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

Page 23 of 35

Blow Out (1981)

Director: Brian De Palma

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

2022 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

4.1

Blade Runner (1982)

Director: Ridley Scott

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Final Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray (Caveat: No Dolby Vision from Streaming)

Other Cuts: WB Blu-ray

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set for a better AVC encode

Best Audio:

1982 Theatrical Mix: Embassy Video releases, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

International Cut Dolby Stereo: Criterion Collection LaserDisc, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

1992 Director's Cut Dolby Stereo: WB CAV LaserDisc 2.0 PCM-best fidelity of any mix, HD-DVD for the 70mm 6-track mix

Workprint: WB 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Set DTS-HD MA 5.1

2007 Final Cut remix: Blu-ray Dolby TrueHD 5.1

Additional Info:

WB 4K Blu-ray only has Final Cut and contains a bad Atmos remix with new sound effects. Original Final Cut mix was removed.

Chan Is Missing (1982)

Director: Wayne Wang

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Video Notes:

But they released an ancient HD master instead of a then available 4K restoration

3.8

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Director: Amy Heckerling

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Sources: caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Criterion Blu-ray is significantly better than Universal Blu-ray see caps

Burden of Dreams (1982)

Director: Les Blank

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

4.1

Fanny and Alexander (1982)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

English-Friendly Notes:

(box set and standalone are identical)

Best Video:

TV Cut: BFI Blu-ray. Japan Blu-ray likely better, no caps.

Theatrical Cut: BFI Blu-ray

Best Audio:

TV Cut: 2011 Criterion Blu-ray (the 2018 Criterion and 2023 BFI box set have signs of applying a limiter)

Theatrical Cut: Criterion LaserDisc, DVD

4.4

A Room in Town (1982)

Director: Jacques Demy

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion The Essential Jacques Demy set Blu-ray

Best Video:

Only in Criterion The Essential Jacques Demy set Blu-ray

3.5

Veronika Voss (1982)

Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Video:

Carlotta France boxset Rainer Werner Fassbinder - Vol. 2

3.9

The Right Stuff (1983)

Director: Philip Kaufman

Best English-Friendly & Video:

WB Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

2026 Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Local Hero (1983)

Director: Bill Forsyth

Best English-Friendly & Video:

UK Spirit Entertainment Blu-ray

Sources: caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

UK Spirit Blu-ray better encode than Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray (mono mix)

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.

3.9

Rumble Fish (1983)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion 2.0 Surround Track

Additional Info:

Eureka release has a better encode, but is taken from an older master. The Criterion Blu-ray was a new restoration from the ground up, and is substantially improved despite not being as well encoded.