Enthusiasts of Stanley Kubrick can now secure a significant discount when preordering Eyes Wide Shut: The Criterion Collection. This acclaimed final work from the visionary director is set to debut on 4K Blu-ray for the first time on November 25. The 3-disc 4K Blu-ray set is available at a reduced price, and a new 1080p Blu-ray version from Criterion, releasing simultaneously, is also discounted.
Often regarded as Kubrick`s most peculiar and sexually explicit feature, Eyes Wide Shut achieved significant box office success despite its initial mixed reception in 1999, which found it unsettling and strange for some critics and audiences. Today, however, the film, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, is widely recognized as a cinematic masterpiece. This marks only the second Kubrick film to receive a 4K release from Criterion, following Barry Lyndon in July, though most of his other works are already available in 4K from various distributors.
The 4K edition of Eyes Wide Shut comes as a three-disc collection, featuring one 4K UHD disc and two 1080p Blu-ray discs. Consistent with Criterion`s commitment to quality, this release aims to faithfully represent Kubrick`s precise artistic vision. Although Kubrick passed away shortly after presenting the final cut to Warner Bros. in 1999, the film`s director of photography, Larry Smith, oversaw Criterion`s restoration. The 1080p Blu-ray included in the set benefits from this 4K restoration, promising a visual upgrade over previous Blu-ray versions.
Importantly, Criterion has chosen to restore the international version, which is Kubrick`s intended final cut, rather than the censored US theatrical release. Technically, the set supports Dolby Vision HDR and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for an enhanced viewing experience. Bonus features include new interviews with Larry Smith, second-unit director Lisa Leone, and Stanley Kubrick archivist Georgina Orgill. Also included are archival extras from prior Blu-ray editions, such as actor interviews and a documentary exploring Kubrick`s uncompleted projects, all accessible on the bonus standard Blu-ray disc. The standalone standard Blu-ray edition is a two-disc set, offering the same bonus content. Each physical copy also includes a booklet containing a 1999 interview with Kubrick and actor Sydney Pollack, alongside a new essay by Megan Abbott.
Key Features of Eyes Wide Shut: The Criterion Collection
- 4K digital restoration overseen by cinematographer Larry Smith.
- Three-disc set: one 4K Blu-ray and two standard Blu-rays.
- Dolby Vision HDR support.
- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound.
- New interviews with Larry Smith, second-unit director Lisa Leone, and Kubrick archivist Georgina Orgill.
- Archival interview with Christiane Kubrick, Stanley`s wife.
- “Never Just a Dream”: 2019 interviews featuring producer Jan Harlan, Kubrick`s daughter Katharina Kubrick, and 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 Directors Guild of America D.W. Griffith Award acceptance speech.
- 1999 press conference with executive producer Jan Harlan, Tom Cruise, and Nicole Kidman.
- Trailers.
- English subtitles.
- Booklet containing an essay by Megan Abbott and a 1999 interview with filmmaker and actor Sydney Pollack.
Inspired by Arthur Schnitzler`s novella Dream Story, Eyes Wide Shut depicts doctor Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) and his wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman), navigating their subconscious desires, jealousies, and anxieties within a surreal rendition of New York City.
Criterion Collection`s Stanley Kubrick Offerings
Eyes Wide Shut represents only Criterion`s second 4K Blu-ray release of a Kubrick film, with most of his other works already accessible in 4K from alternative distributors. Barry Lyndon, Kubrick`s acclaimed 1975 historical drama about a con artist`s rise through high society, is currently available on 4K Blu-ray. This three-hour epic is renowned for its breathtaking cinematography and opulent costume designs, which earned it an Academy Award. It is anticipated that Criterion will continue to expand its 4K Blu-ray catalog with more of Kubrick`s films in the future. Barry Lyndon has been part of Criterion`s standard Blu-ray collection since 2017, and they also offer standard Blu-ray editions of other Kubrick classics like Dr. Strangelove and The Killing.
Criterion Collection Kubrick Films
- Barry Lyndon (4K Blu-ray)
- Barry Lyndon (Blu-ray)
- Dr. Strangelove (Blu-ray)
- Eyes Wide Shut (4K Blu-ray)
- Eyes Wide Shut (Blu-ray)
- The Killing (Blu-ray)
- Paths of Glory (Blu-ray)
- Spartacus (DVD)
- CC40: The Criterion Collection 40-Film Box Set (Blu-ray)
Stanley Kubrick Films Available on 4K Blu-ray from Other Distributors
For most of Stanley Kubrick`s celebrated films, including The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Full Metal Jacket, enthusiasts will find 4K Blu-ray editions from distributors other than Criterion. The Shining recently became part of “The Film Vault,” a series of limited-edition 4K Blu-rays created by Vice Press in collaboration with Warner Bros., now featuring an impressive new Steelbook Edition (pictured above). This Steelbook Edition of The Shining is available for preorder, with shipments commencing October 3. Additionally, a Steelbook Edition of Full Metal Jacket is also available.
A Stanley Kubrick 3-Film 4K Collection, which includes The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, is also available as a box set.
Other Kubrick Films on 4K Blu-ray
- The Shining Steelbook Edition: The Film Vault (4K Blu-ray)
- Stanley Kubrick 3-Film 4K Blu-ray Collection (Includes The Shining / 2001: A Space Odyssey / Full Metal Jacket)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (4K Blu-ray)
- A Clockwork Orange (4K Blu-ray)
- Barry Lyndon (4K Blu-ray)
- Dr. Strangelove (4K Blu-ray)
- Eyes Wide Shut (4K Blu-ray)
- Fear and Desire (4K Blu-ray)
- Full Metal Jacket (4K Blu-ray)
- Full Metal Jacket Steelbook (2025) (4K Blu-ray)
- Full Metal Jacket Steelbook (4K Blu-ray)
- Killer’s Kiss (4K Blu-ray)
- Paths of Glory (4K Blu-ray)
- The Shining (4K Blu-ray)
- Spartacus (4K Blu-ray)
Stanley Kubrick Films Available on Standard Blu-ray
Not all of Kubrick`s cinematic works have yet received 4K Blu-ray restorations. For instance, his 1956 film The Killing and the 1962 adaptation of Vladimir Nabokov`s novel Lolita are currently only offered on standard Blu-ray. A comprehensive list of Kubrick`s movies available on 1080p Blu-ray is provided below. In certain instances, the standard Blu-ray version might be more affordable than its 4K counterpart. It`s worth noting that many 4K releases frequently include standard Blu-ray discs as well. Beyond individual releases, several Kubrick Blu-ray box sets exist, such as the premium “The Masterpiece Collection” (now out of print and costly) and a more accessible, region-free 9-film collection.
Kubrick Films on 1080p Blu-ray
- Stanley Kubrick: Visionary Filmmaker Collection (9 Movies)
- Stanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection (8 Movies, 2 Docs)
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- A Clockwork Orange
- Barry Lyndon (Criterion)
- Barry Lyndon
- Dr. Strangelove (Criterion)
- Eyes Wide Shut: Special Edition
- Eyes Wide Shut (Criterion)
- Fear and Desire: Special Edition
- Full Metal Jacket: 25th Anniversary
- Full Metal Jacket
- The Killing (Criterion)
- Lolita
- Paths of Glory (Criterion)
- The Shining
- The Shining & Doctor Sleep 2-Film Collection
- Spartacus: Restored Edition
- Spartacus
Recommended Books on Stanley Kubrick
For those who appreciate Kubrick`s films, exploring Taschen`s excellent collection of books dedicated to his work is highly recommended. The publisher recently unveiled a substantial two-volume hardcover set focused on The Shining. This comprehensive work by J.W. Rinzler draws on extensive interviews and research, providing the definitive account of the making of Kubrick`s most popular film. The second volume functions as a scrapbook, offering previously unseen production documents and photographs. Despite its considerable size, this nearly 1,400-page box set is remarkable in its depth and scope, making it a strong recommendation.
Another notable Taschen publication is The Stanley Kubrick Archives, available both as a large coffee table book and a more compact, affordable edition. While Taschen`s The Making of Stanley Kubrick`s 2001: A Space Odyssey is currently out of print, Michael Benson`s 2018 book Space Odyssey (published by Simon & Schuster) serves as an excellent alternative. For biographical insights into Kubrick, several options are available, including the well-regarded 2024 release, Kubrick: An Odyssey.
Selected Books on Stanley Kubrick
- Stanley Kubrick`s The Shining (Hardcover Box Set) by J.W. Rinzler / Edited by Lee Unkrich
- The Stanley Kubrick Archives (Hardcover) | Coffee table book, Edited by Alison Castle
- The Stanley Kubrick Archives (Hardcover) | Compact edition, Edited by Alison Castle
- Through a Different Lens: Stanley Kubrick Photographs (Hardcover) by Lucy Sante
- Space Odyssey (Paperback) by Michael Benson
- Kubrick: An Odyssey (Paperback) by Robert Kolker & Nathan Abrams
- Stanley Kubrick: A Biography (Paperback) by Vincent Lobrutto
- Kubrick (Paperback) by Michael Herr, co-writer of Full Metal Jacket
- Stanley Kubrick and Me: Thirty Years at His Side by Emilio D`Alessandro, former personal assistant