Director Bob Fosse’s nervy, freewheeling showbiz drama tells the real-life story of taboo-shattering comedian Lenny Bruce, the counterculture prophet whose unfiltered style opened up new frontiers in self-expression. Dustin Hoffman brings a live-wire intensity to his portrayal of the motormouthed Bruce as he goes from small-time strip-club emcee to free-speech lightning rod, while Valerie Perrine lends the film its soul with her deeply affecting performance as his wife, Honey, an innocent lost on the dark side of bohemia. A complex portrayal of one iconoclast by another, Fosse’s film makes deft use of stark monochrome photography and kinetic editing to vividly capture Bruce’s smoky, seedy backstage world.

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Video Quality

The Criterion Collection presents Lenny on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 courtesy of a wonderful new 4K master created from the 35mm Original Camera Negative in 2160p with Dolby Vision/HDR. This presentation serves as a fine uptick from the included Blu-Ray derived from the same restoration. This release is all the more welcome considering the previous Blu-Ray release from Twilight Time in 2015 has been out of print for a long time. We never had that release, so we cannot directly compare the two transfers. This 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc spotlights the perfect amount of natural film grain which is purposefully gritty but not noisy or splotchy. This allows the picture to render with exceptional texture in the locales, costumes, and production design. The black-and-white cinematography from Bruce Surtees is unassailable as he creates a striking image that plays well with the depth of the interiors.

The UHD disc maintains a precise palette that never stumbles thanks to the implementation of Dolby Vision for an commendable interplay between light and dark. Highlights are brilliant and offer greater stability without succumbing to blooming. Black levels are perfectly deep and allow the picture to ensure a valuable amount of depth and detail in the shadowy corners of the club. The handling of contrast is in top form. The restoration has eliminated all possible signs of print damage or other such blemishes for an ideal viewing experience. The clarity of the transfer will make you feel like you are watching the movie for the first time. The Criterion Collection has honored this film with a considerate handling.

Audio Quality

The Criterion Collection brings us this new 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a remastered LPCM 1.0 mono track that offers a tremendous audio experience. When you are dealing with a stand-up comedian, words are of the utmost importance, and every line of biting dialogue emerges clearly without being overshadowed by the crowd sounds or other environmental effects. The background noises are delineated nicely with the clinking of glasses in the club really setting the mood. The score from Ralph Burns comes through with the pleasant fidelity that represents the material best narratively. The track does not sport any unexpected instances of age-related wear and tear. The Criterion Collection has delivered an audio experience that matches the visual mastery. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Lenny includes a booklet featuring the essay “High Wire Act” by author Mark Harris which explores the legacy of the feature, its themes, the background of the creative figures, and more that are very illuminating. There is also a 1975 interview with director Bob Fosse. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentary: Film historians Nick Redman and Julie Kirgo provide a commentary track recorded in 2015 in which the pair delve into the production in great detail, including background anecdotes about various creative figures, the changes from the real-life figure, the decision to shoot in black and white, how Bob Fosse approached this story, and much more.

Alan Heim: A 22-minute discussion with editor Alan Heim from 2023 in which he reveals his early relationship with Bob Fosse, his initial reaction to the script, the structure of the film, the place of music in the picture, character problems they solved in the editing room, and more.

Dustin Hoffman and Valerie Perrine: A six-minute archival piece from a French TV program in 1975 with the two stars discussing the film, what they wanted to accomplish with their characters, working with Bob Fosse, and more.

Trailer (2:50)

Final Thoughts

Even with a Best Picture nomination, Lenny is one of the more overlooked features in the career of legendary filmmaker Bob Fosse. Not only does Fosse coax a career-best performance out of Dustin Hoffman, but he also makes the world of stand-up comedy into one that is approachable and understandable to the average viewer. The stark look of the movie aids in the emotional coldness of the character, and the structure reveals bits and pieces about its subject that coalesce into something pretty special. In a career of absolute masterpieces, it can be hard for this one to shine through, but it certainly deserves its time in the sun. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a 5-star A/V presentation and some top-notch special features. If you are a fan, the film has been treated with the proper respect. Highly Recommended

The Criterion Collection edition of Lenny will be available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray on May 26, 2026.

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

Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection 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.