The Social Network 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Social Network 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Sony has released Director David Fincher's masterpiece 'The Social Network' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio (note that only the "Unrated" audio stream is encoded in Dolby Atmos). Several trailers are included in addition to returning extras on the included Blu-ray discs, which are identical to the 2011 Sony release. At time of writing, this disc is only available as part of the second volume in Sony's prestigious six-film 'Columbia Classics Collection' (Volume 1 released to rave reviews in June 2020). Other films in volume 2 include 'Oliver!,' 'Taxi Driver,' 'Anatomy of a Murder,' 'Stripes,' and 'Sense and Sensibility.'

The Social Network 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

As far as its place in the larger Columbia Classics boxed set, The Social Network is the only film shot digitally, sourced from a 2K master, and the least likely to inspire dazzle and delight at the quality, breadth, and worth of the UHD upgrade. Make no mistake that this is easily the superior version of the film for home consumption and a worthwhile boost from the Blu-ray in its own right, but Sense and Sensibility it is not in terms of sheer "wow" factor. The upscaled 2160p resolution squeezes out a little more sharpness and fine point detail attentiveness. Pores and hairs are a little more complex and clear, for example, and the frame always feels a little clearer, cleaner, and more accurate in total. There is an inherent pastiness to some skin details, but for the most part the improvement to overall image sharpness and definition see this version reign supreme over the Blu-ray. The image reveals some "edge enhancement" at the 19:50 mark, a character in a black suit against a beige background, with a clear outline around arms and shoulders. However, aside from trace banding in one or two places there are no source or encode issues of note.

The Dolby Vision color grading is certainly where the film finds its most purposeful improvements. Black level depth is vastly superior; just compare the opening exterior title sequence when Mark races back to his dorm after a bad date. Overall color depth is more dynamic and dramatic, and even as the film holds to its "taupe" color temperature (at least much of the time), the improvements to dynamics and depth are quite impressive. Bright text on computer screens appears more realistic and efficient while splashes of brighter colors in more well-lit scenes (i.e. law offices and board rooms and some key exteriors, not low-light dorm rooms or nighttime campus exteriors, for example) reveal a good bit of improved color density and tonal accuracy. The film certainly lacks the lavish colors from, again, Sense and Sensibility, but within Fincher's unique and unwavering demands for the film's exterior appearances this appears to be a sound upgrade that makes improvements without betraying the filmmaker's intended visual tone.

The Social Network 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

One of the big upgrades with this disc is the Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The film's unique score is energized here with a sense of spatial volume and engagement that the 5.1 track cannot touch. It's impressively fluid and fully immersive, including a healthy, though well blended, top end placement. The track's more intensive presentations, such as during the boat race around the 85-minute mark, are impressively deep and dynamic, perhaps not so prominently immersive as one might expect but offering large scale dynamics and impressive low end power. Atmospheric effects are impressively integrated as well, whether light din around campus exteriors or more prominent sounds at a post-race party around the 88-minute mark. Music is clearly the highlight for this presentation, but the sense of belonging and location detail are also high on the list for the track's positive qualities. Dialogue is unsurprisingly clear and rich with a firm front-center placement.

Note that the Atmos track is listed being only included on the Unrated audio stream. The Theatrical audio is available in the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless configuration which is also available on the Unrated stream (and an English Audio Descriptive track is also included only with the Theatrical audio).

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

Aside from a few trailers on the UHD disc, all of the supplements are included on a pair of Blu-ray discs, both of which are identical to the decade old release. For carryover content reviews, please click here. As it ships in the Columbia Classics Collection, a slipcover and digital copy code are included with purchase.

UHD:

• NEW! Theatrical Trailers (1080p): Included are Trailer 1 (1:05), Trailer 2 (2:30), and Trailer 3 (1:39).

• Audio Commentary: Director David Fincher.
• Audio Commentary: Writer Aaron Sorkin and the Cast.

• How Did They Ever Make a Movie of Facebook?
• Jeff Cronenweth and David Fincher on the Visuals
• Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter, and Ren Klyce on Post
• Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and David Fincher on the Score
• In the Hall of the Mountain King: Music Exploration
• Swarmatron
• Ruby Skye VIP Room: Multi-Angle Scene Breakdown

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

This is easily the "least" of the UHD discs in the second volume of the Columbia Classics set; the film is not a visual dynamo as it was constructed and the transition to UHD can only do so much for it. Still, fans will be pleased with the color grading tweaks and the fine-point textural improvements. The Atmos audio is terrific as well. Highly recommended.