Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Wolf of Wall Street 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 31, 2023

Ian Christie's introduction to The Wolf of Wall Street included as a supplement in this set kind of humorously alleges that many longtime Martin Scorsese fans may have been wondering "if Marty had lost it" when approaching this film. Christie does go on to say that fans need not have been worried, but as some other comments by Christie get into (as well as ancillary information imparted in some of the many other bonus features included on the two discs in this set), and despite significant acclaim and impressive box office returns, The Wolf of Wall Street has somehow at times been consigned to "lesser Scorsese" status. Arrow is now allowing curious newcomers or experienced old hands to revisit the film in both 1080 and 4K UHD releases, with a really impressive slate of supplements that the film's Region A releases have not included for the most part.

The Wolf of Wall Street has had both 1080 and 4K UHD releases in Region A (as alluded to above), and for those wanting a plot recap, I'd refer you to Martin Liebman's The Wolf of Wall Street Blu-ray review of the first 1080 Blu-ray release from Paramount in 2014. Marty also contributed a The Wolf of Wall Street 4K Blu-ray review of Paramount's much more recent release of the film in that format. As I've often stated, different reviews means different opinions, and while my scores may differ slightly from Marty's, our appreciation of this film is shared.

My overall score for the film is just slightly lower than Marty's (who gave it a perfect 5.0), and I'd say if there are a couple of deficits to this tale, they may include overlength (the film clocks in at around three hours) and a tendency to rely too much on what even Christie mentions was recurrent improvisation. Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a "real life" person whose life actually seems unreal in this telling of the tale, and as such, I'm not sure the looser aspects of just cutting several actors loose at times was absolutely necessary. That said, even at its somewhat extreme running length and with lapses in narrative focus, the film is an almost exhausting cartwheel of activity, and it benefits not just from Scorsese's sure guiding presence, but some really excellent work from DiCaprio in particular.

The Wolf of Wall Street 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from Arrow's 1080 release of the film. Note that this release does not include a 1080 disc of the main feature, but does include the same 1080 bonus disc as Arrow's 1080 release.

The Wolf of Wall Street is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with a 2160p transfer in 2.40:1. Arrow's insert booklet offers only a brief a generic statement detailing the aspect ratio and audio format while mentioning that "the 4K master was supplied by Universal Pictures". The back cover does state that this is a "director approved" transfer, which echoes some of the background information Marty imparts in his reviews about the Region A releases. This was mostly shot on Kodak film, and I'm happy to report that despite my often almost Pavlovian fear reaction to shot on film productions offered in 4K UHD, this presentation offers a really beautifully tight grain field that adds an organic texture to things without ever tipping over into a noisy appearance. While detail levels are uniformly high throughout, as I mentioned in my review of the 1080 version, some intermittent but understandable exceptions for supposed "low res" moments like the opening commercial or later "video cam" segments do occur, and it's probably in these selected sequences where the resolution of the 4K version may not be especially helpful to how "pleasing" things look. There are some rather cool stylistic flourishes in terms of this "low res" material, as in the final sequence offering Jordan as a convention huckster, where things segue from an ostensible "tv broadcast" to "real life", with the aspect ratio widening and a crosshatched overlay courtesy of the supposed broadcast disappearing. An already incredibly vivid palette in the 1080 version is only improved courtesy of Dolby Vision and/or HDR in this 4K UHD iteration, and some of the grading choices toward both cooler and warmer tones have some interesting highlights that aren't quite as prevalent in the 1080 version.

The Wolf of Wall Street 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The frequent chaos on display throughout The Wolf of Wall Street helps to give this disc's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track a really nicely layered if often pretty cacophonous presentation, one that has surprising clarity nonetheless even when background clamor on busy brokerage floors spills regularly into the side and rear channels. The near nonstop use of really fun source cues also regularly engages the surround channels as well as providing at least occasional emphasis on the lower end of things. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Wolf of Wall Street 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One (4K UHD Feature)

• Audio Commentary by Glenn Kenny & Nick Pinkerton


• Introduction by Ian Christie (HD; 15:22) is an insightful overview, with Christie's slightly comic take on the film at times.


• Theatrical Trailers (HD; 4:34)

Disc Two (1080 Bonus Features)

• Interview with Terence Winter (HD; 15:30) features audio of the film's screenwriter (the piece starts with a disclaimer that the interview was conducted remotely due to "practical considerations", which I assume means Covid), playing to stills, scenes from the film and some behind the scenes footage.


• Interview with Bob Shaw (HD; 11:50) does much the same (including the same disclaimer) with the film's production designer.


• Wall Street After Hours (HD; 12:07) is a visual essay by Simon Ward that kind of interestingly links this film to Scorsese's After Hours (kind of weirdly apparently still unavailable on Blu-ray as of the writing of this review).


• Welcome to Planet Hollywolf (HD; 28:14) is another visual essay, this one a kind of whimsical entry exploring a sidebar to Jordan Belfort's character that is actually not really featured in the film itself.


• The Wolf Pack (HD; 16:58) is an archival piece with some fun interviews with the principal cast and crew.


• Running Wild (HD; 11:20) is another archival piece with some nice behind the scenes footage and more interviews.


• The Wolf of Wall Street Round Table (HD; 10:57) is an archival discussion featuring Martin Scorsese, Terence Winter, Leonardo Di Caprio and Jonah Hill.


• Behind the Scenes Footage (HD; 11:19)


• TV Spots (HD; 2:19)


• Image Gallery (HD)

Additionally, this is another impresively packaged Limited Edition from Arrow with some fun non disc swag. That includes an illustrated 80 page book containing a glut of new writing on the film, a kind of funny luxury "wallet" that has a (pretend) American Express credit card, a business card and a Stratton Oakmont banknote. The keepcase features a reversible sleeve featuring two choices of artwork.

The Wolf of Wall Street 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Wolf of Wall Street may unavoidably recall any number of other offerings, including Wall Street (of course) and even Glengarry Glen Ross, but in a very real way it's another sui generis offering from Martin Scorsese, even if it admittedly may echo other work by the legendary director. Arrow's release offers secure technical merits and outstanding supplements. Highly recommended.