Ultra HD Blu-ray

To coincide with the release of new movie The Predator, the series' 1987 franchise original (Predator), plus its two existing standalone sequels (Predator 2 and Predators), get the 4K boxset treatment. Watching all three in succession makes for a fun, blood-soaked night in your movie room – there's little to link the trio together beyond their alien antagonists, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Movie rating: 4/5

Picture: The presence of Fox's previous Blu-ray release of Predator (each film in the boxset is given a 1080p disc) makes it easy to see how much of an improvement this new 4K HDR iteration represents. The 2010 Full HD outing is the same DNR'd mess as it always was, with any sign of film grain replaced by a plasticky, unnatural sheen that makes for uncomfortable viewing. Here, film grain is ever present (no more so than over the opening studio logo), and with it the movie's cinematic origins return.

The image is a clear step up in terms of sharpness and clarity, bringing greater definition and sense of depth to the dense jungle foliage and battle-scarred faces of Dutch's team. It's not a showcase 4K experience, however, running up against the limitations of the original location-based cinematography.

HDR makes for welcome, subtle improvements, particularly in the rich orange fireballs during the compound attack sequence. And colours overall appear much more natural, not just the varied greens on display, but the skin tones and pools of gooey blood.

It's a similar story with Predator 2, albeit this sequel never looked quite as ropey on BD as its predecessor. Definition is moderately improved via this 4K outing, and HDR highlights and greater colour handling are obvious. But it remains a movie that offers gorgeous imagery one minute, and flat-looking sequences the next.

Predators is the cleanest, crispest experience of the trio. Lensed digitally and framed at 2.40:1, it unearths plenty of detail from its 2K-4K upscale. The palette favours dark tones over vibrant highlights, but sequences such as the meeting with Noland in his hidey-hole exhibit plenty of shadow info and strong contrast.
Picture rating: 4/5

Audio: Each movie sports the same DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundmix on its 1080p and 4K discs – there are no object audio remixes to tempt double-dippers. Predators' track is the most lively, but that's not to say Predator or Predator 2 don't impress with their dynamic range and channel separation. Purists may want to check out Predator's 4.0 soundmix for an authentic 1987 multiplex experience.
Audio rating: 4/5

Extras: Again there's nothing new here, but the Blu-ray versions of the trio feature generous selections of behind-the-scenes featurettes, SFX breakdowns and more. Commentaries (two in the case of Predator 2) are also carried over to the 4K platters, as is Predator's pop-up trivia track.
Extras rating: 3.5/5

We say: Extras and audio remain the same, but fans of this sci-fi action franchise will cherish the 4K update.

Predator: 3-Movie Collection, 20th Century Fox, Ultra HD Blu-ray & All-region BD, £50
HCC VERDICT: 4/5