The Fugitive 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 86
from 10 reviewers
Review Date:
Warner's 4K UHD of *The Fugitive* is a must-have, featuring a stunning native 4K HDR remaster, impressive Dolby Atmos track, and essential legacy extras.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Atmos
DTS-HD MA
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 93
The Fugitive's 4K UHD upgrade boasts a director-approved native 4K transfer with HDR10, resulting in remarkable detail, refined textures, rich colors, and deep blacks. It maintains the original cinematic feel, with natural film grain and improved shadow detail, making it the best version yet of this classic.
Audio: 91
The Fugitive's 4K UHD Blu-ray features a robust and immersive Dolby Atmos track, enhancing the already impressive DTS-HD 5.1 mix. The soundstage is dynamic and well-balanced, with clear dialogue, impactful LFE, and effective use of height channels, particularly during the iconic train crash and helicopter sequences.
Extra: 65
The 4K UHD release of *The Fugitive* is visually and audibly improved, though it disappoints by not adding new features and excluding the 2000 TV pilot. The extras are solid but recycled: insightful commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones, and notable featurettes like 'Thrill of the Chase' and 'Anatomy of a Train Wreck.'
Movie: 91
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Fugitive" is hailed as a technical and cinematic triumph, offering a "spectacular new director-supervised 4K transfer and Dolby Atmos mix, elevating the film's celebrated tension-filled chase sequences and iconic performances by Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, making it a definitive upgrade from previous releases."
Video: 93
Warner Bros.' latest 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Fugitive" is a masterclass example of what a native 4K remaster can achieve, offering an astoundingly well-preserved and enhanced viewing experience. Utilizing a director-approved 4K scan from the original camera negative, this transfer delivers a 2160p BT.2020 image with HDR10. The result is a strikingly clean and filmic presentation that retains the authentic grain structure without any overzealous noise reduction. The increased clarity reveals previously hidden details, enhancing the photochemical texture while maintaining the original visual aesthetic. Shadow detail is notably improved, and contrast levels are finely tuned to deliver deep blacks and vibrant highlights without clipping.
HDR implementation, while not featuring Dolby Vision, is effectively applied to augment color depth and dynamic range. The urban, wintery palette of the film maintains its subtle cool tones, now enriched with more natural nuance and bolder colors. Highlights like police lights and city signage pop more vividly, while flesh tones appear more accurate and balanced. The meticulous restoration work offers a significant upgrade over previous Blu-ray releases, especially those plagued by lower bitrates and poorer grain management.
In terms of visual fidelity, this new 4K transfer is unparalleled. The improved formats bring out the best in both artificial and natural light scenarios, giving scenes a newfound depth and dimensionality. Even in the most complex sequences—like the underground chase or nighttime shots—the transfer excels in displaying fine textures and maintaining stable grain levels. While some minor color shifts were noted in flashback scenes, these are subtle and don’t detract from the overall authenticity. Overall, Warner's updated release transforms "The Fugitive," ensuring it looks better than ever before, markedly improving on all previous home video editions.
Audio: 91
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Fugitive" presents a remarkable Dolby Atmos track, complementing the film's existing high-quality audio. The object-based format enhances the soundstage, providing immersive effects with precise placement and movement. Dialogue prioritization is excellent across the frontal channels, ensuring clarity and crispness. Helicopter flyovers, gushing water, and bustling hospital scenes utilize the height channels effectively, crafting a three-dimensional auditory experience that draws the listener into the film’s environment. Impactful LFE underpins moments such as the train crash and gunfire, delivering a palpable sense of power that shakes the room.
Warner Bros.' new Dolby Atmos mix provides a robust low end, controlled soundstage, and smooth integration of James Newton Howard’s score, which beautifully punctuates suspense and action sequences. The track offers fantastic dynamics from the subtle ambiance to dramatic sound effects. It particularly shines during key scenes—such as the St. Patrick's Day parade or rooftop climax—highlighting the potential of Atmos with clear directional effects and well-distributed surround sound. For those not equipped for Atmos, the included DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix retains its excellence with discrete channel usage and formidable sonic presence.
The audio mix builds on the original 5.1 DTS-HD MA track, allowing for a wider front soundstage and smoother panning effects through the added height channels. Natural atmospheric sounds such as water splashing in sewers or ambient noise during parade scenes enrich the listening experience. The dual-layer offers allow flexibility for users to select their preferred audio experience without losing quality. Optional subtitles in multiple languages ensure accessibility, reinforcing this release as a definitive audio powerhouse for "The Fugitive."
Extra: 65
This 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Fugitive" comes with a solid selection of extras that fans of the film will appreciate. While no new supplements have been added, it includes nearly all extras from previous Blu-ray editions, except for the 2000 TV pilot. The highlights are the commentary track featuring director Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones and several featurettes that provide insightful behind-the-scenes content. These add significant value, allowing viewers to delve deeper into the making of the film, its iconic scenes, and hear reflections from key cast and crew members. Each feature is presented in upscaled high definition.
Extras included in this disc:
- Introduction by Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford: Brief sequence welcoming viewers to the movie.
- Commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones: Insightful track discussing the film's production.
- The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase: Retrospective with interviews from cast and crew.
- On the Run with The Fugitive: Detailed look at the shoot, script, and locales.
- Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck: In-depth analysis of the train wreck scene.
- Theatrical Trailer: Original trailer for the film.
- Digital Code: Redeemable digital copy of the film.
Movie: 91
The Fugitive, directed by Andrew Davis and starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, stands as an iconic thriller, celebrating its 30th anniversary with a new 4K UHD Blu-ray release. This film, based on the 1960s TV series, delivers a gripping narrative that has etched itself into the annals of cinematic history. Harrison Ford shines as Dr. Richard Kimble, a respected vascular surgeon wrongfully accused of his wife’s murder, who escapes custody and embarks on a relentless quest to find the true killer. Ford’s portrayal of an everyman hero is pitch-perfect, bringing depth and authenticity to the character. Complementing Ford’s performance is Tommy Lee Jones as US Marshal Sam Gerard, whose Oscar-winning role adds a fascinating antagonist dynamic with his dogged determination and rat-a-tat command delivery.
The film’s masterful direction by Davis blends tight pacing with a series of thrilling set-pieces, most notably the iconic train crash sequence. The nuanced cinematography captures the grainy realism of the early 90s, further enhanced by the new 4K master. This meticulous restoration, supervised by Davis himself, showcases enhanced detail and refined color tones—eliminating previous technical flaws and elevating the urban snowy aesthetics of Chicago. The HDR application subtly accentuates primary colors while retaining the film's gritty look, producing an exceptionally immersive visual experience.
The Fugitive’s strength lies not just in its action but also in its character-driven storytelling. Ford’s perfecting of the everyman caught in extraordinary circumstances juxtaposed with Jones' unyielding lawman creates an engaging cat-and-mouse chase. Their chemistry is palpable; Ford’s desperate resolve contrasts with Jones' authoritative tenacity. Supporting roles from notable actors such as Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, and Julianne Moore add layers to this tightly woven narrative. Thirty years on, The Fugitive remains a pinnacle of the genre, demonstrating that a well-crafted story merged with stellar performances doesn't age.
Total: 86
"The Fugitive" celebrates its 30th anniversary with a stunning 4K UHD Blu-ray release from Warner Brothers that revitalizes the iconic 1993 thriller starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. The film, directed by Andrew Davis and renowned for its gripping chase narrative, maintains its freshness and immersive appeal with this remarkable remaster. Featuring a native 4K resolution enhanced with HDR10, the visual fidelity is vastly superior to previous formats, offering exquisite detail and vibrant colors that bring the thrilling escapades of Dr. Richard Kimble to life.
Accompanying the visual upgrade is a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that transforms the audio experience. The immersive sound design elevates the tension and excitement integral to the film's narrative, ensuring that both suspenseful quiet moments and high-octane action sequences deliver a compelling auditory experience. The set also includes legacy supplements, preserving popular extras from previous editions, although the addition of new features would have been welcomed by enthusiasts.
In conclusion, Harrison Ford's "The Fugitive" remains an essential piece of cinematic history, and this 4K UHD Blu-ray edition is a must-have for fans and cinephiles alike. Warner's meticulous remastering effort ensures that the film looks and sounds better than ever, making it a valuable addition to any collection. For those who appreciate thrilling storytelling combined with top-tier audio-visual quality, this release stands as a definitive representation of the action/adventure genre.
avforums review by Casimir HarlowRead review here
Video: 100
This is, of course, what the format can - at its height - achieve for shot-on-film movies, gifting them a new lease of life, and that's more evident than ever here with The Fugitive, whose 4K rendering...
Audio: 90
tremendous The Fugitive always benefitted from a strong audio component on home formats, but Atmos is just the beautiful icing on the cake, taking the excellent elements and promoting them adeptly across...
Extras: 70
The one disc 4K release, needless to say, includes all of the extras on the 4K disc itself, with a decent selection that covers all the bases. ......
Movie: 90
Tommy Lee Jones would win the Oscar for Gerard, which is an interesting choice (it's obviously the more showy role, whilst Ford's perfect rendition of the everyman hero - setting the gold standard - wouldn't...
Total: 90
fans should consider it a must-have release Warner's 4K of The Fugitive is an absolutely wonderful surprise - lavishly remastered native 4K HDR which leaves it looking leagues better than on any of its...
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 90
The film will never be able to escape the grainy nature of the early 90s film stock, but the grain is very clean and organic looking....
Audio: 90
• Introduction by Director Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford • Audio Commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones • Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck and On the Run with The Fugitive • Theatrical Trailer...
Extras: 60
Movie: 100
The 90s was a great time for Ford, with some amazing hits, but very few have managed to become so indelible in pop culture minds than his rendition of Dr. Kimble and the one armed man....
Total: 90
Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones were basically everywhere at that point, and The Fugitive is just such an enjoyably watchable film even 30 years later....
Blu-ray.com review by Randy Miller IIIRead review here
Video: 90
The Fugitive is not a particularly colorful or "showy" film during most of its luxurious 130-minute runtime -- opting for more of a natural and typically slightly cool Earth-toned palette in line with...
Audio: 0
Sure, the Dolby Atmos obviously plays a bit tighter thanks to its object-based format as well as sparing but sensible use of the height channels for elements like helicopter flyovers, the rooftop climax,...
Extras: 100
Its bonus features are mostly identical to the 20th Anniversary Blu-ray, although the 2000 TV pilot starring Tim Daly and Mykelti Williamson is not included this time around....
Movie: 100
This edition brings back most of those supplements and bolsters the A/V experience with a new director-supervised 4K transfer and Dolby Atmos mix, which makes this more of a total replacement than a companion...
Total: 60
Andrew Davis' The Fugitive turns 30 this year but still feels fresh and engaging with great performances, a rock-solid pace, excellent cinematography, and of course a gripping story....
Blu-ray Authority review by Matt BrightonRead review here
Video: 100
Looking at the image as a whole, though, it’s indicative of what we’d expect for a 4K film....
Audio: 100
And I can’t mention this mix without the train wreck (I know I mentioned in passing a few sentences back), but with all the examples of surround I’ve heard this consistently ranks as one of the best....
Extras: 50
The producers also chime in as they all reflect on the film, its success and long-lasting appeal....
Movie: 0
The clock is ticking and it’s only a matter of time before Gerard and company catch Kimble....
Total: 80
With this new 4K offering, we’ve got an upgraded picture, an amazing soundtrack with Dolby Atmos and enough of the legacy supplements to easily warrant a purchase....
The Digital Bits review by Bill HuntRead review here
Video: 95
Contrast is generally excellent, with deep blacks and more apparent shadow detail, though the blacks do look a little gray on occasion due to on-set atmospherics (fog, smoke, and haze)....
Audio: 85
The soundstage is medium wide generally, with nice use of the surrounds for immersive and directional effects....
Extras: 75
The best of this material by far is Thrill of the Chase, which was created by our old friend Gary Leva (of Leva FilmWorks) for the 20th Anniversary Blu-ray back in 2013....
Movie: 95
Based on the 1960s ABC television series created by Roy Huggins (which featured David Janssen and Barry Morse, and was narrated by William Conrad), Andrew Davis’ 1993 film adaptation of The Fugitive stars...
Total: 88
The Fugitive is a tense and twisting big-screen thriller that’s impossible not to like, featuring two great actors in the prime of their careers who both deliver terrific performances....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
Other than some cooler tones that skew the grading slightly with a modern touch, the rest is organic....
Audio: 80
The opening train crash, a demo sequence dating back to the Laserdisc, sounds better here than ever before, even if the Atmos effects sound limited considering the potential....
Extras: 40
Director Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford introduce the film, and then David is joined by Tommy Lee Jones on the commentary track....
Movie: 80
Even knowing Hollywood and how inevitable the result is, The Fugitive is able to convey doubts because Jones’ manhunt appears so confident in its methods....
Total: 70
A phenomenal thriller with a Hitchcock-ian vibe, The Fugitive is an exemplary “wrong man” movie....
High-Def Digest review by Sam CohenRead review here
Video: 90
Although the lack of Dolby Vision HDR is a bit odd on these Warner Bros. releases, that doesn’t hold this presentation back from being absolutely gorgeous....
Audio: 100
Dialogue and music are mixed well in both tracks, but I prefer the Atmos track now since it makes good use of the additional height allowed by the upfiring speakers....
Extras: 50
Even more disappointing, the pilot episode of the reboot TV show that was included in previous Blu-ray releases is not present here....
Movie: 80
Andrew Davis’ direction proves to be a good fit for the material, with that opening sequence of flashbacks and flash-forwards dropping the audience right into the action without much warning....
Total: 90
With a stunning 2160p presentation aided by HDR10 and a new Dolby Atmos track that pulls out all the stops for this slam-bang thriller, this release belongs in your collection this holiday season....
Home Theater Forum review by Todd ErwinRead review here
Video: 100
Warner has scanned the original camera negative to create a new 4K digital intermediate which is the source for this disc’s 2160p HEVC encode that also includes HDR10 high dynamic range and restores the...
Audio: 100
The Atmos track provides a wider front soundstage and smoother panning effects, the heights giving James Newton Howard’s excellent score a bit more breathing room but also providing some nice atmospheric...
Extras: 80
Theatrical Trailer (upscaled 1080p; 1:58): appears upscaled from a 480i 30-frame source to 1080p/24 frame, as the image stutters and has some noticeable interlacing issues....
Movie: 90
With The Fugitive hitting 30 earlier this year, in addition to Warner celebrating its 100th anniversary, it is almost a no-brainer that now is as good a time as any to finally release the film in 4K. The...
Total: 90
After seven years of waiting, The Fugitive finally arrives on 4K with exceptional video and audio....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 94
Dynamic highlights are pretty sparse however, HDR added a tangible visual element the emboldened colors as well as enriching both natural and artificial light....
Audio: 86
James Newton Howard’s music score is the driving force behind the film’s suspense and action and it has been given a place of prominence here....
Extras: 60
• Introduction by Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford • Commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones • "The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase" • "On the Run with the Fugitive" • "Derailed: Anatomy of a Train...
Movie: 100
Ford is prison escapee Dr. Richard Kimble, a Chicago surgeon falsely convicted of killing his wife and determined to prove his innocence by leading his pursuers to the one-armed man who committed the crime....
Total: 85
is a thoroughly engaging thriller that grabs hold early on and doesn’t let go until the credits roll....
Why So Blu? review by Brandon PetersRead review here
Video: 100
This fresh, like new look of the film features a great improvement on depth, color and detail that skyrockets it beyond the previous Blu-ray transfer of the film....
Audio: 100
Surround Sound Presentation: As mentioned many times above, you have a very active mix that carries good ambiance through the rear and side channels as well as unique contributions and tracking offscreen...
Extras: 60
By Director Andrew Davies, Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones (HD, 1:47)The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase (HD, 28:19)On the Run with The Fugitive (HD, 23:04)Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck (HD, 8:52)Theatrical...
Movie: 90
As Richard leads the team through a series of intricate chases, he discovers the secrets behind his wife’s death and struggles to expose the killer before it is too late....
Total: 90
This is a must have for anyone, though I imagine when its the right price for you, it will be yours....
Director: Andrew Davis
Actors: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward
PlotDr. Richard Kimble, a respected Chicago vascular surgeon, arrives home one night to find his wife Helen brutally murdered. Despite his assertions of innocence, overwhelming circumstantial evidence points to him as the killer, including a 911 call Helen makes during the attack, in which she screams out her husband's name. Convicted of first-degree murder, Kimble is sentenced to death. While en route to prison, a catastrophic accident allows Kimble to escape. Now a fugitive from the law, he is determined to find his wife's true murderer and clear his name. His pursuit is relentless, leading him back to Chicago where he covertly investigates the crime amidst a manhunt led by the tenacious U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard.
Marshal Gerard and his seasoned team launch an exhaustive search for Kimble, who narrowly evades capture while gathering clues about the one-armed man he claims is Helen's real killer. As Kimble delves deeper into his wife's death, he uncovers layers of medical and corporate intrigue that suggest a conspiracy involving prominent figures in the Chicago community. The chase becomes a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse, with Kimble using his medical knowledge and survival skills to stay one step ahead of Gerard, whose dogged pursuit is both relentless and uncompromising. The tension escalates as Kimble pieces together the puzzle, inching closer to the truth while the gap between the fugitive and the law steadily narrows.
Writers: Jeb Stuart, David Twohy, Roy Huggins
Release Date: 06 Aug 1993
Runtime: 130 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States
Language: English, Polish, Spanish