Indy Cracks the 4K-UHD Whip

To mark 40 years of whip-cracking adventure, Paramount has re-issued the first four Indiana Jones movies on 4K-UHD for the first time.

All have been re-scanned and remastered in native 4K for the box set, which includes a fifth disc of Blu-ray extras from the 2012 trilogy (the extras from the first movie to be released on Blu-ray, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, have been omitted).

“All four films swing into 4K Ultra HD with gorgeous Dolby Vision HDR presentations, highly satisfying Dolby Atmos tracks but the same set of bonus materials,” High-Def Digest said.

It rated the video quality of the movies from 84/100 for Temple of Doom to 94/100 for Crystal Skull.

The Digital Bits awarded the franchise an A for video quality overall and A+ for audio.

“Its lack of fresh extras, missing extras, and terrible packaging aside, the new 4K remasters of these films are so good that it’s surprisingly easy to overlook the rest.”

“The movies all look and sound fantastic, all of them like they were made yesterday,” Blu-ray.com swooned. “This is one of the year’s finest releases and a must-own set if ever there was one.”

Here, the collection is selling from $140 (JB Hi-Fi) to $165 (Mighty Ape). If you want to shop around further afield, Amazon has it for US$90 and JB Hi-Fi in Australia for A$120.

Here’s the Paramount Home Media release:

The cinematic classic that started it all—Raiders of the Lost Ark—celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, having first introduced audiences to the man with the hat on June 12, 1981. Forty years later, the legendary hero continues to captivate new generations of fans.

Now, for the first time ever, all four films are available together on 4K Blu-ray with DOLBY VISION and HDR10 for ultra-vivid picture quality and state-of-the-art DOLBY ATMOS AUDIO. Each film has been meticulously remastered from 4K scans of the original negatives with extensive visual effects work done to ensure the most pristine and highest quality image. All picture work was approved by director Steven Spielberg.

In addition, all four films were remixed at Skywalker Sound under the supervision of legendary sound designer Ben Burtt to create the DOLBY ATMOS soundtracks. All original sound elements were used to achieve the fully immersive DOLBY ATMOS mixes while staying true to each film’s original creative intent.

The INDIANA JONES 4-MOVIE COLLECTION includes a collectible booklet with behind-the-scenes images from all four films. Each film is presented on 4K Blu-ray Disc with original theatrical trailers and access to digital copies. The set also includes a Blu-ray with seven hours of previously released bonus content as detailed below:

• • On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark
    • From Jungle to Desert
    • From Adventure to Legend
  • Making the Films
    • The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981 documentary)
    • The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark
    • The Making of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    • The Making of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
  • The Making of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (HD)
  • Behind the Scenes
    • The Stunts of Indiana Jones
    • The Sound of Indiana Jones
    • The Music of Indiana Jones
    • The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones
    • Raiders: The Melting Face!
    • Indiana Jones and the Creepy Crawlies (with optional pop-ups)
    • Travel with Indiana Jones: Locations (with optional pop-ups)
    • Indy’s Women: The American Film Institute Tribute
    • Indy’s Friends and Enemies
    • Iconic Props (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
    • The Effects of Indy (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)
    • Adventures in Post Production (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) (HD)