Dragonslayer

4K Ultra HD

Blu Ray

  • Score
    93
    from 6 reviewers
  • Dragonslayer debuts on 4K Ultra HD with restored video, Dolby Atmos, immersive acting - a magical, timeless fantasy film now available.

    Dragonslayer
    1981
    109 min
    PG
    True 4K
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    Dolby Atmos
  • Video
    97
  • Dragonslayer's 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD transfer showcases organic grain, HDR enhancement, grand black levels, and firm colors. Despite some optical softness and anamorphic distortion, real WWII-era flamethrowers and depth of field impress in this exceptional, theater-fresh presentation.

  • Audio
    98
  • Dragonslayer's Dolby Atmos audio mix boasts a rich, immersive soundtrack with object-based placement, wide soundstage, and seamless stage engagement. The powerful 80s score is well-balanced with dialogue and extraordinary sound effects for a truly captivating audio experience.

  • Extra
    85
  • Dragonslayer UHD Blu-ray features director Matthew Robbins & Guillermo Del Toro commentary, screen tests, and an insightful hour-long documentary on special effects wizardry with ILM legends Phil Tippett & Dennis Muren. Includes a digital copy code, but no Blu-ray.

  • Movie
    90
  • Dragonslayer, inspired by Disney's Fantasia, features a sorcerer aiding peasants to defeat Vermithrax Pejorative with captivating locations, sets, and characters that define the film as a fantasy blockbuster of its time, despite its mundane conflicts and Hollywood romance.

    True 4K
    HDR10
    Dolby Vision
    Dolby Atmos

    Director: Matthew Robbins

    Actors: Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, Ralph Richardson

    Plot: A young wizarding apprentice is sent to kill a dragon which has been devouring girls from a nearby kingdom.

    Disc Release Date: 21 March 2023

    all scores

    Blu-ray.com review by Martin Liebman
    • Video
      90
    • .Paramount releases Dragonslayer to the UHD format with a particularly wonderful 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that presents the film looking as if fresh out of theaters. It is essentially a buffed-up version...

    • Audio
      100
    • Dragonslayer's Dolby Atmos audio mix is a beast. The track demonstrates it excellence in the opening moments. A prominent instrumental presentation, rich in low end extension, and seamless stage engagement...

    • Extra
      70
    • This UHD release of Dragonslayer includes an audio commentary, a multi-part making-of, a trailer, and screen tests. A digital copy code is included with purchase. No Blu-ray is included. Audio Commentary:...

    • Movie
      90
    • It may not be quite fair to say "they don't make them like they used to" because the The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies really upped the Dragonslayer style and aesthetic, but for its day, on a...

    • Total
      90
    • In many ways, they really don't make them like this anymore. Here is a film that is fully focused, completely immersive, and pretty well seamless. The acting is great, the characters are well drawn, the...

    The Digital Bits review by Bill Hunt
    • Video
      95
    • While a few shots are optically soft (mostly by design, through the on-set use of filters and theatrical smoke), and there’s the expected anamorphic distortion around the edges of the frame on occasion,...

    • Audio
      100
    • The soundstage is big and wide, with pleasing overhead enclosure that enhances the various environments and a blustery lift that lends energy and impact to the film’s set pieces....

    • Extra
      85
    • In this way, the pair keeps the track moving along briskly with a lovely discussion that’s packed with stories and anecdotes....

    • Movie
      85
    • But the king’s peasants, having grown tired of this, send an expedition led by Valerian (Caitlin Clarke) to seek the help of the realm’s last sorcerer, Ulrich of Cragganmore (Ralph Richardson, of Things...

    • Total
      91
    • Dragonslayer is a film that’s long deserved a fresh look by cinephiles and it’s one of those rare catalog titles that’s never even received a decent Blu-ray release until now....

    • Video
      100
    • Grand black levels add the needed depth to help this movie pop in 2023.Firm color gives potent energy to flames, of which Dragonslayer has plenty of....

    • Audio
      100
    • Sporting one of the best sounding, boldest, deepest score of the ’80s, it’s arguable whether the music is too bold in the mix, but the fidelity makes this worth it....

    • Extra
      80
    • Director Matthew Robbins joins Guillermo Del Toro for a commentary track, with a screen test and lengthy multi-part documentary following....

    • Movie
      60
    • What Dragonslayer lacks is the legs to sustain the runtime, filling itself with a typical Hollywood romance, mundane conflict, and fears toward magic....

    • Total
      85
    • ...

    High-Def Digest review by Sam Cohen
    • Video
      100
    • Real World War II-era flamethrowers were used for Dragonslayer’s titular beast’s fire breath, and I’m happy to report that Paramount Home Entertainment throws just as much heat at the audience with their...

    • Audio
      100
    • Speaking of huge, soaring upgrades, Paramount Home Entertainment provides Dragonslayer with a wonderful Dolby Atmos track that balances dialogue, the boastful score and breathless sound effects with remarkable...

    • Extra
      60
    • While special features may be a bit spare on this release, it’s worth noting here that the hour-long doc about the making of Dragonslayer will be an essential watch for fans of special effects wizardry....

    • Movie
      80
    • Okay, time for a little bit of history about Matthew Robbins’ Dragonslayer. Robbins took a great deal of inspiration from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice sequence in Disney’s Fantasia when researching the story...

    • Total
      90
    • You’re a wizard, Har…err, sorry.. wrong franchise. Matthew Robbins’ 1981 cult favorite Dragonslayer, a rare collaboration between Disney and Paramount, is now available in stunning 4K Ultra HD courtesy...

    AVSForum review by Ralph Potts
    • Video
      100
    • Grain is present and primarily organic is appearance. The application of HDR adds an enriching element that underscores the film’s thematic impact, plain and simple....

    • Audio
      96
    • The film is loaded with atmospherics, off screen cues and discrete sound effects that when applied using the freedom of object-based placement adds an enriching layer to the soundtrack. This is noticeable...

    • Extra
      80
    • Dragonslayer Ultra HD Blu-rayNEW Commentary with Director Matthew Robbins and Guillermo Del ToroNEW Screen TestsNEWTHE SLAYER OF ALL DRAGONS - Step back in time with director/co-writer Matthew Robbins,...

    • Movie
      80
    • At the behest of a small band of peasants a sorcerer agrees to kill Vermithrax Pejorative. After glimpsing into the future, the sorcerer determines that traveling to the kingdom isn’t his calling but that...

    • Total
      89
    • It makes its debut on Ultra HD from Paramount Home Entertainment in this Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital release featuring beautifully restored video quality, a terrific Dolby Atmos listening track and a fan...

    Why So Blu? review by Brandon Peters
    • Video
      100
    • I don’t think you could have asked for a better transfer on this (Or really any movie you buy, its that good).Depth: Depth of field is plenty strong and shows plenty of good pushback in the interior scenes,...

    • Audio
      100
    • There’s terrific ambiance built around every environment and a good tracking of when a shot changes and things are now off screen but still present in the scene....

    • Extra
      70
    • Director Matthew Robbins and ILM legends Phil Tippett and Dennis Muren guide us through this incredible journey that features a lot of production design, sketh work, behind the scenes footage and photos...

    • Movie
      80
    • Dragonslayer just is a damn fine fantasy blockbuster film that has the power to whisk you away into this world with great locations, sets, characters and a magnificent dragon that makes the world all come...

    • Total
      90
    • It captures all that sort of wonder and magic of the movies you ask for when seeing fantasy film, and holds up remarkably in doing so....