Physical Media Releases (The Sting) The Sting
The Sting earned $257 million worldwide on a $5.5 million budget. Its afterlife on physical media reflects its status as a consensus classic — the kind of title that gets reissued with every format upgrade because the audience is guaranteed.
Early formats established the film as a home video staple
The Sting arrived on LaserDisc in 1978, making it one of the early wave of films available in the format. Additional LaserDisc pressings followed in 1982 and 1987. VHS releases came in 1980 and 1985, with a special edition and widescreen VHS following in 1998. MCA also issued a VHS edition in 1990. (lddb, vhscollector)
Unlike many films of its era, The Sting did not need a critical reappraisal to justify its presence on home video shelves. It was a popular hit that remained popular — the kind of film that sold on name recognition and word of mouth across every format transition.
Universal's DVD arrived in 2005 as a Legacy Series edition
Universal Home Entertainment released The Sting on DVD on September 6, 2005, as part of its Legacy Series. The disc presented the film in widescreen with supplementary material. A subsequent DVD reissue followed on June 1, 2010, and again on June 5, 2012. (dvdsreleasedates)
The Blu-ray era brought multiple reissues
The film's Blu-ray history reflects Universal's habit of repackaging catalog titles:
| Release | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Collectors Series Blu-ray | June 5, 2012 | First HD release |
| Standard Blu-ray | June 4, 2013 | Repackage |
| Best of the Decades Blu-ray | July 9, 2013 | Budget line |
| Standard Blu-ray | May 7, 2019 | Repackage |
The 2012 Collectors Series release included "The Art of The Sting," a three-part documentary (56 minutes total) featuring interviews with Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and other participants. Additional supplements included featurettes from Universal's 100th anniversary series covering the studio lot, the 1970s era, and the restoration process. (dvdsreleasedates)
The 2021 4K UHD addressed the film's soft-focus challenge
Universal released The Sting on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on May 18, 2021, in a combo pack with a standard Blu-ray disc and digital copy. The disc presented a native 4K 2160p transfer at the film's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 high dynamic range.
"Universal has largely walked back the DNR and the edge enhancement for a much-improved video presentation." — High Def Digest, High Def Digest (2021)
The review awarded the video a B+ (87/100), noting improvements in grain structure, color fidelity, black levels, and contrast over previous releases. The soft-focus photography — an intentional choice by cinematographer Robert Surtees to achieve the film's period look — set a ceiling on how sharp any transfer could appear. HDR10 enhanced the muted browns and maroons that Surtees and art director Henry Bumstead had devised for the production.
The audio track carried over the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix from the 2012 Blu-ray, which the reviewer noted featured "a welcome surround presence" despite some visible ADR. No new supplements were produced; all bonus material came from the 2012 Collectors Series disc. (highdefdigest)
Bonus features (carried from 2012)
- The Art of The Sting — three-part documentary (56:19 total)
- 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics (9:13)
- 100 Years of Universal: The 70s (11:01)
- 100 Years of Universal: The Lot (9:25)
- Rerelease theatrical trailer