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

ADDITION: Kino 4K UHD (September 2025): Kino have transferred Robert Butler's Night of the Juggler to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. The 4K UHD is cited as being from a "Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative", and the Blu-ray from a "Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative.".

While we are in possession of the 4K UHD disc, we cannot resolve the encode yet, and therefore, cannot obtain screen captures. We hope to add to this review at some point in the future. So, the below captures are from Kino's 2025 1080P Blu-ray transfer.

Cinematographer Victor J. Kemper (Dog Day Afternoon, And Justice for All, Magic) captures New York's authenticity through location shooting in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Butler's audacious staging, including a notorious peep-show interrogation and gang confrontations, achieves shocking verisimilitude, blending B-movie sleaze with A-level production values to make it feel like "the most expensive grindhouse movie ever made." This new restoration delivers a revelatory upgrade that captures the gritty, late-1970s New York City aesthetic with sharp detail, well-resolved film grain, nuanced blacks, and vibrant primaries that enhance the film's raw urban decay without over-polishing its inherent sleaze. The 2160P transfer excels in clarity and depth, particularly in challenging darker scenes and dynamic chases, with effective HDR grading that maintains a convincing period look while avoiding digital artifacts, making daylight exteriors excel and interiors feel authentically grimy.

NOTE: A notable glitch around the 30:40 mark - where a dozen seconds of footage repeats (youths stripping a van, walking in debris - see HERE) - mars both the UHD and included Blu-ray discs, a mastering error that detracts from an otherwise immaculate presentation and may be cited for corrected replacements. I don't, however, discount this was a less-noticed part of the final production. We'll see.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

The audio options on the Kino Blu-ray and 4K UHD include the option of DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround and lossless 2.0 stereo tracks (both 24-bit,) benefiting from a clean restoration that prioritizes the film's sparse soundtrack and urban cacophony. The surround stands out as the fuller, more immersive choice, with active channel separation that enhances action sequences - like car chases and crowd chaos - through punchy effects, clear dialogue, and well-integrated scoring by Artie Kane (Eyes of Laura Mars, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, The Rockford Files,) avoiding any distortion or imbalance. In comparison, the 2.0 track feels more restrained but remains sharp and faithful, suitable for purists, with all elements - from honking horns to shouted lines - rendered crisply and intelligibly. Kino offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE 4K UHD and Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray:

This two-disc set packs a solid array of new supplements, starting with an engaging audio commentary by film historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs, offering lively trivia, production insights, and appreciation for the film's cult status. The Blu-ray houses additional features, including fresh HD interviews - all running about 1/4 hour: "Summer of ‘78" with James Brolin (Capricorn One,) reflecting on his role and the chaotic shoot; "The Sweet Maria" with Julie Carmen (Gloria,) discussing her character and experiences; and "Pandemonium Reflex: An Inquest into Sidney J. Furie’s Night of the Juggler", with Daniel Kremer (Sidney J. Furie: Life and Films) exploring the director switch and more on Furie's career. Rounding out the package is a newly 2K-mastered theatrical trailer as well as trailers for Hardcore, Vice Squad, The Hunter, Stick and Death Wish 3. The package is presented with reversible art (see below) and a slipcover.

Robert Butler's Night of the Juggler stands as a visceral time capsule of late-1970s New York City, a period marked by financial ruin, rampant crime, and social upheaval. Originally beginning production in 1978 under director Sidney J. Furie - who was replaced by Butler after star James Brolin sustained a foot injury during an early chase scene - the film was an independent production financed by General Cinema Corporation and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Adapted from William P. McGivern's 1975 novel by screenwriters William W. Norton (Day of the Animals) and Rick Natkin (The Boys in Company C,) it follows a relentless, day-long pursuit through the city's decaying underbelly. Long obscured due to rights issues and limited home video availability - existing primarily through bootlegs and rare cable airings - this new 4K restoration preserves its gritty, grey-toned aesthetic while enhancing digital clarity to highlight the sweat, grime, and fury of its central conflict. At its core, Night of the Juggler is a searing indictment of New York City's civic rot during an era of bankruptcy, white flight, and skyrocketing crime rates, transforming the metropolis into a character unto itself - a surreal netherworld of greasy streets, piled garbage, wet sewers, neon-lit peep shows, and abandoned tenements. The film's standout sequences are its extended chases, particularly the opening cat-and-mouse from Central Park to Times Square, which rank among cinema's most ambitious, rivaling those in Bullitt (1968) or The French Connection for their physicality and scope. While the Kino Blu-ray and 4K UHD a /v shines in preserving the Night of the Juggler's authenticity, and the extras add meaningful depth through new interviews and commentary - the repeated-footage glitch remains an odd blemish that tempers enthusiasm. Overall, this Kino 4K UHD release is highly recommended for cult film enthusiasts and fans of '70s thrillers standing as the definitive version ensuring the movie's chaotic charm endures for new audiences. Recommended.

Gary Tooze