The fourth season of the American television satirical sitcom series Arrested Development premiered on Netflix on May 26, 2013, and consists of 15 episodes.

[4] Several actors who had recurring roles in the original series returned to reprise their roles, including Henry Winkler as Barry Zuckerkorn, Mae Whitman as Ann Veal, Ben Stiller as Tony Wonder, Scott Baio as Bob Loblaw, Judy Greer as Kitty Sanchez, and Liza Minnelli as Lucille Austero, while new characters are played by John Slattery, Terry Crews and Isla Fisher.

"[18] Following the remixed release on Netflix, several of the cast members, including Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Michael Cera and David Cross, requested additional compensation for the re-edited season, which they state includes unused footage shot for the original format of the season's episodes.

[20] In October 2012, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos premiered footage from the fourth season for the attendees of TheWrap's annual conference TheGrill.

[29] Set photos showing Tony Hale as Buster Bluth saluting at someone's funeral were released online.

The site's critical consensus reads, "Though this new incarnation of the hit series isn't quite as effective, Arrested Development's fourth season still delivers the dark humor and running gags we've come to expect.

[3] Robert Lloyd, writing for the Los Angeles Times, praised the series, suggesting that it improves after several episodes.

[40] Gem Wheeler of Den of Geek argued that the fourth season was "Arrested Development's best yet", and "the Bluths officially rule the pop culture landscape.

"[41] Brian Lowry of Variety gave the season a negative review, writing, "Ultimately, this 'Arrested' revival plays a bit like a reunion special, where the individual cast members come out and take their curtain calls.

"[42] Nathan Rabin of The Wall Street Journal similarly wrote, "Arrested Development has lost a step or two in its long stint on the sidelines.

The pacing is notably slower than during its original run and the show lacks the breathtaking density that characterized its glorious past.

At its worst, the new/old Arrested Development is reduced to doing a shaky imitation of itself: the characters and themes are there but the beats are slightly off, as is the tone".

[43] David Pierce of The Verge also gave it a mixed review, writing "Season four is kind of a confused mess, but then so is the Bluth family — and both somehow work despite all the chaos.

[44] The Guardian's Hadley Freeman criticized the season, stating that "the biggest problem with having the episodes devoted to one character at a time.

Freeman added that "the way various scenes intersect and explain events from past episodes is fun and oddly Pulp Fiction-like.

[49] Show creator Mitchell Hurwitz said that the fourth season would serve as the precursor to a future full-length Arrested Development film.

[50] In 2008, it was reported that production of Arrested Development: The Movie would begin after the completion of the fourth season, with a script to be written by Hurwitz.