The Criterion Channel Is the Ultimate Streamer for Classic Movie Lovers
The Criterion Channel offers an unmatched collection of classic films, curated content, and exclusive features for true cinema enthusiasts.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the number of streaming options out there. But it gets easier if you can focus on the kind of content you really love. And when it comes to movie enthusiasts looking for a go-to streamer for classic movies, The Criterion Channel is the clear choice. Packed with curated films spanning international cinema, Hollywood masterpieces, and rare art-house films, The Criterion Channel goes beyond just offering movies—it offers a full-fledged cinematic experience. If you’re looking for a streaming destination to celebrate the best of classic and rare cinema, I think The Criterion Channel is the way to go.
Everything You Need to Know About The Criterion Channel
What Is The Criterion Channel?
The Criterion Channel is a streaming service dedicated to classic and contemporary films, offering a curated selection of over 1,000 titles from around the world. It’s really a movie lover’s paradise, featuring thousands of historically groundbreaking feature films since the dawn of cinema. Thematically programmed and tailored by genre, year, director, or theme, the service is a treasure trove of milestone movies and hidden gems. The platform also provides access to more than 500 shorts and 5,000 supplementary features, such as trailers, introductions, behind-the-scenes documentaries, interviews, video essays, commentary tracks, and rare archival footage.
The Criterion Channel
The Criterion Channel is a movie lover’s paradise, featuring thousands of historically groundbreaking feature films since the dawn of cinema. Thematically programmed and tailored by genre, year, director, or themes, the service is a treasure trove of milestone movies and hidden gems. Here’s where you’ll find classics like Ikiru (1952), The Gold Rush (1925), Eraserhead (1978), Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962), and many more.
Why Criterion Channel Is the Best for Classic Movie Fans
The Criterion Channel stands out as the best streaming service for classic movie fans because of its clear dedication to cinematic history. It’s not just a streaming service - it’s a portal into film history. Unlike other platforms that offer a handful of classics that eventually get buried under the latest superhero movie, The Criterion Channel is laser-focused on celebrating film as an art form. Its library spans golden-age Hollywood masterpieces, international cinema, and influential art-house films, making sure that viewers always have access to the seminal works that have shaped the industry.
One unique thing about The Criterion Channel is its approach to improving the movie-watching experience. The streamer offers extra features, like director commentaries, interviews, video essays, and behind-the-scenes documentaries. This gives film enthusiasts as well as the more casual viewers a deeper way to appreciate the art form, adding a layer of education on top of entertainment. The Criterion Channel also organizes its library into thoughtfully curated collections and themes, spotlighting key directors, movements, and genres.
There are a few other streamers that deserve honorable mentions, though. TCM offers a strong selection of classic films and provides some historical context and commentary through its live broadcasts and hosts. Max includes some classic cinema but mixes it within a broader lineup of mainstream and modern movies, so if that’s the kind of mix you like, Max is a good choice. MUBI is probably The Criterion Channel’s closest competitor, as it does a great job curating indie and art-house films, even if its classic film section isn’t quite as strong. It also serves as a production company and film distributor, producing and distributing exclusive films by emerging and established filmmakers available on its platform.
All that said, The Criterion Channel’s stable and robust classic film catalog, along with its bonus features and programming, takes the cake for those who are passionate about classic and influential cinema.
What Classic Movies Are Available On The Criterion Channel?
The Criterion Channel offers a very strong list of classic Hollywood and international films. From the French masterpiece “The 400 Blows” - François Truffaut’s semi-autobiographical film that captures the struggles of adolescence in post-war France, to the Hollywood sci-fi classic, “The Bride of Frankenstein,” a sequel to the original “Frankenstein” that continues the story of Dr. Frankenstein and his creation, introducing a female monster, to Akira Kurosawa’s seminal film, “Rashomon” exploring the nature of subjective truth, there is seemingly no end to the classic films on the platform.
Here are some of the other popular movies on The Criterion Channel:
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The 400 Blows
June 3, 1959For young Parisian boy Antoine Doinel, life is one difficult situation after another. Surrounded by inconsiderate adults, including his neglectful parents, Antoine spends his days with his best friend, Rene, trying to plan for a better life. When one of their schemes goes awry, Antoine ends up in trouble with the law, leading to even more conflicts with unsympathetic authority figures.
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Bride of Frankenstein
April 20, 1935Dr. Frankenstein and his monster both turn out to be alive, not killed as previously believed. Dr. Frankenstein wants to get out of the evil experiment business, but when a mad scientist, Dr. Pretorius, kidnaps his wife, Dr. Frankenstein agrees to help him create a new creature.
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Rashomon
August 26, 1950Brimming with action while incisively examining the nature of truth, “Rashomon” is perhaps the finest film ever to investigate the philosophy of justice. Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the story of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife.
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Seven Samurai
April 26, 1954A samurai answers a village’s request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.
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The Seventh Seal
February 16, 1957When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
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Bicycle Thieves
July 21, 1948Unemployed Antonio is elated when he finally finds work hanging posters around war-torn Rome. However on his first day, his bicycle—essential to his work—gets stolen. His job is doomed unless he can find the thief. With the help of his son, Antonio combs the city, becoming desperate for justice.
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Sullivan's Travels
November 30, 1941Successful movie director John L. Sullivan, convinced he won’t be able to film his ambitious masterpiece until he has suffered, dons a hobo disguise and sets off on a journey, aiming to “know trouble” first-hand. When all he finds is a train ride back to Hollywood and a beautiful blonde companion, he redoubles his efforts, managing to land himself in more trouble than he bargained for when he loses his memory and ends up a prisoner on a chain gang.
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Island of Lost Souls
December 24, 1932An obsessed scientist conducts profane experiments in evolution, eventually establishing himself as the self-styled demigod to a race of mutated, half-human abominations.
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Creature from the Black Lagoon
March 5, 1954When scientists exploring the Amazon River stumble on a “missing link” connecting humans and fish, they plan to capture it for later study. But the Creature has plans of his own, and has set his sights on the lead scientist’s beautiful fiancée, Kay.
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The Battle of Algiers
September 8, 1966Tracing the struggle of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale to gain freedom from French colonial rule as seen through the eyes of Ali from his start as a petty thief to his rise to prominence in the organisation and capture by the French in 1957. The film traces the rebels’ struggle and the increasingly extreme measures taken by the French government to quell the revolt.
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The Red Shoes
September 6, 1948In this classic drama, Vicky Page is an aspiring ballerina torn between her dedication to dance and her desire to love. While her imperious instructor, Boris Lermontov, urges to her to forget anything but ballet, Vicky begins to fall for the charming young composer Julian Craster. Eventually Vicky, under great emotional stress, must choose to pursue either her art or her romance, a decision that carries serious consequences.
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The Night of the Hunter
August 26, 1955In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.
How Much Does The Criterion Channel Cost?
The Criterion Channel costs $11 per month with no ads, and you can purchase it for one month or one year. That subscription gets you access to The Criterion Channel’s library, along with offline downloads and three simultaneous devices. It also includes a 14-day free trial so you can try it out to see if you like it.
What Platforms Can You Watch The Criterion Channel With?
The Criterion Channel is compatible with a bunch of the top platforms. You can watch it on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast (Google Cast), Roku, Android TV, iPhone/iPad, Android Phone/Tablet, Mac, Windows, Xbox, LG Smart TV (AirPlay), Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, and VIZIO Smart TV (AirPlay/Google Cast).