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 17 of 21
Films where Criterion's release is the pick. How picks are made
Director: Dorothy Arzner
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray 4K transfer
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · ibb.co (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Albert Lamorisse Collection Blu-ray
Video Notes:
Criterion Albert Lamorisse Collection Blu-ray is AI upscale: https://ibb.co/album/ZBdHH8
Director: John Murray Anderson
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
4K restoration from Universal. No comparison with Elephant Films France Blu-ray available
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Scorsese Shorts Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Scorsese Shorts Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Eclipse Series 8: Lubitsch Musicals Blu-ray
Director: James Whale
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray 4K scan
Director: George Stevens
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray 2K scan
Director: Jacques Tati
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Upcoming Release:
StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray (part of Jacques Tati boxset releasing December 2026)
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Eclipse Series 8: Lubitsch Musicals Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · criterion.com (opens in a new tab) · caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Criterion Blu-ray is a newer 4K restoration approved by filmmaker, and from caps the grain is tighter than the OOP Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray
Directors: Marika Beiku & Andrei Tarkovsky & Aleksandr Gordon
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion The Killers set Blu-ray extras
Sources: criterion.com (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Student film, available in Criterion The Killers set as extras or Streaming
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