Available this week on 4K UHD is Frank Oz’s 1986 musical classic, Little Shop of Horrors. This is absolutely one of my favorite films of all time and, without question, my favorite musical—just edging out Grease 2. If the film were remade today, I’m sure Audrey II would be brought to life with CGI, but I seriously doubt it could hold a candle to what the puppeteers accomplished with the practical creature back in the 1980s. Forty years later, Audrey II remains a marvel to watch.
The story centers on Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), a nerdy florist who works for the stingy flower shop owner Mr. Mushnik (Vincent Gardenia). Just as the shop is about to close its doors for good, Seymour puts an unusual plant he has discovered on display in the window, and it instantly begins attracting customers. Unfortunately, Seymour soon discovers that in order to keep the plant healthy and growing, it requires a diet of blood. Desperate to keep the shop open, Seymour initially feeds Audrey II his own blood.
Seymour is also hopelessly in love with Audrey, who is dating an abusive and sadistic dentist named Orin Scrivello (Steve Martin). Seymour even names the plant Audrey II after the woman of his dreams. Before long, Audrey II begins to speak and sing, convincing Seymour to start feeding it a steady diet of people who deserve what’s coming to them, including the not-so-good dentist.
Little Shop of Horrors is fun, dark, hilarious, and one hell of a musical. Moranis may not be the strongest singer, but that actually works in the favor of his character and adds to Seymour’s awkward charm. Ellen Greene, on the other hand, has a terrific voice, while the late Levi Stubbs, who provides the voice of Audrey II, is the real showstopper. And, of course, Steve Martin is an absolute scene stealer.
The new 2160p presentation with Dolby Vision and HDR10 is superb and has to be one of the best restorations of 2026. It genuinely thrills me to see this film looking and sounding this good. Right from the opening, as we travel through the streets of Skid Row, the image reveals an incredible amount of detail, from the textures of the buildings to every crack and imperfection in the scenery. While this isn’t an especially colorful film, the muted palette still looks remarkably rich, and the colors pop when they need to. The bright whites of Orin’s dental office, in particular, really stand out. Flesh tones are natural and well defined, while the intricate design of Audrey II looks absolutely fantastic in 4K. The close-ups of the creature’s mouth are especially impressive.
Sound is always important, but with a musical, it becomes even more critical. Thankfully, the new Dolby Atmos track delivers beautifully. The film features so many fantastic musical numbers, and they absolutely come alive if you have an audio setup capable of taking advantage of the Atmos mix.
Little Shop of Horrors on 4K UHD is a spectacular upgrade for one of the most entertaining musicals ever made. The film remains just as funny, twisted, and endlessly rewatchable as it was forty years ago, and this new presentation makes Audrey II and the rest of the cast look and sound better than ever. This is an absolute must-own for any fan of the film.
Bonus Features:
- To Feed or Not to Feed: For the Love of Little Shop (NEW) Director Frank Oz and star Ellen Greene share behind-the-scenes memories from the making of the film and explore what has kept it a beloved classic for 40 years.
- Mean Green Mother – Creating Audrey II (NEW) Director Frank Oz, special visual effects artist Bran Ferren, model supervisor Richard Conway, and star Ellen Greene share memories and stories about the world’s most famous man-eating plant: Audrey II.
- Original Theatrical Commentary by Frank Oz
- Frank Oz and Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut
- A Story of Little Shop of Horrors
- Outtakes and Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary
- Director’s Cut Ending with Optional Commentary by Frank Oz
