There are some films which come together and seem like a slam dunk yet fail to connect with audiences, while others are this mysterious combination of magic that, against all odds, finds its way both into audience’s hearts but also the public lexicon. I dare you to find a single person who has seen Kevin Reynolds’s 1991 swashbuckling adventure Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves who doesn’t threaten someone (playful or not) with a spoon. (Chances are, you know why, too.) Released in the summer of 1991, it promised an adventure unlike any other and it delivers between its compelling action, timeless narrative repelling religious fascism, positive Muslim representation, a lead with not an ounce of a location- or era-accurate accent, and a villain that steals every scene he’s in without diminishing the danger said character represents. My goodness, the film is 143 minutes before the extended cut and one rarely ever feels it, even decades later. In November 2022, distributor Arrow Video released Prince of Thieves on 4K UHD with a brand-new restoration of both theatrical and extended cuts and, now, that version is coming available in the United States, including all the previously available supplemental materials. Haven’t imported it over? Now’s the time to pick it up.
For five years, Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) has fought for King Richard the Lionheart’s army as a member of the Crusades and now finds himself imprisoned alongside many others, including family friend Peter (Liam Halligan). When an opportunity arises to escape and get back home, he and Peter take it, though the only person they can free is Azeem (Morgan Freeman), a Moor sentenced to die. In thanks, Azeem shows them the way out, but Peter sacrifices himself so that the two can get clear of the guards. Upon reaching England, Robin thinks that his days of fighting are over, only to discover that the Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) has used the power vacuum of The Crusades to uplift himself and subjugate the rest. Now Robin must choose whether he has more fight yet in him and just how far he’s willing to go to find peace.
ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES packshot. Photo courtesy of Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group.
The following 4K UHD home review is based on a check disc provided by Arrow Video via MVD Entertainment Group. As such, no first-hand impressions or information can be provided about the packaging, included essay, or edition materials.
This isn’t the first time that a once-UK exclusive Arrow Video release has been made available to US audiences (though sometimes it’s a rights issue and requires being handled by someone else (ex., Shout! Studios and Golden Princess Films)). As such, unsurprisingly, this edition is exactly the same as the November 2022 edition. Frankly, 4K UHDs are Region-Free, so if you’ve already picked this up, there’s literally nothing new for you here. If you haven’t, however, this re-release (essentially) is for you. Like the 2022 edition, this version reportedly includes the same writings, same cards, same reversible art, same supplemental materials, and same restoration. Seeing as Arrow has no reason to change the restoration from one release to another (and doesn’t appear to have), do note that the previous release said that the restoration was made using the original 35 mm negative and 35 mm intermediary elements that were scanned in 4K resolution at Illuminate Labs in Hollywood. Then, the film was restored in 4K and graded in HDR10 Dolby Vision at Silver Salt Restoration in London. Additionally, the included stereo and 5.1 audio mixes were taken from the original sound masters.
Oddly, the on-disc presentation is a mixed bag solely from a technical standpoint. This restoration is possibly the best the film has looked as each frame is distinct and clear, the color balance immaculate, and all the grain one could want in a film-shot picture. As much as Prince of Thieves trades on the Errol Flynn-era of Robin Hood tales, this restoration enhances the craftsmanship of the production design, art design, and costumes as nothing looks fabricated or inauthentic as the enhanced detail and clarity enables us to note even the smallest aspects of costumes or setting. It makes the already thrilling tale more immersive. However, the max bitrate for a 4K UHD is 128 Mbps and this tops out around 90, while mainly hovering in the 70s, with frequent dips lower. It may be because the lone disc contains all of the previously available features plus a second, extended version of the film, all of which reduces data space on the disc. The less space available, the more compression occurs. Considering how good recent Arrow titles The Mask and The Cell (for instance) look with strong bitrates, it’s odd that the same couldn’t be achieved here. One doesn’t notice when the bitrate drops, but those seeking the best possible picture and sound are going to want a steady bitrate to go along with it.
Admittedly, I am biased on this film. At 10 years old, I went with my mother and siblings to the once-existing Tanglewood Theater to see Prince of Thieves and absolutely loved it. From the comically-evil Nottingham to Will Scarlett’s (Christian Slater) cursing (“Fuck me, they cleared it!”), this film balanced heart, humor, action, and drama to the point where one feels the tension and excitement, yet never loses hope that Robin will succeed in bringing back balance to the land. We listened to the Michael Kamen (The Three Musketeers; Die Hard) score on repeat and, yes, even tried the godawful cereal tie-in that hit shelves. As an adult, however, one starts to see that Nottingham, even if infused with a dark irony through Rickman’s (Galaxy Quest; Dogma) brilliant improvisations, isn’t just evil because he kills for what he wants (that implies an ethos or conviction), it’s that he’s an abscess on humanity, infecting as much as he can for no other purpose that because he enjoys the freedom to do as he pleases. Rickman’s performance and dialogue convey a man whose sexual desires don’t measure up to his abilities, someone fully insecure, and his ease of lying conveys someone absent morality — which is what makes him terrifying. He believes in nothing but himself and will do whatever it takes to remain on top. One can’t negotiate with such a person or reason with them; and one certainly can’t wait for a system that allowed their rise to remove them from power (it’s no coincidence that Prince John isn’t involved here and that King Richard arrives on the scene at the last minute). As a child, Prince of Thieves is a story about a hero rising up to lead us to freedom; whereas, as an adult, one sees it as a warning of fascism and the responsibility of the people to prevent and/or remove its tendrils from positions of power. Add in the representation of Azeem and the learned way that Robin tries to admonish his fellow Englishmen for their xenophobic views, a change he could only have because he left home and experienced the world, one starts to acknowledge that Prince of Thieves isn’t merely popcorn entertainment, but a morality play that’s just as relevant today, if not more so.
With tariffs on products still a massive issue for collectors on top of the already high cost of purchasing an import edition, the fact that Arrow Video is making the 4K UHD edition of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves more easily accessible for U.S. audiences is something to be glad about. Would it be nice for there to be something new? Sure,but that’s not the perspective one should bring to this, especially if the UK edition isn’t in your collection already. Instead, if you wanted to pick this up and hesitated, take solace in the fact that you’ll get access to what’s already been available. Not only that, if the price of this edition feels steep, you can always wait for one of the two annual 50% sales Barnes & Noble sales and snag it then.
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves 4K UHD Previously Available Special Features:
- 4K restorations of both the theatrical and extended cuts from the original negative by Arrow Films
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation of both cuts in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Original uncompressed stereo and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Audio commentary with director Kevin Reynolds and actor Kevin Costner
- Audio commentary with actors Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater and writers/producers Pen Densham and John Watson
- Here We Are Kings: Making Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, a multi-part documentary featuring interviews with Densham, Watson, director of photography Douglas Milsome, editor Peter Boyle, costume designer John Bloomfield and many more members of the creative team
- Robin Hood: The Myth, the Man, the Movie, an archival 1991 documentary hosted by Pierce Brosnan
- One-on-One with the Cast, archival 1991 interviews with Costner, Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Slater and Alan Rickman
- Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” performance at Slane Castle, Ireland
- Music soundtrack cues
- Theatrical trailer
- TV spots
- Image gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper
- Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet featuring writing on the film by Jackson Cooper and Mark Cunliffe
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring newly commissioned artwork by José Saccone
- Six postcard-sized artcards
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray in North America May 26th, 2026.
For more information, head to the official Arrow Video Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves webpage.
To purchase, head to the official MVD Entertainment Group Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves webpage.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews
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