NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Kino 4K UHD (July 2024): Kino are releasing Don Siegel's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" to 4K UHD. It includes both the 2.00:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratios from "Brand New HD Masters - From a New 4K Scan of the Best Available 35mm Elements - in HDR Dolby Vision". Kino include a second disc Blu-ray with both ratio features from "Brand New HD Masters - From a New 4K Scan of the Best Available 35mm Elements" and video supplements.

It is important that they offer both ratios as Phil tells us in email: "While the 1956 "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" was released with the studio-forced Superscope Aspect Ratio, that was not the way it was filmed.

The movie was directed and framed for 1.85-to-1, but the studio forced that "fake" wider Superscope prints -- A sales gimmick. And that is all it was (and, unfortunately, still is), a gimmick.

Chins are cropped rather badly in many shots with the post-production release in Superscope." (thanks Phil!)

and Bruce includes: "Body Snatchers was composed for 1.85 but it was released as Superscope in 2.0, which angered Don Siegel, the director. " (Thanks Bruce!)

We have done a lengthy comparison of physical media versions of Siegel's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" including the 1998 Republic Pictures DVD (with 1.33 and 1.85 ratios,) the 2006 Kinowelt (Germany) PAL DVD, Olive Film's 2012 Blu-ray, Alive's (Germany) 2018 Blu-ray, Olive Signature's 2018 Blu-ray and BFI's 2021 Blu-ray, HERE, with some matching captures to Kino's new 2160P below.

The new 4K UHD is not crystal sharp but carries the film-like qualities superior than all released editions. The improved contrast with deeper black levels and balance provide the perception of a tighter image - and it did look beautiful on my system (and darker) - like a brand new film. The HDR assists the film density support and the HD presentation is sublime - pristinely clean and the dual-ratios are, naturally, on separate transfers with duplicate quality. I think I am used to the theatrically shown SuperScope 2.0:1 - however, the 1.85:1 is equivalent in visual quality. The 4K UHD image is a shade 'wider' with fatter faces. Both have very high bitrates for the 1-hour 20-minute long film. Perhaps I anticipated the grain to be more visible (less clunky and smeary), and certain scenes can look a bit waxy (sequence in the restaurant's bar does not look very good), but the end result, overall, was still highly pleasing. Kino don't go in for DNR so I'm thinking this is just how the film looks.

There are four commentaries on the 4K UHD disc and the second disc Blu-ray, accessible for both ratio versions. There are two new and new older tracks. The latter being by actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, moderated by filmmaker Joe Dante (Matinee, The Burbs). I still enjoy this one with some interesting anecdotes. The other older one is an excellent, highly detailed audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith who delves deep and always keeps you attentive (yes, Dana Wynter's first name is really pronounced "Donna") I've never hear a commentary from Richard that I haven't enjoyed. The next two are new; the first with the pairing of film historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson (FrightFest Guide to Vampire Movies.) They cover filming locations, the origins of the story, Siegel, Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Carolyn Jones (aka Morticia Addams), Walter Wanger, Daniel Mainwaring - notable for writing Build My Gallows High (as Geoffrey Holmes) and its adapted screenplay for, noir gold, Out of the Past - Carmen Dragon's score and much more including the Sam Peckinpah (as Charlie, the Gas Meter Reader) connection to Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Steve describes that he was disappointed in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" when he watched it as a a young lad as he wanted to see what happens next - essentially he was anticipating Invaders From Mars. It is filled with interesting data on the film. They never disappoint. The last commentary is also new from Professor and film scholar Jason A. Ney who admits that 1956's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is one of his all-time favorite films. He provides a detailed comparison between Jack Finney's 1954 science-fiction 'magazine story turned novel' The Body Snatchers and Siegel's film including some of the most significant changes that were made and why. He talks about how the film came to exist, what went on during production including the behind the scenes battles that Siegel waged against the studio. He discusses the idea of having Orson Welles for an important part in the film. He also tells us why he thinks the story works so well, and what actually makes it one of the greatest science-fiction films of all time. It's at Jason's usual thoroughly-researched level.

Also on the second disc Blu-ray is the dozen minute The Fear is Real which has filmmakers Larry Cohen and Joe Dante on "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"s cultural significance. It was also on the Olive Signature Blu-ray. Also duplicated is “I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wanger” which has film scholar Matthew Bernstein (author of Walter Wanger, Hollywood Independent) discusses the life and career of the film’s producer. It runs over 21-minutes. “The Stranger in Your Lover’s Eyes” is a two-part visual essay with actor and son of director Don Siegel, Kristoffer Tabori, reading from his father’s book A Siegel Film. It has something to offer fans of the film. Lastly, on the Blu-ray are trailers for both the 1956 and 1978 versions of the film. There is a slipcase and reversible artwork (see below.)