The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 9, 2025

For the uninitiated, attending a theatrical exhibition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show can be an amazing example of audience participation, courtesy of an often hilariously scabrous set of so-called "callbacks" viewers shout out (often in unison), all of which are well known to longtime fans (both of the discs in this set contain a vintage callback supplement). Considering a certain (also well known to fans) quasi-cameo that occurs very early in the film, I'd like to suggest that to this canon of callbacks (available in an also often hilarious set of alternate versions online) be added:

Are you going to love it, or are you going to list it?

Considering the character that erstwhile HGTV personality Hilary Farr (briefly) plays in the film, though, that might have to be slightly amended to "Are you going to love him, or are you going to leave him?", since, yes, the former co-host of the long running HGTV series Love It or List It is indeed the bride seen for a few shots in the film's opening vignette (see screenshot 5 accompanying this review). That of course is the same scene which more saliently introduces Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon). The Rocky Horror Picture Show might not seem to be "traditional" Disney entertainment, but then again, a lot of people probably felt that the more directly studio related The Nightmare Before Christmas wasn't either, but one way or the other the Mouse House along with 20th Century Studios is offering fans a new 50th Anniversary edition of the film in both 4K and 1080, in collectible SteelBook packaging. Callbacks optional.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show received a 1080 release fifteen years ago for a 35th Anniversary Edition, and Casey Broadwater's The Rocky Horror Picture Show Blu-ray review has plot information (if that's even needed at this point), a list of supplements and Casey's reaction to the technical presentation.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Disney / Buena Vista and 20th Century Studios with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.66:1. I was once again a bit surprised that the press sheet accompanying this release didn't really tout any restoration efforts or this new 4K edition (other than announcing its availability), and instead concentrated on a bunch of "extracurricular" activities tied to the 50th Anniversary of the film. Online reportage that I wended my way through suggests this was another multi-month task for whatever restoration team undertook the project, and both the 1080 and 4K presentations here are almost certain to generally delight fans of the film. As with several other re- releases with new 4K versions I've reviewed lately, it may be the 4K version's palette rather than any amazing uptick in detail levels that first catches the eye. There are some really interesting if quite subtle differences in both brightness and general color values in both the 1080 and 4K versions included with this release, and for just one good example, compare screenshot 2 of this review with screenshot 2 of Casey's old 1080 review. While not always the case, this particular moment is just one that is at least a bit brighter and more skewed toward pink / red tones than the older release. Other moments can look somewhat darker than the old 1080 release, but HDR / Dolby Vision actually help define some of the murkier dark moments of the old release, offsetting the darkness, at least at times. Some darker moments, like the introduction of the "monster", still can show deficits in shadow definition. I was struck by how cool and slightly wan some of this new version looks, especially in the opening 20 or so minutes, which can tend a bit toward brown and even slightly dowdy tones. That said, compare screenshot 3 of this review with screenshot 7 of Casey's review and to my eyes while arguably a bit paler and still a bit on the brown side, the color timing offers better reds and a less yellow flush than the old 1080 version. Once things kick into high gear in the mansion, the palette warms considerably, and the HDR / Dolby Vision grades really exploit some of the nuances in the red to purple ranges in particular. As with every home media version of this film I've seen, there are some softer looking interstitial moments, notably some of the narrator material. Grain is nicely resolved for the most part, though the film does have its fair share of old school composited opticals. That may make the slightly less "in your face" grain at 1080 resolutions preferable to some. My 4K score is 4.25.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As they've tended to do with their 4K releases, Disney offers a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track on the 1080 disc and a Dolby Atmos track on the 4K UHD disc, but what may actually annoy some fans is only a lossy presentation of the film's original mono theatrical soundtrack. Casey mentioned the 7.1 track on the old 1080 release was appreciated but maybe a bit unneeded considering the film's mono exhibition, and some may feel the same about the Atmos track, which to my ears may not offer a lot more immersion but may actually help to at least slightly ameliorate some of the balance issues that Casey mentioned in his review and which are still at least somewhat in evidence in the 7.1 track on the 1080 disc. That said, the surround tracks on both the 4K and 1080 discs in this set offer some really spacious accountings of the music along with some fun discrete channelization for any number of sound effects, notably some of the weather effects. Dialogue is delivered mostly cleanly and clearly, with those aforementioned slight imbalances taken into account. Optional subtitles in several languages are available.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: Many, but not all, of the previously released supplements have been ported over to this release. See Casey's review (linked to above) for more information on what's here and what's missing.

4K UHD Disc

• Trivia Track: 50 Years and Still Kicking offers text trivia.


• Vintage Callback Track (Unrated) offers stuff to shout but sadly does not include the above suggestion.


• Commentary by Richard O'Brien and Patricia Quinn


• Rocky-Oke: Sing It is a karaoke version available under both the Play and Extras menus.

1080 Disc

• Trivia Track: 50 Years and Still Kicking offers text trivia.


• Vintage Callback Track (Unrated) offers stuff to shout but sadly does not include the above suggestion.


• Commentary by Richard O'Brien and Patricia Quinn


• Alternate Version with B&W Opening (HD; 1:40:04)


• Deleted Song Once In a While (SD; 3:08)


• Outtakes (SD; 10:02)


• Alternate Credit Ending (SD; 3:45)


• Misprint Ending (SD; 1:44)


• Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show (1995) (SD; 36:25)


• The Time Warp Music Video (15th Anniversary VHS Release) (SD; 4:36)


• Beacon Theater, New York City (10th Anniversary) (SD; 5:20)


• Trailers

Theatrical Trailer 1 (SD; 00:30)




Theatrical Trailer 2 (SD; 2:59)

• Rocky-Oke: Sing It is a karaoke version available under both the Play and Extras menus.

The SteelBook offers a partial view of "Frank" with an emphasis on gold tones in the background. The back panel offers a lightning flash filled with images of various characters from the film. The interior features a close-up photo of Frank. A digital copy is enclosed. A J card offers credits.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I was a young kid visiting London for the first time when I was confronted with several ads for the original Rocky Horror Show stage version in journeys up and down the escalators into and out of "the tube", and even to my then quite innocent mind I had a nascent "WTF" reaction. There's some kind of doctoral thesis waiting to be written (if it hasn't already) about the curious cult that has developed around this property, but for those cult members, this new release offers generally secure technical merits, some appealing supplements and fun SteelBook packaging. Recommended.