Pusher Trilogy [Limited Edition] 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The Pusher Trilogy: A Rough Descension into Copenhagen’s Underworld

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Pusher trilogy is a frank and unflinching journey across Copenhagen’s underworld criminal world. Unlike glamorized Hollywood crime stories, this rough Danish series gives a brutally honest depiction of life on the edges. Every movie is a strong, self-contained narrative that brilliantly combines to create a whole and horrific vision of a world ruled by violence, poverty, and brief power.

Pusher I: A Complex and Tense Character Study

The first movie immerses viewers right into the frenetic life of Frank, (Kim Bodnia) a mid-level drug dealer portrayed with frenetic energy by Kim Bodnia. Less about a grand criminal plan and more a complex, week-long character study of a man frantically digging his own grave, Pusher (1996). The film carefully peels away Frank’s arrogance to expose the desperation underneath as a failed deal sends him spiraling into mounting debt with his merciless supplier, Milo (Zlatko Buric). Frank’s somewhat sad relationship with Vic (Laura Drasbæk), his call girl girlfriend, which acts as his sole tether to something, forms the center of the movie’s complexity. Even as his actions progressively ruin it. It’s a masterclass in creating suspense by way of realism, defining the triptych’s trademark handheld, documentary-like approach.

Pusher II: A More Intense, Gritty Examination of Redemption

While the first movie concerns a fall from grace, the second is about the nearly impossible fight for it. Pusher II (2004) turns attention to Frank’s simple-minded, barbaric sidekick, Tonny, portrayed by an amazing Mads Mikkelsen. Especially gritty and more nihilistic, the movie dives into the dismal results of the events of the first picture. As Tonny is freed from prison only to be refused by his infamous mob boss father, this chapter explores themes of poisonous masculinity and dysfunctional family extensively. The movie’s presentation of sex is frequent and transactional, employed to show the empty and predatory nature of Tonny’s world rather than for excitement. An unwelcome turn—the birth of a baby he might have fathered, a “wailing metaphor” for his own struggles—gives his fight great weight. The climax being a shocking twist of Tonny finding purpose. This middle film stands out as the strongest of a powerful trilogy.

Pusher III: Visceral Violence and a King’s Downfall

The most violent and vivid chapter of the trilogy, Pusher III (2005), is the trilogy’s conclusion. Focusing on Milo, the Serbian drug lord (a wonderful Zlatko Burić) who was the sinister background threat in the earlier movies, it finishes the story cycle. Milo, now older and struggling with addiction, sees his hold on the underworld fade as a fresh generation questions his power. The movie shows one very stressful day  with his daughter’s 25^th birthday in the background, when everything that could go wrong, does. Reflecting Milo’s increasing desperation, the violence here is more terrible, startling, and personal than it has ever been. Masterfully portraying the pure physical and mental toll of a life of crime, this is not stylized action; it is untidy, horrible, and exhausting. This once-feared gangster is Fighting a pointless fight to restore his kingdom.

The Conclusion: A Landmark Crime Series

A masterpiece in European crime cinema, Nicolas Winding Refn’s Pusher trilogy still stands out. From the frantic dealer, to the lost enforcer, and finally to the falling kingpin, this is interlinked but changing work skillfully shifts viewpoint. With its gritty realism, great performances, and uncompromising vision, the series not only exposes you to the criminal underworld—it draws you across its dark roads and makes you feel the evident dread, need, and repercussions of every bad choice. It is a vicious, unforgettable, and absolutely necessary cinematic experience.

The Video

The Pusher films were restored in 4K by director Nicolas Winding Refn and appear in 1.78:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodements across three 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. The first film was shot on 16mm in Super 16 and Pusher II and III were shot on 35mm. The first film obviously has the most grain and a more limited amount of perceived resolution, but the image is remarkably consistent across all three films, with organic, crisp grain and lots of detail. The Dolby Vision doesn’t add a lot of brightness but the colors look vivid, they definitely have that NWR neon-noir sort of pop to them, although they may not necessarily be pushing the boundaries of SDR too far either.

The Audio

Each film comes with the original lossless Danish DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix and a new lossless Dolby Atmos mix. The difference between the two mixes is very slight. The mastering is nearly identical as far as tonality and timber, and the overhead speakers are used mainly for some mild, stagnant atmosphere and ambience in the Atmos mixes, coming alive the most in loud musical passages that are elevated slightly above the base channels.

The Supplements

Second Sight packs in their usual robust bonus features in their beautiful collectible packaging. There are three new audio commentaries that each include the director, a 120-page book with essays, plus three 4K restorations of the films of Poul Nyrup, well worth watching.

Limited Edition Contents

• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Thomas Walker
• 120-page book with new essays by Jamie Graham, Justin LaLiberty, Janine Pipe, Ariel Power-Schaub, Alison Taylor and Nadine Whitney plus an excerpt from Scandinavian Blue by Jack Stevenson on the films of Poul Nyrup
• 5 collectors’ art cards 

Bonus Features:

• New 4K restorations by Director Nicolas Winding Refn
• Features Dolby Atmos and original Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes
• New audio commentary with Nicolas Winding Refn and Peter Bradshaw (Pusher)
• New audio commentary with Nicolas Winding Refn and Catherine Shoard (Pusher II)
• New audio commentary with Nicolas Winding Refn and Alan Jones (Pusher III)
• Gambler: Feature-length documentary (1080p; 00:01:21:37)
• Danish director Poul Nyrup’s 1960s trilogy of youth films in new 4K restorations: Mellem Venner (4K; 1.66:1; 00:01:31), Call Girl Centralen “Villa Vennely” (4K; 1.66:1; 01:33:23) and Stenbroens “Helte” (4K; 1.66:1; 01:37:27). Sharing a kinship with the Pusher trilogy in their uncompromising depiction of marginalized lives, Nicolas Winding Refn dedicated Pusher III to the director.

The Final Assessment

Fantastic! I can hardly find a better word to describe this trilogy of Danish crime dramas – and now they look and sound better than ever courtesy of Second Sight. Highly recommended.

Pusher Trilogy [Limited Edition] is out on 4K Ultra HD September 15, 2025 from Second Sight Films

Details

• Rating Certificate: BBFC cert: 18
• Studios & Distributors: Balboa Entertainment | Billy’s People | Nordisk Film | Det Danske Filminstitut | Nordisk Film | TV2 Danmark | Pusher III Ltd. | NWR Film Productions | Second Sight Films
• Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
• Written By: Jens Dahl | Nicolas Winding Refn
• Run Time: 318 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• Primary Audio: Danish DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Secondary Audio: Danish Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible)
• Subtitles: English
• Street Date: 15 September 2025