To Kill a Mockingbird 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

To Kill a Mockingbird 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Universal has released the timeless 1962 film 'To Kill a Mockingbird' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video. The video presentation has been restored from a new 4K restoration, and the film has also been released to the Blu-ray format, also with refreshed video. No new audio tracks are included; Universal has simply repurposed the existing English 5.1 and 2.0 lossless tracks. All of the legacy supplements from the 2012 Blu-ray disc are included, and the studio has also added a new retrospective feature.

To Kill a Mockingbird 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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

Universal brings To Kill a Mockingbird to the UHD format with a very good 2160p/HDR transfer. Like the concurrently released and remastered Blu-ray, which is also sourced from the same 4K restoration, this UHD offers a bountiful image that yields a superior grain structure which is even and flattering. It's always in evidence but never dense or inorganic, never appearing processed or unnaturally bent. No, this is a very high yield filmic image that presents the movie as intact and true to its source as is nearly possible in 2022. The picture is sharp, save for a few photographically softer shots inherent to the original film source. Fine detail is exquisite, boasting tactile definition to period attire in particular, which offers substantial definition and detail, superior even to the Blu-ray, which is also excellent in this area. Viewers can see the fine line definition on Atticus' vest and suit jacket, for example, fine point details on his neckties, and little tatters and frays on some of the other clothing seen throughout the film, notably the overalls that Tom Robinson and Mr. Ewell wear during the courtroom scenes. Facial textures are delightfully complex, right down to beads of sweat forming on those same characters' foreheads during their testimonies. Location details, whether home or courtroom interiors or Maycomb exteriors, thrive with incredible complexity and easy-come definition to a number of elements, including wear on wooden surfaces throughout the film.

The boosted resolution certainly brings out the finest in the film and offers a step up from the Blu-ray for image stability, clarity, and sharpness, but the HDR grading is perhaps even more transformative. Even under the black and white photography, the sense of elevated tonal accuracy and perfection are obvious. The Blu-ray looks very creamy overall in direct comparison, whereas the UHD reveals a firmer grayscale with more precisely defined whites and blacks and finer grades in the gray midrange. The picture's tonal depth is greatly amplified here, with whites appearing with precise brightness while blacks are beautifully rendered; look at the contrast between Atticus' shirt and necktie just about anywhere (1:25:37 being a particularly fine example) for a look at how well the UHD's HDR grading presents these contrasts. Black levels can teeter on crush during some densely dark nighttime exteriors, notably earlier in the film, which is really the only drawback to be found throughout this image. It's otherwise perfect and a real treat. This will be a cornerstone film and UHD in every serious home theater collection for many years to come.

To Kill a Mockingbird 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Rather than re-encode for Dolby Atmos or DTS:X for this UHD release, Universal has chosen to simply port over the existing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 soundtracks from the 2012 Blu-ray (note that these tracks are also found on the remastered Blu-ray). For full audio reviews, please click here.

To Kill a Mockingbird 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This UHD release of To Kill a Mockingbird carries over all of the legacy supplemental content from the 2012 Blu-ray and adds a new supplement on top. That new extra is marked below and reviewed. Also included, for convenience, is a list of the legacy extras, reviews of which may be found by clicking here. A copy of the remastered Blu-ray and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• NEW! To Kill a Mockingbird: All Points of View (2160p, 25:06): A terrific, newly crafted piece which explores the original novel, the story's timeless message, its cinematic legacy, cast and performances, the film's narrative complexity and applicability, and much more.
• Fearful Symmetry
• A Conversation with Gregory Peck
• Academy Award Best Actor Acceptance Speech
• American Film Institute Life Achievement Award
• Excerpt from Tribute to Gregory Peck
• Scout Remembers
• Theatrical Trailer
• 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics
• Audio Commentary: Director Robert Mulligan and Producer Alan Pakula.

To Kill a Mockingbird 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This timeless classic earns a sparkling new picture quality that is a clear step forward for the film's home video presentation. This new UHD offers a dazzling and delightful 2160p/HDR image that is gorgeously presented and will assuredly delight fans. The existing audio tracks carry over, and are fine, and this set includes a healthy allotment of bonus content, headlined by a brand new 25-minute retrospective. Of course, the film itself is one of the great classics of cinema and is a must-own in every serious film library. This release earns my highest recommendation.