What Is the Criterion Collection?
The Criterion Collection is a curated library of important classic and contemporary films, known for its meticulous restorations, thoughtful supplementary materials, and consistent championing of world cinema. Founded in 1984, it began as a LaserDisc label and has evolved into one of the most respected names in home video and streaming. Today, Criterion titles are available physically (Blu-ray and DVD) and digitally through the Criterion Channel streaming platform.
With over a thousand spine numbers and a catalogue spanning nearly a century of filmmaking, it can be daunting. Here's how to approach it.
Step 1: Choose Your Entry Point by Mood
Don't approach Criterion alphabetically or by spine number. Instead, start by asking what kind of films you already love:
- If you love slow-burn dramas: Start with Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal or Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker.
- If you love thrillers: Try Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps or Henri-Georges Clouzot's The Wages of Fear.
- If you love American indie cinema: Wes Anderson's early films (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums) are in the collection and provide an accessible gateway.
- If you love Japanese cinema: Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is the single most recommended entry point in the entire collection.
- If you love comedy: Jacques Tati's Mon Oncle or the early Preston Sturges films are endlessly watchable.
Step 2: Follow Directors, Not Lists
The most rewarding way to explore Criterion is to pick a director whose work resonates with you and watch their entire filmography within the collection. Directors with multiple Criterion titles include:
- Akira Kurosawa (7+ titles)
- Ingmar Bergman (39 titles in a dedicated box set)
- Jean-Luc Godard (multiple titles across the French New Wave)
- Wong Kar-wai (several titles including In the Mood for Love)
- Federico Fellini (multiple titles including 8½)
Step 3: Use the Criterion Channel Intelligently
The Criterion Channel is the most cost-effective way to explore the collection. It organises content through themed programmes, director spotlights, and curated double features. Features worth using:
- Double Features — Criterion pairs films thematically, offering context that enriches both viewings.
- Film Series — Themed collections (e.g., "New Wave Cinema" or "Masters of Horror") give structure to your exploration.
- Supplementary Materials — Essays, interviews, and video essays are often as valuable as the films themselves.
Recommended Starting Slate (10 Films)
| Film | Director | Why Start Here |
|---|---|---|
| Seven Samurai | Kurosawa | Universally accessible; epic and emotional |
| Breathless | Godard | The French New Wave in 90 minutes |
| 8½ | Fellini | The definitive film about filmmaking |
| In the Mood for Love | Wong Kar-wai | Visually stunning; emotionally devastating |
| Rashomon | Kurosawa | Short, perfect, endlessly discussed |
| The 400 Blows | Truffaut | Essential coming-of-age cinema |
| Rushmore | Anderson | Modern classic; great gateway film |
| Certified Copy | Kiarostami | Beautifully puzzling contemporary film |
| The Wages of Fear | Clouzot | Pure tension; riveting to modern eyes |
| Persona | Bergman | Challenging but transformative |
One Final Tip
Read the essays. Every Criterion release comes with liner notes written by critics, scholars, and filmmakers. These essays are genuinely illuminating and often reframe what you just watched. The supplement is not an afterthought — it's half the experience.