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 8 of 21
Films where Criterion's release is the pick. How picks are made
Director: Med Hondo
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project, No. 3
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion DVD
Best Video:
Director: Edward Yang
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · siff.net (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
New 4k resto? Otherwise there are BDs https://www.siff.net/programs-and-events/the-films-of-edward-yang/taipei-story
Director: Stan Brakhage
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion By Brakhage Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Atom Egoyan
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:
From 4K restoration but exhibits compression artifacts
Director: Paweł Pawlikowski
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion
Video Notes:
Criterion > Artificial Eye
Director: Jacques Demy
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion The Essential Jacques Demy set Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Edward Yang
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)
Director: Edward Yang
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray 4k restoration
Director: Alice Wu
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Zeinabu irene Davis
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Director: Frank Capra
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray, 4k transfer
Director: George Cukor
Best English-Friendly:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Best Video:
Criterion Blu-ray, 4k transfer
Director: Ken Loach
Best English-Friendly & Video:
Criterion Blu-ray
Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)
Video Notes:
Even though no screencap comparisons, given that Criterion is a 2K scan of Original Camera Negative, and supervised by Ken Loach, Criterion is likely the best.
Know a film where the Criterion release is the one to buy? Suggest it