Aliens remains a favorite among fans of the franchise. For some, the sequel to Alien is less horror and more enjoyable action in a sci-fi wrapper. Aliens received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress (Sigourney Weaver) and won two Oscars for Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects. It was one of the highest-grossing films of 1986 worldwide, earning $131.1M on an estimated $18.5M budget. Nevertheless, Aliens took a really long time to release on 4k Blu-ray. In fact, it arrived 5 years after the original title was released on 4k BD in 2019. The movie has also been on my wishlist for 4k upgrades along with movies such as Dances With Wolves (1990), Das Boot (1981), and Se7en (1995). Was it worth the wait? Let’s break it down.
Video
Aliens looks better than ever before given the integration of Dolby Vision/HDR10. We get a broader range of color from 10 bits versus the maximum 8 bits allowed on HD (1080p) Blu-ray. The deep color is especially important in the shadow areas where details may have been hard to see in previous renders. With HDR, “Maximum Light Level” was 203 nit and “Max Frame Average” 30 nit. Playback bitrates averaged around 50 Mbps, although often jumping up to 60+ Mbps.
In addition, 4k has enhanced the sharpness levels so much that now we can see subtle details that weren’t evident before such as eyelashes and small details in shadow areas. Granted, some of the increase in sharpness comes from processing of the image and, in many cases, removal of grain.
Aliens does have a couple moments of what would seem unnatural processing of the image, especially if you compare it to Ridley Scott’s Alien, which, in my opinion, was an excellent and pure restoration of a movie shot on film. Not once did I think Alien on 4k Blu-ray was driven by AI and overprocessed.
Aliens 4k Blu-ray vs. 4k Digital Comparison
How does the 4k disc quality surpass that up digital? At most, a digital movie from most streaming providers such as Apple TV (regarded as providing the highest quality in its class) streams at about 25 Mbps. Compare that number with Aliens on 4k Blu-ray and you’ll see that the disc is delivering two-to-three times that amount. On large TVs and projectors, those extra bits provide deeper color in the image. With those higher bitrates, theoretically, you won’t get any banding for degradation of the image in gradients, deep shadow areas, and bright skies.
However, if anyone thinks the 4k Blu-ray of Aliens is that much better in terms of the breakdown of the image itself, I just don’t see it. The digital presentation of Aliens in 4k streams at about 25 Mbps. And the 4K disc plays at about 50 Mbps (bitrates are sometimes lower, sometimes higher). Sure, it’s twice the amount of bitrates, but I didn’t notice any banding within the digital 4k/HDR presentation.
Aliens 4k Blu-ray vs. 1080p Blu-ray Comparison
In the photo above taken on a 120″ projection screen you can clearly see a difference in grain and sharpness between the new 4k Blu-ray edition and the previously-released 1080p Blu-ray presentation. Color, however, is only slightly improved with HDR. The below comparison of the two disc formats using a shot of Newt was widely discussed on X, with some preferring the gain in sharpness with 4k (L) while others liked a more analog/grainy image from the old BD (R).
Here are two projection screen photos that may encapsulate the #Aliens 4k remaster debate. On the left, Blu-ray (2010) retains grain structure. On the right, the 4k Blu-ray (2024) is sharper but the grain is polished (not in a good way). “When comparing the two, the old Blu-ray… pic.twitter.com/eVZphP82JH
— HD Report (@hdreport) March 16, 2024
In comparing Aliens on Blu-ray (from the Alien Anthology collection) and the new 4k Blu-ray, the old Blu-ray is a better representation of celluloid at a time when filmmakers are trying to make images look less digital.
Audio
The Atmos track is appropriate, not outstanding as a mix, but it does approve greatly on the previous 5.1 mix found on Blu-ray editions. Explosions and loud effects can be heard (and felt) with clarity. The music score and effects never overcome the dialogue, which is crisp throughout. Newt’s screams are as piercing as ever, and the hisses of the aliens cut through the sound space like razors. The Dolby Atmos / TrueHD 7.1 mix is reason enough to pick up this 4k upgrade to Aliens, because the previously-released Blu-rays utilized DTS-HD MA 5.1.
Bonus Materials
We love it when an entire disc is devoted to bonus material! The Aliens 3-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition from 20th Century Studios Disc 3 includes The Inspiration and Design of Aliens, Superior Firepower: Making Aliens, Pre-and Post-Production Stills & Footage and more. On the 4k Blu-ray and Blu-ray, there is also an introduction by James Cameron (Special Edition Only), isolated scores by James Horner (Final Theatrical and Composer’s Original), and direct access to new/additional scenes from the Special Edition.
Summary
To summarize, if you love the Aliens franchise, sci-fi, and the eighties decade of films, the 4k Blu-ray of Aliens is an improvement over the Digital 4k format, both of which are the best we have ever seen the movie look, but with the 4k disc at least doubling, and sometimes tripling the bitrates. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack also provides a new audio experience, one which is reason enough to buy the 4k presentation. However, cinephiles who don’t want to see this classic messed with may consider just holding onto the last Blu-ray Disc edition of Aliens, which retains grain structure and stands up really well in terms of color and sharpness against the new 4k disc.
Scores
Movie
5/5
Video
3.5/5
Audio
4/5
Bonus Material
4/5
