Physical Media Releases (Speed) Speed
Speed arrived on home video five months after its theatrical run
The film's initial home video release came on VHS and LaserDisc on November 15, 1994, capitalizing on the film's massive theatrical success. A widescreen VHS edition followed on August 20, 1996, for collectors who wanted the film's 2.39:1 aspect ratio preserved. (dvdsreleasedates)
The DVD editions added commentary and behind-the-scenes material
| Release | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| DVD (standard) | November 3, 1998 | DVD |
| Special two-disc collector's edition | July 30, 2002 | DVD |
| Five Star Collection DVD | February 1, 2005 | DVD |
The two-disc collector's edition (2002) included audio commentary by Jan de Bont, audio commentary by Graham Yost and producer Mark Gordon, seven featurettes (On Location, Stunts, Visual Effects, Bus Jump, Metrorail Crash, Action Scenes, and HBO First Look: The Making of Speed), and six extended scenes. (wikipedia)
The Blu-ray was an early HD showcase
The first Blu-ray release on November 14, 2006, was among the format's inaugural wave of catalog titles. A 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray followed in 2014 with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix. (blu-ray.com)
The 4K Ultra HD release drew out the film's practical-effects texture
Released on May 4, 2021, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray provided a native 4K presentation at 3840x2160 resolution in the original 2.39:1 aspect ratio with HDR10, 10-bit color depth, and HEVC encoding. A Best Buy exclusive SteelBook edition was released simultaneously.
"The native 4K image draws out significant detail across backgrounds, clothing, and hair, with a fine layer of grain adding texture while maintaining detail." — High Def Digest (2021)
The 4K release carried over the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix from the 2014 Blu-ray rather than creating a new Dolby Atmos track — a disappointment for audio enthusiasts, given that the film won two Academy Awards for its sound work. The US release included all legacy special features from the DVD collector's edition, though UK buyers received a reduced feature set. (highdefdigest, avforums)
Special features across editions
The most complete feature set, available on the two-disc DVD and US 4K release, includes:
- Audio commentary by Jan de Bont
- Audio commentary by Graham Yost and Mark Gordon
- HBO First Look: The Making of Speed
- On Location featurette
- Stunts featurette
- Visual Effects featurette
- Bus Jump featurette
- Metrorail Crash featurette
- Action Scenes featurette
- Six extended scenes
Release timeline
| Format | Date |
|---|---|
| VHS / LaserDisc | November 15, 1994 |
| Widescreen VHS | August 20, 1996 |
| DVD | November 3, 1998 |
| Two-disc DVD collector's edition | July 30, 2002 |
| Five Star Collection DVD | February 1, 2005 |
| Blu-ray | November 14, 2006 |
| 20th Anniversary Blu-ray | 2014 |
| 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray | May 4, 2021 |
| 4K UHD SteelBook (Best Buy exclusive) | May 4, 2021 |