Little Shop of Horrors (1986) (4K UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Warner Brothers
Release Date: September 22, 2026
 Rating: PG
Film: 3.5/5
  
 Plot
 Meek flower shop assistant Seymour (Rick Moranis) pines for co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene). During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh and blood. The growing plant attracts a great deal of business for the previously struggling store. After Seymour feeds Audrey's boyfriend, Orin (Steve Martin), to the plant after Orin's accidental death, he must come up with more bodies for the increasingly bloodthirsty plant.
 
My Thoughts
 There’s a lot more to this film than meets the eye and it has a fascinating history behind it. It started with Roger Corman’s 1960 film, which was shot over just two days using leftover sets from other productions that was the talk of Hollywood for many years. The film was then adapted into an Off-Broadway musical in 1982 by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, whose songs and dark humor transformed the material into something of a cult sensation.
 
Frank Oz came along in 1986 to adapt it to the silver screen with a mix of practical effects, puppetry, musical theater vibes, and some great comedic wit. Audrey II (voiced by Levi Stubbs) remains one of the most impressive creature creations ever put on film.
 
My wife and I have always enjoyed this film and seeing it on 4K makes it even better. The humor still lands after 40 years, the musical numbers are catchy, and the performances from Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, and Steve Martin are perfectly fit to the material. It has elements of dark comedy, romance, and of course, a good bit of absurdity that make it a very unique experience.
 
The film features a fresh 4K scan of the original camera negative, and the improvement over the only Blu-ray is immediately noticeable. Gone are the dirt, debris, and occasional print damage from that release and the result is a clean, stable and film-like presentation that shines in 4K. The color palette remains faithful to the original elements, with bold primaries that pop off the screen. The aspect ratio has also been corrected from 1.78:1 on the Blu-ray to a slightly cropped 1.85:1 aspect ratio on the 4K.
 
There are two different audio tracks depending on which version of the film you watch. The Theatrical Cut has a DTS-HD MA 2.0 track while the Director’s Cut sports a new Dolby Atmos track. Of the two, I preferred the expanded Atmos track. It’s very similar to the DTS-HD MA mix found on the Blu-ray, which was reportedly derived from the film’s six-track 70mm theatrical audio. Warner has taken that foundation and expanded it into Atmos, adding height‑channel activity that comes alive mostly during the musical numbers. Dialog is clean, dynamics are strong, and the mix has a pleasing sense of space. It’s not an aggressive Atmos track, but it’s a competent and enjoyable one.
 

 Video 9.510
 Audio 9.5/10 (Dolby Atmos)
  
 Special Features:
 

• Theatrical and Director’s Cut
• To Feed or Not to Feed: For the Love of the Little Shop (NEW)
• Mean Green Mother: Creating Audrey II (NEW)
• Audio commentary from Frank Oz on the Theatrical Cut
• Outtakes and Deleted Scenes
• Director’s Cust Ending with Audio Commentary by Frank Oz
• UHD + Digital Copy

 

 

 Conclusion
The new 4K scan is a major upgrade, the HDR grading is excellent, and the Atmos track adds welcome spaciousness to the musical numbers. The film itself remains a darkly hilarious classic with unforgettable performances and some of the best practical creature work ever put on screen.If you’re a fan of the movie, this one is easy to recommend.
 


 Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
 (I utilized Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
 Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
 ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Zidoo UHD8000 Media Player
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
 System Controller: URC MX-990
 M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
 M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
 Mini DSP HD
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner