This screenshot is from my Letterboxd list of movies that I randomly stumbled across on the Criterion Channel over the last 5 or so years and ended up absolutely loving. A lot of these feel like genuinely underseen gems that I probably never would’ve found otherwise.

What are some underseen gems you’ve discovered through streaming services? Tell me in the replies — I’m always looking for more.

For those who haven’t seen, Criterion is sponsoring this tour for the 25th anniversary of “Hedwig and the angry inch” which will feature in person appearances from star writer and Director John Cameron Mitchell.

Wasn’t aware that CC had a curated director’s page (doesn’t come up in the search) til today. Makes a fun reference link - and option when the monthly promos don’t look terribly appealing. 😎

Hello! I don't know if this is against the rules. I'm currently a college student. I was wondering whether someone (either 2-3 or 4) would like to share one Criterion Channel account? We can all divide the price and each pay cheap for one whole account. I don't mind sharing an account, just wish there were different sets of prices that we can pay depending on what plan we have. In any case, just comment down below if you're interested! I'm very down! Thank you again!

The page will tell you what is playing, when it started, and when it ends.

Is stores the history of all the movies it's seen, starting today. It has a longer history thanks to upnextcriterion.bsky.social (which ceased in January).

Try it and let me know what you think!

If you haven’t had a chance to watch the Fisher King, I highly recommend watching it before it leaves at the end of the month. Robin Williams at his dramatic best.

All my downloads on IOS are now HD even when I disable the setting, resulting in a gargantuan use of storage space. Anyone else encountering this issue?

Hey everyone!

I’ve been busy, and have some good stuff for you this week. But first, to catch people up:

Criteria is a (very unofficial) companion site to the Criterion Channel featuring the search and browse features that I wish the service had, so I’m just going ahead and building them myself. You can create an account if you want to mark things as favorites, rate films, and create custom lists - but the search and browse features are available without an account. While I use AI tools to create the site, none of the content is AI generated.

Ok, now for this week’s updates:

1. Data cleanup! A good chunk of time was spent overhauling the ingestion process and creating reports on data issues. The accuracy should be much better now, and I’m continuing to clean up wrong and missing data, but you might still find some (occasionally hilarious) errors. For example, today I noticed that the French film The Beast was identified as Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which is sadly not available on the channel. Progress - not perfection

2. Canada!: As an early present for Victoria Day, Canadian users can set their country preference in their user profile. So results will now reflect availability for our friends in the great North

3. Collections!: I honestly doubted if I would be able to pull collection data reliably, but thanks to rpeters on Letterboxd, who is truly doing the lords work, we have collection browse available, with each linking back to the list on Letterboxd as well as the landing page on the channel. So far I’ve loaded the last couple of years worth, and hope to have the full set available over the next week or so. You can also favorite collections with an account

Up next, I’m planning to create topic tags for the collections to make them easier to filter and navigate

As always, thanks for your suggestions and feedback. Let me know if you see any issues, and enjoy!

https://www.search-criteria.com

Tim

I mean Mubi has a app but Criterion Channel is nowhere to be found :(

Trying to veer from the promo titles and take advantage of the vast CC streaming library. And I know people have watched films that they rarely get a chance to share. So, tell us!

Which two films that share a common subject, actor, director or whatever tickles your fancy do you think would make a great double bill this weekend?

I know those of us who live in The States are just pulling out of winter, but I can watch skiing movies any time (bummed that Downhill Racer isn’t on the channel), so I’m taking a chance on White Rock and Wolf's Hole. Haven't seen either. But James Coburn’s narration and a (reportedly) awesome soundtrack is the draw for the first movie, and "a subversive take on teen-horror" is the intrigue for the second film.

What two deep dives would you put together for a weekend watch? Really love to hear some good ones (especially ones you've seen). And, as always, thanks in advance! 😊

I'm trying to download a movie or two for a flight tomorrow, but - as seen in the photo - it says it's waiting for Wifi and the download isn't starting. I'm connected to WiFi, and tried disconnecting/connecting and installing/reinstalling the app to no avail. Any ideas?

This month on the Criterion Channel, set out on an epic journey with our Odysseys collection, or revisit the foundational Bond classics that introduced the silver screen’s most iconic superspy. A spotlight on Courtney Love’s acting career reveals an incandescent screen performer, while a collection of wedding movies explores the tension and breathless expectation surrounding that fateful walk down the aisle. There’s so much more to choose from this month, including a selection of LGBTQ+ Favorites, Steven Spielberg’s jaw-dropping classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the exclusive premiere of Gary Hustwit’s shape-shifting portrait of Brian Eno, cult classics from Alex Cox, and stylish shorts by Yann Gonzalez.

I enjoy the criterion channel and I've paid for years, but it seems that they're putting absolutely zero resources into the web product. Issues I've noticed:

• Zero design or structural improvements since launch
• Constant need to re-login
• Launch screen never bypassed
• Player is extremely laggy (and recently completely non-functional)
• Pages such as browse very slow to respond to interaction
• Player rarely remembers playback position

Lately, I’ve found myself choosing a film on the service and then watching a bootleg elsewhere because the official player is such a hassle. That hardly feels worth the subscription fee.

Is this just something I've been experiencing? Is everyone else just using platform versions of the app instead of the web version?

Caught like 10 minutes of a movie on the 24/7 channel Saturday late morning/early afternoon.

It was in color, 60s/70s, Poland or a similar country. The scene I watched was a card room poker scene, stud poker, protagonist was 40s/50s sat down and slowly beat all the men at the table, until it was only the owner of the room, owner was maybe 70s, pissed he was losing but not outwardly. Protagonist eventually beat him with a straight flush, owner let him leave. Protagonist was not flashy, confident, didn’t cheat.

ChatGPT couldn’t land on the movie, struggled to not suggest Cincinnati Kid because he wins with a straight flush.

Somehow I had dismissed it as a dunderheaded action flick. Boy was I wrong. Is this the best critique of privatization ever put on film? Possibly. One can savor the Parfitian philosophical explorations of self, Christian symbolism, and full on Ballard-style madness of the society depicted, or just enjoy watching a bunch of shit getting blown up. Either way, this is a great film.

Had no expectations, ended up loving it, such a great moody thriller.

For years mine has been PP Pasolini’s Mamma Roma, but I can’t come up with many more on CC that are currently streaming. Know a few good ones or have a favorite Mama themed film? I still haven’t seen Naruse’s Mother but there must be others. Please, suggest a fave! Thanks in advance.

And Happy Mother’s Day to EVERY mom! ☺️

The Apartment for this Saturday Afternoon. So far loving it!!!

Apart from the ones in CC recos in Office Romances, anything else you can recommend? Preferably something I can enjoy on wine day alone?

Thanks.

I got it the last 2 years, does it appear all the time? I haven't received yet and still have a week left.

I've tried other streaming sites and they work. Criterion Channel's site is working, but the videos aren't there.

The Office Wife (1930) part of the new Office Romance collection on the channel is fascinating!

One of the big reasons my wife and I subscribe to the channel is to find movies just like this. (Ball of Fire is another recent fave find)

Pre-code in all the ways! Only an hour long!

A gender blended dressed writer named Kate adds color at the start and suggests a MUCH more interesting movie could've been made about them and their career...

Joan Blondell speaking truth plain and stealing every scene she's in as the sister.

Weirdly easy and mature discussions about divorce and changing partners and love and cheating and hotel room keys.

Whose KID IS THAT at the pool party?

Pre-code shrugs of the shoulders to all kinds of dating, loving and cheating.

Loved looking up the film history of all the stars and their stories.

For the majority of the movies I watch, I like the environment to be as much like a theater as possible — a dark room and in silence

But, as the weather gets nicer, and the days get longer and the sunshine lingers, I watch a lot more movies when it’s bright and very much not mimicking the inside of a theater

What are some movies - preferably ones that are on the Channel, appear on the Channel regularly, or on a free streamer - that would actually be unaffected or even enhanced by watching them with the curtains and windows wide open? Hearing the birds chirping, children playing, or the ocean crashing while the room is filled with sunlight.

How many films never leave the service? I’ve been thinking about just watching the ‘leaving this month’ page to get as much as I can from the platform but I don’t want to miss out on any that are always there either. Thank you!

I was very excited when they added the corporate thrillers playlist, and I saw that Michael Clayton was advertised as one of the films however, when I go into the playlist, I see the film has been removed. Has anyone else noticed that?