The Beekeeper (4K UHD Review)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Director David Ayer (Bright) directs this latest action vehicle for Jason Statham, The Beekeeper.

Statham plays a man named Adam Clay, who we first meet working as an unassuming beekeeper on retired Eloise Parker’s (Phylicia Rashad) land. We are told that Eloise has taken care of Adam, the first person to do so in many years, and they have developed a bond. Things quickly turn sour when Eloise’s computer brings up a scam alert telling her she has a virus and the people behind it get access to all of her financial information clearing out all of her accounts, including her retirement funds and a $2 million charity account she oversees. In despair, Eloise takes her own life, which sets Adam Clay on a path of vengeance. He is revealed to also be “retired” — recently retired from a clandestine government program known as “Beekeepers,” and they are more dangerous than anyone could know.

When Adam starts leaving bodies on his path to find the head honchos running the scammers , he also crosses paths with Eloise’s daughter, FBI Agent Verona Parker (Emmy Raver-Lampman) and her partner, who are on the same trail and now also after him for the destruction he is leaving in his wake. It is a journey that will lead to very unexpected places high up in the government.

As far as Jason Statham films go, The Beekeeper is better than expected, but is hardly one of the best. The screenplay is a bit of a mess, with too many plot holes and unanswered questions. For instance, we do not know why this Beekeepers program was created. We never really learn the true motivation behind the Beekeepers other than some general suggestion that they are driven to “protect the hive.” Also, why do they actually practice beekeeping?

Flaws aside, the action set pieces, as over-the-top as they are, do keep one well entertained and deliver the Statham goods. For example, at one point, he straps one of the baddies to a truck and sends it driving over a bridge. Or the numerous superhuman fights where Statham comes up on top against everyone from FBI to Secret Service agents to mercenaries. It is good popcorn fun.   

Purchase The Beekeeper 4K Ultra HD + Digital on Amazon.com

The Video

The Beekeeper was shot on the Arri Alexa 35 with Cooke Anamorphic/i lenses in ARRIRAW 4.6K and a 4K digital intermediate was used in mastering. The film comes to 4K Ultra HD in a 2.40:1 HEVC 2160p (4K UHD) HDR10 encodement with a MaxLL of 1000 nits and a MaxFALL of 696 nits. There is nothing much to complain about in this presentation. It looks as glossy as glossy, crisp, and clear as one would expect from a digital production shot in high resolution. There are no compression errors, and the HDR10 grading ‘pops’ with bright lights, explosions, and inky shadows that show excellent nuance.

The Audio

The English Dolby Atmos mix for The Beekeeper probably could have done a bit more to use the height channels, which seem to be a little stagnant and utilized for mostly atmosphere, but apart from that this is a good mix. It is dynamic, has well-extended low end for explosions, gunfire has good punch and is mixed around the room in the surrounds nicely, and dialogue comes through without any problems.

The Supplements

There are no supplements provided for this release beyond the Movies Anywhere digital code.

The Final Assessment

This may not reach the level of Statham films like The Transporter or The Mechanic, it still offers a good pastime and popcorn fun for the home theater enthusiast, especially with the solid 4K Ultra HD audio-visual presentation.

The Beekeeper is out on 4K Ultra HD + Digital April 23, 2024 from Warner Bros. Discover Home Entertainment

Purchase The Beekeeper 4K Ultra HD + Digital on Amazon.com

• Rating Certificate: R (for strong violence throughout, pervasive language, some sexual references and drug use.)
• Studios & Distributors: Miramax | Cedar Park Entertainment | Punch Palace Productions | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment
• Director: David Ayer
• Written By: Kurt Wimmer
• Run Time: 105 Mins.
• Street Date: 23 April 2024
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Video Format: HEVC 2160p (4K UHD)
• HDR Format: HDR10
• HDR10 Metadata:
  • MaxLL: 1000 nits
  • MaxFALL: 696 nits
• Primary Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible)
• Secondary Audio: English DD 5.1 | English Descriptive Audio
• Subtitles: English SDH | Spanish