MASTER AND COMMANDER: FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD Finally Sets Sail on 4K Blu-ray with Steelbook Edition

Director Peter Weir’s Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is finally getting the 4K treatment it deserves, and it’s arriving with a stunning Steelbook edition that feels tailor-made for collectors and naval warfare geeks alike.

Released in 2003, Master and Commander is an adaptation of several of Patrick O’Brian’s novels, set during the Napoleonic Wars in 1805. It stars Russell Crowe as Captain Jack “Lucky Jack” Aubrey and Paul Bettany as ship’s doctor and naturalist Stephen Maturin.

While it earned 10 Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture), the film’s legacy has grown over time, now celebrated as one of the most detailed and grounded historical epics ever made.

Crowe himself famously came to the film’s defense in 2021, clapping back at a post that mocked the movie for not being exciting enough. He wrote:

“That’s the problem with kids these days. No focus. Peter Weir’s film is brilliant. An exacting, detail oriented, epic tale of fidelity to Empire & service, regardless of the cost. Incredible cinematography by Russell Boyd & a majestic soundtrack. Definitely an adults movie.”

This is a film that prizes character, realism, and atmosphere over spectacle. The bond between Aubrey and Maturin gives the movie its emotional core, and Weir’s attention to detail, from naval tactics to period-accurate wardrobe, cements it as a film that rewards viewers who appreciate craft.

The new 4K Blu-ray drops on August 5 and comes equipped with Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos audio. The Steelbook packaging is also a highlight: featuring an illustrated cover of Captain Aubrey, a compass rose design on the back, and a moody interior shot of Crowe braving stormy seas—it has the look of a weathered maritime journal pulled from a captain’s quarters.

Bonus features include:

• Deleted Scenes

• Historical and Geographical Trivia Track

• Pop-Up Map

For fans who want to experience it how it was meant to be seen, 20th Century Studios is hosting a special one-night-only 4K theatrical screening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on August 1 as part of Beyond Fest. It’s a rare chance to feel the full power of cannon fire and crashing waves on the big screen.

If you already love this film, this release is a no-brainer. And if you’ve never seen it? Now’s your chance to climb aboard.