Criterion

699 films on Best Blurays

Based in United StatesFounded 1984criterion.com ↗

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.

Aliases: cc, criterion

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Scarface (1932)

Director: Howard Hawks

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

3.8

Freaks (1932)

Director: Tod Browning

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

3.9

The Story of Temple Drake (1933)

Director: Stephen Roberts

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

3.6

Design for Living (1933)

Director: Ernst Lubitsch

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion HD resto

3.9

Brute Wanted (1934)

Director: Charles Barrois

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Jacques Tati Boxset Blu-ray

2.9

The Scarlet Empress (1934)

Director: Josef von Sternberg

Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray or Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Video Notes:

Indicator similar to Criterion but more extras

3.9

Captain Blood (1935)

Director: Michael Curtiz

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Audio Notes:

(caveat: has a slight error)

3.7

Fun Sunday (1935)

Director: Jacques Berr

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Jacques Tati Boxset Blu-ray

3.0

The 39 Steps (1935)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Criterion much superior, in Classic Hitchcock boxset too, old HD transfer

3.8

Mayerling (1936)

Director: Anatole Litvak

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion OOP DVD

Swing Time (1936)

Director: George Stevens

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, 2K restoration

3.6

My Man Godfrey (1936)

Director: Gregory La Cava

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Sources: Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Although there's a bit of aggressive grain management see https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=15853770&postcount=43

3.9

Modern Times (1936)

Director: Charlie Chaplin

Best English-Friendly & Video:

1936 version: Image Entertainment DVD

1954 version: Criterion Blu-ray

Sources: nitrateville.com (opens in a new tab)

English-Friendly Notes:

Cut info: https://www.nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?t=31209

Best Audio:

2016 Kadokawa Blu-ray

4.3

Show Boat (1936)

Director: James Whale

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray 4K scan

3.4

Watch Your Left (1936)

Director: René Clément

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Jacques Tati Boxset Blu-ray

3.2

History Is Made at Night (1937)

Director: Frank Borzage

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, 4K transfer

Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)

Director: Leo McCarey

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Sources: DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

> MoC Blu-ray which has boosted contrast see caps

Best Audio:

4.2

The Awful Truth (1937)

Director: Leo McCarey

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4k transfer

Best Audio:

Audio Notes:

Sony Blu-ray maybe better?

The Lady Vanishes (1938)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion vs Network Blu-ray?

Best Audio:

1989 Criterion LaserDisc

3.9

Holiday (1938)

Director: George Cukor

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion Blu-ray, 4k transfer

4.0

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