Six divas of the silver screen – Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts – come together as bosom buddies in this hilarious and heartwarming story of life, love and loss in a small Louisiana parish. At the center of the group is Shelby Eatenton (Julia Roberts), newly married and joyfully pregnant, despite the fact that her diabetes could make childbirth life-threatening. Terrified and angry at the possibility of losing her only daughter, M’Lynn Eatenton (Sally Field) looks to her four closest friends for strength and laughter as she battles her deepest fear of death in order to join Shelby in celebrating the miracle of new life.
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Video Quality
The new 35th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Steel Magnolias offers a fetching uptick in quality over the MOD Blu-Ray from five years ago which was stellar in its own right. This new release does not contain an accompanying Blu-Ray, but we have access to that previous release and can scope out the improvements. This new release is derived from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio in 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision. Sony seldom fails to deliver first-rate quality for their catalog releases, and this one is a knockout.
This fresh transfer delivers a picture replete with sumptuous film grain that resolves consistently without being clumpy or unnatural. Even the most complex gradients do not stumble with loose grain or unsightly banding, which occasionally causes even the best discs to come up short. Sony has avoided any digital tinkering on this transfer, so this disc is free of DNR, compression artifacts, and other encoding issues. The production design, makeup, and simple landscapes are presented with ideal clarity and texture. In every new space, you will find an array of wondrous details that are newly visible thanks to the 4K resolution. The costumes and textural output on display are a joy to behold with everything executed without any issues.
One of the high points of this transfer is the utilization of Dolby Vision/HDR. With this being a comedic drama, the color palette is bright and full of life throughout with a warm visual presentation. Colors are more complex, natural, and authentic to what was intended by the creative team. This is especially helpful in elements of the clothing and production design which show a more dynamic representation of the hues. The unyielding command over the contrast is not to be taken for granted. Black levels maintain a deep and inky look with unbelievable detail while the highlights present more firmly with no instances of blooming to be found. Skin tones appear enriched when compared to the previous Blu-Ray with healthy doses of fine detail apparent on faces such as pores. We are thankful for Sony as they are one of the only majors taking a chance on a movie like this on 4K UHD.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrades the audio with a Dolby Atmos track that gives the film a more complex soundscape that harnesses new nuances within the world. Audio purists should not worry, though, as the 4K UHD Blu-Ray provides a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track along with the original soundtrack in incredible lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio. All three of these tracks on the 4K UHD deliver everything you need from your viewing experience, and we are grateful that Sony is one of the companies who realize original audio is a vital choice for fans who want it while still delivering something progressive for audiophiles. The original DTS-HD 2.0 track is nowhere near as immersive as the Atmos track, but it handles the material perfectly with stability and power.
The Atmos track supplies a soundscape that is more enveloping and full of sonic delights. Atmospheric sound effects are rendered accurately within the mix so that directionality is never an issue. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting drowned out by the music or sound effects. The film thrives when it comes to the music, as the soundtrack transports you with nostalgia into the story, never stumbling when it comes to fidelity. The environmental activity extends to the surrounds, rears, and overhead channels to make the world feel more three-dimensional and lived-in to situate you in space. The sounds up above mostly come in the form of light environmental effects which ground you quite capably. The low end effects from the subwoofer bolster texture in a few moments to enrich the experience. Sony is an MVP in this space. There are a vast array of optional subtitles available.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Herbert Ross provides a steady commentary track in which he discusses being introduced to the material, the journey to the screen, finding the right shooting locations, memories of the ensemble, and more.
- In Full Bloom – Remembering Steel Magnolias: A nearly 24-minute archival featurette is provided in which writer Robert Harling and director Herbert Ross discuss the real-life story that inspired the film, transitioning the material from a play to a theatrical feature, finding the perfect performers for the characters, the unique sense of humor of the story, the shooting locations, the construction of some pivotal scenes, and more.
- TV Pilot: The 23-minute pilot for the 1990 proposed series is provided here in upscaled HD. The pilot takes place after the events of the film and was not picked up for series. It features Cindy Williams as M’Lynn, Sally Kirkland as Truvy, Elaine Stritch as Ouiser, Polly Bergen as Clairee, and Sheila McCarthy as Annelle.
- Deleted Scenes: There are six minutes of unused material provided here in rough quality. Most of these are random throwaway moments, but there are some amusing alternate lines and interactions.
- Theatrical Trailer: The minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Steel Magnolias is a heartfelt classic that serves as a shining beacon of mainstream mid-budget filmmaking. To see all of these women come together to share their experiences with one another in a way that is never condescending or dreary is a gift. There is some truly gut-wrenching and frustrating developments that occur within the narrative, but it all stems from a place of authenticity that gives each voice a complex perspective that you want to hear. The performers here are terrific across the board, deftly balancing between outrageously hilarious antic with truly staggering dramatic work. This is a movie that can work for any audience, and it deserves its designation as a classic. Sony Pictures has released a spectacular new 4K UHD Blu-Ray in celebration of the film’s 35th anniversary featuring a stunning A/V presentation and a great selection of special features both new and old. This is a must-buy for fans of the film. Highly Recommended
Steel Magnolias is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures 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.

Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.