Dan Aykroyd‘s inspiration for the Coneheads reportedly came from marijuana consumption, drawing visual cues from Easter Island’s mysterious Moai statues and Harry Nilsson’s “The Point!” fable. The concept proved remarkably durable—eleven SNL sketches between 1977-1979, a 1983 Rankin/Bass animated special, and finally this 1993 feature expansion that arrived during Hollywood’s SNL-to-cinema gold rush.

While Paramount previously released a bare-bones Blu-ray, this Coneheads 4K UHD review celebrates a substantial upgrade. Kino Lorber‘s new edition includes director’s commentary, cast interviews, and special effects insights that transform a curiosity into a proper collector’s edition.

Alien scouts Beldar (Aykroyd, Ghostbusters) and Prymaat (Jane Curtin, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) crash-land in the Atlantic after military interference, stranded until a rescue ship can retrieve them. Adopting the surname Conehead, they settle in suburban Paramus, New Jersey, where Beldar opens a driving school while dodging persistent INS agent Gorman Seedling (Michael McKean, This Is Spinal Tap).

Their daughter Connie (Michelle Burke, Dazed and Confused) grows up fully assimilated with all the normal American hormones of the day. Generational friction develops when she begins dating mechanic Ronnie Bradford (Chris Farley, Tommy Boy). But when all three are called back to Remulak by Highmaster Mintot (Dave Thomas, Rat Race), how can they prove they are now more American than illegal alien?

The cast roster reads like a comedy hall of fame. Aykroyd and Curtin reprise their iconic roles alongside Burke as teenage Connie. The supporting players include practically every major comedian of the early ’90s—David Spade, Sinbad, Michael Richards, Eddie Griffin, Phil Hartman, Adam Sandler, Jason Alexander, Drew Carey, Kevin Nealon, Jan Hooks, Parker Posey, Ellen DeGeneres, Tim Meadows, Jon Lovitz, and Tom Arnold. Director Steve Barron, fresh from music video successes with Toto and a-ha and the big screen adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, brought practical effects expertise that mostly holds up three decades later.

Though Aykroyd anchors the concept, Curtin effortlessly steals every scene—no wonder Bonnie and Terry Turner wrote 3rd Rock from the Sun with her in mind. Her performance balances Aykroyd’s occasionally more freaky than funny approach with genuine warmth and comic timing. The real entertainment comes from celebrity spotting across the brief 88-minute runtime, rivaling Robert Altman’s The Player for cameo density in a fraction of the screen time.

Cinematographer Francis Kenny, who gave Heathers its distinctive suburban aesthetic, brings similar brightness to the Coneheads’ Earth-bound sequences. Early scenes suffer from murky detail in darker moments, but the transfer evens out once the aliens integrate into suburban life. The Remulak finale either intentionally embraces B-movie schlock or simply didn’t care about visual coherence. The bright suburban palette drains into earthy purples and space-age greens that look deliberately cheap. The new 4K master isn’t flawless, but appropriately captures the film’s intentional aesthetic choices.

This represents the most feature-packed Coneheads release yet, part of Kino’s ongoing Paramount licensing arrangement. The original film bombed spectacularly—$30 million budget against $21 million domestic gross—but gained critical reevaluation during the 2010s as writers recognized its satirical immigration themes. What seemed like Reagan-era political exaggeration became eerily relevant post-9/11. This lent unexpected weight to what initially appeared purely absurdist. The restoration and commentary track provide fans with the comprehensive package this strange artifact always deserved.

Kino’s two-disc set includes HDR/Dolby Vision mastering on the 4K disc, with both formats featuring Barron’s commentary moderated by Michael Felsher. The director offers engaging tidbits throughout, including confirmation of Aykroyd’s legendary on-set parking tantrum while wearing his full Conehead prosthetics. Michelle Burke’s 20-minute interview proves the set’s highlight. It’s candid, well-recalled, and genuinely affectionate toward the project that launched her Hollywood career. Phil Tippett’s monster creator interview provides solid technical insight but occasionally feels ponderous, though his concurrent work on Jurassic Park adds interesting context. The vintage EPK footage and TV spots reveal fascinating marketing challenges. How do you sell audiences on Coneheads without prior SNL knowledge?

Viewing Coneheads through contemporary lenses adds unexpected complexity—what played as immigration comedy in 1993 now resonates differently amid current border security debates. Lines about invisible fences and deportation may produce chills rather than chuckles, though the film never aimed for political prescience. Barron’s practical effects work generally succeeds, particularly Aykroyd’s memorable dentist visit, while early CGI moments show their age. The 4K presentation makes prosthetic seams more visible than ever—the transition between cone and face becomes obvious in ways VHS and early DVD mercifully obscured.

Often dismissed with eye-rolls, Coneheads occupies an odd position in comedy history—neither cult classic nor complete disaster, but a curiosity that somehow endures. The humor remains aggressively niche, with Aykroyd’s commitment to the absurd either delighting or alienating viewers completely. Time hasn’t necessarily improved the film’s reputation, but this comprehensive restoration allows proper evaluation of its strange charms.

While not quite cult status, Coneheads maintains devoted supporters who’ll treasure this definitive edition. For newcomers, approach with caution—this brand of absurdist comedy definitely isn’t for everyone, but those who consume mass quantities of ’90s nostalgia will find plenty to savor in Kino’s lovingly prepared feast.

You can buy the film directly from KinoLorber here.