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 5 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)
Director: Satyajit Ray
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion, HD transfer
Director: Errol Morris
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion, 2k transfer
Director: Agnès Varda
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Varda Set
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Theatrical: Image Entertainment LaserDisc International: Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Audio:
2000 Image Entertainment DVD
Directors: Edward Sedgwick & Buster Keaton
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray, 4k transfer
Director: Robert Altman
Best English-Friendly & Video:
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) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Directors: Muffie Meyer & David Maysles & Ellen Giffard & Albert Maysles
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 2k transfer
Director: D. A. Pennebaker
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 4k scan
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
No comparison but Criterion Blu-ray is 2k transfer
Director: Cheryl Dunye
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion 2k transfer
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Criterion better encode and gamma than Artificial Eye
Director: Charlie Chaplin
Best English-Friendly & Video:
1928 version: Image Entertainment DVD
1969 version: Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab) · caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
1969 version: Criterion Blu-ray > UK Artificial Eye Blu-ray, see DVDBeaver caps.
Japan Kadokawa Blu-ray is the same as AE BD and inferior to Criterion too
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Dekalog Blu-ray
Best Audio:
Kino Lorber DVD Mono
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