The Darjeeling Limited 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Darjeeling Limited 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 4, 2025

Note: This version of this film is available as part of Criterion's The Wes Anderson Archive: Ten Films, Twenty-Five Years 4K.

Considering Wes Anderson's penchant for symmetry and Academy Ratio framings, at least at times, about the only problem some diehard Anderson fans may have with Criterion's impressive new set documenting "10 films and 25 years" may be that it's in a rectangular rather than a square box. That oversized box measures nearly 13" wide by 7 1/2" high by 3 1/2" deep and which some "liner notes" from Anderson joke is "upholstered in a sort of burlap canvas". It has a magnetized hinged cover that opens to display ten individual DigiBooks, one for each Anderson film, and each offering two discs, 1080 and 4K UHD, along with a sewn in pamphlet devoted to that film. While all of the films have had previous 1080 releases (not necessarily by Criterion), this set offers the 4K UHD debuts of each film.

The Darjeeling Limited received a 1080 release from Criterion back in 2010, and Svet Atanasov's The Darjeeling Limited Blu-ray review contains plot information, a list of supplements and Svet's reaction to the technical presentation.

The Darjeeling Limited 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

The Darjeeling Limited is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Criterion with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. The pamphlet included with the DigiBook has the following information on the master:

The Darjeeling Limited is presented in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson, this new 4K digital master was upscaled from the 2K digital intermediate, which was created from scans of the 35 mm original camera negative. The original 5.1 surround soundtrack was remastered from the original digital audio files.

Hotel Chevalier is presented in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Supervised and approved by Anderson, this new 4K digital master was upscaled from the 2K digital intermediate, which was created from scans of the 35 mm original camera negative. The original 5.1 surround soundtrack was remastered from the original digital audio files.

Both films are presented in Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range) on the 4K UHD disc, to preserve the wide color gamut of the theatrical presentation, and high definition SDR (standard dynamic range) on the Blu-ray.

This is the first film in the Anderson set I've reviewed that has a 2K DI upscaled to 4K, and there is arguably a bit less clarity and improvement in fine detail as a result, though what actually surprised me the most is that somewhat unlike The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou 4K, and despite the above verbiage which is more explicit than in any of the other pamphlet verbiage I've covered so far, I frankly didn't see huge variances between this disc's Dolby Vision / HDR grades and the SDR grade on the 1080 presentation. There are certainly new highlights visible, especially in the outdoor material, but I was just bit surprised that some of the really lush tones like the yellows of The Hotel Chevalier sequence or some of the jewel tones especially in the Indian material were at least relatively similar looking. There are some nice fine detail improvements in picayune items like the gauze wrapping Owen Wilson's face and head for much of the story. Grain can be just slightly yellowish at times but resolves without any issues.

The Darjeeling Limited 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Darjeeling Limited features another boisterous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, one that is populated regularly both by fantastic source cues (many from iconic Satyajit Ray and/or Merchant Ivory outings) and a wealth of wonderfully immersive ambient environmental effects. Both relatively cloistered environments like the train itself or the many outdoor vignettes offer consistent engagement of the side and rear channels. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Darjeeling Limited 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: More information on the supplements is available in Svet's review, linked to above.

4K UHD Disc

• Commentary is from 2010 and features Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman. Hotel Chevalier has a separate commentary by Wes Anderson.

1080 Disc

• Commentary


• Documentary by Barry Braverman (HD; 40:50)


• Conversation with James Ivory (HD; 20:45)


• Essay by Matt Zoller Seitz (HD; 11:48)


• American Express Commercial (HD; 2:02)


• Sriharsh's Audition (HD; 2:41)


• Oakley Friedberg / Packer Speech (HD; 3:32)


• Deleted Scene and Alternate Takes (HD; 3:22)


• Sketch by Roman Coppola (HD; 2:29)


• Waris' Diary (HD; various)


• Trophy Case (HD; 00:41)


• Stills Galleries

James Hamilton (HD)




Laura Wilson (HD)




Sylvia Plachy (HD)

• Trailer (HD; 2:23)

The Archive edition features a wonderful pamphlet sewn/glued into the DigiBook with an essay by Richard Brody, along with a glut of photos and technical information.

The Darjeeling Limited 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Yes, there are parts of The Darjeeling Limited that are probably too "on the nose", as in the almost ridiculous allusions to "emotional baggage", and, yes, Anderson once again offers a crazy quilt of eccentric characters, not to mention three so disparate looking main actors that it's pretty hard to imagine them as siblings. But there is still inventiveness galore and the increasingly baroque production design and cinematography that continue to define Anderson's very individual aesthetic. Technical merits are solid, if probably not quite at the levels of the native 4K scans in this set, and the supplements appealing. Recommended.