John Woo’s iconic action masterpiece The Killer is arriving on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray this December as part of Shout! Studios’ Hong Kong Cinema Classics line. This new 3-disc edition presents the 1989 classic in its best home video release to date.
About the film
Directed by John Woo, The Killer stars Chow Yun-fat as a weary assassin hoping to retire after one final assignment. When the job ends in betrayal, he finds himself caught between ruthless criminals and relentless police. Danny Lee, Sally Yeh, and Chu Kong co-star in this tale of honor, morality, and sacrifice.
The film is widely regarded as a defining entry in the “heroic bloodshed” genre and has influenced filmmakers around the world. Woo’s balletic gunplay, emotional storytelling, and operatic use of violence cemented The Killer as a touchstone of Hong Kong cinema.
Special features
Shout! Studios has assembled an extensive set of supplements for this release:
- New 4K scan from the original camera negative, presented in Dolby Vision
- Newly translated optional English subtitles
- Multiple audio commentaries:
- New track with John Woo and journalist Drew Taylor
- New track with critic and author David West
- Archival commentary with Woo and producer Terence Chang (Criterion Collection)
- The Hero of Heroic Bloodshed: A John Woo Documentary – a new feature-length documentary with interviews from Woo, Bruce Law, Michael Colleary, Mike Werb, Lori Tilkin De Felice, Roel Reiné, and others
- Interviews: “A Bullet Ballet” with John Woo, “My Kind of Hero” with Terence Chang, “Editing The Killer” with David Wu, and “Hong Kong Confidential” with author Grady Hendrix
- Deleted and extended scenes
- Trailers and image gallery
- 52-page booklet with four expert essays and archival art
Technical specifications
The set includes three discs:
- Disc one (4K UHD): 2160p presentation in HDR10/Dolby Vision (1.85:1), Cantonese DTS-HD MA mono, English DTS-HD MA mono
- Disc two (Blu-ray): 1080p HD presentation (1.85:1), same audio options
- Disc three (Blu-ray extras): All bonus features and documentary material
- Subtitles: newly translated English
- Running time: approximately 111 minutes
Hong Kong Cinema Classics line
This release joins a growing catalog in Shout! Studios’ Hong Kong Cinema Classics line. Recent and upcoming highlights include the A Better Tomorrow Trilogy arriving on 4K UHD in November, Woo’s Hard Boiled on 4K UHD Blu-ray on Nov. 4, the Hong Kong Gamblers & Gangsters six-film set that debuted in September, and the Chinese Ghost Story Trilogy Blu-ray collection with new 4K scans and extras this October. With The Killer, Shout! continues to build a comprehensive library of legendary titles for collectors.
Release date
The Killer 4K UHD + Blu-ray set will be released on December 2, 2025 and is currently available for pre-order.
