seriocomic moments. Paramount has simply rehashed its old disc, which is a big disappointment and a missed opportunity to restore the grain and give one of the original prints a new 4K scan. For bonus materials, I was hoping for a commentary by Sonnenfeld and some new interviews. Either this slightly above-average disc or The Addams Family double feature package is MARGINALLY RECOMMENDED if you don't own one of the prior releases.