Director Abel Ferrara’s gritty 1990 crime-fable masterpiece hits even harder in 4K with its noirish story of a drug kingpin eager to regain his territory. Frank White (Christopher Walken) is just out of prison, and he wastes no time – or bullets – in brutally establishing his empire. When the undercover cops standing in Frank’s way decide to match his ruthlessness, the violence that erupts is vintage Ferrara: unflinching, epic, and cinematically poetic. With a cast including Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, and Giancarlo Esposito, King of New York reigns supreme in the annals of gangster films.

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Video Quality

Lionsgate presents King Of New York with a terrific 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer derived from a 2020 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative by Arrow Films, approved by director Abel Ferrara and cinematographer Bojan Bazelli. We do not own the ancient Blu-Ray release from 2007, but the dated VC-1 transfer simply is not acceptable in this day and age. This upgrade retains the gritty look of the film while allowing it to look like the best version of itself. The film was previously released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray overseas in 2020 from the same master, but this is the first time domestic audience are able to enjoy the major benefits of this restoration.

One of the primary things you will observe with this transfer is the nearly complete absence of dirt or damage, as the film appears to be cleaned up exquisitely. The coarse natural film grain remains intact with no signs that unecessary grain reduction has been applied. You get a nice layer that mostly resolves well in all environments, allowing for detail and clarity to spring forth. The texture unveiled in the outfits, within the dingy environments, and in the makeup is much appreciated. Facial details such as stubble, perspiration, and age lines make an impression. The encode runs at an ideal bitrate with no notable compression artifacts, banding, or other anomalies.

Another major benefit is the implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR. This is a film with a very distinct look including a heavy emphasis on contrast, and this transfer is up to the task of conjuring up the nuance. Black levels maintain an undeniable amount of depth and detail in darker environments, and highlights offer great stability without veering into blooming. The color palette appears to be natural to the creative intent with saturation never appearing irregular. This is not going to be a reference disc for those who want to show off a Technicolor spectacle, but it looks every bit as good as it should on disc. The film deserved an upgrade in the United States, and Lionsgate stepped up to the plate.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track, and, to be blunt, it sounds pretty terrible. There is obviously something wrong with the track, and we have heard rumblings that Lionsgate is aware of the issue and will likely be issuing replacement discs once the disc is corrected. Thankfully, this is not the only track on the disc, and the other one would be our go-to track regardless. This release includes the original theatrical stereo track presented in LPCM 2.0, and it sounds excellent.

The dialogue is abundantly clear when you listen to the original track. The soundtrack is unleashed into the room as it establishes the vibe of the story. This track handles it without issue throughout the film. The environmental sounds are distinguished effectively alongside everything else. There is rarely a moment when you struggle to decipher anything in the stereo track thanks to the fidelity. The low end response adds a light amount of texture to key moments. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear in the original track. While there are issues on the disc, Lionsgate has given the original track a great audio presentation that serves the movie well. Optional English, Spanish, and English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Lionsgate has provided King Of New York with a sleek new SteelBook available exclusively at Lionsgate Limited that is truly lovely in person. Videos of the SteelBook can be found at the beginning of this review.

Audio Commentaries

- Audio Commentary #1: Director Abel Ferrara

- Audio Commentary #2: Composer Joe Delia, Producer Mary Kane, Casting Director Randy Sabusawa and Editor Anthony Redman

The Sacred and Profane in King of New York: A new nearly 19-minute piece in which various film historians offer up some analysis of the film.

Flashback on King of New York – Christopher Walken: A new ten-minute interview with the star in which he reflects on his time with the film, the freedom of the character, working with Abel Ferrara, meeting Biggie, and more.

Flashback on King of New York – Paul Calderon: A new nine-minute interview with the performer in which he discusses working on the film, memories of his fellow performers, the unique style of Abel Ferrara, and more.

Interview with Director Abel Ferrara: A 28-minute interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses developing the idea for the film, the inspiration for certain characters, the performers, the legacy of the film, and more.

Interview with Producer Augusto Caminito: A nearly 21-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses the development of the project, working with Abel Ferrara, and more.

A Short Film About The Long Career of Abel Ferrara: A 47-minute documentary on the career of Abel Ferrara through interviews with people who worked with him.

The Adventures of Schoolly D – Snowboarder: A 42-minute piece on artist Schoolly D.

Schoolly D Music Video (3:20)

Original Theatrical Trailer (1:39)
TV Spots (1:06)

Final Thoughts

King Of New York delivers when it comes to representing many of the hallmarks of the gangster subgenre, but it does so in a way that only Abel Ferrara could accomplish. The quest for power is a common motivator, but Ferrara’s journey to this place is filled with unusual left turns and bold choices that leave you unsteady more than your average disposable crime film. Christopher Walken is simultaneously goofy and chilling in the lead role, and the ensemble surrounding him includes some of the most talented people imaginable. This may not get as much shine as some of the conventional classics, but this film is a force of nature not to be underestimated. Lionsgate has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a (mostly) incredible A/V presentation and a valuable array of supplements all in a gorgeous SteelBook package. If you do not own this film on 4K UHD, you should change that immediately. Recommended

King Of New York is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a Lionsgate Limited Exclusive SteelBook edition.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.