BFI: First Look at New 4K Restoration of The Cars That Ate Paris

The British Film Institute has provided a promotional video for its new 4K restoration of Peter Weir's The Cars That Ate Paris (1974), starring Terry Camilleri, John Meillon, Kevin Miles, Bruce Spence, and Melissa Jaffer. The 4K restoration will be made available on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray on May 25.

Description: Peter Weir's (Dead Poets Society, The Truman Show) debut feature from 1974, a genuine cult classic only previously available on DVD in the UK, is a biting satire of small-town life. It was also one of Stanley Kubrick's favourite films and a direct inspiration for George Miller's Mad Max series. Newly restored in 4K by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, The Cars That Ate Paris leads a limited edition two-disc set, released by the BFI on both 4K Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray, that also includes Weir's psychological thriller The Plumber (1979). Extras include audio commentaries on both features, a newly filmed interview with Terry Camilleri and rare early short films by Peter Weir.

While travelling across Australia in search of work, two brothers are involved in a car accident. The sole survivor is taken in by the residents of the nearby town of Paris, but the inhabitants' strange behaviour – and the alarming number of road accidents in the area – quickly unsettles him. It soon becomes clear that the town's feral youth rule the streets at night in souped-up cars, and the local hospital is overflowing with brain-damaged crash victims.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• TWO-DISC (4K BLU-RAY/BLU-RAY) COMBO PACK RELEASE
• NEW 4K RESTORAITON OF THE FILM
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• Audio commentary on The Cars That Ate Paris by Dr Stephen Morgan
• My First Film: Terry Camilleri on The Cars That Ate Paris (2026, 21 mins): a new interview with one of the stars of the film
• Interview with Peter Weir – The Cars That Ate Paris (2003, 11 mins)
• The Guardian Interview: Peter Weir (1985, 70 mins, audio only)
• 3 To Go: Michael (1970, 31 mins): three young filmmakers, of whom Peter Weir was one, were commissioned by the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit to each write and direct a half-hour fiction drama on the theme of 'Youth'. These were combined for cinema release as 3 To Go: Michael was Weir's contribution to the project
• Incredible Floridas (1972, 12 mins): a portrait of Australian composer Richard Meale
• 'Nobody Leaves Paris! No One!' (2026, 15 mins): a new video essay by Chris O'Neill
• Interview with Hal McElroy (2008, 6 mins): an interview with the one of the producers of The Cars That Ate Paris
• The Plumber (1979, 77 mins): newly remastered, Peter Weir's made-for-television thriller follows a couple whose lives are disrupted when an over-familiar plumber begins intrusive 'repairs'
• Audio commentary on The Plumber by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
• Interview with Peter Weir – The Plumber (2003, 8 mins)
• Peter Weir's Dream Within a Dream (2026, 18 mins): sparked by the discovery of rare outtakes from Picnic at Hanging Rock, this newly made work by Polish filmmaker Jakub Duszynski offers fresh insight into Weir's 1975 masterpiece
• Trailers
• Image galleries
• Illustrated booklet featuring a new written interview with Peter Weir, an original review, essays on The Cars That Ate Paris by Dr Stephen Morgan and on The Plumber by Tara Judah and writing about his short films by Peter Weir