It’s been a very long time coming, but James Cameron’s Aliens is finally coming to 4K. After months of rumors and speculation, Disney and 20th Century Studios have officially confirmed that the 1986 sci-fi/horror classic – as well as several other of Cameron’s films – will be making their way to 4K Ultra HD. Titanic, Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of Water are getting special UHD releases in December. Xenomorph fans will have to wait until next year, I’m afraid.
Billed as the Aliens Ultimate Collector’s Edition, the film will be released on Digital December 12, but, more importantly, the 4K Ultra HD disc will hit retailers on March 12, 2024. Pre-orders go live next week. No word yet on pricing, but one imagines that this might be at the higher end of what a physical disc goes for these days. We’ve also got the cover art for the new release, which you can check out below. The disc is absolutely loaded down with special features, and we’ve got a full breakdown of those below as well.
This has, quite frankly, been a very long time coming. Director Ridley Scott’s Alien has been available on 4K for some time now. Unfortunately, fans of Cameron’s sequel have had to be content with the DVD and/or Blu-ray release until now. Not that there’s anything wrong with a good Blu-ray but as far as movies that deserve the 4K treatment go, this is pretty high on the list. Cameron is also finally giving one of his earlier sci-fi classics, The Abyss, the 4K treatment as well, with that film hitting shelves on the same day. The Abyss is also getting a one-night-only theatrical re-release in December. One can hope Aliens gets one as well.
2024 is shaping up to be a big year for the Alien franchise. Not only are we getting this new 4K release, but we also have director Fede Alvarez’s new movie hitting theaters. There’s also the upcoming Alien TV show for FX, but that was recently delayed to 2025. Still, there is much to look forward to.
Aliens in 4K arrives on Digitial on December 12. Look for it on disc on March 12, 2024. Pre-orders go live on November 20.
Aliens Ultimate Collector’s Edition Special Features
- James Cameron Introduction – A message from writer/director James Cameron introducing the Special Edition version of the film.
- 2003 Audio Commentary by James Cameron and the Cast and Crew-Special Edition – 1990 Special Edition Commentary by James Cameron and the cast and crew.
- The Inspiration and Design of Aliens – For the 30th anniversary, writer/director James Cameron reveals new insight into his own inspiration and the design elements for Aliens.
- 2003 Audio Commentary by James Cameron and the Cast and Crew – 1986 Theatrical Version Commentary by James Cameron and the cast and crew.
- Isolated Scores
- Final Theatrical Isolated Score – This isolated track presents, as accurately as possible, James Horner’s music score in its final form following extensive reworking during the post-production process.
- Composer’s Original Isolated Score – Although there are a few instances where the length of individual sequences was changed slightly after the music was recorded, this isolated score track presents, as accurately as possible, James Horner’s original intentions.
- Superior Firepower: Making Aliens – Immerse yourself in the world of Aliens with 11 fully-loaded featurettes that deconstruct all that went into making this sci-fi thriller, from casting to creature design to post-production and everything in between.
- 57 Years Later: Continuing the Story
- Building Better Worlds: From Concept to Construction
- Preparing for Battle: Casting and Characterization
- This Time It’s War: Pinewood Studios, 1985
- The Risk Always Lives: Weapons and Action
- Bug Hunt: Creature Design
- Two Orphans: Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn
- Beauty and the Bitch: Power Loader vs. Queen Alien
- The Final Countdown: Music, Editing and Sound
- The Power of Real Tech: Visual Effects
- Aliens Unleashed: Reaction to the Film
- Superior Firepower: Making Aliens Enhancement Pods – Supplemental video pieces to complement Superior Firepower: Making Aliens.
- Without Sigourney Weaver
- Origins of Acheron
- Building Hadley’s Hope
- Cameron’s Design Philosophy
- Finding an Unused Power Plant
- Cameron’s Military Interests
- Working with Sigourney Weaver
- The Importance of Being Bishop
- Paul Reiser on Carter Burke
- The Paxton/Cameron Connection
- Becoming Vasquez
- On Set: Infiltrating the Colony
- Props: Personal Light Unit
- Simon Atherton Talks Weapons
- Praising Stan Winston
- Test Footage: Chestburster
- Fighting the Facehugger
- Test Footage: Facehugger
- Stan Winston’s Challenge
- Test Footage: Queen Alien
- Stan Winston’s Legacy
- Cameron’s Cutting Edge
- Sigourney Weaver’s Triumph
- Re-Enlisting with Cameron
- From Producer to Stunt Double
- Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics
- Angle 1: Videomatic
- Angle 2: Videomatic/Final Shot Comparison
- Audio Commentary by Miniature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung
- Direct Access to New/Additional Scenes From Special Edition
- Ripley’s Daughter – Burke informs Ripley that her daughter died two years ago.
- Van Leuwen’s Verdict – Van Leuwen reads the findings of the court of inquiry.
- The Colony/The Jordens’ Discovery – The colony is bustling with life and activity. Newt, along with her brother and parents, come upon the Derelict ship.
- Burke’s Answer – At Ripley’s apartment, Burke explains why he’s making the trip to LV-426.
- INT. Sulaco – Establishing shots of the interior of the Sulaco before the crew awakens from hyper-sleep.
- Hudson’s Hubris – As they descend in the drop ship to LV-426, Hudson boasts about their advanced weaponry.
- False Alarm – Hudson and Vasquez detect motion in the colony, only to find it is pet hamsters.
- Ripley Pauses – As she enters the colony, Ripley hesitates for a moment.
- The Sentry Guns – Hicks reveals they have robot sentry systems. While examining the colony blueprints, Ripley and Hicks discuss where to place the robot sentries.
- Fire in the Hole – Hudson and Vasquez set up the UA 571-C remote sentry weapons and following a quick test, seal the tunnel.
- Last Line of Defense – The Sentry Guns dutifully scan the tunnel for incoming targets.
- Newt’s Questions – Newt quizzes Ripley about the fate of her parents.
- Hudson’s “Ant” Theory – Hudson speculates on how the Aliens are organized and reproduce.
- The Aliens Attack – The Sentry Guns unload on multiple targets.
- The Aliens Retreat – Under withering fire from the sentries, the Aliens are temporarily repulsed.
- First Name Basis – As Ripley departs the drop ship to try and rescue Newt, she and Hicks share their first names with each other.
- Deleted Scene: Burke Cocooned – Long one of the most sought-after lost moments from the entire Alien Anthology, this scene depicting Carter Burke’s fate is now revealed.
- Deleted Scene Montage – This collection of scene extensions and omitted moments represents the remainder of deleted scenes not appearing in either the Theatrical Version or the Special Edition.
- Still Galleries and More
- Original Treatment by James Cameron
- Storyboard Archive
- The Art of Aliens
- Cast Portrait Gallery
- Production Image Galleries
- Continuity Polaroids
- Weapons and Vehicles
- Stan Winston’s Workshop
- Colonial Marine Helmet Cameras
- Video Graphics Gallery
- Weyland-Yutani Inquest: Nostromo Dossiers
- Post-Production Aftermath
- Image Galleries
- Laserdisc Archives
- Main Title Exploration
- Teaser Trailer
- Theatrical Trailer
- Domestic Trailer
- International Trailer
