The Front 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Front 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Woody's roundup.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III July 16, 2026

Given recent headlines, it's baffling that a major studio would re-release a film starring Woody Allen... but even if you can separate the art from the artist, Martin Ritt's 1976 comedy The Front isn't Grade-A entertainment. Even so, its last domestic home video release was a 2014 Blu-ray from Twilight Time, the beloved boutique label that closed down one year after the untimely death of co-founder Nick Redman in 2019. Long out of print due to its 3,000 copy print run, it's at least nice to have The Front back on disc for those who missed it the first time around, and on 4K to boot, but a Blu-ray reissue would've been nice to have as well. Even so, this looks to be a decently solid effort for fans of the film: it includes most of that Blu-ray's limited bonus features, makes use of a newer 4K master (more on that soon), and wraps up those improved source visuals in 2160p/HDR10/Dolby Vision on a triple-layered disc.

For separate synopses and takes on The Front, please see our reviews of the above-linked 2014 Twilight Time Blu-ray (written by Jeffrey Kauffman, who gave it a 3.5/5) and a region-free 2017 Blu-ray by the UK boutique label Powerhouse Films (written by Svet Atanasov, who gave it a slightly cooler 3/5). Please note that the Powerhouse Blu-ray made use of a then-recent 4K master prepared by Sony Pictures, which appears to be the source for this UHD disc as well; it also has a fuller collection of extras and is still available as of this review, for those who aren't equipped for 4K yet.

The Front 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: These screenshots are sourced from the UHD disc but downscaled to 1080p/SDR and should not be considered an accurate representation of true 4K picture quality in terms of detail, color, and brightness levels.

There's surprisingly little to say about this new 2160p/HDR10/Dolby Vision transfer of The Front which, as mentioned before, was almost certainly sourced from the same 4K master that Sony provided for Powerhouse Films' 2017 Blu-ray. You can head on over to that link for a general overview of what to expect here, which is basically a clean presentation* of its source material that has thankfully retained an organic, film-like appearance with ample grain and an era-specific color palette. Svet mentions occasional black crush on that older disc, which don't seem to be a real problem this time around... but that's perhaps due to Sony's mercifully subtle HDR grade and beefier encoding on this triple-layered disc, both of which offer tangible support while not being completely trouble-free -- the latter doesn't always play well with varying interior noise levels and some of the chunkier grain fields, but it's mostly well-handled overall. In any case, the end result should offer noticeable upgrades on larger displays due to The Front's courtesy bump to its native 4K, but admittedly Powerhouse's solid Blu-ray will be good enough for everyone else.

* - The opening montage, which includes a few minutes' worth of black-and-white historical footage shot during the 1950s and 60s, retains some unavoidable damage.

The Front 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony's 4K disc keeps it real with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix, presenting the film's original mono in a split two-channel container for wider playback. I would imagine this is the exact same track featured on Powerhouse Films' 2017 Blu-ray since these discs almost certainly share the same master, with the obvious caveat that the number of playback channels is different. Even so, fans should expect a very smooth and trouble-free track here, one that isn't especially demanding but serves up crisp dialogue and a memorable score from jazz pianist Dave Grusin.

Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are offered during the main feature only.

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

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with slipcover featuring iconic poster-themed cover artwork that's been the basis for all previous home video releases. The bonus features are sadly limited in number and feature only two items from Twilight Time's 2014 Blu-ray, leaving off that release's isolated score track.

• Audio Commentary - This warm and candid legacy track features actress Andrea Marcovicci (Florence Barrett) flanked by Twilight Time's husband-and-wife team of Julie Kirgo and and the late Nick Redman.

• Theatrical Trailer (1:53)

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

Martin Ritt's The Front does more for "blacklist comedy" than Steven Spielberg's ill-fated 1941 did for "war comedy" later that decade, but it's still something of a lukewarm effort given all the talent involved. Even though, it certainly has its moments and features plenty of fantastic time-capsule footage, and it even earns a bonus half-point since its subject matter might never be irrelevant. Sony's new MOD (pressed) UHD edition celebrates The Front's 50th anniversary but, aside from the courtesy bump to 2160p/HDR/Dolby Vision for its older 4K master, there's not much to get excited about here as even the old carryover extras from Twilight Time's 2014 Blu-ray aren't presented in full. Still, die-hard fans will want to indulge... and they're encouraged to place this new disc right beside Powerhouse Films' 2017 Blu-ray, which is almost certainly sourced from the same master and includes a few missing bonus features.