Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

The Terminator 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

James Cameron can't be bargained with.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III November 15, 2024

Offering alongside the standard 4K edition celebrating the film's 40th anniversary, Warner Bros.' new 4K Steelbook edition of James Cameron's The Terminator offers a sleek packaging alternative for die-hard fans and collectors alike. All on-disc content is exactly the same as that standard release, which makes this variant a cosmetic upgrade only. Whether or not the film's new AI-assisted 4K transfer is a cosmetic upgrade remains to be seen, however.

For a full synopsis and appreciation of The Terminator, please see either Martin Liebman's review of MGM's 2006 Blu-ray (which is old enough to vote now) or Michael Reuben's more recent review of the 2013 remastered Blu-ray. Both of them awarded this film a full five stars, and I ain't about to argue with those numbers.

The Terminator 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: These slightly compressed screenshots are sourced from the new 4K disc but downscaled to 1080p/SDR; therefore, they should not be considered a 100% accurate representation of this release's video quality.

For my thoughts on The Terminator's possibly contentious but still pretty watchable 2160p/HDR10 (Dolby Vision compatible) transfer, please see my recent review of the standard 4K edition.

The Terminator 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For my thoughts on the inarguably great audio options (which yes, finally includes the original theatrical mono mix in lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio), please likewise see my review of the standard 4K edition.

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

This one-disc release ships in a matte-finish Steelbook with a predominantly cream, black, blue, and orange color scheme that gets a few style points but doesn't quite capture the "feel" of the film. Nonetheless, it's at least striking with a large profile shot of the skinless T-800 that blends into a smaller image of Kyle and Sarah fleeing for their lives. It continues on the back with a similarly small image of Arnold crouching right after his trip back in time. Inside is a more traditional promotional still of Arnold duel-wielding against a similar background, and it's a bold enough image that probably should've been the front cover instead. The 4K disc sits on a hub on the right side. It's not a bad looking Steelbook per se, just one like many others that could've just used the original poster and been done with it.

The extras listed below are identical to WB's standard 4K edition and detailed in that review.

• Deleted Scenes (7 clips, 9:59 total)

• Optional Deleted Scenes Commentary with James Cameron

• Creating The Terminator: Visual Effects & Music (12:58)

• The Terminator: Closer to the Real Thing (11:56)

• Unstoppable Force: The Legacy of The Terminator (9:38)

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

James Cameron's The Terminator needs no introduction, as it's held up pretty gracefully during the past four decades. Previous home video editions like MGM's Special Edition DVD and remastered Blu-ray have earned good to great marks for their video, audio, and extras, with none completely excelling in all departments. That trend continues with Warner Bros.' brand-new UHD edition, which offers a good-not-great transfer, outstanding audio (including the welcome return of original mono!), and a small but enjoyable pile of extras that advances upon most earlier releases. This Steelbook variant is aimed at collectors but, like the standard 4K edition, still has room for improvement. Recommended.