It’s official: The Universal Classics Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection hits 4K on 10/5, plus A Clockwork Orange on Ultra HD & The Sheik on…

All right, were starting today with a quick new disc review, and then weve got some big new release news to report on...

First though, Ive just reviewed Rian Johnsons excellent 2012 science-fiction thriller Looper on 4K Ultra HD, as recently released in the UK by Entertainment One. The title is expected on UHD here in the States from Sony later this year or early next, but in the meantime, if youre willing to import for just the 4K experience, this eOne release is a great option.

Now then, the big breaking news today is that Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has finally officially announced their long-expected Universal Classics Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection for release on 4K Ultra HD on 10/5.

The set will include the 90th anniversary editions of Dracula and Frankenstein, along the 80th anniversary edition of The Wolf Man, and also The Invisible Man, all in 4K Ultra HD. Theres no indication of Dolby Vision, so we expect HDR10 high dynamic range along with the existing audio mixes. [Read on here...]

The set will include each film in both 4K UHD and Blu-ray, packaged in book packaging with a slipcase. Hours of legacy content will be carried over from the previous Blu-rays, including The Road to Dracula, The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster, Karloff: The Gentle Monster, Monster by Moonlight, The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth, and Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed. You can see the cover artwork above left, and the open packaging below...

The title is not yet available for pre-order on Amazon, but well add the link when it is. Theres also no indication yet as to whether the films will be available individually in 4K, but it seems likely that will happen eventually (perhaps next year).

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has also finally announced the 4K Ultra HD release of Stanley Kubricks A Clockwork Orange on 9/21 (SRP $24.99 the film will also be released Digitally in 4K on that date). From the studios press release: The 4K restoration was conducted by Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging (MPI). Kubricks former right-hand man Leon Vitali and the Kubrick Estate worked closely with the team at Warner Bros. during the mastering process.

Expect HDR10 high dynamic range and the existing DTS-HD Master Audio sound mix. The legacy extras will carry over, including the excellent audio commentary by Malcolm McDowell and Nick Redman, as well as 5 featurettes (Still Tickin: The Return of Clockwork Orange, Great Bolshy Yarblockos! Making a Clockwork Orange, Turning Like Clockwork, Malcolm McDowell Looks Back, and O Lucky Malcolm!).

Heres the cover artwork for that release (which is already available for pre-order on Amazon by clicking on the cover art...

Finally today, Paramount has just announced that theyre releasing George Melfords The Sheik as a new Paramount Presents Blu-ray edition on 10/19, in honor of the films 100th anniversary. Extras will include the new Desert Heat: 100 Years with The Sheik featurette with historian Leslie Midkiff DeBauche, the films score, and a Digital Copy code.

Thats all for now. Stay tuned...

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It's official: The Universal Classics Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection hits 4K on 10/5, plus A Clockwork Orange on Ultra HD & The Sheik on...

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero