Barry Lyndon

Stanley Kubrick was a meticulous director. Every detail in his films counts. His 1975 film Barry Lyndon is no exception. The intricate interior sets lit with natural light, the exteriors, the battle scenes, the incredible costume work - all deserved to be seen as he intended them to be seen. He could capture the nuances of an actor's performance by subtly shifting the depth of field or the camera angle.

The newly released Bluray 4K UHD version brings his adaptation of the 1844 William Makepeace Thackeray novel, The Luck Of Barry Lyndon, to life. 50 years after it originally opened in cinemas, it can now be scene in the home in almost the same way that it was on the big screen. The quality of the film, as with most 4K restorations and rerelease, can't be faulted.

At a bit over three hours long, the film does not leave much room on a 4K disk for special features. This disk has none. No audio commentary, no making ofs or retrospective video essays. Does anyone really watch or listen to these anyway? I would have liked there to be the original trailer but that is the only thing that I missed.

The artwork on the box and the general aesthetics of the package are in keeping with the film. It does one thing and does it well: it gives you a high quality version of a classic film by one of the world's best directors.

Reviewed on: 17 Nov 2025