The Criterion Collection

The Criterion Collection, Inc.
Company type	Privately held company
Industry	Motion picture video production
Founded	1984
Founders	Robert Stein; Aleen Stein; Joe Medjuck;
Headquarters	New York City, New York, U.S.
Area served	United Kingdom (Europe); United States, Canada (North America);
Key people	Jonathan B. Turell; (CEO); Peter Becker; (President);
Products	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);
Owner	The Voyager Company (1985–1997); Steven Rales (2024–present)
Number of employees	40
Parent	Janus Films
Divisions	Eclipse from the Criterion Collection; Essential Art House from Janus Films;
Website	criterion.com

The Criterion Collection, Inc. (or simply Criterion) is an American home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films".^[3] Criterion serves film and media scholars, cinephiles^[4]^[5] 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. Criterion has produced and distributed more than 1,000 special editions of its films in VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray formats and box sets. These films and their special features are also available via The Criterion Channel, an online streaming service that the company operates.

The Criterion Collection is considered a leading boutique Blu-ray label.^[6]^[7]

^ ^a ^b ^c "The Criterion Collection Inc". Hoover's. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2008.
^ Bachman, Justin (April 16, 2014). "How Hulu Found a Subscriber Lure in Obscure Films". Bloomberg Business. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
^ Hunt, Joshua (February 29, 2024). "Sure, It Won an Oscar. But Is It Criterion? - How the Criterion Collection became the film world's arbiter of taste". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "Criterion Mission Statement". Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
^ "How Criterion Collection Brings Movies Back From the Dead – Gizmodo on YouTube". Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
^ Kozak, Oktay Ege (December 5, 2017). "The Best Boutique Blu-ray Distributors (Who Aren't Criterion)". Paste. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
^ Jarvis, Henry (August 12, 2022). "10 Best Boutique Blu-Ray Brands". CBR.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

[hoovers-1] "The Criterion Collection Inc". Hoover's. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2008.

[Sub-2] Bachman, Justin (April 16, 2014). "How Hulu Found a Subscriber Lure in Obscure Films". Bloomberg Business. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2015.

[NYT-20240229-3] Hunt, Joshua (February 29, 2024). "Sure, It Won an Oscar. But Is It Criterion? - How the Criterion Collection became the film world's arbiter of taste". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.

[4] "Criterion Mission Statement". Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2009.

[5] "How Criterion Collection Brings Movies Back From the Dead – Gizmodo on YouTube". Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.

[6] Kozak, Oktay Ege (December 5, 2017). "The Best Boutique Blu-ray Distributors (Who Aren't Criterion)". Paste. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

[7] Jarvis, Henry (August 12, 2022). "10 Best Boutique Blu-Ray Brands". CBR.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

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