There are few moments in 1980s horror as effective as the opening minutes of Tom Holland’s Child’s Play. Serial killer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif), rocking a righteous brown trench coat that screams last call for the ’80s, is being chased through the grimy streets of South Chicago by homicide detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon). Shots ring out. Ray’s bleeding, panicked, desperate—and now furious. It’s a bad combo that’ll echo through the rest of the film like a curse you can’t shake.

We’re dropped straight into the chaos—no exposition, no warm-up. Editors Edward Warschilka and Roy E. Peterson cut this thing like they’re trying to outrun a deadline, stitching Bill Butler’s steel-gray cinematography into a chase that feels dangerous. With nowhere left to run, Ray dives into a toy store, surrounded by a wall of smiling Good Guys dolls. He’s dying fast, so he does what any self-respecting ’80s villain would do—starts shouting a voodoo curse at a plastic doll’s head. Lightning crashes. Windows blow out. The heavens literally explode.

And somewhere under the debris, one doll survives.

Chucky’s alive. Wanna play?

Shout Factory’s new 4K scan of Child’s Play knocks it clear out of the park—no matter what stadium you’re watching from. The picture’s crisp, the colors pop, and that late-’80s neon practically hums off the screen. The new cover art looks killer, and the bonus disc—with fresh interviews from actor Ed Gale (Chucky himself, in part) and effects wizard Howard Berger—is packed with the kind of geeky behind-the-scenes stuff we used to dream about before YouTube made it too easy. Fans of Holland’s film will absolutely be “friends ’til the end” with this release.

Written by Don Mancini, Child’s Play remains a lean, mean 87-minute thrill ride through one kid’s worst birthday ever. Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) just turned six, and all he wants is a Good Guys doll. His mom Karen (Catherine Hicks, fresh off Star Trek IV) can’t afford the real deal, so when a sketchy guy behind her department store offers her one cheap, she bites. Because that’s what parents do—trade a little logic for a little love.

Turns out, maybe kids shouldn’t always get what they want.  But you will want this release.  Shout Factory’s latest Child’s Play release is a horror fan’s love letter to the original — and the steelbook edition is the crown jewel. This thing isn’t just packaging; it’s a statement piece. You can practically hear the synth sting when you crack it open. The cover art, drenched in neon reds and electric blues, looks like something that fell off the wall of a video store in 1989 and refused to die. It nails that balance between playful nostalgia and murderous intent — exactly what the movie is all about. Collectors will appreciate how the steelbook pairs perfectly with the rest of Shout’s ‘80s horror lineup (The Fog, Prince of Darkness, They Live) — all sharing that tactile, shelf-worthy design that makes you feel like you’re curating a museum of midnight movies. It’s nostalgia with sharp edges.

Andy’s new friend Chucky isn’t exactly a “batteries not included” situation—it’s “soul of a serial killer included.” Before long, Chucky’s pushing people out windows, biting moms, and convincing Andy to help him settle old scores. Every time the doll grins, you half expect him to light a cigarette and ask for cab fare.

No one believes Andy, of course, because who’s going to take a six-year-old seriously about his toy being possessed? And that’s what makes Child’s Play so unnervingly fun—it taps into that universal childhood paranoia that your favorite toy is watching you just a little too closely.

Killer toys weren’t new territory—Trilogy of Terror, Magic, and a few twisted Twilight Zones already played in that sandbox—but Chucky cranked it to eleven. He doesn’t just stab; he talks. He swears. He drops one-liners like a stand-up comic with a body count. Thanks to some smart editing and a seamless blend of puppetry and little-person stunt work, the illusion still holds up. Even now, 35 years later, the effect lands—half-plastic, half-psychopath, 100% nightmare fuel.

Chucky isn’t just a killer doll; he’s the ’80s bottled up and screaming—equal parts consumerism, sarcasm, and bloodlust. All it took was Brad Dourif’s deranged voice work and that mischievous grin, and boom—a horror icon was born. He still sells shirts, still fills convention halls, still gives new generations the creeps. Because let’s face it: deep down, we all know those smiling toys on the shelf are just waiting for the lights to go out.

So yeah—Child’s Play still kills. It’s funny, freaky, and surprisingly human underneath all the plastic carnage. The scares hold, the jokes land, and the Shout Factory release finally gives it the respect it deserves.

Just remember: if your kid’s doll starts talking back, don’t wait for the thunderstorm.

Hidey-ho, friend ’til the end.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray | Amazon Exclusive Steelbook

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray - October 7, 2025
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Video: HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

The "chills come thick and fast" (Los Angeles Times) in this riveting, jolt-a-minute thriller about an innocent-looking doll inhabited by the soul of a serial killer who refuses to die. From the director of Fright Night, Child's Play comes complete with "excellent special effects" (Leonard Maltin) and a slew of special features that make this 3-disc set your "friend to the end!"

VIDEO

Released from Scream Factory, a division of Shout! Factory, the new 4K transfer is genius beyond description.  The night shots of Chicago’s south side during the opening definitely show off the benefits of the new 2022 upgrade.  Shadows are more defined than ever.  Neon splashes have depth and warmth and the city itself feels alive and vibrant.  There are textures in the clothes of both Adam and Chucky and, while still a low budget affair; there is a new depth to the interior locations of the shoot.  The kills are gooey affairs and there’s a nice layer of realism to some of the doll’s slices.

AUDIO

The sound is presented in a thunderous Dolby Atmos track which adds a whole lot of thump to some of the action scenes and sporadic gunfire used throughout the movie. 

Supplements:

Commentary:

• See special features

Special Features:

Shout Factory’s latest Child’s Play release is a horror fan’s love letter to the original — and the steelbook edition is the crown jewel. This thing isn’t just packaging; it’s a statement piece. You can practically hear the synth sting when you crack it open. The cover art, drenched in neon reds and electric blues, looks like something that fell off the wall of a video store in 1989 and refused to die. It nails that balance between playful nostalgia and murderous intent — exactly what the movie is all about.  That leaves more room for supplemental material to be included on its own.  Pop in the second disc and you will find new Special Effects footage from Howard Berger, new interviews with those responsible for bringing the damned doll to life, and TONS of information about the making of the movie, featuring interviews with Don Mancini, David Kirschner, John Lafia, Chris Sarandon, Brad Dourif, Catherine Hicks, Alex Vincent, Kevin Yagher

DISC ONE (FEATURE FILM – 4K UHD):

• NEW 2022 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative – Presented In Dolby Vision
• NEW Dolby Atmos Track
• Audio Commentary With Director Tom Holland
• Audio Commentary With Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks, And "Chucky" Designer Kevin Yagher
• Audio Commentary With Producer David Kirschner And Screenwriter Don Mancini
• Select Scene Commentary By Chucky

DISC TWO (FEATURE FILM – BLU-RAY):

• NEW 2022 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative
• NEW Dolby Atmos Track
• Audio Commentary With Director Tom Holland
• Audio Commentary With Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks, And "Chucky" Designer Kevin Yagher
• Audio Commentary With Producer David Kirschner And Screenwriter Don Mancini
• Select Scene Commentary By Chucky
• NEW Birth Of The Good Guy – An Interview With Writer Don Mancini
• NEW Friends Till The End – An Interview With Actor Alex Vincent
• NEW Believe Me Now? – An Interview With Actor Chris Sarandon
• NEW Chucky: The Great And Terrible – An Interview With Producer David Kirschner
• NEW Windy City Chills – An Interview With Production Manager Robert Latham Brown

DISC THREE (SPECIAL FEATURES – BLU-RAY):

• Behind The Scenes Special Effects Footage
• Howard Berger: Your Special Effects Friend ‘Til The End – An Interview With The Special Makeup Effects Artist
• Life Behind The Mask: Being Chucky – An Interview With Actor Ed Gale
• Evil Comes In Small Packages –Featuring Interviews With Don Mancini, David Kirschner, John Lafia, Chris Sarandon, Brad Dourif, Catherine Hicks, Alex Vincent, And Kevin Yagher
• Chucky: Building A Nightmare – Featuring Kevin Yagher
• A Monster Convention – Archival Piece From The 2007 Monster Mania Panel Featuring Catherine Hicks, Alex Vincent, And Chris Sarandon
• Introducing Chucky: The Making Of Child's Play – Vintage Featurette
• Vintage Child’s Play Featurette
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spot
• Rare Behind-The-Scenes Photo Gallery
• Posters And Lobby Cards Gallery

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 87 mins
Director: Tom Holland
Writer: Don Mancini; John Lafia; Tom Holland
Cast: Catherine Hicks; Chris Sarandon; Alex Vincent
Genre: Horror
Tagline: You'll wish it was only make-believe.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Hi, I'm Chucky. Wanna play?"
Theatrical Distributor: MGM/UA
Official Site: https://shoutfactory.com/products/child-s-play-collector-s-edition-1
Release Date: November 9, 1988
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: October 7, 2025.
Synopsis: A struggling single mother unknowingly gifts her son a doll imbued with a serial killer's consciousness.