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 21 of 21
Films where Criterion's release is the pick. How picks are made
Director: Noah Baumbach
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray 4K transfer
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion The Palm Beach Story Blu-ray extras
Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
While it's included on both Criterion The Palm Beach Story extras and Arrow's Sullivan's Travels' extras, Criterion uses a different source and is vastly superior, see caps
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
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)
Best Audio:
Criterion
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
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)
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:
Know a film where the Criterion release is the one to buy? Suggest it