Superman I-IV 5-Film Collection 4K UHD (1978-1987) New 2025 editions 9/2

[mpls1981]

Originally Posted by ntotoro

Isn't Returns diverging somewhat into an alternate timeline post-II? Makes sense to not be in the set... sort of...

I don't know. Me thinking too much. Me tired.

Returns picked up after Superman 2. It ignores 3 and 4 completely.

[GuruAskew]

I don’t believe it blatantly contradicts 3&4 even though it doesn’t acknowledge them either.

Personally I think Returns should be included because of the many connections to the Reeve films. If it got a sequel or two it would make more sense to include it in its own set but since it’s a one-off it makes more sense to be lumped in with other films.

Also, a 4-film set is a complete Reeve-as-Supes set but an incomplete Brando-as-Jor-el set. And admittedly both configurations would be incomplete McClure-as-Jimmy-Olsen sets, but at least a 5-film Superman set is 5 Superman films.

In any case, between this announcement and the Cavill news yesterday was a very good day for Superman fans.

[Geoff D]

Warners didn't have any issues with presenting Returns in the previous 'anthology' sets on DVD and Blu, and as it follows on from that continuity (in one way or another) it just made sense. But if they have now dropped it it's a damned shame. We're gonna be stuck with that piece of shit HD DVD encode 4ever

[trustno1]

Bryan Singer’s name must still be so toxic. Warners has no problem leaving his Superman off this box set.

[Brian81]

Superman Returns is a sequel to 2 which everyone knows. They retconned out 3 and 4 for it. Happened with Halloween multiple times.

[brysenji]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Warners didn't have any issues with presenting Returns in the previous 'anthology' sets on DVD and Blu, and as it follows on from that continuity (in one way or another) it just made sense. But if they have now dropped it it's a damned shame. We're gonna be stuck with that piece of shit HD DVD encode 4ever

My feelings exactly. It made sense to include it in that (wonnnnnderful) Motion Picture Anthology set, I'd be happy as a clam if they essentially cloned that set with the new 4K discs replacing the previous Blus. Alas. It does feel like that's it for Returns.

[Coligion]

Disappointed that Returns is going to be omitted from the new 4KUHD set. Hopefully it a gets a standalone release in the near future. If it ever gets released, I hope WB considers reintegrating the Return to Krypton sequence into the feature film (instead of leaving it as a deleted scene).

[K9 Mark V]

So there's still no sign of a 4K of Donner's Special Edition cut of SM1? Also, is it confirmed SM1 has a new encode/transfer or is that still just rumorville? If SM1 is theatrical only, that would make me skeptical of a new transfer, since Warner could easily author a new branching disc for both cuts (a la Paramount with Star Trek TMP, where their branching collector's disc actually had a higher bitrate for the theatrical cut compared to the stand alone disc). Plus, if they have to take a few steps back to author a new transfer (assuming the HDR/dupe neg issues stem from the transfer itself), they might as well polish up the deleted scenes from that cut, it's only 8 (or so) minutes of them anyways.

[mar3o]

How to do the box set properly to finally do the films justice:

-Superman (theatrical) corrected HDR
-Superman (director's edition)
-Superman (extended TV cut)
-Superman II (theatrical)
-Superman II (Richard Donner Cut)
-Superman II (extended TV cut) unreleased
-Superman III (theatrical cut)
-Superman III (extended TV cut) unreleased
-Superman IV (theatrical cut)
-Superman IV (extended edition) unreleased
-Superman Returns (upscaled)

What we-re (likely) getting:

-Superman 1 (theatrical) corrected HDR?
-Superman II (theatrical)
-Superman II (Richard Donner Cut)
-Superman III (theatrical cut)
-Superman IV (theatrical cut)

Yeah, pretty lame. Nothing that hasn't been released before other than II-IV being in 4k for the first time. Here's their chance to finally give us Superman II - IV extended, and they're not doing it. This was also the chance for Superman Returns to be given a new upscale. I already own the blu-ray box set plus the UHD of Superman plus the extended TV edition. This box is definitely on the weak side unless they bulk it up. Maybe the "5-film collection" really means 1-4 plus Returns, and they're planning on including the various extended editions as well as bonus features, and just not counting them as the main features? Yeah, I'm not going to hold my breath on that.

[kenkraly2004]

Unlike many I am actually happy the Superman 5 Film 4K Collection is all the Christopher Reeve Superman films I-IV plus The Donner Cut of Superman that is coming out in 2023. Sure not having Superman Returns in the set will be a bummer but more than likely if it does get released it will likely be a standalone 4K UHD release and likely an upscale not done by the WB MPI team. That and the restructuring of the DC brand right now at WB with WB Discovery going on right now their is a lot more things to be concerned about that one movie not in a box set. But I do feel for those fans who wanted Superman Returns in the box set.

[Hedrox]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Warners didn't have any issues with presenting Returns in the previous 'anthology' sets on DVD and Blu, and as it follows on from that continuity (in one way or another) it just made sense. But if they have now dropped it it's a damned shame. We're gonna be stuck with that piece of shit HD DVD encode 4ever

Maybe they'll quietly update it to 4K on iTunes or something. I know it's not what you meant, but it's better than nothing.

For example, just recently Paramount upgraded Aeon Flux to 4K DV on iTunes, a title that probably not many people expected them to touch anytime soon.

[Ravenclaw]

I was hoping for individuals, but hell, ill take it, I at least hope the box is not super clunky like the previous Superman collection and more akin to the Keaton/Kilmer/Clooney Batman one with individual cases.

[jstxanothrxstory]

Originally Posted by Ravenclaw

I was hoping for individuals, but hell, ill take it, I at least hope the box is not super clunky like the previous Superman collection and more akin to the Keaton/Kilmer/Clooney Batman one with individual cases.

My guess is that it'll probably will be packaged similar to the Matrix 4-film set.

[kenkraly2004]

I'm really looking forward to seeing what that redone 4K of Superman The Movie looks like in 5 Film 4K Collection box set coming out next year. The 1st 4K UHD of Superman The Movie released in 2018 had a lot of brightness issues . banning issue towards the end of the film , matte boxes showing up in the Baby Kal-EL Starship sequence when he is coming toward Earth , red light that flashes after Christopher Reeve's credit and so on. As I said in the other Superman 4K Thread the prior Blu-Rays of Superman The Movie never had those brightness issues why the 1st 4K UHD Blu-Ray release in 2018 of STM Theatrical had those issues remains a mystery. I think it had to do with the film not being scanned in 8K liked the WB MPI guy explained when the 2018 4K STM Theatrical disc came out on the Caped Wonder Superman Podcast. The WB MPI guy said WB Home Entertainment was in a rush to get the 2018 STM Theatrical 4K UHD out for the 40th and it showed sadly. Hopefully the 2023 Box Set of all 4 Christopher Reeve Superman films will be great including STM Theatrical

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Hedrox

Maybe they'll quietly update it to 4K on iTunes or something. I know it's not what you meant, but it's better than nothing.

For example, just recently Paramount upgraded Aeon Flux to 4K DV on iTunes, a title that probably not many people expected them to touch anytime soon.

The only time I watched Aeon Flux I got about half an hour in and then turned it off because it was fookin awful. I was then off sick for a few days afterwards. Coincidence? I think not!

[dallywhitty]

It's kinda wild to me that Superman IV: A Quest For Peace is receiving a UHD release. What a time to be alive.

[LexInHD]

Originally Posted by ntotoro

Isn't Returns diverging somewhat into an alternate timeline post-II? Makes sense to not be in the set... sort of...

I don't know. Me thinking too much. Me tired.

Yes, it is in an alternate continuity where the events of 1-2 took place, but it all happened at later dates in history. Basically, the two films took place sometime in the 90's. 3-4 are not referenced at all in the novelization, but in the Crisis adaptation from CW, where Routh reprises his Superman Returns role, the 3rd film is referenced with a throwaway line about Superman having fought himself before. Given that, one could easily consider the 3rd film - which dealt with a rogue AI created by an evil industrialist who somehow also had access to weather control tech - as having happened after Superman Returns, in the late early-2000's or early 2010's. There is no way the events of Superman IV could fit into that continuity and no references were made to it in the Crisis adaptation, so I think it's safe to say that it never happened in the Routh timeline.

[kenkraly2004]

I do wonder if these new 4K UHD Blu-Rays of Superman I-IV plus The Donner Cut of Superman 2 will carry the color , brightness and contrast information of the Blu-Ray anthology box set along with HDR / Dolby Vision being added? Or will it be all new encode all together? My guess it would be a new encode for Superman I-IV (including a redo of Superman The Movie 4K
UHD) and The Donner Cut of Superman 2 will likely be a upscale but will see.

[david_blu]

Originally Posted by kenkraly2004

I'm really looking forward to seeing what that redone 4K of Superman The Movie looks like in 5 Film 4K Collection box set coming out next year. The 1st 4K UHD of Superman The Movie released in 2018 had a lot of brightness issues . banning issue towards the end of the film , matte boxes showing up in the Baby Kal-EL Starship sequence when he is coming toward Earth , red light that flashes after Christopher Reeve's credit and so on. As I said in the other Superman 4K Thread the prior Blu-Rays of Superman The Movie never had those brightness issues why the 1st 4K UHD Blu-Ray release in 2018 of STM Theatrical had those issues remains a mystery. I think it had to do with the film not being scanned in 8K liked the WB MPI guy explained when the 2018 4K STM Theatrical disc came out on the Caped Wonder Superman Podcast. The WB MPI guy said WB Home Entertainment was in a rush to get the 2018 STM Theatrical 4K UHD out for the 40th and it showed sadly. Hopefully the 2023 Box Set of all 4 Christopher Reeve Superman films will be great including STM Theatrical

Honestly 8k,4k, 2k has nothing to do with the colour of the film. There are so many tools now to make it look correct.
STM should look like the blu ray or DCP I saw at Royal Albert Hall. The cyan should be gone that is apparent on the blu ray but not on the DCP and the banding should be gone now. The Helicopter sequence should have the DP sign and Lois' outfit as yellow not orange as per the SE.
They should fix the shot of superman just before take off to the correct colours and brightness. The 4k is worse colour wise than my 40 year old vhs.
The blu ray got it mostly correct apart from the cyan and the banding. I will take the blu ray with original audio from the 4k everyday of the week over the current 4k.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

It's kinda wild to me that Superman IV: A Quest For Peace is receiving a UHD release. What a time to be alive.

I mean...didn't we have that moment with Howard the Duck?