Some movies become part of your life without you even knowing it.

It feels like I was practically raised on Harry and the Hendersons. It was one of those VHS staples that seemed to be constantly playing when I was a kid. Like many children of the 1980s, I didn't just watch it once—I watched it over and over again. Revisiting it this weekend for the first time in years, I wondered whether it would still work for me as an adult.

The answer is yes.

The movie certainly isn't perfect. The pacing is uneven, some of the jokes are very much products of the late '80s, and there are stretches where the story takes its time getting where it's going. None of that bothered me much this time around because I had forgotten just how much heart the movie has. In an era when family films can sometimes feel cynical or assembled by committee, Harry and the Hendersons remains refreshingly sincere.

The story follows the Henderson family after they accidentally hit what they believe is Bigfoot with their station wagon during a trip through the Pacific Northwest. Bringing the creature home leads to chaos, destruction, and plenty of laughs, but it quickly becomes clear that Harry isn't a monster at all. He's lonely, frightened, intelligent, and surprisingly gentle.

Much of the film works because of Kevin Peter Hall. Beneath Rick Baker's Oscar-winning makeup, Hall creates a character rather than a creature. Harry never feels like a special effect. He feels alive. Nearly forty years later, the practical effects remain more convincing than a lot of early CGI that followed.

John Lithgow is perfectly cast as George Henderson. He commits completely to the premise without ever playing it for irony. Melinda Dillon brings warmth and credibility to Nancy, helping ground the film whenever things threaten to become too broad.

Margaret Langrick and Joshua Rudoy deserve recognition as well. They feel like actual kids reacting to an impossible situation rather than movie children delivering lines. Their growing relationship with Harry helps sell the idea that this strange creature could genuinely become part of the family.

The film's villain, Jacques LaFleur, is played with exactly the right amount of arrogance by David Suchet. His determination to capture Harry as the ultimate trophy gives the story real stakes and provides a sharp contrast to the Henderson family's growing affection for their unexpected guest.

Watching the film again, I was surprised by how much affection I still have for it. What stayed with me wasn't the comedy or even the impressive creature effects. It was the warmth. The Hendersons slowly come to realize that the creature they've been taught to fear is worthy of friendship and protection, and that emotional journey still works.

The ending hit me just as hard as it did when I was younger. I knew exactly where the story was headed. I could remember scenes before they happened and hear certain lines before the characters spoke them. Yet the farewell between Harry and the Henderson family still landed. The movie earns that moment.

Nearly forty years later, the seams show. Some jokes miss. Some scenes run long. Yet Harry remains unforgettable. He's funny, lovable, occasionally frustrating, and deeply human despite not being human at all.

For those of us who grew up with him, Harry doesn't feel like a movie monster.

He feels like family.

Kino Lorber has done a remarkable glow-up of the film for this release.  For a film that spent decades bouncing between VHS tapes, cable broadcasts, and bare-bones releases, this set finally gives Harry and the Hendersons the presentation it deserves. The combination of the new restoration, multiple commentary tracks, and legacy supplements makes it an easy recommendation for fans who grew up with Harry and the Henderson family.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Edition

Home Video Distributor: Kino Lorber
Available on Blu-ray - May 26, 2026
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Video: Native 4K; Dolby Vision; HDR10
Audio: 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

From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative! - John Lithgow (Shrek) takes adventure to new heights in this big-laughs, big-hearted, big-footed comedy for the whole family! A chance car accident introduces the Hendersons to the real-life Bigfoot, who is anything but a ferocious monster and quickly becomes a true friend to the family. They’re soon in a race against the clock to return “Harry” to his natural environment before the authorities capture him. The fur will fly in this feel-good romp—an Oscar® winner for Best Makeup by Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London)—with Melinda Dillon (Close Encounters of the Third Kind), Don Ameche (Cocoon), David Suchet (TV’s Poirot), Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), M. Emmet Walsh (Blade Runner) and Kevin Peter Hall (Predator) as Harry!

VIDEO

Since this revisit came courtesy of Kino Lorber's new 4K release, it's worth mentioning just how good the film looks. The new transfer gives the movie a fresh coat of paint without stripping away its identity. The forests of the Pacific Northwest feel richer and more detailed, colors have more life, and Harry's makeup work benefits tremendously from the added clarity. More importantly, the film still looks like a movie from 1987.

The restoration enhances the experience without trying to modernize it, which is exactly what longtime fans could hope for. If you've only seen Harry and the Hendersons on old VHS tapes, cable broadcasts, or the earlier Blu-ray, this presentation is a genuine upgrade.

AUDIO

The audio received a noticeable upgrade as well. Having heard this movie through old VHS tapes, television broadcasts, and previous home video releases, I was surprised by how clean and full everything sounded. Bruce Broughton's wonderful score has more room to breathe, dialogue is crisp throughout, and the film's quieter emotional moments benefit just as much as the bigger comedic sequences. Like the restoration itself, the audio enhances the experience without calling attention to itself. It simply allows the film to shine.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• Commentary One
• Commentary Two

Special Features:

Kino Lorber has given Harry and the Hendersons the deluxe treatment with a beautiful new 4K restoration sourced from the original 35mm camera negative. The set offers excellent video and audio presentations, multiple commentary tracks, and a healthy collection of archival supplements that explore the production and legacy of the film. For longtime fans, this release feels like the definitive home video edition of a beloved family classic.

Disc 1 – 4K UHD (HDR/Dolby Vision)

• New 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative
• Dolby Vision HDR presentation
• NEW audio commentary by director William Dear, moderated by filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
• NEW audio commentary by Hats Off Entertainment's Joe Ramoni
• Archival audio commentary by William Dear1 Surround Audio
• Lossless 2.0 Audio
• Optional English SDH subtitles

Disc 2 – Blu-ray

• New 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative
• NEW audio commentary by director William Dear, moderated by filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
• NEW audio commentary by Hats Off Entertainment's Joe Ramoni
• Archival audio commentary by William Dear

Featurettes

• Harry... Finding the Missing Link
• Making of Harry and the Hendersons
• Newswrap
• Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer

Audio & Subtitles

• 1 Surround Audio
• Lossless 2.0 Audio
• Optional English SDH subtitles

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite 4K/Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 110 mins
Director: William Dear
Writer: William Dear; Bill Martin
Cast: John Lithgow; Melinda Dillon; Margaret Langrick
Genre: Comedy | Fantasy
Tagline: A Whole New Breed of Enetertainment
Memorable Movie Quote: "We've got some big guns and some big-big guns but I'm afraid I'm all out of big-big ammo!"
Theatrical Distributor: Amblin Entertainment
Official Site: https://kinolorber.com/product/harry-and-the-hendersons
Release Date: June 5, 1987
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: May 26, 2026.
Synopsis: The Henderson family adopt a friendly Sasquatch but have a hard time trying to keep the legend of 'Bigfoot' a secret.