Timecop – Shout! Factory (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1994
Director: Peter Hyams
Writers: Mark Verheiden, Mike Richardson
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Ron Silver, Bruce McGill, Gloria Reuben, Scott Bellis, Jason Schombing, Scott Lawrence, Kenneth Welsh

Release Date: April 29th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 57 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10 Dolby Vision
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $27.99

"It is the year 2004. Time travel is a reality and a new breed of criminal has emerged with it. Suddenly, it is possible to alter historical events so the 'time enforcement commission' is formed to enforce a simple rule: no one goes back. Now, someone has broken that rule and there is only one man who can stop him - Max Walker, "Timecop" (Jean-Claude Van Damme)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (4K UHD), 4/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "4K transfer from the 35MM original camera negative."

Timecop comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 71.4 GB

Feature: 63.1 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, color reproduction, image clarity, and black levels are solid, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reproduction.

Timecop comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 30.3 GB

Feature: 30.0 GB 

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Stereo English), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. While both tracks sound clear and balanced, range-wise their differences are minimal. That said, the action sequences sound appropriately robust. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this release are a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Peter Hyams directed Timecop. He’s known for Outland, 2010: The Year We Make Contact, The Presidio, Narrow Margin, and Sudden Death.

A time-traveling cop tracks down criminals who travel to the past to enrich themselves and reshape the future.

Many time travel films exist, but what makes them stand out is not how they explore it, but the consequences of changing history. For example, Timecop is a film that follows a law enforcement officer named Walker, who is responsible for apprehending and punishing those who exploit time travel for personal gain. What sets Walker apart from other characters is his moral compass, knowing what can be achieved via time travel and yet he does not use it for personal gain, like going back in time saving his wife from being murdered.

Timecop’s premise is well-executed, and the opening setup does an excellent job fleshing out key characters. Another strength of the opening setup is how effectively it lays out the parameters of time travel and the negative sides of changing history. There is never a shortage of tense moments that build upon each other as the narrative propels to a finale where Walker is given the opportunity to correct several wrongs without ever breaking his moral code.

By the mid-1990s Jean-Claude Van Damme (Blood Sport) had reached the apex of his star power, and while he has continued to make entertaining films, Timecop is his last great film. Jean-Claude Van Damme essentially portrays a variation of a heroic character in most of his films, and knowing his limitations as an actor, he was smart not to stray from his typecasting. While Jean-Claude Van Damme has never been the strongest actor when it comes to dramatic moments, he excels more than usual when it comes to the moments related to Walker’s dead wife.

Being that Timecop is a film that delves into futuristic elements, it's not surprising that it relies heavily on special effects. Fortunately, when it comes to the special effects, they hold up better than expected. When one thinks of a Jean-Claude Van Damme, you know that there are going to be plenty of action sequences, and when it comes to action set pieces, Timecop scores high marks. Ultimately, Timecop is a highly entertaining action/sci-fi film that holds up well upon subsequent viewings.

The lack of any extras is a huge disappointment. Shout! Factory gives Timecop a strong audio/video presentation.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer