{{Short description|American home video distribution company}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = The Criterion Collection, Inc. | logo = 200px|class=skin-invert | logo_upright = 0.5 | caption = | type = Private | genre = | predecessor = FilmStruck | foundation = {{start date and age|1984}} | founders = {{ubl|Robert Stein|Aleen Stein|Joe Medjuck}} | location = New York City, New York, U.S.<ref name="hoovers">{{cite web|url=http://www.hoovers.com/The+Criterion+Collection+Inc/--HD__rkhyyjcjf,src__global--/free-co-dnb_factsheet.xhtml|title=The Criterion Collection Inc.|publisher=Hoover's|access-date=May 24, 2008|archive-date=May 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511075309/http://www.hoovers.com/The+Criterion+Collection+Inc/--HD__rkhyyjcjf,src__global--/free-co-dnb_factsheet.xhtml|url-status=live}}</ref> | key_people = {{ubl|Jonathan B. Turell<br />(CEO)<ref name="hoovers"/>|Peter Becker<br />(president)<ref name=Sub>{{cite news|last1=Bachman|first1=Justin|title=How Hulu Found a Subscriber Lure in Obscure Films|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-04-16/how-hulu-found-a-subscriber-lure-in-obscure-films|access-date=July 29, 2015|work=Bloomberg Business|date=April 16, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222300/http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-04-16/how-hulu-found-a-subscriber-lure-in-obscure-films|url-status=live}}</ref>}} | industry = Motion picture video production | products = {{ubl|LaserDisc (1984–1999)|VHS and Betamax (1985, 1989)|DVD (1998–present)|Blu-ray (2008–present)|Ultra HD Blu-ray (2021–present)|VOD (select titles) (2008–present)|Criterion Channel (2019–present)}} | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | area_served = {{ubl|United Kingdom (Europe)|United States, Canada (North America)}} | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = The Voyager Company (1985–1997)<br />Steven Rales (2024–present) | num_employees = 40<ref name="hoovers"/> | parent = | divisions = {{ubl|Eclipse from the Criterion Collection|Essential Art House from Janus Films}} | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|criterion.com}} | footnotes = }} '''The Criterion Collection, Inc.''' (or simply '''Criterion''') is an American home entertainment distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring, and distributing "important classic and contemporary films".<ref name="NYT-20240229">{{cite news |last=Hunt |first=Joshua |title=Sure, It Won an Oscar. But Is It Criterion? - How the Criterion Collection became the film world's arbiter of taste |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/magazine/criterion-collection.html |date=February 29, 2024 |work=The New York Times |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20241231153527/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/magazine/criterion-collection.html |archivedate=December 31, 2024 |accessdate=February 29, 2024 }}</ref> A "sister company" of arthouse film distributor Janus Films,<ref name=ScreenDaily>{{Cite web |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |date=2024-05-20 |title=Indian Paintbrush founder Steven Rales buys Criterion, Janus Films (exclusive) |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/indian-paintbrush-founder-steven-rales-buys-criterion-janus-films-exclusive/5193832.article |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Screen Daily |language=en |archive-date=July 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725102101/https://www.screendaily.com/news/indian-paintbrush-founder-steven-rales-buys-criterion-janus-films-exclusive/5193832.article |url-status=live }}</ref> Criterion serves film and media scholars, cinephiles,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/about|title=Criterion Mission Statement|access-date=March 30, 2009|archive-date=May 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521102119/http://www.criterion.com/about_us|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdjqXOCeEtg |title=How Criterion Collection Brings Movies Back From the Dead – Gizmodo on YouTube |website=YouTube |date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=December 16, 2020 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110015433/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdjqXOCeEtg |url-status=live }}</ref> and public and academic libraries. Criterion has helped to standardize certain aspects of home-video releases such as film restoration, the letterboxing format for widescreen films, and the inclusion of bonus features such as scholarly essays and documentary content about the films and filmmakers. Criterion most notably pioneered the use of commentary tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-26 |title=Double Talk: The History of the DVD Commentary - Hollywood Insider |url=https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/dvd-commentary-history/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> Criterion has produced and distributed more than 1,500 special editions of its films in VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra HD Blu-ray formats and box sets.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-17 |title=The Criterion Collection Is Taking Its Beloved Video Closet on the Road |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/criterion-collection-closet-mobile-2538165 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Artnet News |language=en-US}}</ref> The Criterion Collection includes titles by some 600 directors from more than 50 countries.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Sure, It Won an Oscar. But Is It Criterion? |url=http://web-wp.archive.org/web/20240305163100/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/magazine/criterion-collection.html |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=web-wp.archive.org |language=en}}</ref> Many of these films and their special features are also available via the Criterion Channel, an online streaming service the company has operated since April of 2019.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Desta |first=Yohana |date=2019-01-31 |title=After the Death of FilmStruck, Criterion Officially Launches Its Own Streaming Service |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/01/criterion-channel-streaming-service |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2019-03-22 |title=Criterion Channel, Rising From FilmStruck Ashes, Sets April Launch Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/criterion-channel-rising-from-filmstruck-ashes-sets-april-launch-slate-1202580727/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
The Criterion Collection is considered one of the leading boutique Blu-Ray labels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/blu-ray/the-best-boutique-blu-ray-distributors-who-arent-c|title=The Best Boutique Blu-ray Distributors (Who Aren't Criterion)|last=Kozak|first=Oktay Ege|date=December 5, 2017|website=Paste|access-date=June 26, 2023|archive-date=June 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626170233/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/blu-ray/the-best-boutique-blu-ray-distributors-who-arent-c|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/best-boutique-blu-ray-brands/|title=10 Best Boutique Blu-Ray Brands|last=Jarvis|first=Henry|date=August 12, 2022|website=CBR.com|access-date=June 26, 2023|archive-date=June 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626170233/https://www.cbr.com/best-boutique-blu-ray-brands/|url-status=live}}</ref> Each year, Criterion adds 50 to 60 titles to its catalog.<ref name=":5" />
In the United States, their releases are distributed by Alliance Entertainment (no relation to the former Canadian company of the same name), via their Distribution Solutions division.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 28, 2023 |title=Alliance Entertainment's Distribution Solutions Announces Partnership Extension with the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230118005007/en/Alliance-Entertainments-Distribution-Solutions-Announces-Partnership-Extension-with-the-Criterion-Collection |url-status=live |access-date=January 12, 2026 |website=Business Wire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116124709/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230118005007/en/Alliance-Entertainments-Distribution-Solutions-Announces-Partnership-Extension-with-the-Criterion-Collection|archive-date=January 16, 2026}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, Spirit Entertainment handles distribution of Criterion titles since October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Tom |date=2023-08-17 |title=Criterion Collection 4K is coming to the UK |url=https://tomdavidson92.medium.com/criterion-collection-4k-is-coming-to-the-uk-750a6f65e59e |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref> UK distribution was previously through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leonsis |first=Elle |date=2016-03-07 |title=The Criterion Collection and Sony Finally Launch UK Distribution for Home Entertainment |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/the-criterion-collection-and-sony-finally-launch-uk-distribution-for-home-entertainment-61861/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Ashley |date=2016-03-11 |title=Can the celebrated Criterion Collection make a splash in the UK? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/11/can-the-celebrated-criterion-collection-make-a-splash-in-the-uk |access-date=2026-02-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In Canada, their releases are distributed by Unobstructed View since 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malyk |first=Lauren |title=Unobstructed View becomes Canadian distributor for Criterion |url=https://playbackonline.ca/2019/08/29/unobstructed-view-becomes-the-criterion-collections-canadian-distributor/ |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> after their deal with Entertainment One expired.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=2019-09-06 |title=Toronto: Criterion Collection Lands Canadian Distributor |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/toronto-criterion-collection-lands-canadian-distributor-1236618/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
==History== The company was founded in 1984 by Robert Stein, Aleen Stein, and Joe Medjuck, who later were joined by Roger Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holder |first=Ross |date=2022-11-07 |title=Everything We Know About the Criterion Collection |url=https://screenrant.com/everything-know-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> In 1985, the Steins, William Becker, and Jonathan B. Turell founded the Voyager Company<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine|last=Virshup|first=Amy|title=The Teachings of Bob Stein|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.07/stein_pr.html|date=July 1996|magazine=Wired|access-date=August 17, 2007|archive-date=July 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704181111/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.07/stein_pr.html|url-status=live}}</ref> to publish educational multimedia CD-ROMs (1989–2000),<ref name="Wired"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Brockman|first=John|author-link=John Brockman (literary agent)|title=Bob Stein: The Radical|work=Digerati|url=https://www.edge.org/digerati/stein/|publisher=Edge Foundation|access-date=August 17, 2007|archive-date=September 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201444/http://www.edge.org/digerati/stein/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Criterion Collection became a subordinate division of the Voyager Company, with Janus Films holding a minority stake in the company,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holder |first=Ross |date=2022-11-07 |title=Everything We Know About the Criterion Collection |url=https://screenrant.com/everything-know-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> and decided to expand its product on videocassettes and videodiscs.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1985-10-23|title=Janus And Voyager Team on Homevid|page=32|work=Variety}}</ref> In 1984,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Fred |date=2022-01-10 |title=The Criterion Collection Just Entered a New Era |url=https://slate.com/culture/2022/01/citizen-kane-4k-uhd-criterion-blu-ray.html |access-date=2026-03-03 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}</ref> ''Citizen Kane'' was the first film the company released on laserdisc, which included supplementary materials like a video essay and extensive liner notes on the provenance of the negative from which the restoration was made.<ref name=":5" /> In 1989, Voyager put out its first CD-ROM about Beethoven's ninth symphony.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1995-10-08 |title=How Now, Voyager? |url=https://www.newsweek.com/how-now-voyager-184140 |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> In March 1994, Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH bought 20% of Voyager for US$6.7 million;<ref name="Wired" /> the four founders each retained a 20% owner's share.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=WIRED |title=Updata |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/02/updata-21/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref>
In 1995, Aleen Stein resigned as President of Voyager, but remained a partner, and went on to found the Organa LLC multimedia publishing company.<ref name="Wired" /><ref name="Organa">{{cite web|title=Aleen Stein|url=https://organa.com/aleen.html|publisher=Organa Online|access-date=August 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809092621/http://www.organa.com/aleen.html|archive-date=August 9, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=WIRED |title=Updata |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/02/updata-21/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In November 1996, Bob Stein stepped down as company chief.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=WIRED |title=Updata |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/02/updata-21/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In December 1996, it was announced Voyager would absorb Holtzbrinck's Electronic Publishing arm, with Holtzbrinck gaining two seats on Voyager's board.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=WIRED |title=Voyager Absorbs Holtzbrinck Electronic Publishing |url=https://www.wired.com/1996/12/voyager-absorbs-holtzbrinck-electronic-publishing/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In 1997, the Voyager Company was dissolved.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holder |first=Ross |date=2022-11-07 |title=Everything We Know About the Criterion Collection |url=https://screenrant.com/everything-know-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Virshup |first=Amy |date=July 1996 |title=The Teachings of Bob Stein |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.07/stein_pr.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704181111/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.07/stein_pr.html |archive-date=July 4, 2013 |access-date=August 17, 2007 |magazine=Wired}}</ref> The remaining three partners, Aleen Stein, Becker, and Turell owned the Criterion Collection company,<ref name="Organa"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holder |first=Ross |date=2022-11-07 |title=Everything We Know About the Criterion Collection |url=https://screenrant.com/everything-know-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> which has a business partnership with Janus Films and had one with Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) until 2005, when Image Entertainment bought HVE.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|work=About Home Vision|url=https://www.homevision.com/history.php|publisher=Home Vision Entertainment|access-date=August 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020627202911/http://www.homevision.com/history.php|archive-date=June 27, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Evan |date=2005-08-03 |title=Image Entertainment Purchases Home Vision Entertainment |url=https://movieweb.com/image-entertainment-purchases-home-vision-entertainment/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}</ref> On November 4, 2013, it was announced Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) would handle distribution.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.homemediamagazine.com/sony-pictures/sony-inks-distribution-admin-deal-criterion-31792|title=Sony Inks Distribution, Admin Deal With Criterion|access-date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402181912/http://www.homemediamagazine.com/sony-pictures/sony-inks-distribution-admin-deal-criterion-31792|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2024, Janus Films and Criterion were acquired by Steven Rales, founder of Indian Paintbrush.<ref name=ScreenDaily/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephan |first=Katcy |date=2024-05-20 |title=Criterion and Janus Films Sell to Indian Paintbrush Founder Steven Rales |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/criterion-janus-films-sell-indian-paintbrush-steven-rales-1236011122/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Home Vision Entertainment=== In 1986, Charles Benton founded Home Vision Entertainment (HVE), the home-video division of Public Media Inc. (PMI), which he had previously founded in 1968. The HVE company sold, advertised, marketed, and distributed Criterion Collection DVDs, and also sold its own HVE brand of DVDs (co-produced with Criterion), including The Merchant Ivory Collection<ref>{{cite web|last=Hasan|first=Mark Richard|title=DVD Review|url= https://www.musicfromthemovies.com/dvd.asp?ID=9|publisher=Music From the Movies|date=September 2004|access-date=August 22, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608062030/http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/dvd.asp?ID=9 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 8, 2007}}</ref> and the Classic Collection, a joint venture between HVE and Janus Films. The latter enterprise published HVE imprint films, for which Janus Films owned the video rights, but were unavailable from the Criterion Collection; however, Criterion published the Classic Collection films.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-30 |title=Charles Benton 1931-2015 |url=https://www.benton.org/blog/charles-benton-1931-2015 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Benton Foundation |language=en}}</ref> In 2005, Image Entertainment bought HVE, making it the exclusive distributor of Criterion Collection products until 2013.<ref>{{Cite press release| title = Image Entertainment Acquires Home Vision Entertainment and Enters into Exclusive Multi-Year Home Video Distribution Agreement with The Criterion Collection| access-date = January 27, 2019| date = August 2, 2005| url = https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050802005297/en/Image-Entertainment-Acquires-Home-Vision-Entertainment-Enters| archive-date = January 28, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190128031759/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050802005297/en/Image-Entertainment-Acquires-Home-Vision-Entertainment-Enters| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
===Online ventures and marketing=== The Criterion Collection began to provide video-on-demand (VOD) in partnership with Mubi (formerly ''The Auteurs'') in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tavlin |first=Will |date=2025-12-31 |title=Who Is Mubi For? |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/mubi-art-house-movies-streamer-distributor.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lamey |first=Seth |date=2018-12-27 |title=Archival Excellence: The Criterion Collection |url=https://academics.winona.edu/povwinona/archival-excellence-the-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=POVwinona |language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2011, Criterion began switching its VOD offerings exclusively to Hulu Plus.<ref name="NetflixHuluNYT">{{cite news |title= As Netflix Goes After TV Fans, Hulu Chases Movie Buffs |first= Ryan |last= Lawler |url= https://www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2011/02/15/15gigaom-as-netflix-goes-after-tv-fans-hulu-chases-movie-b-79625.html?ref=technology |newspaper=The New York Times |issn= 0362-4331 |oclc= 1645522 |date= February 15, 2011 |access-date=March 30, 2011 |quote= "Hulu is looking to court movie buffs to its subscription Plus offering, announcing Tuesday that it has acquired streaming rights for hundreds of classic films from The Criterion Collection. [...] Hulu Plus will soon be the only place old movie buffs will be able to catch Criterion titles."}}</ref> In November 2016, FilmStruck, a film streaming service from Turner Classic Movies (TCM), succeeded Hulu as the exclusive streaming service for the Criterion Collection.<ref name="Kleeman">{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/the-21-best-movies-turner-classic-is-stealing-from-hulu-1773149558|title=21 Classic Movies Getting Yanked From Hulu Soon|first=Sophie|last=Kleeman|work=Gizmodo|date=April 26, 2016|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803014234/https://gizmodo.com/the-21-best-movies-turner-classic-is-stealing-from-hulu-1773149558|url-status=live}}</ref> Some Criterion films were streamed by Kanopy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Penn’s Kanopy Access Now Includes Criterion Collection |url=https://almanac.upenn.edu/articles/penns-kanopy-access-now-includes-criterion-collection |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=almanac.upenn.edu |language=en}}</ref> In October 2018, Warner Bros. Digital Networks and Turner announced that FilmStruck would shut down on November 29.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/filmstruck-shutdown-warnermedia-turner-1202998364/|title=WarnerMedia to Shut Down FilmStruck Subscription-Streaming Service|website=Variety|first=Todd|last=Spangler|date=October 26, 2018|access-date=October 26, 2018|archive-date=October 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026150806/https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/filmstruck-shutdown-warnermedia-turner-1202998364/|url-status=live}}</ref> Criterion stated in a blog post that it was "trying to find ways we can bring our library and original content back to the digital space as soon as possible".<ref name="News About FilmStruck">{{cite web |title=News About FilmStruck |url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6008-news-about-filmstruck |website=The Criterion Collection |access-date=October 26, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207085702/https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6008-news-about-filmstruck |url-status=live }}</ref>
On November 16, 2018, Criterion announced the launch of the Criterion Channel as a standalone service, wholly owned and operated by the Criterion Collection, in the US and Canada. The service launched in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-16 |title=Criterion Collection to launch stand-alone streaming service |url=https://apnews.com/article/f6eb2002813441f994448c4c8264d111 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lopez |first=Kristen |date=2019-02-01 |title=The Criterion Channel Reemerges To Fill The FilmStruck Void But Is It Enough? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenlopez/2019/02/01/the-criterion-channel-reemerges-to-fill-the-filmstruck-void-but-is-it-enough/ |access-date=2026-02-23 |work=Forbes}}</ref> Through a multi-year deal with HBO Max, some of Criterion's offerings are also available on the HBO streaming platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=2024-11-19 |title=Max Extends Criterion Collection Deal, Adds Three ‘Godzilla’ Films and Other Titles (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/criterion-collection-extends-hbo-max-deal-1236212411/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
British film magazine ''Sight & Sound'' revealed in its April 2016 issue that Criterion would be expanding its releases to the UK.<ref>{{cite news|title=Criterion to Begin Releasing on Blu-ray in the UK|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18621|access-date=March 6, 2016|work=Blu-ray.com|publisher=Blu-ray.com|date=March 4, 2016|archive-date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308072006/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18621|url-status=live}}</ref> The first six titles were released on April 18, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Ryan |date=2016-03-05 |title=The Criterion Collection is Expanding to the UK on April 18th |url=https://criterioncast.com/news/the-criterion-collection-is-expanding-to-the-uk-on-april-18th |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=CriterionCast |language=en-US}}</ref>
The Criterion Closet is a film closet containing every title distributed by Criterion. It is located in Criterion's Manhattan headquarters and was made from a disused bathroom.<ref name="NYT-20240229" /> Since 2010, Criterion regularly uploads videos of prominent film directors and actors (such as Martin Scorsese and Pamela Anderson) selecting films from the closet on their official YouTube channel.<ref name=":4" /> The first guest to be recorded in the closet was director Guillermo del Toro. In 2024, Criterion introduced a 18-foot delivery van containing all 1,500 films, the Criterion Closet, to celebrate its 40th anniversary.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Article |first=Vittoria Benzine ShareShare This |date=2024-09-17 |title=The Criterion Collection Is Taking Its Beloved Video Closet on the Road |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/criterion-collection-closet-mobile-2538165 |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Artnet News |language=en-US |archive-date=October 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251004001051/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/criterion-collection-closet-mobile-2538165 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2025, Criterion agreed to pay US$4.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it unlawfully shared subscriber information with third parties including Meta and Twilio.<ref>{{cite news |title=$4.5M The Criterion Collection subscription class action settlement |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/closed-settlements/4-5m-the-criterion-collection-subscription-class-action-settlement/ |access-date=28 January 2026 |work=Top Class Actions |date=3 July 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
In February 2026, it was announced that two Netflix releases, Guillermo del Toro’s ''Frankenstein'' and ''KPop Demon Hunters,'' were being adding to the Criterion Collection, given both films' Academy Award nominations and the latter becoming Netflix's most popular film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=2026-02-23 |title=‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ Joining Criterion Collection (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2026/film/news/kpop-demon-hunters-frankenstein-criterion-collection-1236670172/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Original Netflix titles are largely limited to streaming, but partnership with Criterion allows them to receive physical releases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambourne |first=Aidan |date=2026-02-24 |title=2 Major Netflix Movies Are Actually Getting Physical Releases |url=https://www.suggest.com/2-major-netflix-movies-are-actually-getting-physical-releases/2917911/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Suggest |language=en-US}}</ref> This first happened in 2020 with ''Roma'' (spine #1014),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattanzio |first=Ryan |date=2019-11-15 |title=Netflix Joins the Criterion Collection With Home Video Debut of ‘Roma’ |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/roma-criterion-collection-1202189937/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Evangelista |first=Chris |date=2019-11-19 |title='Roma' Becomes The First Netflix Film To Join The Criterion Collection |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/570558/roma-blu-ray/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=SlashFilm |language=en-US}}</ref> followed by ''Marriage Story'' (spine #1038), and ''The Irishman'' (spine #1058).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-07 |title=All 10 Netflix Movies and Documentaries in the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/every-netflix-original-movie-released-in-the-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=What's on Netflix |language=en}}</ref>
In April 2026, Criterion’s ''The Wes Anderson Archive: Ten Films, Twenty-Five Years'' box set won the "Title of the Year" award at the annual Home Entertainment Media Play Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2026-04-20 |title=Criterion’s ‘Wes Anderson Archive’ Tops 2026 Home Entertainment Media Play Awards |url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/home-media-award-winners-2026/ |access-date=2026-04-26 |website=Media Play News |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Contributions and influence== ===Letterboxing=== With its eighth LaserDisc release, ''Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' (1956), Criterion introduced the letterbox format, which added black bars to the top and bottom of the 4:3 standard television set to preserve the original aspect ratio of the film, rather than cropping the image to fit a standard television display.<ref>{{cite web|last=The Criterion Collection|title=Invasion of the Body Snatchers|url=http://chaumurky.net/criterion/catalogpage-135.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040905170637/http://chaumurky.net/criterion/catalogpage-135.html|archive-date=September 5, 2004|access-date=November 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DeBoer |first=Clint |date=2005-01-18 |title=Understanding Widescreen, Letterboxed, and Pan & Scan |url=https://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-formats/understanding-widescreen-letterboxed-and-pan-scan |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Audioholics Home Theater, HDTV, Receivers, Speakers, Blu-ray Reviews and News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Thereafter, Criterion made letterboxing the standard presentation for all its releases of films shot in widescreen aspect ratios.<ref>{{cite web|last=The Criterion Collection|title=FAQ|url=https://www.criterion.com/faq#q5|access-date=November 28, 2011|archive-date=May 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520064746/http://www.criterion.com/help#q5|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Between the Bars: Movies, Television, and Letterboxing |url=https://tedium.co/2016/04/12/movie-letterboxing-pan-scan-history/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Tedium: The Dull Side of the Internet. |language=en}}</ref>
===Commentary soundtracks=== In 1984,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The First Audio Commentary |url=http://www.media-party.com/mp/2011/01/the-first-audio-commentary.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818010443/http://www.media-party.com/mp/2011/01/the-first-audio-commentary.html |archive-date=2017-08-18 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Media Party}}</ref> the Criterion Collection's second LaserDisc title, ''King Kong'' (1933), was the debut of the scene-specific audio commentary<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vimeo.com/295186362 |title=From the Archives: The KING KONG commentary on Vimeo |date=October 15, 2018 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109105712/https://vimeo.com/295186362 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":5" /> contained in a separate analog channel of the LaserDisc,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.media-party.com/mp/2011/01/the-first-audio-commentary.html|title=The First Audio Commentary|website=Media Party|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818010443/http://www.media-party.com/mp/2011/01/the-first-audio-commentary.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in which American film historian Ronald Haver spoke about the production, cast, screenplay, production design, and special effects.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O10Iy8JH8z4C&pg=PA110|title=The DVD Revolution: Movies, Culture, and Technology|last=Barlow|first=Aaron|date=2005|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275983871|language=en}}</ref> He also provides commentary on the LaserDisc editions of ''Casablanca'' (1942),<ref>{{Cite web |last=cinephiliabeyond |date=2020-11-26 |title=The immortal ‘Casablanca’: Why the Old Hollywood’s Everlasting Masterpiece Is Still Beloved • Cinephilia & Beyond |url=https://cinephiliabeyond.org/immortal-casablanca-old-hollywoods-everlasting-masterpiece-still-beloved/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Here Comes Mr. Jordan'' (1941),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-15 |title=Criterion Blu-ray review: Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) – Cagey Films |url=https://www.cageyfilms.com/2016/06/criterion-blu-ray-review-here-comes-mr-jordan-1941/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Singin' in the Rain'' (1952),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Singin’ in the Rain movie review (1952) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/singin-in-the-rain-1998 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''The Wizard of Oz'' (1939).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saltzman |first=Barbara |date=1989-04-14 |title=THE LASER BIN : Unforgettable Trip to Oz |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-14-ca-1871-story.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Typically, the chapter-indexed commentaries are exclusive to the Criterion releases and their initial DVD reissues; they became collector's items when the original studios reissued titles previously licensed to Criterion, regardless of whether new commentary tracks were produced.
Adding directors' commentary tracks as bonus material was another Criterion innovation. Some of the earliest were recorded by Martin Scorsese for the ''Taxi Driver'' and ''Raging Bull'' LaserDiscs from Criterion.<ref name=":5" />
===Special editions=== The Criterion Collection began in 1984 with the releases of ''Citizen Kane'' (1941) and then ''King Kong'' (1933) on LaserDisc,<ref name=":5" /> the latter's source negatives courtesy of the Library of Congress.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyIklbmfRJw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/PyIklbmfRJw |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Entertainment Tonight: Criterion LaserDiscs – 1985|date=January 11, 2009|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The company later became known for pioneering the "special edition" DVD concept containing bonus materials such as trailers, commentaries, documentaries, alternate endings, and deleted scenes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ulaby|first=Neda|author-link=Neda Ulaby|title=Criterion DVD Collection|website=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1956135|date=June 2004|access-date=August 22, 2007|archive-date=December 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227132446/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1956135|url-status=live}}</ref> The success of these releases established the special-edition version in the DVD business.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside the Criterion Collection: A Conversation with Peter Becker |url=https://archive.thedigitalbits.com/articles/criterionpb.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=archive.thedigitalbits.com}}</ref> In 2007, taking advantage of advanced film-transfer and film-restoration technologies, Criterion published higher-quality versions, with bonus materials,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mermelstein |first=David |date=2007-10-30 |title=Criterion Collection adds bonus features |url=https://variety.com/2007/digital/features/criterion-collection-adds-bonus-features-1117974966/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> of early catalog titles such as ''Amarcord'' (1973),<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Gordon S. |date=2011-05-25 |title=Blu-ray Review: Amarcord – The Criterion Collection |url=https://blogcritics.org/blu-ray-review-amarcord-the-criterion/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Blogcritics |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Brazil'' (1985),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doogan |first=Todd |date=2013-09-04 |title=Brazil (Blu-ray Review) |url=https://thedigitalbits.com/reviews/item/brazil-bd |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Digital Bits |language=en-gb}}</ref> and ''Seven Samurai'' (1954).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=O. K. G. |date=2006-10-12 |title=Seven Samurai: Criterion Collection |url=https://www.okgazette.com/arts-culture/seven-samurai-criterion-collection-2949555/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Oklahoma Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Criterion’s Seven Samurai Makes Sound & Vision’s Top 10 DVDs and CDs of 2006 |url=https://akirakurosawa.info/2007/01/20/criterions-seven-samurai-makes-sound-visions-top-10-dvds-and-cds-of-2006/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Akira Kurosawa info}}</ref>
===Film restoration=== Originally, the Criterion Collection focused on releasing world cinema, mainstream cinema classics, and critically successful obscure films.<ref name=":5" /> Using the best available source materials, the company produced technologically improved and cleaner versions, such as those for ''The Passion of Joan of Arc'' (1928),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lennan |first=Brandon |date=2026-02-16 |title=Criterion Spotlight: The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) |url=https://medium.com/@lennfilm/criterion-spotlight-the-passion-of-joan-of-arc-1928-7ee5646f178e |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref> ''M'' (1931), ''Children of Paradise'' (1945),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-05 |title=DVD review: Criterion rears restored 'Children of Paradise' |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/entertainment/andy-klein/tn-gnp-1007-dvd-review-criterion-rears-restored-children-of-paradise-story.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Glendale News-Press |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Ed |date=2002-02-26 |title=DVD Review: Marcel Carné’s Children of Paradise on the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/children-of-paradise-dvd/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> ''The Third Man'' (1949),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Criterion Backlist: The Third Man (1949, NR) |url=https://theartsstl.com/criterion-backlist-the-third-man-1949-nr/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=theartsstl.com}}</ref> ''Seven Samurai'' (1954),<ref name=":2" /> and ''Amarcord'' (1973).<ref name=":1" /> Almost every title contains film-cleaning and film-restoration essays in the booklets,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singer |first=Matt |date=2013-06-17 |title=The Criticwire Survey: Best Criterion Essays |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/the-criticwire-survey-best-criterion-essays-127769/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref> while some even have featurettes comparing the restored and unrestored images.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lattanzio |first=Ryan |date=2014-09-12 |title=8 Restored Images From the Criterion Release of David Lynch’s ‘Eraserhead’ |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/8-restored-images-from-the-criterion-release-of-david-lynchs-eraserhead-191030/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1989, the company released ''Ghostbusters'' (1984),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Screen Test – Cornell Alumni Magazine |url=https://cornellalumnimagazine.com/screen-test/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=cornellalumnimagazine.com}}</ref> a controversial choice at the time, as it was a comedy starring Bill Murray that grossed more than $200 million at the box office.<ref name=":5" /> In an attempt to "curb its stuffy image," Criterion increasingly released art, genre, and mainstream movies on LaserDisc, such as ''Halloween'' (1978) in 1994,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Halloween (1978) - Home Video Release History of John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) |url=https://45lampkinlane.com/film/halloween/home-video/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=45 Lampkin Lane |language=en-CA}}</ref> ''Bram Stoker's Dracula'' (1992),<ref>{{Cite web |last=cinephiliabeyond |date=2020-11-12 |title=How Francis Ford Coppola Breathed New Life into ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ • Cinephilia & Beyond |url=https://cinephiliabeyond.org/dracula/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bram Stoker's Dracula: Special Edition #183 (1992) |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/04954/CC1335L/Bram-Stokers-Dracula:-Special-Edition |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=LaserDisc Database}}</ref> ''Armageddon'' (1998) in 1999,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2016-06-21 |title=The Joy of Listening to Ben Affleck Make Fun of 'Armaggedon' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/06/the-joys-and-hidden-insights-of-ben-afflecks-armageddon-commentary/487961/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bricken |first=Rob |date=2020-08-01 |title=Why Is Michael Bay’s ‘Armageddon’ Part of the Goddamn Criterion Collection? |url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/armageddon-criterion-collection |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=MEL Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''The Rock'' (1996) in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dessem |first=Matthew |date=2011-06-09 |title=The Criterion Contraption: #108: The Rock |url=https://criterioncollection.blogspot.com/2011/06/108-rock.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Criterion Contraption}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/The-Rock-DVD/6852/ |title=The Rock DVD (The Criterion Collection) |access-date=2026-03-03 |via=www.blu-ray.com}}</ref>
===Licenses=== Some previously licensed Criterion Collection titles, such ''The Harder They Come'' (1972),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brunsting |first=Joshua |date=2011-04-13 |title=The Harder They Come To Be Remade |url=https://criterioncast.com/news/the-harder-they-come-to-be-remade |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=CriterionCast |language=en-US}}</ref> become commercially unavailable as new product, and are only available in resale (used) form, because they went out-of-print.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Ryan |date=2010-06-11 |title=More Criterion Collection Films Going Out Of Print |url=https://criterioncast.com/news/more-criterion-collection-films-going-out-of-print |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=CriterionCast |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=(admin) |date=2025-11-06 |title=Out-of-Print Criterion DVDs |url=https://lovedagainmedia.com/out-of-print-criterion-dvds |access-date=2026-02-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> Titles such as ''RoboCop'' (1987), ''Hard Boiled'' (1992), ''The Killer'' (1989), and ''Grand Illusion'' (1937) became unavailable when their publishing licenses expired or when Criterion published improved versions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=(admin) |date=2025-11-06 |title=Out-of-Print Criterion DVDs |url=https://lovedagainmedia.com/out-of-print-criterion-dvds |access-date=2026-02-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> such as those for ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1946),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cavitch |first=Max |date=2011-07-16 |title=Review: Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast on Criterion Blu-ray |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/beauty-and-the-beast-2048/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> ''M'' (1931),<ref>{{Cite web |title=M (1931) - Fritz Lang's M on DVD |url=https://www.tcm.com/articles/85834/m-1931-fritz-langs-m-on-dvd |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Turner Classic Movies |language=en-us}}</ref> ''The Wages of Fear'' (1953),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=Eric |date=2025-03-11 |title='The Wages of Fear' 4K UHD Blu-ray Review: The Criterion Collection |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/the-wages-of-fear-4k-uhd-blu-ray-review-henri-georges-clouzot/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US|last2=Cole|first2=Jake}}</ref> and ''Seven Samurai'' (1954).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=2024-06-06 |title=Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’ with a Trailer for the 4K Restoration — Watch |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/trailers/seven-samurai-4k-restoration-trailer-1235013085/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref> {{as of|October 2023|post=,}} over 200 of the 384 titles from the List of Criterion Collection Laserdisc releases have been re-released.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070527103302/http://www.criterion.com/asp/laserdisc_browse.asp Criterion Collection on Laserdisc]</ref>
Another example is the film ''Charade'' (1963), which had become a public-domain property for lacking the legally-required copyright notice.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/to-martin-scorsese-the-cr_b_627077 |title=To Martin Scorsese, the Criterion Collection and Anyone Else Who'll Listen: More Public Domain Classics Worth Saving{{!}}HuffPost |date=June 27, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812221328/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/to-martin-scorsese-the-cr_b_627077 |url-status=live }}</ref> Criterion produced a restored edition under license from Universal Pictures for the initial edition and for the later anamorphic widescreen re-release edition of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/55081/charade-universal-100th-anniversary/ |title=Charade (Universal 100th Anniversary): DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video |access-date=May 19, 2019 |archive-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927180708/https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/55081/charade-universal-100th-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Review - Charade (Criterion) |url=https://archive.thedigitalbits.com/reviews/charadecriterion.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=archive.thedigitalbits.com}}</ref>
Periodically, Criterion releases material on DVD and Blu-ray disc licensed from the studios with whom the company had previously dealt (such as Universal's and Terry Gilliam's 1985 film ''Brazil''); these new releases are generally undertaken on a case-by-case basis.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/25-essential-dvdblu-ray-releases-from-the-criterion-collection/ |title=25 Essential DVD/Blu-ray Releases from The Criterion Collection « Taste of Cinema |date=April 27, 2015 |access-date=May 19, 2019 |archive-date=May 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522173717/http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/25-essential-dvdblu-ray-releases-from-the-criterion-collection/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Criterion released its first Walt Disney Pictures title, Andrew Stanton's ''WALL-E'' (2008), in 2022. This was not the result of an ongoing deal between Disney (who has maintained a relationship with the distributor for titles from Touchstone Pictures and, since 2019, 20th Century Studios) and Criterion, but rather licensed as a one-off, with Stanton approaching Criterion and "wanting to be part of the club".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zilko |first=Christian |date=November 5, 2022 |title=Andrew Stanton Reached Out to Criterion About 'WALL-E' Because He 'Wanted to Be in the Club' |work=IndieWire |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/11/wall-e-andrew-stanton-reached-out-to-criterion-collection-1234779576/ |access-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122133214/https://www.indiewire.com/2022/11/wall-e-andrew-stanton-reached-out-to-criterion-collection-1234779576/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |date=November 23, 2022 |title=Andrew Stanton Remembers When 'Nobody Wanted to Make' Wall-E |work=New York |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/11/wall-e-director-on-his-criterion-debut-and-john-carter.html |access-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122192513/https://www.vulture.com/2022/11/wall-e-director-on-his-criterion-debut-and-john-carter.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2023, Criterion announced it would be working with Janus Films to create Janus Contemporaries, a home-video line for first-run international releases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Ned |date=2023-05-12 |title=The Criterion Announces Janus Contemporaries, A New Home-Video Line For First-Run Theatrical Releases |url=https://theplaylist.net/the-criterion-announces-janus-contemporaries-a-new-home-video-line-for-first-run-theatrical-releases-20230512/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=The Playlist |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Representation === Beginning in 2018 via streaming service FilmStruck, Criterion started offering curated film collections organized around queer themes for the month of June in recognition of Pride Month.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lowder |first=J. Bryan |date=2018-05-31 |title=FilmStruck Premiers Special Pride Programming, Starting With Films on the Art of Drag |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/05/filmstrucks-pride-collections-begin-with-the-art-of-drag.html |access-date=2026-03-03 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}</ref> Since FilmStruck shut down in November 2018<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2018-10-26 |title=WarnerMedia’s FilmStruck Subscription-Streaming Service to Shut Down |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/filmstruck-shutdown-warnermedia-turner-1202998364/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and Criterion debuted its own streaming service, The Criterion Channel, in April 2019,<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> Criterion now offers dozens of queer features, documentaries, and shorts for Pride Month each year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kramer |first=Gary M. |date=2025-06-02 |title=From ‘Paris Is Burning’ to ‘Weekend’: Criterion’s Channel’s Pride month playlist is a must-watch |url=https://epgn.com/2025/06/02/the-criterion-channel-pride-2025/ |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Philadelphia Gay News |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2020, after a ''The New York Times'' article titled “How the Criterion Collection Crops Out African-American Directors” was published, Peter Becker, Criterion’s president at the time, admitted to what he called his “blind spots.” Subsequently, and in response to the murder of George Floyd, Becker said in a 2024 interview with ''The'' ''NYT'', the company would correct course. Since then, it has released additional films by Steve McQueen and Ousmane Sembène as well as added films from Marlon Riggs, Cheryl Dunye, and others.<ref name="NYT-20240229" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desta |first=Yohana |date=2020-08-20 |title=Criterion President Admits Glaring Lack of Black Filmmakers: “We Have to Fix That” |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/08/criterion-collection-black-filmmakers |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Formats== All Criterion titles are numbered, which is shown on the bottom of the spine of the packaging. Though the bulk of Criterion's catalog is of live-action films, they have also released animated films (such as ''Fantastic Planet'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lund |first=Carson |date=2016-06-23 |title=Blu-ray Review: René Laloux’s Fantastic Planet on the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/fantastic-planet/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Fantastic Mr. Fox,''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=Chuck |date=2014-02-08 |title=Blu-ray Review: Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox on the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/fantastic-mr-fox-bd/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> ''WALL-E,''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zilko |first=Christian |date=2022-11-05 |title=Andrew Stanton Reached Out to Criterion About ‘WALL-E’ Because He ‘Wanted to Be in the Club’ |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/wall-e-andrew-stanton-reached-out-to-criterion-collection-1234779576/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref> and Flow<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lund |first=Carson |date=2016-06-23 |title=Blu-ray Review: René Laloux’s Fantastic Planet on the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/fantastic-planet/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>), television series (such as ''Tanner '88'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dessem |first=Matthew |date=2004-10-24 |title=The Criterion Contraption: #258: Tanner '88 |url=https://criterioncollection.blogspot.com/2004/10/258-tanner-88.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Criterion Contraption}}</ref> ''Fishing with John,''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dessem |first=Matthew |date=2004-10-24 |title=The Criterion Contraption: #258: Tanner '88 |url=https://criterioncollection.blogspot.com/2004/10/258-tanner-88.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Criterion Contraption}}</ref> and select episodes of ''I Love Lucy''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Sofia M. |date=2011-08-06 |title=‘I Love Lucy’: 5 Things to Know About the Series |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/i-love-lucy-5-things-220036/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''The Addams Family''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Addams Family: Criterion Television (1965) [CTV 1004L] |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/10048/CTV-1004L/Addams-Family:-Criterion-Television |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=www.lddb.com}}</ref>) and music videos (''Beastie Boys Video Anthology'').<ref>{{Citation |title=Video Anthology (The Criterion Collection) by Beastie Boys - RYM/Sonemic |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/video/beastie-boys/video-anthology-the-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |language=en}}</ref>
===LaserDisc and VHS/Betamax=== thumb|right|112px|The original "Criterion" logo The Criterion Collection began publishing LaserDiscs on December 1, 1984, with its release of ''Citizen Kane'', until March 16, 1999, with Michael Bay's ''Armageddon'' (spine #384).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holder |first=Ross |date=2022-11-07 |title=Everything We Know About the Criterion Collection |url=https://screenrant.com/everything-know-criterion-collection/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Criterion Collection Laserdiscs|url=http://www.laserdiscworld.com/criterion-collection-laserdiscs/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119154752/http://www.laserdiscworld.com/criterion-collection-laserdiscs/|archive-date=January 19, 2012|access-date=November 29, 2011}}</ref> Three of the company's early titles (''The 39 Steps'', ''The Lady Vanishes,'' and ''The Third Man'') were also issued on VHS and Betamax. These were Criterion's only releases on those formats—other Janus/Criterion titles were often released to VHS through Home Vision Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Brent |date=2021-01-12 |title=Alfred Hitchcock Collectors Guide: The Lady Vanishes (1938), Part 2 |url=https://brentonfilm.com/alfred-hitchcock-collectors-guide-the-lady-vanishes-1938-part-2 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Brenton Film |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== DVD and Blu-ray ===
[[File:Criterion Collection section at Barnes & Noble.jpg|thumb|Criterion Collection section at Barnes & Noble]]
Criterion entered the DVD market in 1998 with a reset numbering system, beginning with ''Seven Samurai'', spine #2 (''Grand Illusion'', spine #1,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jagernauth |first=Kevin |date=2010-02-02 |title=The Criterion Collection Loses Rights To A Handful Of Titles Including Spine #1 'Grand Illusion' |url=https://theplaylist.net/criterion-collection-loses-rights-to-20100202/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Playlist |language=en-US}}</ref> was delayed for a year while restoration was underway on a then-newly-found camera negative). As with its laserdiscs, Criterion's early DVD editions of widescreen films were presented in the letterbox format,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Between the Bars: Movies, Television, and Letterboxing |url=https://tedium.co/2016/04/12/movie-letterboxing-pan-scan-history/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Tedium: The Dull Side of the Internet. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DeBoer |first=Clint |date=2005-01-18 |title=Understanding Widescreen, Letterboxed, and Pan & Scan |url=https://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-formats/understanding-widescreen-letterboxed-and-pan-scan |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Audioholics Home Theater, HDTV, Receivers, Speakers, Blu-ray Reviews and News |language=en}}</ref> but Criterion did not anamorphically enhance its discs for 16:9 monitors until mid-1999 with its release of ''Insomnia'' (spine #47).<ref name="FAQS">{{cite web|title=FAQS|url=https://www.criterion.com/asp/faq.asp|publisher=The Criterion Collection|access-date=August 22, 2007|archive-date=September 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909153635/http://www.criterion.com/asp/faq.asp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dessem |first=Matthew |date=2006-01-07 |title=The Criterion Contraption: #47: Insomnia |url=https://criterioncollection.blogspot.com/2006/01/47-insomnia.html |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=The Criterion Contraption}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Review - Insomnia (Criterion) |url=https://archive.thedigitalbits.com/reviews/insomnia.html |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=archive.thedigitalbits.com}}</ref>
Criterion was slow to expand into high-definition releases, partly because of the HD format war between Blu-ray and HD DVD.<ref name="Sound & Vision">{{cite web|url=https://www.soundandvisionmag.com/installations/2916/criterion-remastered.html|publisher=Sound & Vision|title=Criterion Remastered|date=September 2008|first=Al|last=Griffin|access-date=January 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112012049/http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/installations/2916/criterion-remastered.html|archive-date=January 12, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Once Blu-ray emerged as the industry-standard high-definition home-video format, Criterion began to release Blu-ray editions of select films from its collection, beginning with the Blu-ray release of Wong Kar-wai's ''Chungking Express'' (spine #453) in December 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Atanasov|first1=Svet|title=Chungking Express Blu-ray|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Chungking-Express-Blu-ray/1197/#Review|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=September 14, 2015|date=November 22, 2008|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906234921/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Chungking-Express-Blu-ray/1197/#Review|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chungking Express (1994)|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/226-chungking-express|website=The Criterion Collection|access-date=January 10, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305071414/https://www.criterion.com/films/226-chungking-express|url-status=live}}</ref>
Despite the emergence of Blu-ray as the industry-standard high-definition format, Janus/Criterion continued to support the DVD format. Most of their new Blu-ray releases were accompanied by a standard-definition DVD version. In 2013, about 60% of the discs sold by Criterion were Blu-rays, while 40% were DVDs. "Dual format" packages that contained both DVD and Blu-ray discs were briefly experimented with<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2873-why-dual-format |title=Why Dual-Format?{{!}}The Current{{!}}The Criterion Collection |access-date=July 9, 2020 |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524015727/https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2873-why-dual-format |url-status=live }}</ref> between November 2013 with their release of the ''Zatoichi'' boxset (spine #679),<ref name=":3" /> up through September 2014 with ''All That Jazz'' (spine #724),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blakeslee |first=David |date=2014-09-02 |title=David Reviews Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz [Dual-Format Review] |url=https://criterioncast.com/reviews/blu-ray-reviews/david-reviews-bob-fosses-all-that-jazz-dual-format-review |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=CriterionCast |language=en-US}}</ref> in response to negative customer feedback.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3195-re-format |title=Re:Format{{!}}The Current{{!}}The Criterion Collection |access-date=July 9, 2020 |archive-date=July 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711013201/https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/3195-re-format |url-status=live }}</ref>
Aside from the core catalog, the company has also released films through its Essential Art House,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-13 |title=Janus Films Presents - Essential Art House Volume V - A Must Own Collection [DVD Box Set Review] |url=https://criterioncast.com/news/janus-films-presents-essential-art-house-volume-v-a-must-own-collection-dvd-box-set-review |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=CriterionCast |language=en-US}}</ref> Eclipse,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Nick |date=2025-08-06 |title=Criterion’s Resurrects Eclipse with 17-Film Abbas Kiarostami Blu-ray Set |url=https://thefilmstage.com/criterions-eclipse-series-returns-with-17-film-abbas-kiarostami-blu-ray-set/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mermelstein |first=David |date=2026-02-18 |title=From the Criterion Collection, Ernst Lubitsch’s Merry Musicals |url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/film/from-the-criterion-collection-ernst-lubitschs-merry-musicals-be9aa2f6 |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> Merchant Ivory,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dillard |first=Clayton |date=2015-09-30 |title=Blu-ray Review: Merchant Ivory’s A Room with a View on the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/a-room-with-a-view/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> and Janus Contemporaries<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-26 |title=Criterion Launches Excellent Janus Contemporaries Series {{!}} TV/Streaming {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/criterion-launches-excellent-janus-contemporaries-series |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref> lines, as well as a few releases outside of any product line. Many of these releases have also been collected and sold in various box sets.
In early 2016, for the first time in its history, Criterion announced it would begin releasing its catalogue outside of the US and Canada (earlier international Criterion titles, such as the Japanese LaserDisc of ''Blade Runner,'' were licensed to other companies).<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Deckard Out: A History of Blade Runner on Laserdisc |url=https://www.highdefdigest.com/blog/blade-runner-on-laserdisc/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Blade Runner (1982) (Uncut) |url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/147/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=www.lddb.com}}</ref> In partnership with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, releases began to be distributed with the launch of six titles in the U.K. during the month.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Ashley |date=2016-03-11 |title=Can the celebrated Criterion Collection make a splash in the UK? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/mar/11/can-the-celebrated-criterion-collection-make-a-splash-in-the-uk |access-date=2026-02-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leonsis |first=Elle |date=2016-03-07 |title=The Criterion Collection and Sony Finally Launch UK Distribution for Home Entertainment |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/the-criterion-collection-and-sony-finally-launch-uk-distribution-for-home-entertainment-61861/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref> When SPHE moved to Elevation Sales in the UK, the distribution moved to Spirit Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Tom |date=2023-08-17 |title=Criterion Collection 4K is coming to the UK |url=https://tomdavidson92.medium.com/criterion-collection-4k-is-coming-to-the-uk-750a6f65e59e |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>thumb|right|112px|A Criterion Collection logotype: Blu-ray Criterion label, dates from the first movies released on December 16, 2008. Criterion's DVD releases are Region 1 DVDs. Blu-ray discs are Region A-locked in North America or Region B-locked in the UK (though there are exceptions).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-11-03 |title=The Criterion Criteria: Why Are Criterion Blu Rays Region Coded? |url=https://them0vieblog.com/2011/11/03/the-criterion-criteria-why-are-criterion-blu-rays-region-coded/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=the m0vie blog |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FAQ|url=https://www.criterion.com/faq|access-date=July 25, 2021|website=criterion.com|archive-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802085216/https://www.criterion.com/faq|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Ultra HD Blu-ray ==== In August 2021, Criterion announced it would begin publishing titles on the Ultra HD Blu-ray (4K) format in November 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Machkovech |first=Sam |date=2021-08-11 |title=Criterion announces support for 4K UHD Blu-ray, beginning with Citizen Kane |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/08/criterion-announces-support-for-4k-uhd-blu-ray-beginning-with-citizen-kane/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> Almost all Criterion Ultra HD Blu-ray releases will include both a 4K copy and a regular Blu-ray copy of a film (with special features on the regular Blu-ray), with select releases including Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-11 |title=The Criterion Collection Goes 4K This November |url=https://screencrush.com/criterion-collection-4k-titles/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=ScreenCrush |language=en}}</ref> The first films to be released in this format included ''Citizen Kane'' (spine #1104, returning to the collection for the first time since 1992), ''Mulholland Drive,'' and ''Menace II Society''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-16|title=Criterion Announces November 2021 Titles|url=https://filmpulse.net/criterion-announces-november-2021-titles/|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Film Pulse|language=en-US|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904210628/https://filmpulse.net/criterion-announces-november-2021-titles/|url-status=live}}</ref> The company also released ''The Red Shoes'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blauvelt |first=Christian |date=2021-12-19 |title='The Red Shoes' 4K UHD Review: The Criterion Collection |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/the-red-shoes-4k-review-michael-powell-emeric-pressburger-criterion/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US|last2=Henderson|first2=Eric}}</ref> ''A Hard Day's Night, The Celebration'', ''The Piano,'' and others on Ultra HD Blu-ray disc by January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeVore |first=Britta |date=2021-10-15 |title=‘The Piano,’ ‘The Celebration,’ and More Coming to Criterion Collection in January |url=https://collider.com/the-piano-the-celebration-bluray-criterion-collection-january-2022/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Collider |language=en}}</ref> The 2019 film ''Uncut Gems'' (spine #1101), which was previously planned for a remastered Blu-ray release in October 2021, was delayed until November to also give the film an Ultra HD Blu-ray release.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Criterion Sets 'Uncut Gems' 4K Edition for Nov. 23 – Media Play News|date=September 2021|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/criterion-sets-uncut-gems-4k-edition-for-nov-23/|access-date=2021-09-04|language=en-US|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904210631/https://www.mediaplaynews.com/criterion-sets-uncut-gems-4k-edition-for-nov-23/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Streaming as the Criterion Channel === Criterion had provided titles for streaming video-on-demand (VOD) through partnerships with other companies, such as Mubi (formerly ''The Auteurs'', 2008), Hulu (2011–2016)<ref name="NetflixHuluNYT"/> and TCM's FilmStruck (2016–2018).<ref name="Kleeman"/> After FilmStruck announced it would be shutting down in November 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2018-10-26 |title=WarnerMedia’s FilmStruck Subscription-Streaming Service to Shut Down |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/filmstruck-shutdown-warnermedia-turner-1202998364/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Criterion stated in a blog post that it was "trying to find ways we can bring our library and original content back to the digital space as soon as possible".<ref name="News About FilmStruck"/>
A month later, Criterion announced their own standalone subscription service, the Criterion Channel, available to subscribers in the US and Canada. The service began on April 8, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desta |first=Yohana |date=2019-01-31 |title=After the Death of FilmStruck, Criterion Officially Launches Its Own Streaming Service |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/01/criterion-channel-streaming-service |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2019-03-22 |title=Criterion Channel, Rising From FilmStruck Ashes, Sets April Launch Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/criterion-channel-rising-from-filmstruck-ashes-sets-april-launch-slate-1202580727/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> The Channel's offerings include classic and contemporary Criterion and Janus films and shorts, rotating playlists from studios and indies, temporarily licensed films (and some television offerings), and supplementary features (which include trailers, behind-the-scenes documentaries, interviews, video essays, commentary tracks, and archival footage).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2019-03-22 |title=Criterion Channel, Rising From FilmStruck Ashes, Sets April Launch Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/criterion-channel-rising-from-filmstruck-ashes-sets-april-launch-slate-1202580727/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Criterion also maintains a close relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming platform HBO Max, which frequently also houses Criterion-released titles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=2024-11-19 |title=Max Extends Criterion Collection Deal, Adds Three ‘Godzilla’ Films and Other Titles (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/criterion-collection-extends-hbo-max-deal-1236212411/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also ==
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.criterion.com/|Criterion Collection}} – official site * {{Official website|https://www.criterionchannel.com/|Criterion Channel}} – official site * [https://www.blu-ray.com/Criterion/1281925 Criterion Collection] at Blu-ray.com * [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1956135 Criterion Collection] at NPR * [https://mubi.com/lists/netflix-instant Criterion Collection] titles on Netflix Instant Watch at MUBI * {{YouTube|u=criterioncollection|The Criterion Collection}} * {{YouTube|JgCg5KYBBB8|Criterion Origin History (video; 15:45)}} * {{YouTube|wEu0QiKQFvA |Criterion Supercut (1190 titles; May 2023) (video; 23:45)}} * [https://www.criterion.com/closet-picks Criterion Closet Picks]
{{Criterion Collection}} {{Region 1 home video}} {{VOD services}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Criterion Collection}} Category:The Criterion Collection Category:Home video lines Category:Home video companies of the United States Category:DVD companies of the United States Category:LaserDisc Category:Entertainment companies established in 1984 Category:Privately held companies based in New York City Category:Film preservation