For dedicated followers of legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, an exciting opportunity awaits: a 30% preorder discount on The Criterion Collection’s stunning 4K Blu-ray edition of his captivating and often polarizing final work, “Eyes Wide Shut.” Releasing on November 25, this marks the first time the film will be available in 4K Blu-ray format. The 3-disc 4K UHD set is currently priced at $35 (originally $50), while a new 1080p Blu-ray edition is also on sale for $28, both available for preorder.
“Eyes Wide Shut” stands as one of Kubrick’s most enigmatic and sexually explicit works. Despite its box office success upon its 1999 release, its unique and unsettling narrative left some critics and audiences divided. However, over time, the Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman-led film has garnered increasing recognition as a masterwork. The narrative draws its inspiration from Arthur Schnitzler’s novella, “Dream Story,” plunging viewers into the world of Dr. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) and his wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman), as they navigate a surreal New York City, confronting their deepest desires, insecurities, and fears.
This new Criterion release of “Eyes Wide Shut” is a comprehensive three-disc set, including one 4K UHD disc and two 1080p Blu-ray discs. Reflecting Criterion’s renowned commitment to artistic integrity, this edition aims to present the film as close as possible to Kubrick’s meticulous vision. The restoration, overseen by the movie’s director of photography, Larry Smith, promises a significant visual upgrade, even for the 1080p version.
Crucially, this restoration is based on the uncensored international cut of the film, which was Kubrick’s final version, rather than the US theatrical edition that underwent censorship for an R rating.
Technically, the release boasts Dolby Vision HDR and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound, ensuring a premium viewing experience.
The bonus materials are extensive, featuring new interviews with Larry Smith, photographer and second-unit director Lisa Leone, and Stanley Kubrick archivist Georgina Orgill. It also includes archival extras from previous releases, such as interviews with the actors, a documentary on Kubrick’s unfinished projects, and more, all available to watch on the bonus standard Blu-ray disc. A collectible booklet accompanies the set, containing a 1999 interview with Kubrick and actor Sydney Pollack, along with a new essay by author Megan Abbott.
Eyes Wide Shut: The Criterion Collection Features
- 4K digital restoration supervised by director of photography Larry Smith
- 3-disc set: 4K Blu-ray & 2 standard Blu-rays
- Dolby Vision HDR
- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- New interviews with Larry Smith, second-unit director Lisa Leone, and Kubrick archivist Georgina Orgill
- Archival interview with Kubrick’s wife Christiane Kubrick
- Never Just a Dream: 2019 interviews with producer Jan Harlan, Kubrick’s daughter Katharina Kubrick, and his personal assistant Anthony Frewin
- Lost Kubrick: The Unfinished Films of Stanley Kubrick
- Kubrick Remembered: Interviews with Steven Spielberg and actors Todd Field and Leelee Sobieski
- Kubrick’s 1998 acceptance speech for the Directors Guild of America’s D.W. Griffith Award
- 1999 press conference with executive producer Jan Harlan, Tom Cruise, and Nicole Kidman
- Trailers
- English subtitles
- Booklet with essay by author Megan Abbott and a 1999 interview with filmmaker and actor Sydney Pollack
More from The Criterion Collection
As “Eyes Wide Shut” joins the esteemed Criterion Collection with a 4K release, it follows “Barry Lyndon” as only the second Kubrick film to receive this treatment from the distributor. “Barry Lyndon,” Kubrick’s magnificent 1975 historical drama depicting a conman’s ascent into high society, is a visual spectacle, praised for its sumptuous cinematography and lavish costume designs, earning an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The 4K Blu-ray edition of “Barry Lyndon” is currently available for $31.64 (originally $50).
It’s anticipated that Criterion will expand its 4K Kubrick offerings. They already feature standard Blu-ray editions of other classics like “Dr. Strangelove” and “The Killing.”
- Barry Lyndon (4K Blu-ray) — $31.46 (was $50)
- Barry Lyndon (Blu-ray) — $25.34 (was $40)
- Dr. Strangelove (Blu-ray) — $25.34 (was $40)
- Eyes Wide Shut (4K Blu-ray)– $35 (was $50)
- Eyes Wide Shut (Blu-ray) — $28 (was $40)
- The Killing (Blu-ray) — $25.34 (was $40)
- Paths of Glory (Blu-ray) — $25.34 (was $40)
- Spartacus (DVD) — $30.55 (was $50)
- CC40: The Criterion Collection 40-Film Box Set (Blu-ray) — $438 (was $800)
Stanley Kubrick’s Filmography on 4K Blu-ray
For those seeking more of Kubrick’s masterpieces in 4K, many fan-favorite titles are available outside of the Criterion Collection. These include iconic films like “The Shining,” “A Clockwork Orange,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” and “Full Metal Jacket.” Notably, “The Shining” recently joined The Film Vault series, featuring a stunning limited-edition 4K Steelbook. This special edition, designed by Vice Press in collaboration with Warner Bros., is available for preorder and begins shipping October 3 for $65.
Fans can also snag a great offer on the Stanley Kubrick 3-Film 4K Collection, which bundles “The Shining,” “Full Metal Jacket,” and “2001: A Space Odyssey” for $43 (a significant discount from its $85 original price).
- The Shining Steelbook Edition: The Film Vault (4K Blu-ray) — $65
- Stanley Kubrick 3-Film 4K Blu-ray Collection — $43 (was $85)
- Includes The Shining / 2001: A Space Odyssey / Full Metal Jacket
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (4K Blu-ray) — $21.86 (was $35)
- A Clockwork Orange (4K Blu-ray) — $21 (was $34)
- Barry Lyndon (4K Blu-ray) — $31.46 (was $50)
- Dr. Strangelove (4K Blu-ray) — $21 (was $31)
- Eyes Wide Shut (4K Blu-ray)– $35 (was $50)
- Fear and Desire (4K Blu-ray) — $20 (was $40)
- Full Metal Jacket (4K Blu-ray) — $18.63 (was $35)
- Full Metal Jacket Steelbook (2025) (4K Blu-ray) — $30 (was $33)
- Full Metal Jacket Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) — $40 (was $47)
- Killer’s Kiss (4K Blu-ray) — $33
- Paths of Glory (4K Blu-ray) — $50
- The Shining (4K Blu-ray) — $18.62 (was $35)
- Spartacus (4K Blu-ray) — $19.29 (was $30)
Stanley Kubrick Films on Standard Blu-ray
While many of Kubrick’s films have received the 4K treatment, some, like his 1956 noir “The Killing” and the 1962 adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita,” are exclusively available on standard Blu-ray. Below, you’ll find a selection of Kubrick films in 1080p Blu-ray. Often, these standard editions offer a more budget-friendly option compared to their 4K counterparts, though it’s worth noting that many 4K sets do include standard Blu-ray discs as well. Beyond individual releases, several Blu-ray box sets are available, including the now rare and pricey “The Masterpiece Collection” and a well-regarded, region-free 9-film collection priced at $37.
- Stanley Kubrick: Visionary Filmmaker Collection (9 Movies) — $37
- Stanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection (8 Movies, 2 Docs) — $200
- 2001: A Space Odyssey — $12
- A Clockwork Orange — $19
- Barry Lyndon (Criterion) — $25.34 (was $40)
- Barry Lyndon — $24.49
- Dr. Strangelove (Criterion) — $25.34 (was $40)
- Eyes Wide Shut: Special Edition — $10 (was $20)
- Eyes Wide Shut (Criterion) — $28 (was $40)
- Fear and Desire: Special Edition — $12.87
- Full Metal Jacket: 25th Anniversary — $19 (was $25)
- Full Metal Jacket — $15
- The Killing (Criterion) — $25.34 (was $40)
- Lolita — $12 (was $20)
- Paths of Glory (Criterion) — $25.34 (was $40)
- The Shining — $12
- The Shining & Doctor Sleep 2-Film Collection — $13 (was $23)
- Spartacus: Restored Edition — $20
- Spartacus — $13.49
Delve Deeper: Stanley Kubrick Books
For cinephiles and serious Kubrick enthusiasts, a wealth of literature explores the director’s unparalleled work. Taschen, a publisher renowned for its exquisite art books, offers a monumental two-volume hardcover set dedicated to “The Shining.” This comprehensive dive by J.W. Rinzler, meticulously researched and based on hundreds of hours of interviews, serves as the definitive making-of account for Kubrick’s most popular film. The second volume acts as a rich scrapbook, filled with previously unseen documents and production photography. This nearly 1,400-page boxed set is an investment at $125, but its incredible scope makes it a highly recommended acquisition.
Other noteworthy reads include Taschen’s “The Stanley Kubrick Archives,” available in both a grand coffee table edition and a more compact, budget-friendly version priced at $21. While Taschen’s “The Making of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey” is currently sold out, Michael Benson’s “Space Odyssey,” published in 2018, offers an excellent alternative deep dive into the iconic film. For those interested in his life story, several biographies are available, including the highly-rated 2024 release, “Kubrick: An Odyssey.”
- Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (Hardcover Box Set)– $125
- By J.W. Rinzler / Edited by Lee Unkrich
- The Stanley Kubrick Archives (Hardcover) — $58 (was $100) | Coffee table book
- The Stanley Kubrick Archives (Hardcover) — $21 (was $25) | Compact edition
- Edited by Alison Castle
- Through a Different Lens: Stanley Kubrick Photographs (Hardcover) — $36 (was $40)
- By Lucy Sante
- Space Odyssey (Paperback) — $14 (was $21)
- By Michael Benson
- Kubrick: An Odyssey (Paperback) — $17.60 (was $22)
- By Robert Kolker & Nathan Abrams
- Stanley Kubrick: A Biography (Paperback) — $18 (was $26)
- By Vincent Lobrutto
- Kubrick (Paperback) — $9 (was $15)
- By Michael Herr, co-writer of Full Metal Jacket
- Stanley Kubrick and Me: Thirty Years at His Side — $17.77 (was $20)
- By Emilio D’Alessandro, former personal assistant
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your collection to 4K, fill gaps in your standard Blu-ray library, or delve into the profound literary explorations of his career, there’s a wealth of Stanley Kubrick content available for every enthusiast.