Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure • 1h 40m
Overview
Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi's green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan, who must marry a girl with green eyes in order to return to the human realm.
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, James Hong, Victor Wong Chi-Keung, Kate Burton, Donald Li, Carter Huang Chia-Ta, Peter Kwong, James Pax, Suzee Pai, Chao-Li Chi, Jeff Imada, Rummel Mor, Craig Ng, June Kyoto Lu, Noel Toy, Jade Go, Jerry Hardin, James Lew, Jim Lau, Kenny Endoso, Stuart Quan, Gary Toy, George Cheung, Jimmy Jue, Noble Craig, Danny Kwan, Min Luong, Paul J.Q. Lee, Al Leong, Gerald Okamura, William S. Wong, Eric Lee, Yukio G. Collins, Bill M. Ryusaki, Brian Imada, Nathan Jung, Dan Inosanto, Vernon Rieta, Daniel Wong, Daniel Lee, Lia Chang, Diana Tanaka, Donna L. Noguchi, Shinko Isobe, John Carpenter, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Conan Lee, Leo Lee, Bill Saito, Phil Jordan, Dawna Lee Heising
Director: John Carpenter
Fabulous Films 4K Blu-ray, some caps
Director: John Carpenter
Fabulous Films 4K Blu-ray, some caps
Director: John Carpenter
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray for now
Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray upcoming, UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray possibly teased?
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray but bad compression
Director: John Carpenter
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray for now
Australia Imprint 4K Blu-ray upcoming, UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray possibly teased?
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray but bad compression
Director: John Carpenter
Sony Columbia Classics Vol 4 4K Blu-ray
Sony Columbia Classics Vol 4 4K Blu-ray (review)
Director: John Carpenter
Sony Columbia Classics Vol 4 4K Blu-ray
Sony Columbia Classics Vol 4 4K Blu-ray (review)
Director: John Carpenter
Universal 4K Blu-ray. Maybe Turbine Blu-ray instead for better audio?
1997? Signature Collection LD
Good: 2017 Arrow and 2016 Shout! Factory Blu-ray have the original audio options.
the only track on Universal 4K, which is in DTS:X, has a mixing error of around 6dB too low on side channels, otherwise very similar to other 5.1 mixes.
Director: John Carpenter
Universal 4K Blu-ray. Maybe Turbine Blu-ray instead for better audio?
1997? Signature Collection LD
Good: 2017 Arrow and 2016 Shout! Factory Blu-ray have the original audio options.
the only track on Universal 4K, which is in DTS:X, has a mixing error of around 6dB too low on side channels, otherwise very similar to other 5.1 mixes.
Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray > Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray (Shout! Factory has Dolby Vision while Eagle Pictures doesn't)
2.0: Shout! Factory > StudioCanal. Italy Eagle Pictures doesn't have it.
Italy Eagle Pictures 4K Blu-ray > Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray (Shout! Factory has Dolby Vision while Eagle Pictures doesn't)
2.0: Shout! Factory > StudioCanal. Italy Eagle Pictures doesn't have it.
Shout! Factory Blu-ray has slightly less rolloff of the higher frequencies
Shout! Factory Blu-ray has slightly less rolloff of the higher frequencies
Shout! Factory releasing 4k soon https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=32091
Shout! Factory releasing 4k soon https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=32091
Director: John Carpenter
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray is a strong upgrade in PQ compared to a poor old Blu-ray
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray sound was improved compared to the old mixes.
Director: John Carpenter
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray is a strong upgrade in PQ compared to a poor old Blu-ray
Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray sound was improved compared to the old mixes.
Director: John Carpenter
Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray
Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray. caps by cinemaniac, which look great but the old Sony master doesn’t look too bad and Indicator has a Fidelity encode
Director: John Carpenter
Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray
Scream Factory 4K Blu-ray. caps by cinemaniac, which look great but the old Sony master doesn’t look too bad and Indicator has a Fidelity encode
Director: John Carpenter
Sony 4K Blu-ray and France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray are similar
Director: John Carpenter
Sony 4K Blu-ray and France Carlotta 4K Blu-ray are similar
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.
The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.
Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Arrow includes the original theatrical sound mix in all its glory. All previous releases other than the 1996 AC-3 LaserDisc were tamed relative to the original theatrical DTS track.
The disc is authored by Duplitech, but doesn't exhibit any compression issues, though the image is pretty soft, that's likely just down to the stock used.
Old New Line Video LaserDiscs include an exclusive commentary track.
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Director: Richard Fleischer
Arrow 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has solid encode but controversial colors by Hiventy
Director: Richard Fleischer
Arrow 4K Blu-ray > StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray has solid encode but controversial colors by Hiventy
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Arrow 4K Blu-ray in June
Umbrella 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode but the mastering shows signs of DNR albeit only momentarily); all other BDs pretty bad.
Umbrella 4K Blu-ray, but whether in the correct speed/pitch is TBC.
Director: Ted Kotcheff
Arrow 4K Blu-ray in June
Umbrella 4K Blu-ray (FiM encode but the mastering shows signs of DNR albeit only momentarily); all other BDs pretty bad.
Umbrella 4K Blu-ray, but whether in the correct speed/pitch is TBC.
Director: Brian De Palma
Director: Brian De Palma
Arrow 4K Blu-ray see caps
Info: Arrow 4K Blu-ray is scanned from interpositive film, thus having a softer than the first title.
Original: Arrow 4K Blu-ray vs New Line LaserDisc
Arrow 4K Blu-ray see caps
Info: Arrow 4K Blu-ray is scanned from interpositive film, thus having a softer than the first title.
Original: Arrow 4K Blu-ray vs New Line LaserDisc
Arrow 4K Blu-ray see caps
Dolby Stereo: Arrow 4K Blu-ray or New Line LaserDisc for line absent on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray releases
Info: Arrow 4K Blu-ray is scanned from interpositive film, thus having a softer than the first title.
Arrow 4K Blu-ray see caps
Dolby Stereo: Arrow 4K Blu-ray or New Line LaserDisc for line absent on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray releases
Info: Arrow 4K Blu-ray is scanned from interpositive film, thus having a softer than the first title.
Director: John Frankenheimer
Director: John Frankenheimer
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Director: Fritz Kiersch
Director: Fritz Kiersch
More Action on Blu-ray
Director: Akira Kurosawa
BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR
Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray
BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.
The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.
Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.
Director: Akira Kurosawa
BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR
Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray
BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.
The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.
Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.
Director: John McTiernan
Director: John McTiernan
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray
Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?
International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray
Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?
Director: John Woo
International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray
Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?
International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray
Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?
Director: John Woo
International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray
Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?
International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray
Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?
Director: John Woo
International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray
Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?
International Cut: US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray
Original Hong Kong Cut (2 parts): US Magnolia Pictures Blu-ray or Hong Kong Blu-rays?
Director: Moritz Mohr
Italy Plaion has Dolby Vision, but the metadata is static: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22742198&postcount=92
Director: Moritz Mohr
Italy Plaion has Dolby Vision, but the metadata is static: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=22742198&postcount=92
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Director: Tommy Wirkola
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Director: John Woo
Edit History
2/22/2026
Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release
From
Italian Koch Media Blu-Ray is not stretched compared to US Shout and British Arrow Blu-Rays
As for the color grade, unsure whether the Italian or USA/British Blu-Ray is more accurate to the theatrical colors.
From
Italian Koch Media Blu-Ray is not stretched compared to US Shout and British Arrow Blu-Rays
As for the color grade, unsure whether the Italian or USA/British Blu-Ray is more accurate to the theatrical colors.
Best Audio Release
Additional Info
From
Shout Blu-Ray has the most extras with a lossless isolated score
To
Shout! Factory Blu-ray has the most extras with a lossless isolated score
From
Shout Blu-Ray has the most extras with a lossless isolated score
To
Shout! Factory Blu-ray has the most extras with a lossless isolated score
2/21/2026
Format
Added
1080p Blu-ray
Added
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly Release
Added
Italian Koch Media Blu-Ray
Added
Italian Koch Media Blu-Ray
Best Video Release
Added
Italian Koch Media Blu-Ray is not stretched compared to US Shout and British Arrow Blu-Rays
As for the color grade, unsure whether the Italian or USA/British Blu-Ray is more accurate to the theatrical colors.
Added
Italian Koch Media Blu-Ray is not stretched compared to US Shout and British Arrow Blu-Rays
As for the color grade, unsure whether the Italian or USA/British Blu-Ray is more accurate to the theatrical colors.
Best Audio Release
Added
Arrow Blu-Ray has lossless original stereo
Added
Arrow Blu-Ray has lossless original stereo
Additional Info
Added
Shout Blu-Ray has the most extras with a lossless isolated score
Added
Shout Blu-Ray has the most extras with a lossless isolated score
Blu-ray.com
Added
https://www.blu-ray.com/Big-Trouble-in-Little-China/19788/#Releases
Added
https://www.blu-ray.com/Big-Trouble-in-Little-China/19788/#Releases
caps-a-holic
Added
https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=1595
Added
https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=1595
DVDBeaver
Added
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/dvdreviews46/big_trouble_in_little_china_blu-ray.htm
Added
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/dvdreviews46/big_trouble_in_little_china_blu-ray.htm
