Xanadu Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		2.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		2.5

Xanadu Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 10, 2025

Robert Greenwald's "Xanadu" (1980) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by Robert Greenwald; three additional new audio commentaries; archival documentary on the production and reception of the film; vintage promotional materials for the film; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

One muse, one dream.

Even those who enjoy Xanadu openly concede that it has issues -- many issues. The same folks also tend to agree that some of these issues could have been eliminated with a better screenplay, or better direction, or more work in the editing room. However, this is also where a lot of the major disagreements about Xanadu begin to emerge. For example, some of its biggest critics have argued that the entire concept behind it should have been reworked. A few of the more forgiving critics have pointed out that Xanadu has many rough spots that should have been repolished, but a dramatic makeover of it was not warranted. And some of the most forgiving critics have agreed with those who enjoy and defended Xanadu that it is simply an imperfect project, not a colossal disaster, that should have been managed by more talented people, capable of addressing its most consequential issues.

Virtually all of the above is true.

Xanadu has many issues, so a radical reworking of it, by very talented people, almost certainly would have transformed it into a better film. Still, Xanadu is not a colossal disaster. Also, in its current form, while stumbling in many unmissable ways, Xanadu is still an enjoyable film, too.

But there is an obvious detail that virtually everyone ignores. The more of the many issues are addressed, the more Xanadu becomes a completely different film. Not a better Xanadu, but a completely different film, and it is impossible to tell whether this film still would have been of interest to its fans and critics. Indeed, a lot of the issues in the current version of Xanadu -- the silly acting compromising the wonderfully choreographed dances; the questionable editing creating unwarranted chaos; the great music competing with a campy environment that is at odds with the rapidly flourishing romantic melodrama -- are essential elements of its period identity. And this period identity, as faulty as it may be, is far more important than its musical identity. In other words, the bad in Xanadu is a lot of what makes it, well, an intriguing film.

Something else must be pointed out, too. Michael Beck’s struggling artist encounters Olivia Newton-John’s muse in a kitschy period environment that would have been difficult to preserve in a better Xanadu film. Without it, Gene Kelly’s dream and, consequently, euphoria would have been lost as well. Then the dancing mayhem, the biggest magnet in Xanadu, would have had to be rethought, too. It is a classic domino effect, which would not have spared the wonderful music either.

Xanadu is an easy film to critique, and there will always be someone willing to do it. However, all these years after its premiere, it is very easy to defend as a unique film worth viewing, too. Whether it is uniquely bad or good is up to the party that would do the viewing to determine, but this is largely unimportant because films like it are no longer produced. Xanadu is worth viewing because it is a relic of the past, aspiring to be great and, while struggling to do many things right, becoming unintentionally illuminating.

Xanadu Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Xanadu arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release introduces a new 4K restoration of Xanadu, prepared at Universal Pictures. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

As presented in 1080p on Blu-ray, the 4K restoration is not convincing. It is plagued by various anomalies introduced by color conversion issues, virtually all of which are undetectable on its native 4K presentation on the 4K Blu-ray. These anomalies collapse select native nuances -- usually blue and around blue -- and compromise native detail. You can see examples of the damage here, here, and here. In native 4K, the same areas still reveal inconsistencies, again impacting primary blue and blue nuances, but color balance is dramatically better, so only trained eyes are likely to spot them. Also, in native 4K, native detail is not compromised in a meaningful way. This is an unfortunate development because it is very easy to tell that the 4K files are excellent and a proper 1080p encode with correct color values would have delivered an outstanding upgrade. (Xanadu made its high-definition debut with this Blu-ray release, which gives it a decent but undeniably dated appearance). Image stability is excellent. There are no distracting age-related imperfections to report. However, a few tiny flecks and blemishes remain. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Xanadu Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0, and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the new 4K restoration of Xanadu in native 4K on the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack release. Later, I spent time with its 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray. The comments below are from our review of the combo pack.

I viewed various sections of Xanadu switching between the 4.0 (which is placed in a 5.1 container) and 2.0 tracks. The former splits a lot of the music and dancing action very effectively, but the dynamic potency of the two tracks is, perhaps unsurprisingly, identical. Also, it is very easy to tell that the audio has been fully remastered because it sounds very healthy. All exchanges are very clear and easy to follow.

Xanadu Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - in this new audio commentary, director Robert Greenwald explains how he became involved with Xanadu and how his inexperience with musicals and special effects impacted his work. Greenwald also shares a lot of interesting information about the music that is used in Xanadu, what it was like to work with Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John, and the key themes in its narrative. The commentary is moderated by filmmaker Douglas Hosdale.

• Commentary Two - this new audio commentary was recorded by filmmaker Jennifer Clymer and critic Nathanuel Thompson.

• Commentary Three - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics David Del Valle and Krystov Charles.

• Commentary Four - this new audio commentary was recorded by critic Samm Deighan.

• Vintage 1980 Sizzle Reel - in English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• Going Back to Xanadu (2009) - this archival documentary takes a closer look at the production and reception of Xanadu. Included in it are clips from interviews with writer Marc Reid Rubel, producer Lawrence Gordon, writer Richard Danus, and actress Sandahl Bergman. In English, not subtitled. (28 min).

• TV Spots - presented here are several vintage TV spots for Xanadu. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Radio Spots - a large selection of vintage radio TV spots for Xanadu. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Xanadu. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

Xanadu Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

No one can dispute that Xanadu gathers very talented actors and performers. However, what it does with them has many issues, a lot of them serious, so the end product is very easy to critique. At the same time, Xanadu is worth seeing because it is a relic of the past, aspiring to be great and, while struggling to do many things right, becoming unintentionally illuminating. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release introduces a new 4K restoration of it, which, as presented on it in 1080p, does not look convincing. The same 4K restoration is made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack and looks significantly more convincing there.