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 4 of 21
Films where Criterion's release is the pick. How picks are made
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
4k transfer, go with Criterion Blu-ray, Artificial Eye have AR issues https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=305332
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 4k resto
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Director: Víctor Erice
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Criterion Blu-ray is 2k resto >>> BFI see http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/blu-ray_reviews_74/el_sur_blu-ray.htm
Director: Kaneto Shindo
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: William Wyler
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, 4k restoration
Best Audio:
2016 A Contracorriente Blu-ray
Director: Michelangelo Antonioni
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
2022 Lobster Films
Video Notes:
2022 Lobster Films has a newer 2020 4K restoration, their encoding is often bad, but no caps to verify yet. Criterion is older 4k restoration
Director: Claire Denis
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Federico Fellini
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Fellini Set
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:
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 passolini set
Director: Robert Bresson
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion, 4k transfer
Director: Agnès Varda
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Varda Set
Director: Terrence Malick
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion, 4k transfer
Director: Ousmane Sembène
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Criterion similar to BFI
Criterion similar to BFI http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_69/black_girl_blu-ray.htm
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
4k transfer. Shochiku Blu-ray is similar
Best Audio:
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