Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Equalizer 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

In anticipation for and celebration of the upcoming sequel 'The Equalizer II, Sony ha released 2014's 'The Equalizer' to the UHD format. This new release features a 2160p/HDR-10 video presentation, a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, and several new extras on the 4K disc. This Best Buy exclusive SteelBook, part of the "Project Pop Art" line, includes both discs and the digital copy from the wide release with special packaging. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section below for more information.

The Equalizer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a full UHD 4K video review, please click here.

The Equalizer 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For a full UHD audio review, please click here.

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

The SteelBook, part of the popular "Project Pop Art" line from Best Buy, is impressively constructed. The film's title is spelled out along the front and on the spine in the sort of text one would find on a calculator or a digital clock, where every character can essentially be made out of the shape of an "8." It's somewhat reminiscent of 24, particularly on the spine, with the black background and the yellow text color.

Texturally, the SteelBook is a little gruffer and grittier than many. It won't fingerprint. The front of the packaging features an attractive head rendering of the film's hero, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington). The pencil-style drawing reveals a reflected yellow light source on McCall's left hand side while a yellow parallelogram extends from his right side. What that is...who knows. A measuring tape, perhaps, without any numerical markings, maybe, but it definitely hints at "home improvement" and "Home Mart," the store at which McCall works and features a predominately yellow color (as opposed to, in the United States, anyway, blue for Lowes and orange for Home Depot). Washington's name unobtrusively appears at the top, offset from the main image by a yellow border that also frames the bottom of the image.

The SteelBook ships with a standard J-card that includes Denzel Washington's name prominently on the front, right below the 4K Ultra HD markings. The film's more traditional, red-emblazoned title appears at the top and a basic info cluster that recreates the back of the standard release UHD disc appears on the rear side. Underneath the card is a very attractive rendering of McCall, this time closing in on his eye reminiscent of scenes in the movie in which he quickly calculates his move set to deal with a cluster of bad guys. Images of weapons and tools and a skull that plays prominently in a key scene are also depicted. The yellow border lines from the front remain. Front and back both are very attractive and tasteful, but the inside of the package is something of a disappointment. The UHD and Blu-ray discs share the right hand side in staggered-stacked formation. There is no inner artwork; both panels are simply emblazoned in a golden-tinted color. The Movies Anywhere digital copy flyer is also bundled inside.

For a full supplemental reviews, please click here (New UHD supplements) and here (original Blu-ray supplements).

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

The Equalizer's Project Pop Art SteelBook release is a joy. It feels good in the hand, the renderings are sharp, and the quality of the discs inside are first-rate. The simple golden-tinted inner print looks nice, but one wonders if something else could have appeared in its place. Highly recommended.