Based in New York, Criterion has released classic and contemporary films since 1984, giving each title a spine number and adding commentaries, essays and supplements. Many discs use new restorations it supervises, and 4K UHD releases began in November 2021. North American Blu-rays are Region A locked, with a smaller Region B UK line since 2016; Janus Films is a sister company, and Steven Rales has owned both since 2024.
Criterion
636 films on Best BluraysBest video release: 222 in 4K405 in HD9 in SD38 more for audio only19 more announced
Best 4K release by tier:
- Excellent141
- Solid55
- Superior Imports1
- Good Imports1
- Good in DV Only1
- Disappointing3
- Worse Than BD1
Films where Criterion's release is the pick. How picks are made
405 of 636 films match
Films where Criterion's release is the pick. How picks are made
405 in HD
Best video release on Blu-ray or HD streaming · by Letterboxd rating
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Alain Resnais
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion, 4k transfer
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Audio:
Criterion DVD
Director: Jennie Livingston
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 2k transfer
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Best English-Friendly & Video:
2012 Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
2012 Criterion Blu-ray is the most accurate
4K Blu-ray unrecommended because of controversial colours, no HDR, minimal resolution uptick, and DNR master
Best Audio:
2002 Criterion DVD for original Dolby Digital 5.0 theatrical
Audio Notes:
The 4K Blu-ray 5.1 adds additional foley and effects.
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
2 with a weaker 4K
Best 4K release rated Disappointing or Worse Than BD · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Best English-Friendly & Video:
2012 Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
2012 Criterion Blu-ray is the most accurate
4K Blu-ray unrecommended because of controversial colours, no HDR, minimal resolution uptick, and DNR master
Best Audio:
2002 Criterion DVD for original Dolby Digital 5.0 theatrical
Audio Notes:
The 4K Blu-ray 5.1 adds additional foley and effects.
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
> Artificial Eye Blu-ray, Korea Nova Media 4K Blu-ray release is AI upscaled
14 for audio only
The best audio is Criterion's; the video and English-friendly picks are other releases · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Best Audio:
TV Cut: 2011 Criterion Blu-ray (the 2018 Criterion and 2023 BFI box set have signs of applying a limiter)
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Federico Fellini
Best Audio:
1999 R1 Criterion DVD
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Video Notes:
> Criterion, contrast is more accurate according to my (vanshady) viewing of 4K DCP as well as this post
Best Audio:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Director: Satyajit Ray
Best Audio:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Audio Notes:
Criterion Blu-ray is better than Artificial Eye and Carlotta
Best English-Friendly:
Best Video:
Video Notes:
Artificial Eye UK Blu-ray is from a newer master than Criterion
Director: Bill Forsyth
Best Audio:
Criterion Blu-ray (mono mix)
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)
Additional Info:
The UK Blu-ray is a marginally better encode than the Criterion, with better preseveration of detail: https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=5302
The Criterion Blu-ray presents the original mono mix. Most other Blu-rays and DVDs are remixed either to stereo or 5.1 surround, with loss of detail and very little actual separation.
Best Audio:
1988 Criterion LaserDisc
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Audio Notes:
(Still not great)
Best Video:
2008 WB Blu-ray (from a 2003 transfer)
Director: Michael Bay
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
14 announced
Criterion's release is announced; until it is out, the picks are other releases · by Letterboxd rating
Director: Robert Altman
Upcoming Release:
Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Claire Denis
Director: Govindan Aravindan
Upcoming Release:
Criterion World Cinema Project Vol 5 Blu-ray, 4K restoration
Director: Idrissa Ouedraogo
Upcoming Release:
Criterion World Cinema Project Vol 5 Blu-ray, 4K restoration
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Upcoming Release:
Criterion Box Set
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Video Notes:
Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray worse than Blu-ray with poor encoding (review)
Director: David Lynch
Upcoming Release:
2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray, confirmed to be uncut
Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Censored US version: Shout! Factory or Twilight Time Blu-ray
Uncensored version: old DVD
Upcoming Release:
Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release
Sources: caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)
Upcoming Release:
Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release
Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:
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