Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 16, 2026

Bruce Robinson's "Withnail and I" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include multiple audio commentaries; archival program with Bruce Robinson; archival documentary on the making of the film; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Have car, will travel.

Ever since I first saw Bruce Robinson's Withnail and I back in the late '80s, I have been trying to determine whether Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann were only acting in front of Bruce Robinson’s camera. Part of me has always believed that they were incredibly talented individuals who, for a short period of time, traded their personalities for those of their characters. They did it brilliantly and became these characters, exactly as Robinson wanted. However, there is another part of me that has remained incredibly suspicious of their transformations. Those of you who have already seen Withnail and I probably have a pretty good idea why.

Camden, the '60s. Withnail (Grant, Penelope) and Marwood (McGann, Gypo) are best friends and unemployed actors. They have an agent, somewhere, but he does not seem to care much about them. Perpetually frustrated, the two spend their days drinking as much as they can. Occasionally, if not too cash-strapped, they also light up a blunt.

To support their drinking habit, Withnail and Marwood rely on Uncle Monty (Richard Griffiths, The History Boys), an elderly man who happens to like younger men. Uncle Monty does not mind lending them money that they never repay, and when in a great mood, he even offers them a bottle of expensive French wine.

While trying to survive on a lousy budget and waiting for Lady Luck to permanently redirect their lives, Withnail and Marwood move into Uncle Monty’s countryside cottage. However, it is not too long before they discover that provincial folks are not as warm and hospitable as most books and films suggest, and that Uncle Monty's fondness of Marwood could prove to be problematic because he intends to have him, "even if by burglary".

Withnail and I is loosely based on Robinson’s own experience as a struggling actor during the late '60s. Many of the key characters in it are inspired by real people, and in some cases even entire exchanges between them were recreated as they occurred years ago. For example, Uncle Monty's statements apparently incorporate quite a few lines that the great director Franco Zeffirelli used while Robinson worked with him on Romeo and Juliet.

Virtually all critics and cinephiles agree that Withnail and I is an incredibly hilarious film. I do not dispute that it is. However, I would add that it is a distinctly British film. Indeed, many of the expressions heard in it ooze that typical British cockiness that makes them irresistibly hilarious, but at the same time borderline offensive.

Withnail and I is also a surprisingly good, bittersweet time capsule. While it is packed with hilarious material, it effectively captures the dying spirit of the '60s and the emergence of a new, more cynical and less humane era. The final sequence, where Withnail and Marwood part ways rather brilliantly, visualizes this transition.

Even though it was made with a modest budget, Withnail and I is a very good-looking film. In an archival program included on this out-of-print Blu-ray release, Robinson reveals that he was incredibly nervous while shooting it, but it never shows. Withnail and I has a wonderful flow and lovely appearance.

As noted earlier, Grant and McGaan are brilliant together. However, there are more than a few sequences where it certainly looks like they have had a few drinks and are not just acting their parts.

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Withnail and I arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

We have multiple reviews of different releases of Withnail and I, sourced from a couple of different masters. Sadly, this release is sourced from the weakest of these masters, which StudioCanal worked with to produce this British release in 2011.

Virtually all visuals are soft and flat, revealing traces of obvious filtering corrections. Unsurprisingly, on a large screen, various parts of the film look like upscaled material. Grain exposure is very unconvincing, and the little grain that has been spared is routinely mixed with noise. Highlights and shadow nuances are problematic, but this isn't surprising either. (You can see how much better Withnail and I can look after it was restored in 4K here). While color balance is acceptable, color reproduction is unconvincing. Many primaries and supporting nuances appear anemic and dated, causing the already very weak dynamic range of the visuals to appear even worse. There are no large distracting surface imperfections, but a few nicks and blemishes can be spotted. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track serves the film pretty well. However, the recent Criterion releases of Withnail and I have a newly restored audio track that is healthier. This said, both track there are some small inconsistencies that are obviously inherited. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review.

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Paul McGann and Ralph Brown in 2001. The two actors recall how and why they were cast to play their characters in Withnail and Nail, what it was like to work with Bruce Robinson, how various sequences were shot, how they managed to be hilarious and remain authentic before the camera while visiting a very strange environment, etc. If you enjoy Withnail and I, the commentary is worth listening to in its entirety.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Bruce Robinson for an Esquire UK live stream "watchalong"in 2020. Robinson discusses Withnail and I and answers various questions from viewers.

• Handmade Films & I - in this program, Bruce Robinson confesses that he could not stand the comedies Handmade Films was making and explains how Withnail and I materialized and the type of humor he wanted to channel through it. Robinson also comments on the production process and his interactions with Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann. The program was produced in 2006. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Withnail and Us - this archival documentary on the making of Withnail and I was directed by Yvonne Gordon for Channel 4 in 1999. Included in it are clips from interviews with Bruce Robinson, a couple of his flatmates, Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, and casting director Mary Selway, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• Withnail and I Drinking Game - in this archival program, actor Peter McNamara talks about the man who inspired Bruce Robinson to shoot Withnai and I and explains how the screenplay for it came to exist. Then, he proceeds to talk about drinking in general. The program was produced in 2006. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• The Withnail and I Swearathon - a selection of colorful expressions used throughout Withnail and I. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Trailers From Hell - presented here is an episode of Trailers From Hell with filmmaker Josh Olson. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Withnail and I Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The recent 2K and 4K masters that Arrow Video and Criterion have used to prepare different 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases of Withnail and I would have produced a vastly superior Australian release. The release we have reviewed has a very nice selection of bonus features, but it is sourced from the weakest of all available masters for Withnail and I. If you reside in Australia and are willing to import, there are vastly superior options that you can explore, and I think that you should.