Beverly Hills Cop 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 78
from 7 reviewers
Review Date:
Eddie Murphy shines in 'Beverly Hills Cop', an iconic 80s action-comedy, now in stunning 4K.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
DTS-HD MA
Video: 83
Beverly Hills Cop's 4K UHD release dazzles with its detail, color depth, and film-like texture, marking a significant improvement over previous versions, despite inherent source material softness.
Audio: 77
Beverly Hills Cop's 4K release retains the decade-old DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, offering clear but front-heavy audio with minimal surround effects and a faithfully represented iconic soundtrack, lacking an upgrade to immersive audio formats.
Extra: 65
Paramount's Beverly Hills Cop 4K Blu-ray boasts strong supplements, porting key features from previous editions and adding HD polish, but lacks new extras.
Movie: 87
Beverly Hills Cop stands as a quintessential 80s action-comedy, shaped by Eddie Murphy's improv brilliance, becoming an iconic blend of humor and action, ensconced in technical and narrative prowess.
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Video: 83
Beverly Hills Cop's transition to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, courtesy of Paramount, showcases a meticulous upgrade that remains faithful to the film's original texture while enhancing its visual appeal through technological advancements. Leveraged from the same venerable 4K master used for its earlier Blu-ray release, this iteration benefits immensely from the infusion of native 4K presentation together with Dolby Vision. The image, projected at a 3840 x 2160p resolution and preserving the film's widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio, not only brings out an enhanced clarity and detail but also a depth and color richness previously unseen. This is achieved through a combination of 10-bit video depth, Wide Colour Gamut (WCG), High Dynamic Range (HDR), and is encoded using the HEVC (H.265) codec for HDR10, thus providing a viewing experience that strikingly balances between preserving the film’s grain structure and showcasing detailed visuals, albeit with some inherent softness due to its original cinematic texture.
Despite occasional evidence of low-pass filtering and minor DNR usage—likely owing to balancing high grain levels in darker scenes with overall image clarity—the presentation excels in rendering more nuanced textures and deeper contrasts. This is particularly noticeable in a range of scenes from indoor dimly lit interactions to the vibrant exteriors under the Californian sun, where the Dolby Vision HDR pass reveals a vibrant palette without sacrificing the integrity of natural skin tones or the dynamic range of the '80s film aesthetic. Colors are intensified yet remain true to form, with richer blacks and crisper whites enhancing both nighttime sequences and daylight expanses alike.
Reflections on technical aspects such as encoding and resolution affirm the care taken in this release to optimize detail clarity and color reproduction without introducing artificial enhancements or noise. The cinematic experience is enriched through improved black levels, vivid saturation, and nuanced flesh tones, ensuring a visual fidelity that respects the film’s original grain while capitalizing on the capabilities of modern home entertainment technology. Instances where the image quality notably surpasses its Blu-ray predecessor include clearer facial features, clothing textures, and environmental details that now pop with life, anchoring Beverly Hills Cop firmly as a visually spectacular ode to its era in this 4K UHD presentation.
Audio: 77
The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Beverly Hills Cop" delivers the film's iconic audio through a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, unchanged from its previous incarnations on standard Blu-ray releases. Despite the lack of an upgrade to a more immersive 3D audio format like Dolby Atmos, this mix does its job well, faithfully reproducing the film's dialogue, effects, and memorable music with clarity and precision. Dialogue is sharp and primarily front-focused, with the mix doing a commendable job of weaving together the film's famous score and catchy songs, even if it does not boast the dynamic range modern audiences might expect. The front-heavy soundstage limits the sense of immersion during panning sequences, and while low-frequency effects are present, they fall short of delivering a palpable impact.
Technical analysis reveals that the audio presentation on this release is more respectful of its origins than revolutionary. The mix maintains a consistent balance, with sound effects and dialogue receiving careful treatment to ensure high clarity. However, the audio's dynamics show limitations, especially in action sequences where gunfire and explosions sound somewhat subdued, lacking the forcefulness that might have brought a more visceral edge to these moments. The use of surround channels is modest, mostly serving to envelop the listener with atmospheric touches or music rather than aggressive directional effects.
While some might lament the missed opportunity for a more robust surround mix or disappointment in the subdued low-end response that fails to fully capitalize on scenes requiring impactful bass, this DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track still represents "Beverly Hills Cop" with near-perfect fidelity to its era. It captures the essence of the film’s auditory experience, from the clarity of dialogue through the center channel to the careful handling of its iconic soundtrack, despite a soundstage that leans towards the narrower side. Overall, this audio mix adeptly supports the film's nostalgic charm without introducing any notable enhancements that deviate from its original presentation.
Extras: 65
Paramount’s 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Beverly Hills Cop" offers a neatly packaged set of extras, predominantly carried over from previous versions but still appealing for the aficionado. Notably inclusive are the director’s audio commentary and isolated score track—both insightful and a nod to Martin Brest’s significant role in the film's success. Extras like the deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes interviews from 1984 receive an HD facelift with new graphics, enhancing their appeal despite their archival nature. The “BHC Mixtape ’84” feature is an innovative addition, allowing direct access to scenes featuring iconic tracks, enriching the viewing experience. While there are no new extras exclusive to this release, the comprehensive assembly of features, alongside a digital code, provides a well-rounded supplementary package. This collection is thoughtfully designed to appeal both to newcomers and to those revisiting the streets of Beverly Hills with Axel Foley.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: By director Martin Brest.
- Deleted Scenes: A handful of scenes sourced from VHS but presented in HD.
- Behind The Scenes: 1984 Interviews: In-depth interviews with cast and crew, enhanced with HD encoding.
- BHC Mixtape ’84: Direct access to movie scenes featuring hit songs.
- Theatrical Trailer: The original cinematic trailer in HD.
- Isolated Score Track: The original score by Harold Faltermeyer accessible through settings.
- Beverly Hills Cop—The Phenomenon Begins: A retrospective featurette.
- A Glimpse Inside the Casting Process: Insights into the casting, notably Stallone’s involvement.
- The Music of Beverly Hills Cop: A featurette focusing on the movie’s iconic soundtrack.
- Location Map: Linked to additional featurettes exploring set design and locations.
Movie: 87
Beverly Hills Cop" lands on 4K UHD Blu-ray with a presentation that honors its iconic status in the comedy-action genre. Directed by Martin Brest and marking Eddie Murphy's first solo lead, the movie thrived on a blend of Murphy's charismatic improvisation and a competent, albeit relatively unknown, supporting cast including Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, and Ronny Cox. The 4K transfer breathes new life into this 1984 classic, showcasing 2160p resolution and Dolby Vision, enhancing the visual depth and bringing a renewed vigor to the streets of Beverly Hills and Detroit. The improvisational genius of Murphy, combined with Harold Faltermeyer's memorable "Axel F" theme, encapsulates the film’s enduring appeal.
Despite the constraints of a tumultuous production history, including script rewrites and budgetary limitations that led to the iconic "banana-in-the-tailpipe" scene, "Beverly Hills Cop" emerged as a seminal action-comedy. Its narrative, pivoting on Axel Foley's (Murphy) rogue investigation into his friend's murder in Beverly Hills, not only provided ample room for Murphy's comedic flair but also set a precedent for blending humor with action. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack retained on the UHD disc ensures that the dialogue’s clarity and the score's vibrancy are preserved, maintaining the film’s auditory signature.
The movie's success, attributable to its unique blend of comedy and action, alongside memorable performances, cemented Eddie Murphy’s stature as a box office powerhouse. The seamless integration of comedy within the narrative structure, combined with judicious casting decisions and a memorable score, remain pivotal to its legacy. Moreover, the inclusion of both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs in this release offers aficionados a comprehensive package, replete with existing bonuses that enrich the viewing experience. This release of "Beverly Hills Cop" illustrates a careful balance between maintaining fidelity to the source material and embracing technological advancements to enhance its presentation.
Total: 78
Beverly Hills Cop," the 80s classic that solidified Eddie Murphy as a powerhouse of comedy and action, has finally received the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray treatment, and it has been met with praise and a touch of nostalgia. This release captures the high-energy performance of Murphy in one of his most iconic roles, delivering a fresh and enthusiastic portrayal that fans have long admired. Paramount's commitment to preserving the film's original charm is evident in the 4K remaster, which includes Dolby Vision HDR, enhancing the visual experience beyond its previously excellent Blu-ray release. While the digital noise reduction (DNR) application has stirred some discussions, the overall consensus commends the effort to polish this relatively low-budget movie into something visually spectacular. Audio and supplemental features have been carried over from earlier editions, maintaining a sense of familiarity for long-time fans.
Paramount Pictures' dedication shines through with this release, offering a native 4K Dolby Vision transfer that significantly improves upon the Blu-ray version released earlier in the same year. Despite some disappointment regarding the absence of updates to the soundtrack and additional features, the inclusion of legacy supplemental material ensures that this edition remains comprehensive. Fans might lament the exclusion of SteelBook alternatives or updates for the sequels, yet this release stands out as a must-have upgrade. Eddie Murphy's performance, combined with the film's adept blend of comedy, action, and drama, retains its entertaining potency, making "Beverly Hills Cop" as hilarious and action-packed as it was during its debut.
In conclusion, Paramount Pictures’ 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Beverly Hills Cop" is exemplary of how classic films should be honored in the digital age. It represents a perfect opportunity for both new audiences and longtime fans to experience one of the greatest action comedies in cinematic history with unparalleled visual and audio quality. Although some may wish for more in terms of new extras or an updated soundtrack, this release does justice to the film's legacy, ensuring that Eddie Murphy's breakout performance can be appreciated anew. It’s a clear recommendation for those looking to experience or re-experience a defining piece of 80s cinema at its technical best.
avforums review by Casimir HarlowRead review here
Video: 90
Low lighting probably did the feature no favours, as clearly that is where the higher grain existed, and more drastic action had to be taken to keep the levels in check, but closer shots and outdoor sequences...
Audio: 80
The same track that has been kicking around for the past decade Dialogue comes across clearly and coherently throughout, largely disseminated across the frontal parts of the array, whilst effects include...
Extras: 80
A strong supplementals package The 4K disc enjoys the Audio Commentary, Deleted Scenes, some Archival Interviews, the Mixtape and Trailer, whilst the accompanying Blu-ray has all of those as well as the...
Movie: 90
A great deal has to be attributed to Murphy who, back in the day, was seldom fresher and more enthusiastic than this Brest was also honing his craft, and whilst his career didn't exactly take off in Hollywood...
Total: 90
Although he would go on to become a superstar, this really was one of those last times that we got a young, fresh, enthusiastic Eddie Murphy who was absolutely at the top of his game, commanding this opportunity...
Blu-ray.com review by Martin LiebmanRead review here
Video: 90
This is certainly not the most tack-sharp movie by its nature but the UHD does elevate the material to its peak output, featuring a pleasing grain structure that's soft and supple even as it's a little...
Audio: 90
It simply recycles the existing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack which was used on both the 2011 original release and the 2020 remastered release....
Extras: 60
The UHD does port over several extras, and the entire suite can be found on the bundled Blu-ray, which is identical to the remastered version that was included with the three film collection that released...
Movie: 80
Unfortunately, Foley finds himself in hot water with the local law; Beverly Hills Police Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil (Ronny Cox) wants him out of town, so Foley turns to local Detectives John Taggart (John...
Total: 70
Its a shame that the other films have not yet earned the same treatment and that there's no SteelBook alternative, but the release does come highly recommended....
The Digital Bits review by Bill HuntRead review here
Video: 90
Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is a street-wise Detroit police detective, who’s not afraid to bend the rules once in a while to catch the bad guys, an approach that’s gotten him into a bit of hot water with...
Audio: 90
What’s most important is that the music is presented with near-perfect fidelity, and that’s certainly the case here with lossless audio....
Extras: 80
The Mixtape feature is just a song-selection option—selecting one of the tracks just takes you to that scene in the film....
Movie: 85
Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is a street-wise Detroit police detective, who’s not afraid to bend the rules once in a while to catch the bad guys, an approach that’s gotten him into a bit of hot water with...
Total: 86
This is a good nature action-comedy with its heart in the right place, and Eddie Murphy’s performance is every bit as good as I remembered....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 80
It’s all left alone, lifted slightly, but without marring the ’80s film aesthetic via digital grading....
Audio: 80
Cautious mastering preserves the material as-is, pushing light ambiance in bars, while leaving the surrounds alone for most of the runtime....
Extras: 60
The disc is otherwise the same as the previous release, with director Martin Best’s commentary in the lead....
Movie: 100
Process only delays things when dealing with the affluent, so Foley takes a working vacation, tracking down Maitland’s empire....
Total: 80
Cleverly set up and consistently entertaining, Beverly Hills Cop ranks as one of the best of its kind while smartly mixing cross-country cultures....
High-Def Digest review by Matthew HartmanRead review here
Video: 90
The opening act in Detroit looks a stop or two darker than the Blu-ray giving the image a much more grungy and to be frank accurate to the city look....
Audio: 70
The audio for this release sounds like the exact same DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix from the last release which in turn sounds just like the audio mix from the 2011 disc, which isn't bad, it's just not the most dynamic...
Extras: 70
Bonus features are also all the same here with the 4K disc actually having the audio commentary, isolated score, and a few of the other bonus features that came along with the previous release and are...
Movie: 90
Housed in a 2-disc case with identical slipcover artwork, the disc loads to a language select menu before arriving at a static image main menu with traditional navigation options....
Total: 80
While the fun may have played out by the time they got to the third film in the series, this original still packs a punch and still cracks me up after dozens of viewings....
AVSForum review by Ralph PottsRead review here
Video: 86
On occasion, discernible improvements in depth could be seen in wide-angle shots but, in most respects, I saw minute differences in apparent resolution when checking select scenes from the UHD and Blu-ray....
Audio: 80
This is not a very dynamic track to begin with and, this was evident in the form of dull sounding gunfire and ramming tractor trailer crashes that lacked forceful impact....
Extras: 70
The Music of Beverly Hills Cop (SD) • Deleted scenes (HD) • Behind-the-scenes featurettes incorporating vintage 1984 interviews (HD) •...
Movie: 80
After his childhood buddy is murdered while visiting Detroit, rebellious cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) follows the leads to Beverly Hills, Calif., under the auspices of a vacation....
Total: 79
It’s making its debut on Ultra HD Blu-ray in this Ultra HD Combo Pack from Paramount Home Entertainment featuring remastered video (which includes Dolby Vision HDR) and, legacy supplemental material....
Why So Blu? review by Brandon PetersRead review here
Video: 90
Where this one really jumps up from its standard counterpart is the color saturation and the more refined and natural blacks in the frame....
Audio: 80
There are moments where the shot will change and it retains what is going on with the other side of the action....
Extras: 40
This is a 4-part set contain some generic EPK interview stuff from Eddie Murphy and Martin Brest....
Movie: 90
The film was hitting production soon and a crazy amount of rewrites had to happen to make this work....
Total: 80
The bonus features are missing a couple featurettes, but luckily they are here on the standard Blu-ray that is included with this release....
Director: Martin Brest
Actors: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton
PlotA street-smart Detroit police officer, Axel Foley, is a wisecracking detective with a knack for bending the rules to get results. When his best friend Mikey, who's been working in California, pays him a surprise visit, their reunion is cut short by a brutal murder that shocks Axel to his core. Vowing to catch the killer, Foley finds himself in an unfamiliar world when he follows the lead to the sun-drenched boulevards of Beverly Hills.
In Beverly Hills, Axel's brash style and disregard for procedure immediately clash with the local police department's by-the-book approach. He quickly butts heads with two detectives assigned to keep an eye on him. Despite their differences, the trio grudgingly begins to work together to unravel a complex web of crime that leads them through the opulent world of high-end art galleries, ritzy mansions, and a network of smooth criminals who operate above the law. As they dig deeper, they stumble upon a trail of shady dealings that suggests Mikey's murder was not a random act of violence.
Writers: Daniel Petrie Jr., Danilo Bach
Release Date: 05 Dec 1984
Runtime: 105 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English