Before co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein had us roll for initiative (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves), they showed us that there’s another way to interpret the call for somewhat structured social play in the comedic thriller Game Night (2018). With a jam-packed cast including Jason Bateman (Air), Rachel McAdams (About Time), Kyle Chandler (Super 8), Sharon Horgan (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent), Billy Magnussen (Aladdin), Lamorne Morris (How It Ends), Kylie Bunbury (When They See Us), and Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog), audiences were sent on a roller-coaster ride as sibling rivalry (and dodging a neighbor who wanted to play) turned a regular get-together into a fight for their lives. It’s been over six years since Game Night originally opened and now Warner Bros. Pictures is offering fans of the film in a first-time 4K UHD edition with all the materials from the previous home release.
L-R: Kylie Bunbury as Michelle, Lamorne Morris as Kevin, Billy Magnussen as Ryan, Sharon Horgan as Sarah, Jason Bateman as Max, and Rachel McAdams as Annie in GAME NIGHT. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Competitive couple Max and Annie (Bateman and McAdams) love having their weekly game nights with their small group of friends, playing various board games, card games, and anything else that gives them a chance to excel. But when Max’s older brother, the much-loved Brooks (Chandler), comes into town for a visit, the games get moved to his place where he surprises them with a live-action murder mystery. Except not everything is as it seems and the violence is real and so are the stakes. Can they all make it to the end without a final game over?
If you’d like to know what I thought of the film (as my thoughts from reviewing the release in early 2018 still hold upon rewatch), I invite you to head over to the initial theatrical release review.
L-R: Jason Bateman, Kyle Chandler, Rachel McAdams, John Francis Daley, and Jonathan Goldstein on the set of GAME NIGHT. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Now to dig into this release. First off, the 4K UHD edition appears to have the exact same DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track as the previous release. If having an updated audio track is important to you, do not pass Go, do not collect $200, this is not for you. Second, the video *is* updated with 4K UHD HDR and it improves the already solid cinematography from Barry Peterson (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves; The Lego Movie). Whether it’s the beautiful work that impacts perception so that establishing shots appear as game pieces or game-like elements, the hilarious passing sequence with the Fabergé egg, or even just general hangout moments, the 4K UHD improves upon the Blu-ray in the sense that the sleekness of the film is neither reduced nor overblown. We’re talking deeper blacks (which benefit scene work during the primarily nighttime scenes) and greater detail so that the colors pop a little more (like the red of the egg amid its decorative design). For the tech-inclined, the film bounces between 50 Mbps – 80 Mbps, which ranges from the lowest end for 4K UHD to near the top, indicative of both the film being placed on a high-data disc that can handle the decompressed data and a presentation that’s going to display well on 4K UHD televisions and players capable of displaying the media disc.
Jesse Plemons as Gary in GAME NIGHT. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
In terms of packaging, the solo disc is packaged in a typical black 4K UHD disc case and the art on the front and back is identical to the previous Blu-ray release. Unlike the Blu-ray, which is decorated with paw prints, and the DVD, which incorporates a ski mask design, the 4K UHD disc contains no decorative whimsical design; just the title, WB logo, and disc-type title. This may be a mostly under-the-radar release, but for a film that’s still widely appreciated, a little bit more fanfare in the design would be appreciated.
L-R: Jason Bateman, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, and Rachel McAdams on the set of GAME NIGHT. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
For those hoping for more behind-the-scenes material, this 4K UHD includes the previously released “making of” featurette and gag reel that were included on the prior Blu-ray. While this is a little disappointing for a new release (likely a by-product of being a Manufactured-on-Demand disc), it’s still better than the new Magic Mike (2012) 4K UHD which included none of the prior materials.
L-R: Jason Bateman as Max and Rachel McAdams as Annie in GAME NIGHT. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
When the dice is done rolling, the bank has run dry, and all the turns are completed, whether or not you pick up Game Night is really down to whether you feel like the comedic thriller benefits from an upgrade or not. It’s not a visual feast by any means (like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse or Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga) where 4K UHD would dazzle folks, but it does bring additional clarity and attention to detail that exists within the world of the film. Does the 4K UHD blow away the Blu-ray? Not necessarily, but it’s a strong presentation all the same, so picking this up won’t disappoint cautious buyers.
Game Night Previously Available Special Features:
- An Unforgettable Evening: Making Game Night
- Gag Reel
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray August 13th, 2024.
For more information, head to the official Warner Bros. Pictures Game Night webpage.
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