Blade Runner Blu-ray Comparison | Director's Cut vs Final Cut

This is a direct comparison between the 1992 Director's Cut of Ridley Scott's #BladeRunner and the remastered 2007 Final Cut of the film. It should give you a better idea of what exactly was changed, which was more than just the colour grade. Personally, I think the Final Cut is still the definitive version, but some of the colours in certain scenes look, to my eyes, much nicer in the Director's Cut. Mainly all the neon and street scenes.
Please take into account the effect KZbin's encoding has on the quality of the footage. This isn't true 1:1 blu-ray quality (though that is what I used while editing) but it still shows the differences pretty well.
▶️sicktriceratops.com/
▶️Twitter: / sicktriceratops
▶️Instagram: / sicktriceratops
Blade Runner is a 1982 science-fiction noir film starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young, based on the novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick, Directed by Sir Ridley Scott with cinematography by Jorden Cronenweth, ASC.
A cult classic that is now widely regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time, Blade Runner has gone on to inform and influence countless films, television, and music in the decades since its release and is considered one of the pioneering works of the cyberpunk genre. Notorious for its troubled production as documented in the film "Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner", the film suffered from studio meddling and is known to exist in at least seven different versions. The Director's Cut (1992) represents Ridley Scott's original and complete vision for the film, and the Final Cut (2007) is a remastering of that version that is generally accepted as the definitive cut. This video is a comparison of the two to highlight the differences in colour grade, effects shots, and digitally added or removed elements.

[@prdoyle]

I'd love to see the Final Cut with the colour grading from the Director's Cut.

[@Sannosama]

100% right there with you on that one~

[@cyvideoprods]

That's basically what I have done with my UHD copy. For my own enjoyment, I've phase shifted the Teal/Green bias out of it. Plus reworked the audio sound field by about 25 degrees in width along with a bit of Haas effect and given the midrange more presence. Then mastered it to Netflix LUF levels but taken my Short Max peaks to around -10. I like film grain, the original was shot on Eastman 100T 5247 stock, which doesn't produce the noise levels seen in the Blu-ray release of the 2007 Final Cut version. So I have applied some DNR. Overall, it's a blend between the two versions, the Director's Cut and the Final Cut. For my viewing environment, LG OLED, I'm happy with the result.

[@davidlow122]

Final Cut looks like it was filmed inside the Matrix.

[@NeonDreams17]

I'm 50/50, I definitely prefer the lighting from the FC generally, especially in the scenes with neon, it really makes the glow lighting pop. Kind of adds to that neo noir/detective feel. But I also agree that it can be too much sometimes, and DC keeps it simpler. So a blend of the two would be ideal.

[@hadeseye2297]

Ever seen a moon light, or a sun light coming through clean sky being green? Plus in Final Cut not only green light are green, but also blue lights are green.

[@MrBrockHeinz]

This is edited tremendously well, I thought for a second that it must've been an extra or something like that for one of the DVD re-releases.

[@Sicky_T]

Ah, thanks! I tried to make it feel sorta sleek and within the vibe of the movie. Appreciate it!

[@dorotheatsatsou9878]

​@@Sicky_T it's a fantastic edit man

[@barron204]

I prefer the Director’s cut in most scenes. The colour grading in Final cut is way off to being blatantly obvious, incorrect and unbalanced. The over used and washed over “teal” has no counterpoint in most scenes, such as orange or red on the opposite side of the colour wheel. However some of the street scenes look better and cleaner, though not many.

[@gmac123]

Tears in the rain did look better in FC though. I wonder if Ridley worked backwards, or just picked major scenes they actually had a vision on, and then got lazy.

[@KickF]

Totally agree about the 2007 color grading, would like to see the sharpness that some of the scenes in 2007 got, but with the 1992 color grading.

[@DanDog91]

That is the first thing I noticed. I would have preferred somewhere in the middle between the over red-orange of the faces in the DC to the over-compensated cyan shift in the FC, The digital detail work esp. with the Zhora kill scene is well worth the annoyance of the color shift.

[@garrick3727]

The f--king loved color filters in the 2000s, particularly browns and greens. And, if your Battlefield Earth, blues.

[@felipesanchezv.6128]

There's a good reason that the better version in called FINAL. Ridley Scott himself has given his thumbs up. You prefer the other, but you are so wrong. You need to be educated better. 😎

[@666RitaRita]

Meh ; it's a mixed bag . To my eyes , some of the shots from the director's cut were more satisfying , and some shots from the final cut were more satisfying . The Japanese call it " Wabi-sabi " - finding beauty in imperfection .

[@Sicky_T]

I love that idea!

[@AbrasiousProductions]

I learned that phrase from king of the hill, I use it whenever I can :)

[@vics8873]

when I saw all the early cuts, I always was distracted by the stuntwoman's face during Zhora's shooting. To me, that is the singlemost, best improvement in the Final Cut.

[@cavalierdecoupe]

Great job! Seriously I can't understand why they apply teal color grading now to every movie...

[@ProfSebastian]

I hate it, they make them look like Jurassic World. Teal in the darker levels and mustard skin tones.

[@jonathanlimjun6238]

So nice color

[@mackanmaxen]

Its the modern trend i guess but it is a bit tedius, its even worse in the latest Terminator 2 restoration. It might benefit to just correct the magenta in some of the shots.

[@garrick3727]

Maybe people spend so much time looking at screens now that if it's not got a teal filter the colors look wrong. I'm only half joking too.

[@AdamSmith-jf8hn]

Final Cut is obviously a higher resolution but I hate that green tint, directors cut all the way the colours just look cleaner

[@IAmNMFlores]

I wish Ridley Scott kept the original coloring of the theatrical and director's cut, for both style preference and preservation of the look seen during the time of its initial release

[@lckyphx17]

This is a great comparison, Great work Sicky. Thanks for the Vangelis shout out at the end, too, He really made the movie what it was.

[@cameronchandler7861]

The final cut is actually the version Ridley Scott had complete control over, the directors cut wasn't actual his vison

[@sakib_sukib]

I'm really torn somewhere in the middle between these two, in some scenes I'm like Final cut is the way to go but from 1:26 to 2:37 I'm totally in for the director's cut. these go on several times back and forth.

[@KutWrite]

Shadow detail is improved in the FC, but most of the color grading I liked better in the DC. I'm astonished that Scott wanted the clouds in the "Tears in Rain" sequence. As someone said below, the dove flying out of the pollution into a blue sky nailed the symbolism of Roy going to Heaven after all. Replacing Ford in the Taffy Lewis" scene was cool how they did it, but to me as a viewer, not a big deal. Nor were the tiny flaws which i never noticed in all the times I've seen this film. That leaves the big improvement of the re-do of Zhora's death scene. So touching to see Joanna Cassidy's expressions of fear and pain. Her performance brought tears to my eyes, even in the "making of" videos, where we see the actress's reaction to her dubbed-in performance. She, BTW, has aged extremely well. Still hot!

[@blipblip100]

I totally agree - The bird flying into a blue sky symbolises a journey to a higher place etc - Not more of the same glum!!!

[@RealBLAlley]

Except the symbolism breaks down due to the lack of physical continuity. Had the sky begun to clear as he was giving his speech, ending with a ray of sunlight shining on him as he died, the dove flying into a clear sky would have matched that reality and the meaning been clear and intact.

[@scifigeezer5271]

​@@RealBLAlleyonly to literal minded simpletons

[@RealBLAlley]

@@scifigeezer5271 That's ironic.

[@hansdampf1475]

It looks like the brightness has been adjusted to the possibilities of 2007 home TVs. Or just to see details in dark scenes even on poorly adjusted TVs.

[@dannydgdg7635]

editing at 5:10 using the look from that scene later on is so smart this vid is acc so well made jesus

[@jiricermak7630]

Excellent work, thank you for the great comparison.

[@1dbanner]

I really dislike the color timing of the Final Cut. While it's the best looking version in terms of resolution, I still prefer the '92 Director's Cut, though the workprint is a damn treat

[@mikeboy0001]

First of all congratulations to the author of the Video Sticky T, it's brilliant really 👌 As far as the editions go it's about 50/50, some scenes were improved with the Final Cut, others where clearly worsened with the colour correction that took life away from characters I would love to see a combination of both, but if I had to choose just one, would go for the Director's Cut

[@HunterTinsley]

Has anyone re-graded the final cut to match the DC? The DC looks so much better, but there are a lot of improvements in FC.

[@Sicky_T]

I know of at least one fan-edit that does this. It's called the "Penultimate Cut". I've also been tempted to make my own version.

[@akirafuto7783]

The 4k blu-ray has a bit more natural colors especially on skin tones but the teal grading still remains unfortunately.

[@PaintDryPictures]

The Final Cut is a damn good restoration. It literally made the film look like it came out just yesterday.

[@justinmorgan7851]

Great vid! One difference was missed, though. If you pause it at the 14:30 mark (as Rachel glances down) you can see Deckard’s replicant-indicating “eye shine” in the DC. In the FC his eyes look like they simply have normal light reflection.

[@marcustmachado]

The colours in the Director´s Cut are much more natural and represents better the original movie. I think it more pleasant for the eyes too. The Final Cut is too blue.

[@dreemurchara]

I agree with you, but I think that the Final Cut looks more green than blue.

[@JD-jc8gp]

@@dreemurchara The dreaded teal.

[@Sacrer]

Director's Cut is more blue, more vibrant and neon. It's the Blade Runner we love and remember. Meanwhile, Final Cut is just trying to be The Matrix. Wish they'd have keep the color grading. It's a great 4K transition.

[@astrarobotica]

I disagree with most of the comments here in that I prefer the Final Cut color grading, but it's honestly such a minor point to me compared to all the other shit they changed. I'm shocked the Director's Cut has such blatant crew shadows in that scene toward the end, and that the shot of the sky with the doves is just like a modern metal warehouse and some tubes, it looks so bad.

[@R0CKDRIG0]

The impact lessens if the dove flies to a polluted sky like any other, if I remember correctly it's the closest to a clean, naturalistic image we see throughout the movie and of course it's tied to both Roy showing the purest side of him and Deckard having a revelation and deciding to change his outlook on life. And who cares about the shadow, it happens so fast and at such a surreal point in the movie; rather have a human mistake than having the director removing and adding stuff, digitally micromanaging stuff decades after it's release.

[@thestooge200]

I got a question: should I buy the 2007 collector's edition blu-ray or the 2012 clollector's edition? are there any differences between them? Does 2012 have better resolution?

[@criert135]

Get the Final Cut 4k release for by far the best picture quality

[@Sannosama]

Great video, man. really well done! T hanks so much for all the hard work on this one. Gah, I was hoping this would help me decide which one to buy, but I'm more torn than ever X,D

[@JaymesMedia]

I understand that in the FC, they were probably focusing on skin tones with the grade. I’m thinking they split toned a lot during the scenes to help them look natural but create color contrast. I think the look came on to strong. Feel like they could’ve pulled the saturation back. I like the directors cut because it’s nostalgic. It look close to how they intended to shoot it. With that being said, I could be wrong.

[@RealBLAlley]

I'm not a fan of colorizing it blue or teal, so I prefer the FInal Cut since it restores key elements and corrects others like Deckard interrogating the vendor.

[@chrisfox402]

Every scene in this movie is a a work of art. All respect to Ridley Scott, but can we please acknowledge Jordan Cronenweth.

[@thecrowdedparadise1071]

Well done! Beautiful video and movie!

[@Terrordome3000]

Fantastic comparison!

[@LPerezDancer]

I prefer the contrast and the blue hues of the Director's Cut. The warmer hues in the Final Cut are more natural, but this is supposed to be a cold dystopia, so the blue works better. The dove flying into a raincloud sky next to dirty buildings is the only thing I like more in the FC vs. the DC

[@Zodroo_Tint]

The dove has to fly into the blue sky, this is the only thing what makes sense. It's symbolism.

[@LPerezDancer]

@@Zodroo_Tint well then, the DC gets the nod

[@KutWrite]

​@@Zodroo_Tint: I agree. For me, that leaves the re-do of Zhora's death scene. So touching to see Joanna Cassidy's expressions of fear and pain. Brought tears to my eyes, even in the "making of" videos, where we see the actress's reaction to her dubbed-in performance. She, BTW, has aged extremely well. Still hot!

[@prdoyle]

Agreed

[@bab1940]

@@Zodroo_Tint pero si es de día y está lloviendo en la misma escena

[@PedroOliveira-mt3rt]

I prefer the director's cut version in terms of colour, and the final cut in terms of brightness/contrast.

[@TheLocalsOnlyPodcast]

Sicky that was some choice editing. What are you using man?

[@Sicky_T]

Ah, thanks! This is all premiere and audition for audio stuff, but I normally use a mix of premiere, after effects, photoshop

[@d33pNacho]

Why the stupid blue filter for the "new" version, why?

[@garrick3727]

Amazing video. They're showing the Final Cut at a local movie theater and I was wondering whether it was all that different that the Director's Cut I have. Doesn't seem to have different scenes, mostly some color changes that look odd when watching a direct comparison but may be good in the theater.

[@Sicky_T]

Yeah most of the time it'll be the Final Cut that gets shown in cinemas, on tv, or available on streaming sites. It's become the "definite" version, and I think it is, it just lacks some of the nicer colours in many scenes

[@swordfish356dt]

Beautiful video. Well done.

[@andrewglazebrook1585]

Director's Cut grading is best !

[@CinemaSynesthesia]

This is magnificent work. Thank you for making it so well - we were considering doing something similar, but can't better this one! We have a few Blade Runner videos you might be interested in too.

[@Sicky_T]

Appreciate it! I loved your Goodfellas vid! There's something eye-opening about making transfer comparisons that show just how wrong they can get it, and how people get so familiarised to seeing a bad transfer they fail to see the issues with it. My Jurassic Park video shows this. Thanks again!

[@GlaceonStudios]

I'll admit, the ending of the Tears in Rain monologue with the dove works slightly better in the Director's Cut, but I understand why the Final Cut changed it to the smoggy sky--the whole thing was unfinished. But thematically, the blue sky works better, and the color grading there in the Director's Cut does feel a bit more enlightening, for lack of a better word. Perhaps a compromise could be reached though? Keep the more detailed buildings in Los Angeles, but give it a blue sky to help sell the thematic significance.

[@88feji]

I actually prefer the Director's Cut's chimney sky more than the Final Cut's mish-mash buildings .... the chimney sky works because it goes so well with the booming industrial echos of the music at that moment and the sky color is consistent with the wet reflections of the rooftop ... The final cut's sky color is just too gray compared to the wet rooftop reflections, its does not feel like the same location at all especially seeing the style of the surrounding skyscrapers in the earlier rooftop scenes ... AND it looks very obvsiouly like a badly done cgi patchwork of different images glued together, the perpectives of the different buildings are awkwardly tilting against each other in a very incohesive manner ....

[@Zodroo_Tint]

@@88feji The blue sky is the only one what make sense but I think the building and the chimney lack the same style as the other buildings. There was other buildings they show to Scott and one of them was pretty close to the director's cut version, of course the sky was the same cloudy foggy mess.

[@HotelEarth]

Directors cut mostly, but occasionally the final.

[@kurtkowalski675]

so final cut is greener. got it!

[@nemomarc7841]

The Best version of BLADE RUNNER 2007 🦄 additional scenes

[@Centaure69]

Ridley Scott butched the Final Cut’s colors palette by putting a stupid green/blue filter on every scenes. It makes the film look less real. There are some welcome changes though.

[@red_is_not_dead1917]

One of the reasons I don't like the Final Cut because the actors have a different eye color.

[@Rjgmanc]

Appreciate them removing the strings from the car.

[@reneobando4022]

"Tal vez un futuro que ya lo vivimos entre acogedoras sombras y desoladas calles y frios corazones..."

[@Mr.Altavoz]

Great video thanks😊

[@niklar55]

...all will be lost, like tears in the rain! That goes for most of humanity!

[@user-qg7cf6cw8m]

こうして見比べるとハッキリと色合い、明るさの違いに改めて驚きます。

[@debabratadatta3696]

The final cut should be original director's cut as it was edited by Riddley Scott himself whereas the director's cut was only approved by him.

[@BKDDY]

Final cut - Ridleys vision of Blade Runner Directors Cut - Studios vision of Blade Runner

[@zufgh]

No, the studio's version of Blade Runner would be the theatrical cut. Director's Cut isn't quite Ridley's, but it's also not exactly the studio's. It's more of a compromise done to appease fans, far closer to Ridley's original vision but not totally cut to his satisfaction.

[@JonathanCarterSchall]

I’m for the DC color timing most of the time. So tired of the cerulean blue/cobalt green-it’s in everything.

[@nigerra]

Director's cut, no doubt-more clear

[@fixpontt]

was that green necessary?

[@irishcockneyrebel]

Simply sublime. That is all……. ☘️

[@JaiProdz]

thank you!

[@SamM_Scot]

I prefer the 1992 director's cut of this all-time sci-fi classic. Its more visually appealing to me and I hate how the original dialogue 'I want more life, fucker' was changed to 'father' in final cut as said original line had more meaningful menacing impact :-)

[@jamesdowd4632]

So... the blues are bluer am the oranges are oranger?

[@garrick3727]

And the snozzberries taste like snozzberries.

[@strdrhiryu4710]

Outstanding.

[@23strawbale]

The original colouring is much better. Final cut looks green and generic. The original colour is much more original and artistically interesting. The high contrast and blue hue lends itself perfectly to the film. Final cut looks like a Stephen Speilberge film, not a RS film anymore.

[@uniktbrukernavn]

4 minutes in and I already prefer the Directors Cut in most scenes. Too bad the FC was influenced by The Matrix green. Blade Runner is an iconic movie and they didn't have to allow themselves to be influenced by other movies. Blade Runner is its own universe. By modernizing it they removed some of its uniqueness. That being said it's mostly noticeable when you see them side-by-side, which is not how I usually watch movies :)

[@SevenDeMagnus]

So cool.

[@luis-lg]

They probably washed the negatives to make a better restoration, but they forget their weekend green t-shirts in the washer. That's it.

[@edshea7739]

LOOKS LIKE JUST A GOOD TWEAK IN CONTRAST!

[@raay411]

What about Dekkerds glowing eyes?

[@jhaduvala]

Director's cut, no contest.

[@bookskamaki]

They cut off the long shots and some other good scenes that would help develop the characters a bit more. If they could reduce Harrison Ford`s narration and add it too, the movie would be 6.8 and not 6.3

[@rufuspipemos]

They faded out too much color in too many scenes in the FC version.

[@ElementoryMyDearWatson]

RIP Rut & Van

[@horaciosi]

(3:54) What's the name of the song?

[@wasdsssssss]

Rachel's Song - Vangelis

[@willmoore7582]

The final cut is less rich in colour saturation by comparison to the original or dircetors cut and thankfully the night sky was replaced by an entirely more correct night sky and changed buildings surrounding. Final cut for me overall though..

[@nunyabusiness4651]

The Color pallet of the directors cut is way better. Also Lighting intensity was muted in the final cut. I think they thought it would improve the scenes but to me it just makes them look more artificial. They also limited the definition of shadows, make colors muted and actually narrowing the rage of color. I think they actually made it look worse.

[@Sicky_T]

Yeah they tried to achieve a more moody look that was popular in the mid-2000s, but I think it lost some of what made the DC look so appealing.

[@G-Dogg98]

It's a question of a blue tint or a green tint

[@aldyprayoga8863]

The best Cyberpunk movie after Ghost in the Shell

[@JaymesMedia]

100%

[@RockyVegaTV]

Sorry but it's the Final Cut for me. The teal color grading in my opinion makes everything look more interesting whereas the Director's Cut just makes it look like another movie. I also much prefer that final shot when the dove flies away seeing as it's so plain in the DC.

[@LarsenEirikMiinea]

Sorry, but i prefer the final cut color grading

[@Sicky_T]

No need to be sorry - we like what we like!

[@aaron2709]

So the Final Cut is green.

[@LifeWithPico]

So they added more green

[@tunnus.123]

Why?

[@raysville7256]

The final cut exhibits the restoration but I prefer the color grading in the Director's cut.

[@FakeFlowers]

Sticky T editing bro I'd love to buy an editing Masterclass from you. Absolutely fucking brilliant.. also I think the director's cut is better in every way

[@ChadSiwik]

Stop the Teal Invasion 😅

[@victorjohnson7512]

I prefer the original theatrical release with character narration by Harrison Ford.

[@AlexFurry]

Is that the only diference? Director's cut looks cleaner.

[@KindaDumbButAintStupid]

Am I one of the few people that prefers the final cut in general? Ultimately, it is the most authentic representation of Ridley Scott’s vision and I really think the teal makes the world look even more grim and brooding.

[@mrkenray]

TURN UP THE BRIGHTNESS

[@jamesmack3645]

looks good for 2007

[@Maiake008]

2007 wasnt the stoneage...

[@jamesmack3645]

@@Maiake008 im aware it was the year I was born actually lol

[@Maiake008]

@@jamesmack3645 xD, Im 2008 :3

[@ronmexico6901]

I thought green tent meant you were in the matrix.

[@scottptolomey3498]

Directors cut is definitely far better there’s too much contrast on the the Final Cut version

[@simonpayne8252]

Director cut all the way

[@dijecraignos2242]

Je préfère les couleurs de DC. Les rouges sont plus vifs. Et il y a plus de détails dans les ombres. Le FC est trop cyan et trop contrasté. Je n'aime pas.

[@PolishGod1234]

15:55 WTF is wrong with director's cut?

[@Cukito4]

She's not dead. A dead person doesn't turn his or her eyes when the head is rotated. Fail!

[@Sicky_T]

If you listen carefully to the soundtrack during that shot (12:41), you can hear Zhora's heartbeat. It only stops AFTER her head is turned. So she is still alive, barely, as her eyes come to rest.

[@zachwasil]

this was horrendous, just rented the final cut and immediately went back to the original version, said keep my $4 dollars not watching that sharpened-up lifeless version. Why nerds and Scott for that matter felt the need to mess with a purposefully hazy and grainy movie is beyond me, even the audio in the new cut stood out as too-distinct and sharpened, they took all the art and vagueness out of it....next they probably think they need to work on those old flawed Zeppelin recordings right? NOTE, the very best cut of this movie is Scott's Directors-cut, moody and wonderful.

[@scottmercer1991]

directors cut is waay better

[@martinsapsitis4292]

Well considered tonal play relative to the deplicted scenes. I reckon relative to the intimacies or environments Ridstar has considered well...

[@JR7noir]

The final cut color is amazing

[@zachwasil]

watching it side by side it dosent look so bad, the final cut I mean, but something about it totally turned me off...they sharpened the buildings and structures, even the police cars so they look like toys and props....did not like it.

[@hadeseye2297]

Director's Cut. Final Cut replaces each single colour detail with same green filter, making all scenes look the same. Like there can't be any mood change or everything has to look artificial and "dreamy". There's more realisme without that filter. Director's version allows for better immersion, rather than make you feel you are watching a film. That green and yellow filter are very 1999 (Matrix) - 2010 like. Yeah. The stinky Matrix that started that stupid filtering trend.