John Travolta’s 132-Minute Western Classic Officially Sets New Release After 46 Years

Before he ever stepped into a pair of cowboy boots, John Travolta was already an absolute powerhouse of pop culture. He dominated the late ’70s box office with Saturday Night Fever, only to pivot a year later to cement his status as a cinematic icon in Grease. However, the ultimate showcase of his versatility arrived when he abandoned the city lights and hot rods for the rugged world of modern Americana.

Completing a hat-trick of era-defining hits, Travolta stepped into a gritty, 132-minute Western drama that captured the rowdy energy of the Texas honky-tonk scene, conquered the box office, and sparked a massive country-western revolution across the globe. While the craze may have mellowed into pure nostalgia over the decades, Urban Cowboy is saddling up for its most spectacular modern revival yet.

Travolta’s hot-headed oil refinery worker, Buford “Bud” Davis, is officially set to ride back into the spotlight courtesy of a new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release from acclaimed boutique label Kino Lorber. The forthcoming edition completely eclipses all previous home video rollouts, boasting a brand-new master sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative, presented in stunning Dolby Vision and HDR10 with lossless 5.1 surround and original 2.0 audio tracks to fully immerse viewers in the movie’s iconic country soundtrack.

Anchoring the movie’s enduring legacy is Travolta and his stellar performance as Bud – a character who is not only forced to wrestle with his blue-collar pride, but also a turbulent romance and the unforgiving bucking power of a mechanical bull – making it only fitting that he takes center stage on the 4K Blu-ray of Urban Cowboy. The two-disc set is housed in a standard black case with a cardboard slipcover that highlights a striking vintage image of the Stetson-wearing star.

Spread across the premium 4K Blu-ray is a comprehensive lineup of bonus materials that makes the upgrade essential for collectors. Headlining the special features is a new audio commentary provided by renowned film historians Daniel Kremer and Nat Segaloff, as well as a treasure trove of legacy content, including the retrospective featurette Good Times with Gilley: Looking Back at Urban Cowboy, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, deleted scenes, and outtakes.

Slated to hit shelves on Dec. 15, 2026, Urban Cowboy‘s landmark 4K Blu-ray debut effectively bridges a 46-year gap in physical media excellence. When the film originally hit theaters on Jun. 6, 1980, it became a massive box office success, pulling in over $53 million worldwide to secure its place as one of the year’s top-grossing hits. Yet, despite its enormous commercial triumph, subsequent home video rollouts left much to be desired, often recycling dated, standard-definition masters that failed to capture the movie’s distinct aesthetic.

By treating Urban Cowboy to a top-tier restoration effort for the very first time, Kino Lorber’s forthcoming premium release ensures that the neo-Western classic finally receives the definitive presentation that collectors have been waiting nearly five decades to own.

Release Date

June 6, 1980

Runtime

132 minutes

Writers

Aaron Latham

Producers

C.O. Erickson, Irving Azoff