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 29 of 35

Hoop Dreams (1994)

Director: Steve James

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion or UK Dogwoof

Best Video:

Criterion and UK Dogwoof probably similar

4.4

Before Sunrise (1995)

Director: Richard Linklater

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray/Germany Warner Bros Blu-ray

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

Best Video:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount

Video Notes:

Germany Blu-ray and Criterion Paramount no difference, just get Criterion https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?d1=11014&d2=10022&c=4022

Additional Info:

Germany Blu-ray has English audio

Germany Blu-ray is part of a 3-film box set like the Criterion but by StudioCanal

Safe (1995)

Director: Todd Haynes

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

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

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray caps & impressions

4.0

The Blade (1995)

Director: Tsui Hark

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

3.8

The Doom Generation (1995)

Director: Gregg Araki

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Audio Notes:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray for 5.1 remix. Original stereo mix on UK Second Sight DVD.

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray capsule review

3.8

To Die For (1995)

Director: Gus Van Sant

4K · Solid

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray (review)

3.6

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)

Director: Carl Franklin

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

3.7

The Rock (1996)

Director: Michael Bay

Video format: HD Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney+ HD Streaming

Upcoming Release:

4K possibly teased?

Video Notes:

Disney+ has new master better than Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Criterion DVD/Disney Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

Criterion DVD/Disney Blu-ray is missing a line:

Hummel: (line missing)

Lou Lindstrom: "Hello Frank. Lou Lindstrom"

Disney+:

Hummel: Hummel.

Lou Lindstrom: "Hello Frank. Lou Lindstrom"

3.6

The English Patient (1996)

Director: Anthony Minghella

Best English-Friendly & Video:

US Lionsgate Blu-ray

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

Upcoming Release:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray scheduled for Dec 2026 release

Video Notes:

US Lionsgate Blu-ray looks very different from either Italy Eagle Pictures or Germany Kinowelt Blu-ray: https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=502 but other than color grading looks better

Trainspotting (1996)

Director: Danny Boyle

4K · Excellent

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 2026 4K Blu-ray (UPC 715515334617)

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

Video Notes:

> Criterion 2024 4K Blu-ray > Film4 4K Blu-ray

Criterion 2026 redid the encoding and none of the blocking issues any more, see disc info and nicolas' review
Criterion 2024 encode struggles with brighter areas of the image but still superior to Film4

Best Audio:

5.1: Universal EU Blu-ray - Criterion and Lionsgate are missing LFE, otherwise the same
Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Film4 4K Blu-ray is on a BD-66, both Criterion releases are on BD-100 discs.

Criterion 2024 release bitrate: 94.67 mbps

Criterion 2026 release bitrate: 93.66 mbps

Film4 bitrate: 62.00 mbps