Babe: Pig in the City is George Miller doing George Miller things. The children’s nightmare-fueled action film comes to 4K UHD thanks to Kino Lorber.
The Films
What made the original Babe such an unmitigated Classic was the balance that came from director Chris Noonan’s fairy tale disposition juxtaposed against producer George Miller’s nihilistic, darker impulses. With Noonan out of the director’s chair and Miller in full control, Babe: Pig in the City is a dark action thriller that isn’t a kid’s film as much as it’s a nightmare cornucopia prequel to his Mad Max Series. The world wasn’t ready, and still may not be, for a film that showed an active contempt for everything.
Just when things seemed to be going right for the Hoggets (James Cromwell and Magda Szubanski) and their farm, they came to a screeching halt. With the farm close to foreclosure, Farmer Hogget in traction after a near life-ending accident in a well, it’s up to wife Esme (Szubanski) and Babe to save the farm with appearances at some State Fairs. As fate would have it, those appearances do not happen, and the two find themselves in the City. No help and only trickery afoot, Babe’s normal good nature is put to the test by a ghoulish clown (Mickey Rooney), and a hotel filled with ill-intentioned (so it would seem) animals. Will Babe and Esme find a way out of the metropolis and save the farm?
If Babe is the dream that comforts you at night, Babe: Pig in the City is the sweat-inducing anxiety panic attack nightmare you wake from, happy to be out of. Everything that made the first film such an unqualified Classic is gone. Farmer Hogget, gone. The Farm, gone. The Animals, gone. The gentle comedy, gone. In their place is an ugly world gone awry, of destitute and violence on the brink of an apocalypse. It was as though Miller wanted to take a sledgehammer to all that we loved to ensure that nothing was compared to Noonan’s original.
That isn’t to say that Babe: Pig in the City is a bad film. Quite the opposite. Though it is an unwelcoming one. One that would rather slam the door in your face and break your nose (along with a few teeth for good measure) than have you play along with it. If one can dodge that metaphorical door to the face, what is inside is a funhouse of mirrors that skews and cajoles the term “children’s film” upside down by bashing it so cleverly together with the hyperkinetic visuals of Miller’s work in the action genre that is genius in its own right. A lowkey (albeit very loud and gaudy) masterpiece that would never be seen again.
Miller manages to create harrowing and forceful set pieces that like Mad Max: Fury Road, will never be seen or attempted again. Babe: Pig in the City cares no mind what you think of it, nor if you have seen the first film, though its concerns are similar to the original. Its scope is just larger and focused on the urban squalor than on small-town life. Thus, it is louder and meaner in very different ways, with the darkness omnipresent throughout, even in its third act chivalry. Even in the final frames, one is unsure if Miller will pull the rug from under your feet. Which may be the point of it all. No matter what your circumstances, no matter the fates, kindness should always win.
Babe: Pig in the City may not be for everyone, but for those attuned to its wavelength, it is a masterwork of daring.
The Transfers
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is another excellent example of the amazing work, coupled with the original Babe’s 4K UHD, they are doing in the UHD realm. The image looks better than the 35mm release prints on opening day (I was a projectionist at the time of this film’s release in November of 1998). The transfer is sharp with beautiful, luminous blacks and contrast levels. The Dolby Vision encoding gives a pop to the color and darker shadings of the Andrew Lensie shot sequel film that was inspired more by Film Noir and Cecil B. DeMille’s epic The Greatest Show on Earth. Bravo to Kino Lorber and their continued amazing restoration work in upgrading titles to 4K UHD Glory. Babe: Pig in the City may be another on the shortlist of 2026 Transfers of the Year.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff
A Darker World: NEW Interview with George Miller
Theatrical Trailer
Concept Art & Storyboard Gallery
The all-new Audio Commentary track by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff, which opens with introductions before diving into this very divisive sequel to a much-beloved original. Some of the other details include Kirgo and Hankoff go into the controversy surrounding the sequel and its much darker tone that took many audiences by surprise; the opening moments that set the tone for this restlessly paced film from producer turned director George Miller; the inflated budget and lack of box office success; the disastrous test screening in Anaheim; the lack of James Cromwell in the film; the bad blood between Chris Noonan and George Miller and what transpired; the recasting of Babe’s voice and the story behind this; the work and career of Mickey Rooney – and the issues he had during the production; the critical response to the film and its defenders including Siskel and Ebert at the time both giving it a thumbs up; a context of what was happening in the world when the film was released in 1998; a discussion of the films that were released in 1998; a larger discussion of the deleted footage that was shot for the film and not included; a larger discussion of the filming locations and studio work done by the production; a larger discussion of the various voice actors that voiced the animals and actors that appear in the film; and much more.
A Darker World (22:53) – is an all-new Interview with co-writer/producer/director George Miller opens with how sequels come to him and specifically how the Babe sequel came to be a much darker world. Miller goes on to discuss how the 20th Century and massive metropolises and the exodus from rural communities came to inform a larger part of the film; how Mickey Rooney came to be cast in the film; how certain obsessions coalesced into the plot of Babe: Pig in the City; his wanting to work with actor Magda Szubanski which turned into a collaboration beyond just action; putting together the behind the scenes crew and what they each contributed to building the world; special mention made of cinematographer Andrew Lensie and what he brought to both films; the challenges working with Primates – including an interesting story about one of the Chimpanzees and its trainer; the challenges making the film with animals and the various set pieces; the newer techniques they employed for the effects works in the film; the casting and recasting of the voice actors; the rushed post-production process and the test screening; the critical and audience response; and much more.
Concept Art & Storyboard Gallery (3:12) – the gallery consists of various concept designs for the animals that appear in the hotel, the hotel itself, and storyboards from the film by Peter Pound, all set to the score by composer Nigel Westlake.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Babe (2:14); Babe: Pig in the City (2:33); Mad Max (2:10); Lorenzo’s Oil (2:30); Fluke (2:44)
The Final Thought
Kino continues their wonderful 4K UHD curation with Babe: Pig in the City. High Recommendations.
Babe: Pig in the City is George Miller doing George Miller things. The children’s nightmare-fueled action film comes to 4K UHD thanks to Kino Lorber.
The Films
What made the original Babe such an unmitigated Classic was the balance that came from director Chris Noonan’s fairy tale disposition juxtaposed against producer George Miller’s nihilistic, darker impulses. With Noonan out of the director’s chair and Miller in full control, Babe: Pig in the City is a dark action thriller that isn’t a kid’s film as much as it’s a nightmare cornucopia prequel to his Mad Max Series. The world wasn’t ready, and still may not be, for a film that showed an active contempt for everything.
Just when things seemed to be going right for the Hoggets (James Cromwell and Magda Szubanski) and their farm, they came to a screeching halt. With the farm close to foreclosure, Farmer Hogget in traction after a near life-ending accident in a well, it’s up to wife Esme (Szubanski) and Babe to save the farm with appearances at some State Fairs. As fate would have it, those appearances do not happen, and the two find themselves in the City. No help and only trickery afoot, Babe’s normal good nature is put to the test by a ghoulish clown (Mickey Rooney), and a hotel filled with ill-intentioned (so it would seem) animals. Will Babe and Esme find a way out of the metropolis and save the farm?
If Babe is the dream that comforts you at night, Babe: Pig in the City is the sweat-inducing anxiety panic attack nightmare you wake from, happy to be out of. Everything that made the first film such an unqualified Classic is gone. Farmer Hogget, gone. The Farm, gone. The Animals, gone. The gentle comedy, gone. In their place is an ugly world gone awry, of destitute and violence on the brink of an apocalypse. It was as though Miller wanted to take a sledgehammer to all that we loved to ensure that nothing was compared to Noonan’s original.
That isn’t to say that Babe: Pig in the City is a bad film. Quite the opposite. Though it is an unwelcoming one. One that would rather slam the door in your face and break your nose (along with a few teeth for good measure) than have you play along with it. If one can dodge that metaphorical door to the face, what is inside is a funhouse of mirrors that skews and cajoles the term “children’s film” upside down by bashing it so cleverly together with the hyperkinetic visuals of Miller’s work in the action genre that is genius in its own right. A lowkey (albeit very loud and gaudy) masterpiece that would never be seen again.
Miller manages to create harrowing and forceful set pieces that like Mad Max: Fury Road, will never be seen or attempted again. Babe: Pig in the City cares no mind what you think of it, nor if you have seen the first film, though its concerns are similar to the original. Its scope is just larger and focused on the urban squalor than on small-town life. Thus, it is louder and meaner in very different ways, with the darkness omnipresent throughout, even in its third act chivalry. Even in the final frames, one is unsure if Miller will pull the rug from under your feet. Which may be the point of it all. No matter what your circumstances, no matter the fates, kindness should always win.
Babe: Pig in the City may not be for everyone, but for those attuned to its wavelength, it is a masterwork of daring.
The Transfers
The all-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is another excellent example of the amazing work, coupled with the original Babe’s 4K UHD, they are doing in the UHD realm. The image looks better than the 35mm release prints on opening day (I was a projectionist at the time of this film’s release in November of 1998). The transfer is sharp with beautiful, luminous blacks and contrast levels. The Dolby Vision encoding gives a pop to the color and darker shadings of the Andrew Lensie shot sequel film that was inspired more by Film Noir and Cecil B. DeMille’s epic The Greatest Show on Earth. Bravo to Kino Lorber and their continued amazing restoration work in upgrading titles to 4K UHD Glory. Babe: Pig in the City may be another on the shortlist of 2026 Transfers of the Year.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
The all-new Audio Commentary track by Film Historian/Writer Julie Kirgo and Writer/Filmmaker Peter Hankoff, which opens with introductions before diving into this very divisive sequel to a much-beloved original. Some of the other details include Kirgo and Hankoff go into the controversy surrounding the sequel and its much darker tone that took many audiences by surprise; the opening moments that set the tone for this restlessly paced film from producer turned director George Miller; the inflated budget and lack of box office success; the disastrous test screening in Anaheim; the lack of James Cromwell in the film; the bad blood between Chris Noonan and George Miller and what transpired; the recasting of Babe’s voice and the story behind this; the work and career of Mickey Rooney – and the issues he had during the production; the critical response to the film and its defenders including Siskel and Ebert at the time both giving it a thumbs up; a context of what was happening in the world when the film was released in 1998; a discussion of the films that were released in 1998; a larger discussion of the deleted footage that was shot for the film and not included; a larger discussion of the filming locations and studio work done by the production; a larger discussion of the various voice actors that voiced the animals and actors that appear in the film; and much more.
A Darker World (22:53) – is an all-new Interview with co-writer/producer/director George Miller opens with how sequels come to him and specifically how the Babe sequel came to be a much darker world. Miller goes on to discuss how the 20th Century and massive metropolises and the exodus from rural communities came to inform a larger part of the film; how Mickey Rooney came to be cast in the film; how certain obsessions coalesced into the plot of Babe: Pig in the City; his wanting to work with actor Magda Szubanski which turned into a collaboration beyond just action; putting together the behind the scenes crew and what they each contributed to building the world; special mention made of cinematographer Andrew Lensie and what he brought to both films; the challenges working with Primates – including an interesting story about one of the Chimpanzees and its trainer; the challenges making the film with animals and the various set pieces; the newer techniques they employed for the effects works in the film; the casting and recasting of the voice actors; the rushed post-production process and the test screening; the critical and audience response; and much more.
Concept Art & Storyboard Gallery (3:12) – the gallery consists of various concept designs for the animals that appear in the hotel, the hotel itself, and storyboards from the film by Peter Pound, all set to the score by composer Nigel Westlake.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Babe (2:14); Babe: Pig in the City (2:33); Mad Max (2:10); Lorenzo’s Oil (2:30); Fluke (2:44)
The Final Thought
Kino continues their wonderful 4K UHD curation with Babe: Pig in the City. High Recommendations.
Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD Edition of Babe: Pig in the City is out now.
Share this:
Like this:
Discover more from The Movie Isle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.