“The Searchers” on 4K UHD Blu-ray is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision or HDR10 (form of) high dynamic range. The movie was shot on 35mm film using a Mitchell VistaVision camera, utilizing the VistaVision cinematographic process. This movie has received a restoration by Warner Bros. Discovery’s MPI (Motion Picture Imaging). A 4K scan was received by The Film Foundation. MPI then “meticulously restored it from its original camera negative.”

Next, let me get technical, examining the 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc itself here. This 4K release uses a BD-100 (100 gigabytes) disc, 83.78 gigabytes total, and 83.1 gigabytes for the film. Based on observations, made using my 4K UHD Blu-ray player, this seems to peak at around 114.7 Mbps. It then runs roughly around 94.2 Mbps and dips down as low as 54.6 Mbps. According to info on the PC side, this 4K seems to have an overall video bitrate of 94.3 Mb/s average for the film.

Looking back on it, the 2006 Blu-ray (from Warner) used a BD-50 disc, 25.35 GB total, and 21.1 GB for the film. This new 4K file (for the movie) is 3.9 times larger than the original HD Blu-ray. The original Blu-ray also used a variable video bitrate of 23.2 Mb/s. That means the 4K is running at 4 times faster than the bitrate of the HD version on Blu-ray. Those are some very impressive comparative numbers, folks.

Next, I want to visually compare the 2006 Blu-ray and the new 2024 4K UHD Blu-ray. The releases are from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Warner Archive. Click on the text below to view more Blu-ray VS. 4K screenshots.

Blu-ray VS. 4K Screenshots Comparison:

SOURCES: 2006 Blu-ray (left), 2024 4K UHD Blu-ray (right)

You can see in the comparison above with the original Blu-ray; it was presented incorrectly in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Now on 4K, it has been properly framed in the intended 1.85:1 aspect ratio, with tiny matte black bars at the top & bottom. The color timing has undergone a significant change here on 4K. It’s now much more precise, particularly in terms of the colors of the skies, foliage, flesh tones, and wardrobe. The addition of HDR (high dynamic range) has resulted in a perfectly solid black level. This is a great representation of both Technicolor and VistaVision.

Some scenes in 4K (with HDR) are admittedly darker than the original Blu-ray. I believe those scenes were too bright on Blu-ray when viewed in hindsight. And the amount of film grain left intact is impressive, although not excessive. The newfound detail in 4K is truly remarkable.

This, on 4K UHD Blu-ray, is by far the best that “The Searchers” has ever looked on home video. I’ll reward that with a perfect 5 rating for video quality. Congratulations to the folks at Warner Archive. They truly hit it out of the park here, so to speak, with their debut 4K UHD Blu-ray release.

“The Searchers,” released in 1956, stands as one of the most iconic Western films. In fact, it was recognized as the greatest American Western by the American Film Institute in 2008. John Ford’s direction in this movie is nothing short of exceptional. It showcases his mastery of storytelling. He had demonstrated this mastery in other films. Screen legend John Wayne delivers a performance that is truly unforgettable as the character (“Ethan”). The ensemble cast delivers outstanding performances, including Jeffrey Hunter, Ward Bond, Vera Miles, Hank Worden, and Natalie Wood.

It’s also most certainly worth noting that critics enjoyed this upon its release. They still do to this day. It is “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. That being said, it has become regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.

In terms of video quality, this arrives in a new restoration from a 4K scan. This is the best that this movie has ever looked. I’ll put it as downright bluntly as that. This 4K presentation is truly remarkable and feels very cinematic. It’s truly breathtaking to see a VistaVision film like this now in this excellent quality. There’s such a tremendous amount of detail to be found throughout. The background visuals are beautiful thanks to the scenic real-life locations.

In terms of audio quality, this finally gets a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono sound mix. It had previously (in 2006) only been presented on Blu-ray in Dolby Digital 1.0. This is a significant improvement as it is less compressed. It also now comes in a 2-channel Mono audio presentation. Every bit of the sound effects, music, and dialogue sounds exceptional here.

The bonus materials include the Blu-ray Disc of the film. It features the new 4K restoration. You also get audio commentary on both the 4K and Blu-ray. Altogether, you get a total of 104 minutes of supplemental materials.

Overall, “The Searchers” on 4K UHD Blu-ray is a must-own release for anyone who loves cinema, especially the Western genre. This is undoubtedly the absolute best that this movie has ever looked on a home video release. Now in 4K, it comes as one incredible upgrade over the previous Blu-ray Disc release in HD. Here, with their very first 4K UHD Blu-ray release, the folks at Warner Archive have done an amazing job. This is the definition of a “demo disc” and comes as very highly recommended.