Xanadu 4K Ultra HD Review

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Introduction to a Film Paradox

Xanadu is a movie that defies easy classification. It was received with critical condemnation and was a great box-office flop upon its 1980 debut; it even motivated the Golden Raspberry Awards to be created. Still, to reject it on that first reception would be to miss the special enchantment that has let it survive and flourish for decades. Starring the vibrant and gorgeous Olivia Newton-John, the magnetic Gene Kelly (in his last movie role), and Michael Beck who got the role when John Travolta turned it down, Xanadu is directed by Robert Greenwald. It’s a spectacular, puzzling, and finally endearing musical fantasy time capsule. It’s a movie that invites you to forget reason and just go along with its bright, neon-soaked vision.

A Visionary Story of Inspiration and Love

The narrative revolves around Sonny Malone, a disgruntled artist played by Michael Beck who believes his creative spark has disappeared. His life takes an abrupt turn when he meets the gorgeous and enigmatic Kira (Olivia Newton-John), who looks to have appeared out of nowhere. Their bond is instant, and she turns into the inspiration for a great notion: converting a neglected, dilapidated theater into a magnificent nightclub named Xanadu. Joining them is Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly), a former big-band musician who long ago abandoned his own aspirations. Together they start a magical voyage to create something. Under a layer of fantastical illusion, the movie exquisitely examines issues of creative passion, missed opportunities, and the power of inspiration.

The Unforgettable Xanadu Soundtrack and Musical Numbers

The soundtrack is its pulsing heart and main driver for its iconic status if the plot of the movie is its skeleton. One of the most recognizable songs of the day came from Olivia Newton-John’s cooperation with the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Far beyond the movie’s popularity, the soundtrack album was a great, multi-platinum hit. Newton-John’s “Magic” topped the charts, and the amazing title duet “Xanadu” went “viral.”

The most unforgettable scenes in the movie are the musical ones. Their repertoire runs from close roller-skating serenades to opulent production numbers that naturally combine 1940s big-band swing with The Tubes’ new wave rock. Newton-John and Kelly singing a classic duet is a tribute to his ongoing grace. The particularly endearing scene features them. Driving the feeling and energy with an irresistible force, the music is the story; it is not simply accompanying it.

The Cast: Charisma and Star Power

The actors give their everything to the fantastical idea of the movie. Olivia Newton-John is ideal as Kira; she has so much warmth and charm that you fully believe she may be a celestial inspiration. Her singing is naturally perfect. Gene Kelly gives Danny’s part nostalgic warmth. Seeing him smile and tap dance brings to mind the innocent happiness of traditional Hollywood musicals; his presence offers a vital emotional anchor. With a familiar frustration that makes him a good audience anchor in this imaginary universe, Michael Beck embodies the honest, everyman artist, even if he is outshined by his co-stars.

Why Xanadu Remains a Cult Favorite

Many first detractors of Xanadu questioned its thin narrative and a tonal shift that some found startling. Time, nevertheless, has been very kind to the movie. Once regarded as a weakness—its unashamed love of camp, fantasy, and musical indulgence—is now lauded as its major strength. The film’s enthusiastic cult following has come from its imaginative (and for the time, innovative) special effects, its bold mixing of genres, and its clear, uncynical pleasure.

It’s to be enjoyed for its sensory overload, not to be investigated for its narrative fidelity. In its most concentrated form, it captures the fashion, the music, the roller-disco fad—that defined early 1980s pop culture.

The Final Judgment: A Roller-skating Expedition to a Musical Paradise.

Xanadu is a film paradox: a well-known “flop” that is, in its own right, a loud success. A film brimming with generosity, amazing music, and stunning imagery. Though it might not fit conventional storytelling conventions, its sheer audacity and heart more than compensates. You will have a really distinctive and happy experience if you are prepared to suspend disbelief and accept its shining, neon-drenched dream logic. It’s a sensation, not only a film. And that feeling is pure, unadulterated magic.

The Video

Kino Lorber says Xanadu is from a “Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative”.  The film is presented on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in a 1.85:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) Dolby Vision encodement. Perhaps due to the many in-camera visual effects utilizing dupe film processing, the image does not look as clean and crisp as one would expect. There is a lot of softness and source damage that can be seen and there doesn’t seem to have been a lot of grain suppression used. The Dolby Vision grading, however, does add good vibrancy to the neon color palette and dynamics, with some nice pop in the highlights.

The Audio

The audio mixes are where this Xanadu release really shines. There is a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix and original 4.0 mix in lossless DTS-HD Master Audio. The 5.1 mix is dynamic and well balanced with lots atmospherics and sound effects spread into the surrounds, plus superb punch and spread of the music. Even so, the 4.0 is my preferred mix because it sounds fuller even as it has a little bit more limited dynamic range in the louder passages. It does seem a little more aggressively mixed, such as when Sonny goes to speak with Zeus, the voice of Zeuss is mixed off to the far-left side in the 4.0 and is centered in the 5.1.

The Supplements

There are four new audio commentaries for this release and the included feature Blu-ray also has an archival 2009 half-hour documentary on the film and a 1980 sizzle reel. So, there is a lot to dive into with this release.

Bonus Features:

• Audio Commentary by Director Robert Greenwald, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale (NEW)
• Audio Commentary by Filmmaker Jennifer Clymer and Film Historian Nathaniel Thompson (NEW)
• Audio Commentary by Film Historians David Del Valle and Krystov Charles (NEW)
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan (NEW)

Blu-ray Only:

• Vintage 1980 Sizzle Reel (1080p; 00:20:29)
• Going Back to Xanadu: 2009 Documentary (SD; 00:27:15)
• TV Spots (1080p; 00:02:30)
• Radio Spots (00:14:17)
• Xanadu Trailer (1080p; 00:02:03)

The Final Assessment

A strange time capsule that has become a campy cult classic, Xanadu’s neon visuals pop in this 4K release from Kino Lorber. This is one for genre fans and fans of Oliva Newton-John.

Xanadu is out on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray August 19, 2025 from Kino Lorber

Details

• Rating Certificate: PG
• Studios & Distributors: Universal Pictures | Kino Lorber
• Director: Robert Greenwald
• Written By: Richard Christian Danus | Marc Reid Rubel
• Run Time: 96 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: Dolby Vision (HDR10 Compatible)
• Primary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• Secondary Audio: Original DTS-HD MA 4.0 Stereo
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Street Date: 19 August 2025