Sometimes movies fly under the radar for viewers, and some of those movies get branded as favorites or classics. When one of those movies has escaped my viewing experience one way or another and the 4K gets announced, my curiosity is at least piqued. Having never seen George P. Cosmatos’s Cobra before, I was excited to see what Sylvester Stallone got up to reteaming with Cosmatos after Rambo: First Blood Part Two in what looked like a similar take to another ‘90s classic with Stallone — Demolition Man. Unfortunately, maybe its because Demolition Man holds a special place in my cinematic heart or maybe it is arguably the better movie, Cobra just doesn’t hit the level that it needs to make it explode as one of those classic ‘80s movies, but is one that’s fun despite leaving a lot to be desired.
If this is your first time seeing Cobra, you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, and that might be the best way to experience this. ‘80s action movies are best experienced while knowing as little as possible, just watching the world unfold and the chaos come full circle on a first time viewing. Arrow has given audiences a phenomenal way to watch (or rewatch) this Stallone film. Cobra simply looks divine after being restored from the original 35 mm negative, keeping the grain intact on the transfer presented in Dolby Vision and HDR10 on 4K, with original lossless audio 2.0, 4.0, and DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio. There are optional English subtitles, as well, and a slew of legacy features on the 4K limited edition (and inevitable standard edition) along with a total of two new commentaries, one from film critics Kim Newman and Nick de Semlyen and one from film scholars Josh Nelson and Martyn Pedler. Overall, the transfer is exceptional, allowing the colors to pop and excel and make the film look like it did off a pristine print but in the comfort of your own home. At first glance it does seem like the limited-edition contents are specifically just an illustrated collector’s booklet with new writings by four film critics (Clem Bastow, William Bibbiani, Priscilla Page, and Ariel Schudson) and a double-sided fold out poster featuring new commissioned art by Tommy Pocket. The rest of the packaging is most likely going to be in the standard as well, whether with or without the slipcover is yet to be seen. This is not one of those hard boxes with all the extra goodies, stickers, and so forth that Arrow has done for releases like Demolition Man (1993) and Inglorious Basterds (2009), but more like a limited-edition like they did for Swordfish (2001).
COBRA 4K UHD open packshot. Photo courtesy of Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group.
Similar to Demolition Man, Sylvester Stallone plays Marion “Cobra” Cobretti, an LAPD lieutenant who’s the last man to get called as he does whatever it takes to get the job done and stop the lunatics no one else can. Stallone has this character down pat and plays it incredibly well, but the execution from the story (that he adapted himself) can leave a little for the audience to desire. He is in charge of protecting Ingrid Knudsen (Brigette Nielson) who’s the prime witness to a horrific crime. Cobra realizes that numerous attacks on her life are not a coincidence, and one lone lunatic and his followers who’re after Ingrid will stop at nothing to take her out and ensure that their cult becomes the new way of life for the world. It is entrenched in ‘80s cliché and moments that make this a perfectly entertaining time capsule of the time period but lacks any further depth or separation from those ‘80s action pieces we’ve come to love and cherish.
Overall, the Arrow 4K release of Cobra is an excellent transfer of a movie that’s so enriched with ‘80s lore and action set pieces featuring one of the best ‘80s action stars. While the movie may not be as great as I had hoped, or possibly as great as some may remember it, Cobra is still an engaging and entertaining ride that has a plethora of old features with two new commentary tracks and, specific to the limited edition, a slew of new writings by film critics.
Cobra 4K Limited Edition Special Features:
- *NEW* Brand new 4K restoration of the film from the original 35mm negative by Arrow Films
- 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original lossless stereo 2.0, 4.0 and DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio options
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- *NEW* Brand new audio commentary by film critics Kim Newman and Nick de Semlyen
- *NEW* Brand new audio commentary by film scholars Josh Nelson and Martyn Pedler
- Archive audio commentary by director George P. Cosmatos (1998)
- TV version of the film featuring deleted and alternate scenes, presented for the first time on home video (standard definition only)
- Slashing the Night Away, a new interview with composer Sylvester Levay
- Dark Glasses, Violence & Robots, a new visual essay by film critic Abbey Bender on Cobra and 80s maximalist cinema
- White Line Nightmare, a new visual essay by film critic Martyn Conterio on Cobra and the “Maverick Cop” genre
- Stalking and Slashing, an archive interview with actor Brian Thompson
- Meet the Disease, an archive interview with actor Marco Rodriguez
- Feel the Heat, an archive interview with actor Andrew Robinson
- Double Crossed, an archive interview with actor Lee Garlington
- A Work of Art, an archive interview with actor Art LaFleur
- The Making of Cobra, 1986 featurette
- Trailers and TV spots
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
- Illustrated collector’s booklet containing new writing on the film by film critics Clem Bastow, William Bibbiani, Priscilla Page, and Ariel Schudson
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tommy Pocket
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray July 22nd, 2025.
For more information, head to the official Arrow Video Cobra webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group Cobra webpage.
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Categories: Home Release, Recommendation
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