Dirty Harry 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 90
from 10 reviewers
Review Date:
Dirty Harry’s UHD debut impresses with a striking HDR10 transfer, original mono and Atmos audio, and a robust set of new and archival extras.
Disc Release Date
Native 4K
Dolby Atmos
HDR10
Dolby TrueHD
DTS HD-MA
Video: 92
Dirty Harry’s new 8K-sourced 2160p HDR10 transfer offers a strikingly film-like presentation with well-resolved, natural grain, improved clarity, subtle but effective HDR grading, and vibrant colors—delivering a substantial visual upgrade while respecting the gritty original cinematography.
Audio: 92
Dirty Harry’s 4K UHD offers a well-executed but revisionist Dolby Atmos mix with aggressive surround activity and modernized effects, alongside a robust, authentic mono DTS-HD MA 2.0 track preserving original sound design—a standout option for purists.
Extra: 86
The extras package delivers two new featurettes on the film’s generational appeal and Bruce Surtees’ cinematography, alongside extensive archival content and interviews, though a key mid-length featurette and the original trailer are notably absent.
Movie: 86
Dirty Harry’s 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers a long-overdue, substantial upgrade with a new UHD remaster, original theatrical audio, and curated extras, highlighting Eastwood’s iconic performance and Siegel’s gritty direction in a visually and narratively compelling classic.
Video: 92
The new 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation of Dirty Harry is sourced from an 8K scan of the original camera negative and presented in a 2160p/HDR10 transfer. The result is a significant leap in image quality compared to previous DVD and Blu-ray releases. The transfer delivers a distinctly film-like appearance, with a well-resolved and consistently rendered grain structure that reveals substantial fine detail—particularly noticeable in facial textures, hair, and fabrics like Harry’s iconic herringbone jacket. Grain management appears judicious, avoiding excessive digital noise reduction or artificial smoothing; any instances of grain fluctuation or patchiness are handled with restraint. Occasional softness—especially around edges or during optical transitions—remains inherent to the source and is not the result of digital tinkering, preserving the integrity of Bruce Surtees’s original cinematography.
Daylight and outdoor sequences stand out especially well, offering panoramic views of 1970s San Francisco with impressive clarity and authentic color saturation. The HDR10 encode is implemented with subtlety: while it avoids overt aggressiveness, it noticeably enriches color rendering and dynamic range. Primaries are vibrant yet natural, and skin tones are healthier and more lifelike compared to earlier editions, which sometimes skewed too warm or ruddy. In darker sequences, where Surtees’s minimalist lighting leads to deeper shadows and heavy silhouettes, grain becomes more pronounced, and noise levels can fluctuate; however, these moments generally retain a pleasing balance and do not detract from the overall presentation. The occasional softening or visual inconsistency—such as slight dips in quality during optical transitions—remains true to the film’s longstanding photochemical elements, not a deficiency of the current restoration. Overall, this transfer represents a respectful and robust upgrade, maintaining the gritty atmosphere and aesthetic intentions of the original while leveraging modern UHD technology to provide longtime fans with the best possible home presentation to date.
Audio: 92
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Dirty Harry" provides two distinct audio options: a newly remixed Dolby Atmos track and the original theatrical mono, now presented in DTS-HD MA 2.0 (technically a dual-mono, not stereo). The Atmos track builds on the prior 5.1 mix, introducing more nuanced height and surround activity while maintaining aggressive panning. It delivers a modernized listening experience, marked by enhanced separation and immersive sound placement. Notably, the Atmos remix brings Lalo Schifrin’s score to the forefront with improved balance and refined low-frequency extension, offering vibrant bass moments that enhance action sequences. However, this comes with further altered and newly added foley effects, including changes to iconic gunshots, which somewhat diverges from the film’s original sound design. While these revisions are effective on a technical level, purists may find the loss of authenticity a notable drawback.
Crucially, Warner Bros. also offers the original mono mix in lossless DTS-HD MA 2.0. This faithfully preserves the film’s initial audio character—distinctly different in timbre and sound effect cues from the remix. The mono track is robust, exhibiting solid dynamic range and occasional depth in the low end rarely experienced in older home video versions. In comparison to previous releases—where only remixed tracks were available—the inclusion of the untouched theatrical audio is a substantial upgrade for enthusiasts seeking an authentic presentation. The release also continues to support English (SDH) subtitles throughout the main feature and all supplemental materials. Overall, audiophiles can choose between a vibrant, cinematic reinterpretation and a meticulous archival restoration, each catering to different listening preferences.
Extras: 86
Warner Bros. offers a substantial suite of extras for the Dirty Harry 4K UHD Blu-ray, blending two new featurettes with a robust set of archival supplements. The new material includes a concise appreciation of Dirty Harry’s multi-generational appeal and a focused tribute to Bruce Surtees’ influential cinematography; however, both are brief and serve as overviews rather than deep dives. Returning content ranges from a decades-spanning “American Masters” career retrospective on Clint Eastwood to legacy interviews with key cast and crew. Some features, such as the interview gallery, are less user-friendly due to their standalone navigation. Notably absent is "The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry" featurette and the original trailer. Video quality within extras varies, with some newer segments apparently sourced from unfinished downsampled masters. Overall, the disc provides a comprehensive look at the film’s production and impact, solidifying its appeal to fans and film scholars alike.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary by Richard Schickel: Insightful, legacy commentary by the noted film critic.
- Generations and Dirty Harry: New featurette exploring the movie’s enduring appeal across generations.
- Lensing Justice: The Cinematography of Dirty Harry: New retrospective highlighting Bruce Surtees’ visual style.
- American Masters: Clint Eastwood – Out of the Shadows: Extensive documentary examining Eastwood’s career.
- Clint Eastwood: The Man from Malpaso: In-depth profile of Clint Eastwood’s life and work.
- Clint Eastwood – A Cinematic Legacy: Fighting for Justice: Focused look at themes of justice in Eastwood’s films.
- Interview Gallery: Separate interviews with Patricia Clarkson, Joel Cox, Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Evan Kim, John Milius, Ted Post, Andy Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Robert Urich.
- Dirty Harry’s Way: Archival featurette providing historical context to the film.
- Dirty Harry: The Original: Comprehensive retrospective on the film’s creation and legacy.
Movie: 86
Don Siegel’s “Dirty Harry” retains its ferocious impact and legendary status in the cop thriller genre, more than fifty years after its original release. Clint Eastwood delivers a career-defining performance as Harry Callahan, a San Francisco detective whose unorthodox quest for justice is set against the city’s atmospheric grit and palpable tension. The film’s plot follows Callahan as he tracks the elusive Scorpio killer, brought chillingly to life by Andy Robinson. The narrative’s foundation in real-life events—the Zodiac killings—imbues the film with a sense of urgency and cultural relevance, while its unapologetic moral ambiguity and controversial depiction of police vigilante tactics challenge viewers to wrestle with complex questions of law, order, and justice.
“Dirty Harry” marked a turning point for the genre by blending film noir aesthetics, western motifs, and contemporary anxieties around crime. The film’s kinetic direction, sharp cinematography, and time-capsule visualization of 1971 San Francisco remain potent, immersing audiences in a world of escalating danger and fractured authority. Eastwood’s portrayal of Callahan—armed with his iconic .44 Magnum—delivers both pulp sensibility and near-mythic heroism. The supporting cast, including Reni Santoni as the green partner Chico and a strong ensemble of character actors, adds texture and dynamic interplay that heightens the drama and underscores Callahan’s lone-wolf stance.
“Dirty Harry” stands as both a provocative entertainment and a pop-culture touchstone, celebrated for its gritty realism and unabashed bravado. It is not only a defining entry in Eastwood’s catalog but also established the template for antihero-driven cop films for generations to follow.
Total: 90
Warner Bros. delivers an impressive 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Dirty Harry, honoring the film’s enduring status as a benchmark in gritty cop cinema. Don Siegel’s seminal thriller remains as potent and immersive as ever, thanks to Bruce Surtees’ atmospheric cinematography and Clint Eastwood’s iconic, hard-edged performance. The new HDR10 transfer brings striking clarity and dynamic range, breathing new life into both shadowy night sequences and sun-drenched San Francisco exteriors. Crucially, this UHD edition preserves the original mono theatrical audio track, maintaining authenticity, while also catering to modern preferences with a robust Atmos mix.
Supplemental materials are another strong point; Warner Bros. includes a well-curated suite of bonus content, blending new featurettes with an extensive collection of archival extras. This thoughtful approach supports both newcomers discovering the film’s legacy for the first time, and longtime fans seeking deeper context and appreciation.
Dirty Harry’s UHD debut is a superb example of respectful restoration and thoughtful presentation. The package succeeds on both technical and historical fronts, making this edition essential for collectors, cinephiles, and anyone interested in classic American thrillers.
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AV Forums review by Casimir Harlow
Video: 100
It's a rich tapestry, suitably filmic, with a very clean polished look that might worry some but generally still reveals stunning fine detail, most notable on the skin textures - some of the audacious...
Audio: 100
an attempt to please all fans of the format Of course, there are plenty of 'true' fans who decried the remix when it was first brought to bear, and those same critics will hopefully very much appreciate...
Extras: 100
There's the standard edition, which features more reserved artwork, and the Steelbook edition, which itself comes as the Steelbook alone, or as part of a Collector's set that has some additional printed...
Movie: 100
Originally pitched as a script entitled Dead Right, back in the late 60s the production went through three studios, four rewrites, and half a dozen potential stars, before it landed with Warner, Malpaso...
Total: 100
iconic Warner's UK 4K release is across-the-board excellent - fabulous remastered 4K, the best-of-both-worlds soundtrack options which afford original audio AND Atmos, and a stacked disc overspilling with...
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AV Nirvana review by Michael Scott
Video: 90
The HDR application is very subtle, but it does bring out some of the more green, blue, and red highlights that the 1971 film employs....
Audio: 90
Sure, the updated effects from the 2+ decade old 5.1 track are still there, but it feels a little more natural with the object-based audio mix over the older 5.1 mix....
Extras: 90
Lensing Justice: The Cinematography of Dirty Harry • American Masters Career Retrospective - Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows • Clint Eastwood: The Man from Malposo • Clint Eastwood - A Cinematic Legacy:...
Movie: 90
What thoughts he have behind that crazed look, or the tendency that modern films have of making him relatable to the viewer....
Total: 90
There are tons of extras, an amazing new audio and video remaster, with the case art being the only thing that sort of makes me go “meh” when looking at it....
Video: 96
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
Audio: 90
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
Extras: 90
The Man from Malpaso • Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy – Fighting for Justice • Interview Gallery o...
Movie: 80
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
Total: 89
Ralph Potts AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews Reference Review System: JVC DLA-NZ7 4K Ultra High-Definition Laser Front Projector (Calibrated with Calman color calibration software and Portrait Displays C6 HDR2000...
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Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller III
Video: 90
Our exploration of the city's dark underbelly is occasionally more literal, though, and it's these sporadic night scenes where things get a little more complicated: young cinematographer Bruce Surtees,...
Audio: 100
This remix has been the only audio option on earlier DVD/Blu-ray releases and was the base for WB's new default Dolby Atmos mix which, as expected, offers frequently aggressive surround support and strong...
Extras: 90
Generations and Dirty Harry (6:15) - This amiable but surface-level collection of appreciations for Dirty Harry examines its multi-generational appeal with comments from the likes of podcast hosts Chris...
Movie: 80
Often imitated but never duplicated (even by its four sequels, which are likely being prepped for 4K in the near future), Don Siegel's iconic Dirty Harry features one of star Clint Eastwood's best-remembered...
Total: 90
The original Dirty Harry helped to usher in a tidal wave of similarly gritty rule-breaking cop dramas during the 1970s and beyond; now well over 50 years old, it still packs a punch and holds merit as...
Video: 90
The restoration pipeline was completed at 4K in P3 D65 color space, with grading supervised by MPI senior colorist Jan Yarbrough (who has experience working on Eastwood films)....
Audio: 85
Dirty Harry was released theatrically in mono, and this is indeed the original theatrical mono track, not a fold-down of the Atmos or the 5.1 remix....
Extras: 90
When it comes to Eastwood, Schickel has always been more of a hagiographer than a biographer, but he still offers some worthwhile analysis of Dirty Harry, as well as some stories about the production and...
Movie: 90
When that letter was also published, public fears in the San Francisco Bay area were finally given a name, and an unsolved true crime legend was born....
Total: 89
The picture quality offers significant improvements over the dated master used on the old Blu-ray; the new Atmos mix is a step up over the previous 5.1 remix; the original theatrical mono track is finally...
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Do Blu review by Matt Paprocki
Video: 80
A handful of shots, like a conversation at the coffee machine about 17-minutes in, shows the grain following the actors unnaturally....
Audio: 80
Not only does this come from the deep drum lines, but the way the music flows upward, with prominent instrumentation bouncing into the heights and rears....
Extras: 60
Warner copies the previous Blu-ray, beginning with a commentary from Richard Schickel, followed by five featurettes on the film itself, two documentaries on Eastwood, and interviews....
Movie: 40
Dirty Harry cemented the idea of the TV and movie cop as infallible, yet never once attempts to explore the reasons for why this depiction of San Francisco is like it is....
Total: 65
An angry, vicious, and often uncomfortable film on vigilante policing, Dirty Harry speaks to a silent majority....
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High-Def Digest review by Matthew Hartman
Video: 80
Some soft shots remain, some edges of the frame in some scenes remain softer than other moments, but as far back as I can remember seeing the film on various video formats, that’s always been the case....
Audio: 80
The best thing I can say for this new Atmos mix is the priority and placement of the Lalo Schifrin score is stronger and more balanced than the old 5.1 and offers plenty of LFE for those bass notes and...
Extras: 80
The only notable omission from this set is the 25-minute archival featurette The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry, but I imagine WB is probably saving that for the inevitable Dirty Harry 4K collection box set....
Movie: 100
The project made the rounds to the likes of John Wayne, Burt Lancaster, and Frank Sinatra but it was fated to be Eastwood’s complete with steely squint and intimidating snarl....
Total: 80
As a cop thriller that played into the sentiment of the time and exploited real-world crimes, it’s a visceral experience....
Video: 100
While there is scant information available about the genesis of the 4K remastering of Dirty Harry — all I could find was a report the film was recently restored from the original 35mm camera negative and...
Audio: 100
Schifrin’s score benefits the most from the expanded treatment — there’s great separation and heft in even the most subdued moments — while the onscreen world of Dirty Harry opens up a bit more, as the...
Extras: 100
A commentary track featuring film critic Richard Schickel is here, alongside two newly created featurettes: “Generations and Dirty Harry” (6:15; Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo; 1.78:1 and 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen),...
Movie: 100
Dirty Harry has lost little of its bite in the 54 years since its first release, and even a mountain of similarly themed films and television shows can’t dull the impact — even this film’s sequels, four...
Total: 100
Dirty Harry has lost little of its bite in the 54 years since its first release, and even a mountain of similarly themed films and television shows can’t dull the impact — even this film’s sequels, four...
Video: 90
Originally shot on location using Eastman 100T 5254 35mm film stock—a fine-grain, tungsten-balanced color negative optimized for controlled lighting—the restoration faithfully preserves the stock’s inherent...
Audio: 100
Dirty Harry is given a new Dolby Atmos audio mix that engages you from the opening moments of Lalo Schifrin’s percussive score, moving it a little above the base channels and granting some height and lots...
Extras: 80
American Masters Career Retrospective: Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows (1080p; 01:26:57)...
Movie: 80
The movie’s raw approach and examination of the conflict between justice and bureaucracy resonated with its contemporaries, establishing it as a cultural turning point and laying the groundwork for a franchise...
Total: 90
Dirty Harry is out on 4K Ultra HD + Digital April 29, 2025 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Purchase on Amazon.com Rating Certificate: R Studios & Distributors: The Malpaso Company | Warner Bros. |...
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Why So Blu? review by Adam Toroni-Byrne
Video: 100
Flesh Tones: Skin tones are natural for the time frame, with makeup giving mostly natural looks overall....
Audio: 100
Surround Sound Presentation: Surrounds are used as subtlety as the heights, spreading sound effects in the rear channels without compromising the original mixes integrity....
Extras: 80
Fighting for Justice (17:33) Interview Gallery (10 segments, 2-6 minutes each) – Interviews with Patricia Clarkson, Joel Cox, Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Evan Kim, John Milius, Ted Post, Andy Robinson,...
Movie: 100
I feel this discussion mostly comes from the scene where Harry meets Chico for the first time and there is the exchange with racial epithets thrown here and there....
Total: 90
They may not be the original but they’re a lot of fun still and worth owning in the best physical format around… I do feel lucky… getting the 4 Dirty Harrys in 4K that is…...
Director: Don Siegel, Clint Eastwood
Actors: Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Harry Guardino
PlotIn San Francisco, a hard-nosed, no-nonsense police inspector becomes embroiled in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with a cunning and psychopathic sniper, who has taken to the streets with a high-powered rifle, terrorizing the city. The sniper, calling himself "Scorpio," demands a hefty ransom from the city to cease his killings, setting off a frantic manhunt. The inspector, known for his unorthodox methods and willingness to skirt the edges of legal boundaries, is relentless in his pursuit, driven by a deep-seated sense of justice and duty. The tension escalates as the city becomes a powder keg of fear and paranoia.
As the inspector digs deeper into the case, he faces mounting challenges from both the criminal he's chasing and the system he's supposed to serve. His methods, while effective, draw the ire of his superiors and the public, leading to a complex examination of the morality and efficacy of his approach to law enforcement. Caught between the bureaucracy of the police department and the deadly game initiated by Scorpio, the inspector's resolve is tested to its limits. His journey through San Francisco's urban landscape becomes not only a quest to save lives but also a personal battle to maintain his own sense of right and wrong amidst the chaos.
Writers: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Dean Riesner
Release Date: 23 Dec 1971
Runtime: 102 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English