After having been rumoured for many years, James Cameron’s Aliens is finally coming to 4K Blu-Ray! Lightstorm Entertainment have announced that Aliens Ultimate Collector’s Edition will be released digitally on December 12th while the physical releases will be out next year on March 12, 2024.
Aliens is just one of a few James Cameron classics that will be released around the same time. The Abyss, True Lies, Titanic, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water will be getting special editions on the same dates.
On the new releases, James Cameron said “There’s a world of emotions in revisiting these films and I hope we’ve captured some of that in the new bonus materials we created for our fans.” While producing partner Jon Landau added, “We really wanted to deliver the best possible experience at home so viewers could immerse themselves both in the films and the journeys we went through to make them.”
Here’s the cover art for the Aliens Collector’s Edition which includes Ripley holding on to Newt.
Each release will be getting a Dolby Vision HDR presentation with an immersive Atmos audio mix. The Aliens set will include both the theatrical and special edition versions of the film. A lot of the sets will be getting new bonus features though it looks like Aliens just incorporates all previously released bonus features.
Here’s the actual specifications:
ALIENS: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION
THEATRICAL VERSION AND SPECIAL EDITION VERSION
Street Date
- Digital: December 12, 2023
- Physical: March 12, 2024
Product SKUs
- Digital: 4K UHD, HD, SD
- Physical: 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Code)
Theatrical Version Run Time: Approx. 137 minutes
Special Edition Run Time: Approx. 154 minutes
Rating: U.S. Rated R
Aspect Ratio
- Digital: 1.85:1
- Physical: 1.85:1
Disc Size
- 4K UHD: 100GB
- Blu-ray: 50GB
U.S. Audio
- Digital: English Dolby Atmos (UHD only, some platforms), English 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio (some platforms)
- 4K UHD Theatrical Version and Special Edition: English Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
- Blu-ray Theatrical Version and Special Edition: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HDHR, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
U.S. Subtitles
- Digital: English SDH, Spanish
- Physical: English SDH, Spanish, French
BONUS FEATURES
- James Cameron Introduction – A message from writer/director James Cameron introducing the Special Edition version of the film.
- 2003 Audio Commentary by James Cameron and the Cast and Crew-Special Edition – 1990 Special Edition Commentary by James Cameron and the cast and crew.
- The Inspiration and Design of Aliens – For the 30th anniversary, writer/director James Cameron reveals new insight into his own inspiration and the design elements for Aliens.
- 2003 Audio Commentary by James Cameron and the Cast and Crew – 1986 Theatrical Version Commentary by James Cameron and the cast and crew.
- Isolated Scores
- Final Theatrical Isolated Score – This isolated track presents, as accurately as possible, James Horner’s music score in its final form following extensive reworking during the post-production process.
- Composer’s Original Isolated Score – Although there are a few instances where the length of individual sequences was changed slightly after the music was recorded, this isolated score track presents, as accurately as possible, James Horner’s original intentions.
- Superior Firepower: Making Aliens – Immerse yourself in the world of Aliens with 11 fully-loaded featurettes that deconstruct all that went into making this sci-fi thriller, from casting to creature design to post-production and everything in between.
- 57 Years Later: Continuing the Story
- Building Better Worlds: From Concept to Construction
- Preparing for Battle: Casting and Characterization
- This Time It’s War: Pinewood Studios, 1985
- The Risk Always Lives: Weapons and Action
- Bug Hunt: Creature Design
- Two Orphans: Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn
- Beauty and the Bitch: Power Loader vs. Queen Alien
- The Final Countdown: Music, Editing and Sound
- The Power of Real Tech: Visual Effects
- Aliens Unleashed: Reaction to the Film
- Superior Firepower: Making Aliens Enhancement Pods – Supplemental video pieces to complement Superior Firepower: Making Aliens.
- Without Sigourney Weaver
- Origins of Acheron
- Building Hadley’s Hope
- Cameron’s Design Philosophy
- Finding an Unused Power Plant
- Cameron’s Military Interests
- Working with Sigourney Weaver
- The Importance of Being Bishop
- Paul Reiser on Carter Burke
- The Paxton/Cameron Connection
- Becoming Vasquez
- On Set: Infiltrating the Colony
- Props: Personal Light Unit
- Simon Atherton Talks Weapons
- Praising Stan Winston
- Test Footage: Chestburster
- Fighting the Facehugger
- Test Footage: Facehugger
- Stan Winston’s Challenge
- Test Footage: Queen Alien
- Stan Winston’s Legacy
- Cameron’s Cutting Edge
- Sigourney Weaver’s Triumph
- Re-Enlisting with Cameron
- From Producer to Stunt Double
- Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics
- Angle 1: Videomatic
- Angle 2: Videomatic/Final Shot Comparison
- Audio Commentary by Miniature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung
- Direct Access to New/Additional Scenes From Special Edition
- Ripley’s Daughter – Burke informs Ripley that her daughter died two years ago.
- Van Leuwen’s Verdict – Van Leuwen reads the findings of the court of inquiry.
- The Colony/The Jordens’ Discovery – The colony is bustling with life and activity. Newt, along with her brother and parents, come upon the Derelict ship.
- Burke’s Answer – At Ripley’s apartment, Burke explains why he’s making the trip to LV-426.
- INT. Sulaco – Establishing shots of the interior of the Sulaco before the crew awakens from hyper-sleep.
- Hudson’s Hubris – As they descend in the drop ship to LV-426, Hudson boasts about their advanced weaponry.
- False Alarm – Hudson and Vasquez detect motion in the colony, only to find it is pet hamsters.
- Ripley Pauses – As she enters the colony, Ripley hesitates for a moment.
- The Sentry Guns – Hicks reveals they have robot sentry systems. While examining the colony blueprints, Ripley and Hicks discuss where to place the robot sentries.
- Fire in the Hole – Hudson and Vasquez set up the UA 571-C remote sentry weapons and following a quick test, seal the tunnel.
- Last Line of Defense – The Sentry Guns dutifully scan the tunnel for incoming targets.
- Newt’s Questions – Newt quizzes Ripley about the fate of her parents.
- Hudson’s “Ant” Theory – Hudson speculates on how the Aliens are organized and reproduce.
- The Aliens Attack – The Sentry Guns unload on multiple targets.
- The Aliens Retreat – Under withering fire from the sentries, the Aliens are temporarily repulsed.
- First Name Basis – As Ripley departs the drop ship to try and rescue Newt, she and Hicks share their first names with each other.
- Deleted Scene: Burke Cocooned – Long one of the most sought-after lost moments from the entire Alien Anthology, this scene depicting Carter Burke’s fate is now revealed.
- Deleted Scene Montage – This collection of scene extensions and omitted moments represents the remainder of deleted scenes not appearing in either the Theatrical Version or the Special Edition.
- Still Galleries and More
- Original Treatment by James Cameron
- Storyboard Archive
- The Art of Aliens
- Cast Portrait Gallery
- Production Image Galleries
- Continuity Polaroids
- Weapons and Vehicles
- Stan Winston’s Workshop
- Colonial Marine Helmet Cameras
- Video Graphics Gallery
- Weyland-Yutani Inquest: Nostromo Dossiers
- Post-Production Aftermath
- Image Galleries
- Laserdisc Archives
- Main Title Exploration
- Teaser Trailer
- Theatrical Trailer
- Domestic Trailer
- International Trailer
Keep checking in with Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for the latest on Alien and Predator merchandise! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to get the latest on your social media walls. You can also join in with fellow Alien and Predator fans on our forums!
Update: From EzyDVD when asked about why they stocked Avatar WOTW.
Avatar Way of the Water was produced before Disney pulled out of the market so it was existing stock. Their last Australian release was Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3
Yeah they do. I check those sites for new and upcoming releases from time to time.
Hmmm. It would be an import so you'll pay premium price but perhaps avoid the astronomical shipping rates.
I know this was said in total jest... but now I'm picturing an all black cover similar to Aliens Special Edition VHS, but with just an egg in top left corner - I actually think it'd be magnificent! 😃
I have been drinking more heavily than usual since then but it's to deal with unrelated depression and street violence.
You're dreaming too small. It needs a composite of Ripley from the finale up front, Clemens, Dillon and Andrews chevroned up one side, laughing Golic, Rape Junior and f**ked up Bishop up the other side, in glorious teal and orange, with no less than three eggs hanging down above them.
Don't make me post a gif that spoils Dune: Part Two.
You better stick to your animated gifs
And then for Alien 3, do an egg wedged upside down in the top corner of the box, sit back, and watch a 72 page thread spawn overnight debating how it got there.
Yer I get that perspective. And whilst I love the iconic image of Ripley holding Newt it also does reveal too much.
Perhaps do a new version of the iconic Alien `green hatched egg' but with multiple eggs and more blue hue and the iconic A L () E N S logo. Hahaha.
[img width=50% height=50%]https://www.jbhifi.com.au/cdn/shop/products/223453-Product-0-I.jpg?v=1572273021[/img]
This in higher quality would be even better.
https://cdn.hmv.com/r/w-640/hmv/files/85/85c7d14d-1297-4d10-8602-0fc22493c587.jpg
Legit they only got worse after this one, Aliens really has no good posters with imagery on them, all either give away too much or are over or under designed.
For me the idea we can take a old film and make it look like it was filmed yesterday and released today, I think that's extraordinary. I happen to really like how T2 4k looks, even the Aliens release on Blu-ray in 2010 I think the film's presentation looks so new and updated.
Now I realize they probably applied fake grain to the 2010 release of Aliens , but I'm on the other side in the minority I prefer the newer modernized look to the films.
Just figured I'll voice my opinion , because I know original fans mostly prefer original even including the Aliens cover.
But for me it's refreshing.
Screw you Disney.
Is it in the BR anthology? I can't remember that dialogue or even deleted scene.
I have no interest, especially because restoring my 4K setup has not been a priority since the house burnt down, Alien³ might get me to hopefully come April fingers crossed, but nothing else will.
100% - I absolutely refuse to buy Terminator 2 4k for this very reason. Increased resolution and HDR couldn't save that mess. It was like using every available Snapchat filter on the Mona Lisa just because it was there to click and claiming it's "better quality". Let's hope we're wrong and Aliens has been handled tastefully. 😅 #lowexpectations
Already on that myself.
Why is The Abyss a Marvel Movie.
Who is deciding these things.
The only thing that makes it not seem like the worst thing in the world is that the somehow even worse The Abyss art is next to it.
It has stuff like Drake saying 'Who cares? Let her go' while Hicks and Ripley are trying to reach Newt when they first encounter her.
I'd imagine that's the feature from the Anthology release that included the cocooned Burke scene, right?
Is this new? I can't remember if this was on any of the other releases?
Must be old. The article states Aliens is the only release with nothing new.