Streaming Service Review: The Criterion Channel

We review the ultimate streaming platform for cinephiles

We’re back with another streaming service review! As we’re all spending more time at home these days, it’s a good occasion to try out some of the lesser known streaming platforms out there. Last month, we reviewed Shudder, the ultimate service for fans of horror and thriller movies. 

Today, we turn our attention to the Criterion Channel. Launching just over a year ago, this is the digital platform of the Criterion Collection, which is known for its specialty DVD and Blu-ray releases of classic, foreign, and indie cinema. With over 1,000 movies that can be hard to find elsewhere, the Criterion Channel is a film lover’s dream. Let’s get to the review. 

Collection

How good is the service’s film collection, based on quality, quantity, variety, and uniqueness?

Drew: Based on your taste and interests, the Criterion Channel either has an endless feast of great movies to explore or a bunch of obscure titles that you have little to no interest in. On the service, there are mostly Hollywood classics, international arthouse essentials, and also contemporary indie films. You won’t see much in the way of mainstream blockbusters, but you will find a mountain of diverse films from the United States and around the world. There’s also tons of special features available to supplement your experience and help you learn more. In addition to interviews with filmmakers and actors, Criterion’s Adventures in Moviegoing series is especially worth checking out. This is where you can hear people like Bill Hader, Sofia Coppola, and Rian Johnson talk about their biggest cinematic influences. One thing is for sure: If you are looking for a film education, there is no better place than the Criterion Channel. 

Billy: This is an all time service created for any art medium. The exact service that humbles any self-proclaimed film geek while satisfying any desire that needs to be explored. The platform is nothing short of spectacular in most aspects. The only difficult thing that comes from all of these options is knowing where to look. Do you go to a classic or profile an actor? Or maybe deep dive into an era of film that is often not explored? Regardless of your route there is no stopping your search because even once you see all the movies (which you never will) there are behind-the-scenes videos for days about most of their products. The only part that is occasionally lacking is the accessibility of this product. Having a streaming accessory like Apple TV or Amazon Fire Stick is a must, so without it requires Chromecast or some other projecting app, which can lead to slightly less quality, but overall it is not much of an issue. I encourage the most novice film fan to give this a try. 

What we watched

What did we watch on the service and would we recommend anything?

Drew: Stray Dog, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo, Le Samourai

One of the unique things about the Criterion Channel is that, due to the size of their library, you can go on your own personal tour of a specific filmmaker, era, or country. I watched three movies from legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, whose work greatly influenced Clint Eastwood, Star Wars, and Martin Scorsese, to name a few famous examples. Stray Dog (1949) is an urban detective drama that helped set the template for the buddy cop genre. Throne of Blood (1957) is a brilliant Japanese retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Yojimbo (1961) is a lone samurai film that basically birthed the Spaghetti Western and Clint Eastwood’s whole persona. Finally, I stepped away from the Kurosawa tour and caught Le Samourai (1967), which is just about the most cold-blooded French movie you’ll ever see. It’s a quiet hitman noir (in color, for those of you allergic to black-and-white movies) that revels in nonchalant cool. All four of these are very much worth watching. 

Billy: Paris, Texas, Drunken Angel, Stray Dog, Rashomon, and The Hidden Fortress

Like Drew I have begun a deep dive into Akira Kurosawa, but before that I watched a movie that needs to be more a part of the conversation when it comes to movies that define America. Paris, Texas (1984)stars Harry Dean Stanton, one of the best character actors of all-time, who is a drifter that we meet towards the end of his quiet journey. What follows is a story about a man reconnecting with himself, his son, and the sacrifice that is needed to benefit them both. It’s a truly moving movie that was the perfect inauguration into my Criterion experience. Drunken Angel (1948)begins director Akira Kurosawa’s relationship with superstar Toshiro Mifune. Mifune and Kurosawa are the equivalent to DiCaprio and Scorsese’s partnership. Mifune provides the archetype for pretty much every modern day superstar you can think of. One of the first superstars to be completely charismatic, silly, and flawed. A fascinating journey to go through to understand modern day cinema and that possibility would not be so accessible without Criterion.

Price and free trial

Is the price point high or low based on what comes with the service?

Drew: At $11 per month (or $100 per year), the Criterion Channel is right about in the Netflix and Hulu price range, and less than HBO’s $15 per month. For a film nerd like myself, that is definitely worth it (despite my wife’s complaints that we don’t need another streaming service). If you have an interest in classic, foreign-language, and/or indie movies, then Criterion is worth every penny, considering the amount of exclusive content they provide. Plus, the 14-day free trial gives you enough time to decide if it’s for you. 

Billy: There is no reason that this should be Netflix and Hulu prices. Maybe it is a bit of a utopian mentality, but this is the only platform that has such an authentic community. All of their products are curated to preserve film history while also sending modern cinema into an interesting direction. The only downside is the selective nature of what new films make it into the “criterion collection.” That leads to a slight limitation that could make it hard for more casual fans to figure out what to watch.

User interface

Is the interface on the app or website intuitive and easy to use?

Drew: It’s easy enough to get around the Criterion Channel, although the search function on the Roku app could be more user-friendly. Navigating their massive library is easier on a laptop or desktop browser, where you can easily filter by genre, decade, country, or director. I haven’t had any issues with playback and the site’s design is classy and minimalist. 

Billy:The most intuitive of the smaller streaming service platforms that I have experienced. Leaving off and coming back does not leave the user confused and except for one bad day, casting to your chromecast or using an HDMI adapter with your computer has worked wonderfully. 

Overall

What’s the overall rating and is this service worth checking out?

Drew: 9 out of 10 -- To me, paradise is an entire weekend free to watch movies on the Criterion Channel. I’ve only had it a couple weeks and my watchlist is already loaded up with early Alfred Hitchcock mysteries, French New Wave classics, and some of the best foreign-language movies of the 21st century. There’s an entire wonderful world on the Criterion Channel and I can’t think of a better time to dive in. 

Billy: 8 out of 10 -- This is the best time to get started with this seemingly endless amount of unique options. For me this is an easy 9.5 out of 10, but it loses a bit because of the overwhelming aspect for the casual fan. Not knowing where to start would be a huge problem for anyone who dives in on a whim. For one person this is an endless feast and to the other it is an environment of resources without knowing what to eat. With all that being said, it is a small hill to climb in the grand scheme of movie history.