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 3 of 21
Films where Criterion's release is the pick. How picks are made
Director: Agnès Varda
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Varda box
Best Audio:
2000 Criterion DVD
Director: Alain Resnais
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 2k transfer
Director: Roberto Rossellini
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Roberto Rossellini’s War Trilogy Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: John Cassavetes
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
2K transfer, not sure about France
Director: Nicholas Ray
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray. New master unreleased
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion, 2k transfer. 4K master unreleased
Best Audio:
2003 R2 Columbia DVD
Director: Éric Rohmer
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Rohmer Potemkine set
Video Notes:
Rohmer Potemkine set vs Criterion set?
Best Audio:
Netherlands 2006 Homescreen DVD
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion, 2k transfer
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Best English-Friendly & Video:
2021 Criterion Boxset Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Audio:
?
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Best English-Friendly & Video:
1921 version: Image Entertainment DVD
1972 version: Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Leo McCarey
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab)
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Koker Trilogy
Director: François Truffaut
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Andrei Tarkovsky
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Video Notes:
Netherlands Lumière Blu-ray is new 2K master.
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 2k transfer
Director: František Vláčil
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 4k transfer
Best Audio:
Czech National Film Archive Blu-ray (slightly)
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