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 · Page 2 of 21
Films where Criterion's release is the pick. How picks are made
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
4k restoration. Superior to Germany Kinowelt or Japan Kadokawa, see caps-a-holic
Best Audio:
2000 Image Entertainment DVD
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Best English-Friendly & Video:
1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD
1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · nitrateville.com (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Cut info: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=31209
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Robert Bresson
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray, 2K restoration
Best Audio:
2004 New Yorker DVD
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab) · blah-ray.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)
Upcoming Release:
StudioCanal 4K
Audio Notes:
> Criterion Blu-ray > StudioCanal Blu-ray. Maybe 1998 LaserDisc better? See Blah-Ray
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion, 4k transfer
Director: David Lean
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Agnès Varda
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Varda Set
Director: Vittorio De Sica
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Criterion Blu-ray vs Cult Films?
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion, 4K transfer
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Criterion is regraded with no reference information provided. Comparisons
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion
Video Notes:
Criterion and ARTE France looks slightly different, ARTE color is more lifelike but more blocky, neither looks the best. https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=7958&d2=7959&c=3233
Director: John Cassavetes
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Criterion is warmer and more lifelike than BFI. See DVDBeaver review for more caps
BFI suffers from Quicktime Gamma Bug
Criterion has better encoding and doesn't have the bug so that's preferable.
Best Audio:
Audio Notes:
BFI looks to be more untouched, not sure about Criterion
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 2k transfer
Director: Mike Leigh
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Better
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Not sure about France
Director: Billy Wilder
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Marlon Riggs
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion The Signifyin' Works of Marlon Riggs boxset Blu-ray
Director: Jūzō Itami
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Federico Fellini
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Audio:
2017 StudioCanal Blu-ray
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