Willow (1988)
Fantasy, Adventure, Action • 2h 6m
Overview
The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil.
Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Warwick Davis, Patricia Hayes, Gavan O'Herlihy, Phil Fondacaro, Pat Roach, Rick Overton, Kevin Pollak, Billy Barty, Jean Marsh, David Steinberg, Tony Cox, Robert Gillibrand, Mark Northover, Maria Holvoe, Julie Peters, Mark Vande Brake, Dawn Downing, Michael Cotterill, Zulema Dene, Joanna Dickens, Jennifer Guy, Ron Tarr, Sallyanne Law, Ruth Greenfield, Kate Greenfield, Fred Wood, David Sibley, Arnold Lee, Bob Ramsey, Kenny Baker, Jack Purvis, Malcolm Dixon, Craig Salisbury, Alan Bennett, Andrew Herd, Ashley C. Williams, Cheryl Howard, Gerald Staddon, Hayley Burroughs, John Cumming, John Ghavan, Kim Davis, Margarita Farrell, Michael Henbury Ballan, Nathan Phillips, Nosher Powell, Peter Burroughs, Raymond Griffiths, Rusty Goffe, Sadie Corre, Samantha Davis, Stéphanie Lhorset, Valerie Gale, Willie Coppen, Kenneth Coombs, Gerry Crampton, Greg Powell, Edwin Alofs, Paul Markham, Didier Jean, Owain Griffiths
Director: Ron Howard
Theatrical: Universal 4K Blu-ray
IMAX Cut: 2005 DVD
Theatrical: Universal 4K Blu-ray
IMAX Cut: 2005 DVD
Theatrical: Cinema DTS
Director: Ron Howard
Theatrical: Universal 4K Blu-ray
IMAX Cut: 2005 DVD
Theatrical: Universal 4K Blu-ray
IMAX Cut: 2005 DVD
Theatrical: Cinema DTS
Director: Ron Howard
2026 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook
2026 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook added Dolby Vision
Director: Ron Howard
2026 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook
2026 Sony 4K Blu-ray Steelbook added Dolby Vision
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Universal 4K Blu-ray - caps. Looks stunning against the horribly neutralized old master. Very glad Deakins supervised the new grade and had Universal restore his color filters.
Universal Blu-ray (included in the 4K edition) has the original 5.1 mix not on the 4K disc
The original 5.1 surround mix from the 2011 USA BD was included alongside the new Atmos upmix. The compatibility track is a downmix of the Atmos. The Atmos is overall lightly remixed with noticeably more high frequencies rolled-off relative to the old 5.1. I think the 5.1 sounds better. The 5.1 mix from the USA BD was used as it sounds essentially the same as the EUR BD (with some minor loudness differences) while not featuring the dither noise and low frequency noise that the EUR has. Commentaries between the USA UHD and USA BD are the same, with both featuring Dolby Surround metadata
Audio comparison: 5.1 surround
Director: Ron Howard
Universal 4K Blu-ray - caps. Looks stunning against the horribly neutralized old master. Very glad Deakins supervised the new grade and had Universal restore his color filters.
Universal Blu-ray (included in the 4K edition) has the original 5.1 mix not on the 4K disc
The original 5.1 surround mix from the 2011 USA BD was included alongside the new Atmos upmix. The compatibility track is a downmix of the Atmos. The Atmos is overall lightly remixed with noticeably more high frequencies rolled-off relative to the old 5.1. I think the 5.1 sounds better. The 5.1 mix from the USA BD was used as it sounds essentially the same as the EUR BD (with some minor loudness differences) while not featuring the dither noise and low frequency noise that the EUR has. Commentaries between the USA UHD and USA BD are the same, with both featuring Dolby Surround metadata
Audio comparison: 5.1 surround
Director: Ron Howard
Theatrical Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Extended Cut: The 30th Anniversary Extended Cut on fanedit.org has the additional TV footage and is also uncut.
Theatrical Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Extended Cut: The 30th Anniversary Extended Cut on fanedit.org has the additional TV footage and is also uncut.
The TV version is extended but is censored. The Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray is restored from an interpositive, no release so far is confirmed to be from the Original Camera Negative.
Director: Ron Howard
Theatrical Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Extended Cut: The 30th Anniversary Extended Cut on fanedit.org has the additional TV footage and is also uncut.
Theatrical Cut: Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray
Extended Cut: The 30th Anniversary Extended Cut on fanedit.org has the additional TV footage and is also uncut.
The TV version is extended but is censored. The Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray is restored from an interpositive, no release so far is confirmed to be from the Original Camera Negative.
Director: Ron Howard
1991 Universal LaserDisc [41131]
Director: Ron Howard
1991 Universal LaserDisc [41131]
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Theatrical: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Extended: Old Sony Blu-ray
Theatrical: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Extended: Old Sony Blu-ray
Director: Ron Howard
Theatrical: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Extended: Old Sony Blu-ray
Theatrical: Sony 4K Blu-ray
Extended: Old Sony Blu-ray
2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray or Disney+/Apple TV Vision Pro Streaming
2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray or Disney+/Apple TV Vision Pro Streaming
2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray or Disney+/Apple TV Vision Pro Streaming
2D version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
3D version: Disney 3D Blu-ray or Disney+/Apple TV Vision Pro Streaming
Directors: Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook
2020 Disney 4K Blu-ray
Digital re-render: 2020 Disney 4K Blu-ray, caveat: no Dolby Vision metadata from 4K Streaming
Original theatrical 35mm render: WOWOW HDTV broadcast
Directors: Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook
2020 Disney 4K Blu-ray
Digital re-render: 2020 Disney 4K Blu-ray, caveat: no Dolby Vision metadata from 4K Streaming
Original theatrical 35mm render: WOWOW HDTV broadcast
High seas for the recreated Theatrical Cut
High seas for the recreated Theatrical Cut, Disney 4K Blu-ray is disappointing
High seas for the recreated Theatrical Cut
High seas for the recreated Theatrical Cut, Disney 4K Blu-ray is disappointing
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
7.1 Remix: Disney 4K Blu-ray/3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray
Original Dolby Stereo: 1994 Disney LaserDisc
Disney 4K Blu-ray recycles the same 7.1 remix from the past releases, but it's a very faithful remix and sounds better, more detailed, and more dynamic than past mixes.
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
7.1 Remix: Disney 4K Blu-ray/3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray
Original Dolby Stereo: 1994 Disney LaserDisc
Disney 4K Blu-ray recycles the same 7.1 remix from the past releases, but it's a very faithful remix and sounds better, more detailed, and more dynamic than past mixes.
Directors: John Musker & Ron Clements
OG theatrical version: Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
2004 restored version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
OG theatrical version: Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
2004 restored version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
OG theatrical version - uncensored: Pre-1993 35mm scans
OG theatrical version - censored: 1993+ 35mm scans or Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
OG theatrical version has a racially insensitive lyric in opening "Agrabah" song replaced for re-releases, available on OG soundtrack CD and pre-1993 35mm prints only
Every release since the 2004 restored version on the OG Disney DVD has the line "Come on, good kitty, just take off and go" replaced with "Take off, good kitty" due to the 1992 line being misheard as "Come on, good teenagers, take off your clothes" (an occurrence called a "mondegreen")
Directors: John Musker & Ron Clements
OG theatrical version: Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
2004 restored version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
OG theatrical version: Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
2004 restored version: Disney 4K Blu-ray
OG theatrical version - uncensored: Pre-1993 35mm scans
OG theatrical version - censored: 1993+ 35mm scans or Disney Deluxe Edition LaserDisc
OG theatrical version has a racially insensitive lyric in opening "Agrabah" song replaced for re-releases, available on OG soundtrack CD and pre-1993 35mm prints only
Every release since the 2004 restored version on the OG Disney DVD has the line "Come on, good kitty, just take off and go" replaced with "Take off, good kitty" due to the 1992 line being misheard as "Come on, good teenagers, take off your clothes" (an occurrence called a "mondegreen")
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Director: Ronny Yu
Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray
International Theatrical Cut/US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray
Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray
International Theatrical Cut (aka. Unrated Cut): Universal Blu-ray
US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray, Starz Streaming for open matte
Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Singapore, Singapore Disney DVD for open matte
Thai Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Thailand, Thailand Disney DVD for open matte
Director: Ronny Yu
Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray
International Theatrical Cut/US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray
Director's Cut: Hong Kong Edko Films Blu-ray
International Theatrical Cut (aka. Unrated Cut): Universal Blu-ray
US Theatrical Cut: Universal Blu-ray, Starz Streaming for open matte
Hong Kong Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Singapore, Singapore Disney DVD for open matte
Thai Theatrical Cut: Disney+ Streaming in Thailand, Thailand Disney DVD for open matte
Director: Goro Miyazaki
2011 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Director: Goro Miyazaki
2011 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray
Director: Jonathan Demme
Director: Jonathan Demme
More Fantasy on Blu-ray
Director: Paul Schrader
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray has DNR applied and encoding could be better. Possible issues in Dolby Vision
Great source, poorly encoded but it does look significantly better than the Blu-Rays.
Director: Paul Schrader
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray has DNR applied and encoding could be better. Possible issues in Dolby Vision
Great source, poorly encoded but it does look significantly better than the Blu-Rays.
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray Sept. 2026
Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray Sept. 2026
Director: Gary Ross
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray, but a shot was cut from the film
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the uncut version, but it's a older master.
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray, but a shot was cut from the film. See comparison
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the uncut version, but it's a older master.
Director: Gary Ross
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray, but a shot was cut from the film
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the uncut version, but it's a older master.
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray, but a shot was cut from the film. See comparison
Warner Bros Blu-ray for the uncut version, but it's a older master.
Paramount 4K Blu-ray has the original colour grade
Paramount 4K Blu-ray has the original colour grade
Director: F. W. Murnau
2006 Restoration: Eureka Blu-ray
1995 photochemical restoration: BFI Blu-ray that some may prefer
Eureka with Murnau institute restoration featuring score based on original score, BFI uses Photoplay restoration with James Bernard score
Both Eureka and BFI BDs are worthy of owning. Each restoration has unique positives and extras. The James Bernard score on the BFI is outstanding and the image tinting is different to how the Murnau institute official restoration was done. The Eureka MoC BD is stuffed with extras and remains one of the best-made BDs of all time. Whatever you do: AVOID THE Kino Lorber BD!!! It uses the same Murnau institute restoration but drops frames for the whole feature - thus it loses a significant portion of the film! This was never acknowledged or addressed. The Kino Lorber BD remains one of the worst BDs of all time for this reason.
Director: F. W. Murnau
2006 Restoration: Eureka Blu-ray
1995 photochemical restoration: BFI Blu-ray that some may prefer
Eureka with Murnau institute restoration featuring score based on original score, BFI uses Photoplay restoration with James Bernard score
Both Eureka and BFI BDs are worthy of owning. Each restoration has unique positives and extras. The James Bernard score on the BFI is outstanding and the image tinting is different to how the Murnau institute official restoration was done. The Eureka MoC BD is stuffed with extras and remains one of the best-made BDs of all time. Whatever you do: AVOID THE Kino Lorber BD!!! It uses the same Murnau institute restoration but drops frames for the whole feature - thus it loses a significant portion of the film! This was never acknowledged or addressed. The Kino Lorber BD remains one of the worst BDs of all time for this reason.
Directors: Ernest B. Schoedsack & Merian C. Cooper
Directors: Ernest B. Schoedsack & Merian C. Cooper
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
US/UK Crunchyroll 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray/Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray has better bitrate and detail than Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray, both releases have English subtitles.
The original theatrical Atmos mix has not been given a home release.
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
US/UK Crunchyroll 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray/Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray
Hong Kong Neofilms 4K Blu-ray has better bitrate and detail than Japan Toho 4K Blu-ray, both releases have English subtitles.
The original theatrical Atmos mix has not been given a home release.
Directors: Frank Oz & Jim Henson
Directors: Frank Oz & Jim Henson
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