Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight star in the undisputed classic drama Midnight Cowboy, making its worldwide debut on 4K UHD with Dolby Vision. The winner of Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Midnight Cowboy has achieved a legacy like few other films. A dissection of the nostalgia of the New York nightmare, this raw, uncompromising picture takes you inside the minds of two desperate men chasing dreams in a city that offers none.

When Joe Buck, a good-looking, naïvely charming Texas “cowboy” makes his way to the Big Apple to seek his fortune, the only wealth he finds is in the friendship of Ratso Rizzo, a sleazy, small-time con man with big dreams. Living on the tattered fringe of society, these two outcasts develop an unlikely bond, one that transcends their broken dreams. Based on the book by James Leo Herlihy, and directed by John Schlesinger (who won the Oscar for Best Director for his work on this film), Midnight Cowboy continues to stand the test of time almost sixty years since its release, now fully restored and ripe for rediscovery in 4K.

This Limited Edition 3-Disc Hardbox also includes the 2022 feature documentary Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy.

For thoughts on Midnight Cowboy, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Imprint Films debuts Midnight Cowboy on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 courtesy of a staggering 4K restoration in 2160p with Dolby Vision/HDR. This label is based in Australia, but both the 4K UHD and Blu-Ray discs in this set will play in all 4K UHD and Blu-Ray players, including those in the United States. The film was previously released on Blu-Ray from a 4K restoration in the United States courtesy of The Criterion Collection in 2018. That release is really fetching, but this new presentation achieves a level of complexity and precision that only this upgraded format can deliver. The uptick in resolution, the assured execution of the encoding, and the benefit of Dolby Vision instantly elevate this to the premier way to experience the film at home.

The UHD disc maintains a faithful color palette that is dynamic thanks to the utilization of Dolby Vision for a standout rendering of the dingy environments. This is far from a Technicolor spectacle, yet there are key elements of the lighting, clothing, and production design that come alive with the proper nuance. This extends to the care put towards the contrast and overall clarity. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to achieve the proper amount of depth in the shadows. The cinematography from Adam Holender thrives as he captures the isolating character of the city. Highlights are tighter and deliver stability without veering into blooming. The clarity of the transfer gives you an exceptional amount of facial detail.

The 4K UHD presentation serves as a remarkable improvement upon the included Blu-Ray derived from the same restoration. This 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc shines with the ideal amount of natural film grain which is appropriately gritty but not noisy or splotchy. The encoding here is very strong with no major signs of compression artifacts or other digital shortcomings. This allows the presentation to excel with a world of texture in the background. There is no lingering print damage or other such blemishes that would impede the appearance of this title. This transfer is good work from the team at Imprint Films.

Audio Quality

Imprint Films brings us this new 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio surround sound track and an LPCM 2.0 stereo track that offer a sterling audio experience. The score and soundtrack of the film come through with agreeable fidelity that represents the material to the best of its ability. The environmental effects are delineated effectively including the murmuring within the public spaces and the noises from automobiles. Dialogue remains crisp and clear without being overshadowed by the music or other natural effects. The track does not falter with any unexpected instances of age-related wear and tear. Imprint Films has delivered an audio experience that holds up with the best of them. Optional English HOH subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Midnight Cowboy

Audio Commentaries: A new and archival commentary track is provided which delves into the production in great detail with the creatives and analyzes the film from a historical perspective.

- Audio Commentary #1: Cinema author and critic Matthew Asprey Gear

- Audio Commentary #2: Director John Schlesinger and producer Jerome Hellman

After Midnight – Reflecting On A Classic 35 Years Later: A 30-minute archival featurette that explores the creation and legacy of the film through interviews with Dustin Hoffman, Sylvia Miles, producer Jerome Hellman, Jennifer Salt, cinematographer Adam Holender, and more.

Controversy and Acclaim: A ten-minute archival piece that delves into the controversy surrounding the film upon release and the unexpected success that followed.

Celebrating Schlesinger: A ten-minute archival look at the brilliant director of the film through memories of the cast and creative team.

Salute to John Schlesinger – An Englishman in Hollywood: A 20-minute conversation with the filmmaker conducted during a screening of Midnight Cowboy at the 1998 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, in which he discusses his place as a British director in Hollywood.

Discussion with Director John Schlesinger from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (1998): A 16-minute continuation of the previous supplement that finds the filmmaker discussing the film on stage.

Theatrical Trailer (1:47)

Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy (2022)

Feature Film (1:45:24)

Extended Interview with Midnight Cowboy Cinematographer Adam Holender: A 21-minute extended look at the interview with the director of photography in which he discusses his collaboration with John Schlesinger, his approach to capturing Midnight Cowboy, and more.

Trailer (2:05)

Final Thoughts

Midnight Cowboy is a pivotal feature that directly explores content that many audience members coming out of the Hays Code would be deeply uncomfortable with. Viewing the film from a modern perspective, there is not much in the story that should have earned it such a restrictive rating, but it still holds up as a powerful tale of desperation and kinship. Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight each deliver vulnerable, lived-in performances that are very different from one another yet balance each other out brilliantly. Imprint Films has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a top-tier A/V presentation and some essential special features. Fans of the film should pick up without hesitation. Highly Recommended

The Imprint Films edition of Midnight Cowboy is now available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

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

Disclaimer: Imprint Films 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.