The Grey 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

The Grey 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Stephen Larson September 18, 2026

Joe Carnahan's fifth big-screen feature The Grey (2011) was covered by my colleagues Brian Orndorf and Jeff Kauffman more than fourteen years ago. Brian published a theatrical review while Jeff also did a critique of the movie plus Universal Studios' BD-50. To read their views of the film, please consult the linked reviews. We did not review Shout Select's SteelBook release from late last year. The content on those two discs is identical to the discs in this package, which features a slipcover and standard case with The Grey's theatrical poster art of its main star.

The Grey 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shout's two-disc set comprises a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and regular Blu-ray (which contains the same extras as the Universal US BD). Shout doesn't specify the source for the two transfers, just that the UHD sports a "new 4K Dolby Vision presentation". Cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi shot The Grey on Kodak Vision2 500T 5229/7229 film stock in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio. A majority of the picture was filmed in 3-perf Super 35 except for a flashback scene. Per a contributor to ShotOnWhat?, a scene depicting Ottway's childhood was filmed in anamorphic with Panavision C- and E-Series prime lenses. (See Screenshot #s 9 and 16-17.) Takayanagi used the ARRIFLEX 235 Camera and two Panavision cameras: the Panaflex Millennium XL2 and Platinum. The film was printed on Kodak Vision Color 2383/3383. It also was converted to a DI for DCP projection. The movie was photographed in Smithers and Vancouver amidst wintry and blustery conditions.

I also own the Region B German Blu-ray of The Grey put out by Universum Film in 2012. I assume that it uses the same master that was prepared for Universal's disc in the States. Jeff observed an omnipresence of heavy grain on that 1080p release. The 2160p and 1080p transfers on Shout's discs also exhibit high degrees of grain (arguably more so than on the Universal/Universum editions). I never found the graininess distracting at all. I made numerous direct visual comparisons between the Shouts and the Universum. The Shouts retain an overall better image texture.

The Dolby Vision/HDR10 accents highlights better than the older HD picture does and not necessarily because of the higher resolution. It has more to do with the grade itself. For instance, the 4K brings out the sunlight better as seen in a high-angle shot of the group oil workers atop a summit. (E.g., see a downsampled example of this in capture #5. The sun isn't too bright.) In a nighttime scene on the 2012 disc, I saw crosstalk on the lighted torch sticks. Notice how light leaks out from the flames (almost like a halo effect) in Screenshot #24. The torchlight is better resolved on the Shouts (see #25). Moreover, on the older Blu-rays, there are brighter whites that tend to obscure details.

There are more natural looking skin tones on the Shout transfers compared to the SD transfers done fourteen years ago. Facial scars are ruddier on the 2012 BDs. Shout has also applied additional color corrections on its transfers. For instance, the winter apparel worn by the oil workers seems to have more color. (Cf. #s 26-28. Capture 28 is not as dark as it initially seems once you click and enlarge it.) Also, hues on the wolves' fur are better defined and more noticeable on the Shouts.

The UHD delivers a rough average video bitrate of 83.9 Mbps and an overall bitrate of 92.8 Mbps for the whole disc. Shout's MPEG-4 AVC-encoded BD-50 delivers a maxed-out video bitrate of 37411 kbps. Universum's MPEG-4 AVC-encoded BD-50 carries a mean video bitrate of 27999 kbps. (Note: the main title on the Universum disc is in English. All of the end credits are also in English. They have not been redone in German.) I zoomed all the way into the lossless screen captures that I made of the Universum and Shout Blu-rays. Compression on the Shout SD disc is superior.

Screenshot #s 1-15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, & 40 = Shout Select 2025-26 4K Ultra HD (downsampled to 1080p)
Screenshot #s 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 29, 32, 35, & 38 = Universum Film 2012 2K-scanned Blu-ray
Screenshot #s 27, 30, 33, 36, & 39 = Shout Select 2025-26 BD-50

The standard twelve chapter stops (one more than the Universum) accompany the 117-minute feature on the Shout discs.

The Grey 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Shout has supplied a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround track (3630 kbps, 24-bit) and a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo downmix (2006 kbps, 24-bit). (Universum's English DTS-HD MA 5.1 track has a lower audio encode [a rough average bitrate of 2172 kbps, 16-bit] because it also put a German dub in 5.1 lossless on the disc.) After listening to the 5.1 on the Shout UHD, I echo every word Jeff uses to describe the Surround mix. The plane's jet engines are so propulsive that it places the viewer right there with the passengers! Dialogue, especially that uttered by Liam Neeson's character, is audible and crisp. Marc Streitenfeld's music is effectively placed in the sonic spectrum. It's a wonderful score that never over-scores the film's climatic moments. The instruments coalesce quite well with the sound f/x.

Shout's optional English SDH are complete, accurate, and through. I didn't spot any typos.

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

Shout has ported over the commentary track and deleted scenes from the Universal Blu-ray.

DISC ONE: 4K Ultra HD

• Audio Commentary with Co-writer/Director Joe Carnahan and Editors Roger Barton and Jason Hellmann - Carnahan, Barton, and Hellmann were recorded together (while drinking Scotch!). They engage in friendly banter and have a lot to say about what went into the production and editorial decisions that were reached. As Jeff mentions in his review, Carnahan is highly critical of certain personnel and chastises an executive producer by name. Carnahan sounds brutally honest and candid throughout this track. The trio laud Marc Streitenfeld's score (rightfully so). All three speak in English, not subtitled.

DISC TWO: Blu-ray

• Audio Commentary with Co-writer/Director Joe Carnahan and Editors Roger Barton and Jason Hellmann - Carnahan, Barton, and Hellmann were recorded together (while drinking Scotch!). They engage in friendly banter and have a lot to say about what went into the production and editorial decisions that were reached. As Jeff mentions in his review, Carnahan is highly critical of certain personnel and chastises an executive producer by name. Carnahan sounds brutally honest and candid throughout this track. The trio laud Marc Streitenfeld's score (rightfully so). All three speak in English, not subtitled.

• Deleted Scenes (22:25 altogether, 1080p) - presented are a half-dozen scenes omitted from the final cut: "Encounter in the Snow" (2:15), "Dragging Flannery" (1:03), "Looting the Wreck" (2:15), "At War with the Weather" (2:22), "Extended Campfire" (11:13), and "To Build a Fire" (2:54). The footage generally looks pretty good, but hasn't been restored from the 2012 Blu-rays. White specks of various sizes appear on occasion. The scenes come with a Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track (192 kbps). All are in English, not subtitled. While the footage is interesting to see, it's not surprising that it was either dropped or trimmed from the final cut. Some scenes don't work that well while others drag the story out. Note: On the Universum Blu-ray, the deleted scenes play in succession. They can't be accessed individually from the menu. However, you can skip to the next scene with your remote. The sound is technically superior to the Shout. Universum presents the scenes with an English DTS 2.0 Stereo (320 kbps, 16-bit) mix (sans any subtitles).

• NEW Trailer (1:22, 1080p) - this trailer for The Grey opens with the Shout! Studios logo. It appears in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen (average bitrate: 17986 kbps) and accompanied with a Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix (192 kbps). In English, not subtitled.

In addition to the group commentary and deleted scenes, Universum has included three promotional pieces courtesy of Open Road Films, EPK interviews, and B-roll footage.

Universum Exclusive Extras

• Man vs. Nature (2:28, 1080p) - a featurette with Carnahan, Dermot Mulroney, and Liam Neeson describing what they feel The Grey is about. In English, with optional German subtitles.

• Extreme Conditions (2:43, 1080p) - This is the best of the three featurettes. Behind-the-scenes footage is intercut with remarks by Carnahan, Neeson, Mulroney, Frank Grillo, Dallas Roberts, and Nonso Anozie. In English, with optional German subtitles.

• Into Battle One Last Time (2:18, 1080p) - We hear from Carnahan, Neeson, Grillo, Joe Anderson, and Mulroney, In English, with optional German subtitles.

• Interviews (13 min. altogether, 1080p) - interviews with actors Liam Neeson (3:17), Dermot Mulroney (1:29), Frank Grillo (1:45), Joe Anderson (1:32), Nonso Anozie (1:34), Ben Bray (0:22), as well as co-writer/director Joe Carnahan (2:00) and producer Jules Daly (1:20). Several of the actors' and director's comments are incorporated into the featurettes. However, several other comments are only presented here. Bray and Daly are heard separately in this section. Universum has included a "PLAY ALL" option. All of the interviews are in English and include optional German subtitles.

• B-roll (7:51, 1080p) - behind-the-scenes footage of The Grey's day and night shoot in Smithers, B.C. It shows Carnahan conversing with Takayanagi, Mulroney speaking about his stunt work, the actors doing the campfire scene, Carnahan watching dailies on a monitor, and various other moments on the location shoot. The cast and crew speak in English, not subtitled.

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

The Grey is a rock-solid winter adventure that's somber and bleak. Digital Dimension does a fine job with the CG wolves. Greg Nicotero, et al. came up with terrific makeup effects, which pass the realism test. While the plane sequence is a standout action/set piece, it's highly questionable that pilots would fly that plane with a major storm just on the horizon.

Shout has fortunately not upconverted the old 1080p to 4K. Not only has it received a pretty exceptional Dolby Vision and HDR10 transfer, but also a new color grade that fixes some of the brightness and hue issues on the 2012 Blu-rays. I included the Universum Blu-ray in my review because it includes the most extras of any release. Granted, they are each pretty short but include some valuable behind-the-scenes footage and comments by the actors that are not on the Shout discs. (Please use our purchase link if you intend to get the German BD.) A SOLID RECOMMENDATION for the Shout package (SB and standard editions). Fans of Liam Neeson definitely want to add it to their collections.