Vascular surgeon Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), has just returned home to find his wife, Helen (Sela Ward), brutally murdered, and a mysterious one-armed man still inside the house. When the police arrive, he quickly becomes their prime suspect. Despite his claims of innocence, Kimble is wrongfully accused for the murder, and sentenced to death. However, while he is being transported to another prison, some of the other prisoners on the bus cause a distraction, sending the vehicle barreling off the highway. Kimble manages to escape the wreckage and makes a run for it. In charge of the investigation is Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones), an intelligent, no-nonsense lawman who is determined to re-capture Kimble. As Gerard and his team start the manhunt, Kimble desperately tries to find a way to prove his innocence while evading capture. What ensues is a tense game of cat and mouse.
It’s been 30 years since The Fugitive was first released, and the film still holds up beautifully. It has been at least a decade or more since I last saw this movie, so I had forgotten some of the details and twists and turns, so I even had some surprises along the way. Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones are amazing, and the relationship between their two characters is captivating. Kimble is a man who is grieving over the loss of his wife, only to have the murder pinned on him. Now he has the chance to finally prove his innocence and he will do whatever it takes to do so. Gerard thinks highly of himself, and enjoys the thrill of the hunt. To him, it doesn’t matter whether or not Kimble is actually innocent—he escaped from prison, and it’s his job to capture him and put him back. The film does an excellent job of playing out this cat and mouse game—each time Gerard gets close to capturing Kimble, he manages to slip away. These are both highly intelligent men, and it is a masterful battle of wits. Meanwhile, there is the ongoing mystery of who really killed Helen, and why.
In addition to the drama, and several action-packed sequences, the film also has a bit of humor mixed in. A lot of this comes from Gerard’s dry, sarcastic remarks, or the way he interacts with the local cops (who he looks down on) and his own team—Cosmo (Joe Pantoliano), Biggs (Daniel Roebuck), Poole (L. Scott Caldwell), and Newman (Tom Wood). The supporting cast also includes Julianne Moore and Jane Lynch as doctors at the hospital where Kimble works.
For the film’s 30th Anniversary, Warner Bros. has released The Fugitive on 4K disc for the first time, in both a standard release as well as a Best Buy-exclusive SteelBook. I was sent the general 4K release for review, and it looks great! The picture is generally very clean, with an excellent level of detail, especially in faces and close-ups. There is a natural, pleasant amount of film grain. Colors look rich, and even the black and white flashbacks to Helen’s murder in the opening take on a bit of a tone. The only minor negative I noticed was that some of the black skyline in the opening credits had a bit of black crush and took on a slightly lighter tone. The film’s audio presentation is quite impressive, with clear dialogue throughout, and nice use of the surround and stereo channels to provide an immersive feeling. This was noticeable right from the opening as you hear the constant camera clicks coming from every direction as the police investigate the murder site. As the helicopters search for Kimble, you can heir them overhead, and there is a nice general ambiance throughout, whether it’s the bustle of the city, the police station, the parade, the hospital, an office party, etc.
The 4K release only includes a single 4K disc, which is packed in a standard 4K keepcase, along with a glossy cardboard slipcover and an insert with instructions on how to redeem a 4K Movies Anywhere compatible digital copy. This release is also available in Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook packaging. There is no new bonus material created for this release, but the disc ports over nearly all of the material from the 2013 20th Anniversary Blu-ray release, which is detailed below. Missing from that Blu-ray release is the pilot episode of the 2000 reboot TV series.
What’s Included:
Film: (2:10:17)
- 2160p / Widescreen 1.85:1
- HDR10
- Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French (Canadian) 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, German 5.1 Dolby Digital, Italian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish (Castilian) 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish (Latin America) 2.0 Dolby Digital
- Subtitles: English SDH, French, German SDH, Italian SDH, Spanish (Castellano), Spanish (Latino), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Chinese (Traditional), Norwegian, Swedish
- 4K Digital Copy (Movies Anywhere compatible)
- Introduction by Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford (1:47)
Originally created for the 2001 Special Edition DVD release, director Andrew Davis talks to stars Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones (via phone) about their memories of making the film. - Commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones (2:10:17)
Originally created for the 2001 Special Edition DVD release, director Andrew Davis and star Tommy Lee Jones provide commentary for the film. They are recorded from separate locations, watching together, but there are some long gaps during the commentary. - The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase (28:19)
Originally created for the 2013 20th Anniversary Blu-ray, the cast, crew and others discuss the film. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, clips, and interviews with producer Arnold Kopelson, director Andrew Davis, co-producer Peter MacGregor-Scott, film critic Kenneth Turan (Los Angeles Times), editor Don Brochu, author Bob Herzberg (FBI and the Movies), and stars Harrison Ford (“Dr. Richard Kimble”), Tommy Lee Jones (“Samuel Gerard”), Joe Pantoliano (“Cosmo Renfro”) & Jane Lynch (“Dr. Kathy Wahlund”). - On the Run with The Fugitive (23:04)
Originally created for the 2001 Special Edition DVD release, the cast, crew and others reminisce about making the film. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, clips, and 2001/1993 interviews with producer Arnold Kopelson, director Andrew Davis, co-producer Peter MacGregor-Scott, and stars Harrison Ford & Tommy Lee Jones. Presented in 1.33:1 full frame format. - Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck (8:52)
Originally created for the 2001 Special Edition DVD release, the cast and filmmakers discuss filming the train wreck sequence. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, clips, and 2001/1993 interviews with producer Arnold Kopelson, director Andrew Davis, co-producer Peter MacGregor-Scott, and star Harrison Ford. Presented in 1.33:1 full frame format. - Theatrical Trailer (1:58)
4K Ultra HD:
Digital (code may not be valid after 12/31/2025):
Extras:
No new bonus material has been created for this release. All of these features previously appeared on the 2013 20th anniversary Blu-ray release. Missing from that disc is the pilot episode for the 2000 reboot TV series.
Final Thoughts:
The Fugitive is a classic that belongs in every movie collection. The film is just as fun and exciting 30 years later, with stellar performances by Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. Warner Bros’ 30th Anniversary 4K release looks and sounds great. While there is no new bonus material produced for this release, it carries over nearly everything that was included on the 20th Anniversary Blu-ray. If you don’t already own a copy of this film, this is certainly the version to buy, or for SteelBook collectors, pick up the Best Buy-exclusive release.
The Fugitive (4KUHD+DIG) [4K UHD]
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