Video Quality
The Hunger Games is presented on 4K UHD with a 2160p HDR enhanced transfer in 2.40:1. The film was finished at a 2K DI, and as I discussed in our original The Hunger Games Blu-ray review, both the prevalence of "shaky cam" techniques as well as some significant color grading tend to keep detail levels tamped down at times. There is certainly an appreciable uptick in fine detail throughout this new 4K UHD presentation, but the biggest difference I noticed probably came courtesy of HDR. There is a whole new range of rather subtle tones in both the cool slate grays and ice cold blues as well as the misty greens of the forest sequences now. While these may not add a lot in terms of actual detail or fine detail, they give the film a noticeably more nuanced palette. Close-ups can often provide spectacular levels of fine detail, though, with elements like facial pores or even flyaway hairs really distinct and precise looking. Just a hint of image instability can creep in on lateral pans over dense foliage, but it's a minimal issue. As with the original 1080p presentation, contrast is also slightly variable, but the added benefit of HDR helps to ameliorate some issues, especially in some of the darker sequences. This was shot on good old fashioned 35mm film, and commendably there's none of the slightly noisy looking grain that has accompanied some other 4K UHD releases.
Audio Quality
The Hunger Games' already spectacular sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix on Blu-ray gets an upgrade to Dolby Atmos (with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core) on this new 4K UHD release. I'll refer you to our original The Hunger Games Blu-ray review for some specific comments I offered at the time of the original Blu-ray release, but I'll add that the surround activity is even more pronounced and distinct now, with Atmos' "object placement" really almost palpable at times, especially in sequences in the control room or the supposedly sylvan confines of the forest. The film's score also sounded more spacious to my ears on this new Atmos track. This is really a showcase audio presentation that should delight and perhaps even amaze ardent audiophiles.
4K Bluray details
Video
Codec: HEVC / H.265 (48.75 Mbps)
Resolution: Upscaled 4K (2160p)
HDR: HDR10
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Audio
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Subtitles
English, English SDH, Spanish
Discs
4K Ultra HD
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)
Packaging
Slipcover in original pressing
Playback
4K Blu-ray: Region free
2K Blu-ray: Region A (B, C untested)