This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

The story of the ride-sharing company, Uber, from the perspective of the company’s CEO Travis Kalanick, who is ultimately ousted in a boardroom coup after tense internal and external battles that ripple with unpredictable consequences.

For thoughts on Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/_GZkJ0C44NA?t=4575]

Video Quality

Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber arrives on MOD Blu-Ray courtesy of Showtime Home Entertainment with a really striking and sleek AVC encoded 1080p transfer. This limited series consists of seven episodes spread across three discs, which leaves plenty of breathing room. This means no instances of aliasing or compression artifacts popping up throughout the runtime for a clean viewing experience. There is no doubt this presentation is an improvement from the streaming and broadcast versions of the show thanks to compression, but this series is no longer available through its network app so that point is moot regardless.

The detail on display is simply incredible, as all of the intricate aspects of the office production design, clothing and other unique elements are impeccably rendered. Black levels are very deep and provide a notable amount of detail in shadows. Highlights likewise never veer into blooming in this presentation. The show has a robust natural color palette that translates the various hues on display with great accuracy. The nuances of the colors leap off the screen, especially when it comes to distinct articles of clothing and lighting choices. Skin tones appear natural and textured across the entire cast. Showtime has handily delivered with this one.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a really good DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures the soundscape well. The track delivers the ambient sounds of the bustling office with a dedicated precision that makes the space feel more three dimensional. Kinetic moments are based more in human drama, but even this provides some texture in the low end. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overshadowed by the music or any sound effects. The soundtrack and the score sets the tone of the series admirably and is presented with flawless fidelity within the mix. Environmental sounds are plentiful throughout with each environment feeling spacious in its own way. The audio presentation is a high point of this set. There are English SDH subtitles provided for those who desire them.

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this disc.

Final Thoughts

Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber is very entertaining even if it does mostly follow a formula that has gotten more popular in the past decade. Of course it is not surprising that a meteoric rise of a disruptor to modern life is filled with juicy stories of lies, deceit and morally questionable characters. The presentation can be a bit obnoxious in a way that feels very reminiscent of Adam McKay, but the narrative holds your attention and the performances are really stellar across the board. Showtime Home Entertainment has delivered a Blu-Ray that offers a top tier A/V presentation but no special features. This one has been removed from its streaming home, but it is worth seeking out if it sounds intriguing to you. Recommended

Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

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

Disclaimer: Showtime 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.