OVERALL: Draw

US Director's cut:
- The R1 30th Anniversary Edition has a remastered 4K transfer and the best set of extras.
- The R1 Anchor Bay Immortal Edition has a DTS-ES track, music videos, and a different commentary.

European theatrical version:
- R2 UK Immortal Edition includes a different commentary and a new documentary.
- R2 SE Germany has no commentary but includes an extended version of the documentary.

French theatrical version:
- This version is offered on all three French editions only, with a French soundtrack and without any subtitles. Among these, the UE has the best extras.

General notes:
The following versions of the film are known:
- The US theatrical version (~110min),
- The French theatrical version,
- The European theatrical version (~116min),
- The US director's cut (~116min).

*French theatrical version vs. US theatrical version:
Compared to the US theatrical version, the French adds a World War II flashback scene and removes shots of detective Bedsoe sitting in his car and spilling coffee on himself.

*US Director's cut vs. US theatrical version:
Compared to its theatrical counterpart, the US director's cut includes extended versions of many scenes and also the following:
- Flashbacks during the wrestling tournament,
- A World War II flashback scene,
- A Zoo scene.

Also note that the US director's cut is missing:
- The shots of detective Bedsoe sitting in his car and spilling coffee on himself.
- some wrestling shots.
Special thanks to Rewind visitorRonnie Olsson for providing the "Bedsoe" information.

Finally, the US director's cut has the following audio differences:
- The special effects sounds have undergone re-recording, including adding the so called "buzz" the immortals feel when another immortal appears close by.
- The chants "Kill the MacLeod!" at the beginning of the film are removed,
- The "McLeod, this is the Quickening!" that Ramirez says when he and MacLeod jump from the cliff is missing,
- The "I'm alive. I can breathe. Gonna split you in half." that Connor says when he falls from the boat and end up on the sea floor has been replaced by "I'm alive.".

Comparisons available at Movie Censorship:
- US Theatrical Version and Director's Cut
- French and European Theatrical Versions

*US Director's cut vs. European theatrical version:
The European theatrical version is identical to the US director's cut but without the aforementioned audio differences:
- At 40:41-41:08 PAL, Connor says "I'm alive. I can breathe. Gonna split you in half."
- At 45:45 PAL, Ramirez shouts: "McLeod, this is the Quickening!".
Special thanks to Rewind user ferdinandhudson for providing this information.

CUTS:

• R1 America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - Yes - US director's cut including 0:17 for the Studio Canal logo (116:28 NTSC)
• R1 America- Lions Gate Home Entertainment - Yes - US director's cut including 0:17 for the Studio Canal logo (116:28 NTSC)
• R1 30th Anniversary Edition America- Lions Gate Home Entertainment - Yes - US director's cut
• R1 Deluxe Collector's Edition America- Republic Pictures - Yes - US director's cut
• R1 The Immortal Edition America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - Yes - US director's cut including 0:17 for the Studio Canal logo (116:28 NTSC)
• R2 France- Studio Canal - No cuts - Includes both the European and the French Theatrical Versions
• R2 Highlander Trilogie France- StudioCanal/Universal StudioCanal Video - Yes - French theatrical version (108:19 PAL)
• R2 Ultimate Edition France- Studio Canal - No cuts - Includes both the European and the French theatrical versions
• R2 Special Edition Germany- Kinowelt - No cuts - European theatrical version (111:25 PAL)
• R2 DTS Holland- Video/Film Express - No cuts
• R2 The Ultimate Version Holland- Studio Canal/Universal - No cuts - European theatrical version (111:46 PAL)
• R2 Collector's Edition Scandinavia- SME - No cuts - European theatrical version (111:28 PAL)
• R2 The Ultimate Version Scandinavia- Studio Canal/Universal - No cuts - European theatrical version (111:46 PAL)
• R2 United Kingdom- Warner Home Video - No cuts - European theatrical version
• R2 Immortal Edition United Kingdom- Optimum Releasing - No cuts - European theatrical version (111:42 PAL)
• R3 Hong Kong- Panorama Entertainment - Yes - Hong Kong Cut (116:21 NTSC)
• R4 15th Anniversary Edition Australia- Universal Pictures - Yes - US director's cut (111:40 PAL)
• R4 The Ultimate Edition Australia- Studio Canal/Universal - No cuts - European theatrical version (111:46 PAL)
• R4 Brazil- Universal Pictures - No cuts - US director's cut (~112:00 NTSC)

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Craig on 19/07/01
Comparison last updated by Matthew_B_Harrah on 06/05/22

UPDATE LOG:

27 Jan 2010: Addition of the French "Highlander Trilogie" boxset.
28 Jan 2010: Comparison clean-up and addition of notes concerning the different versions of the movie.
29 Jan 2010: Update of the specifications of the French standard edition: discs breakdown and no English soundtrack on the French theatrical version.
29 Jan 2012: Added the HK Cut details and the corresponding DVD Entry.
23 March 2012: Removed all references to the HK Cut due to new information disproving it's existence.
23 Oct 2016: Addition of the R1 30th Anniversary Edition, ASIN links, and clean-up.
06 May 2022: Fix/added Movie Censorship comparisons and release years.