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If you’re passionate about cinema, you will have come across the Criterion Collection before. The home video distribution company has been restoring and distributing both classic and contemporary films since its inception and has released everything from movie shorts to collection box sets. If you aren’t overly familiar with the Criterion Collection and its wonderful amount of Blu-ray discs, then let us introduce you. We've compiled everything we know about the Criterion Collection.

When was the Criterion Collection founded?

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The Criterion Collection was founded back in New York City in 1984, meaning its 40th anniversary is coming up in a little over one year. The company was founded by three business partners: Robert Stein, Aleen Stein, and Joe Medjuck, who were later joined by television and film actor Roger Smith. The Steins, who originally founded the Criterion Collection, went on to open the Voyager Company, which was in the business of publishing educational multimedia CD-ROMs. Eventually, the Criterion Collection became a subdivision of Voyager, with Janus Films holding a small stake. Voyager Company eventually dissolved in 1997, but Aleen Stein alongside William Becker and Jonathan B. Turell (Voyager Company) kept the Criterion Collection alive. To this day the three partners, alongside Janus Films, are still at the helm. From its initial inception, The Criterion Collection has been painstakingly restoring classic and contemporary films from all over the world. They are passionate about restoring film to the highest technical quality possible, and to the directors’ original preferences.

What Format Do The Criterion Collection Release on?

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In the early 80s, Criterion began releasing their selected films on LaserDisc. On December 1st, 1984 they released Citizen Kane on LaserDisc, and would continue to release LaserDisc features until 1999, with the sci-fi disaster film Armageddon being the last Criterion Collection film released in that format. Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai was the first Criterion movie to be released on DVD format in 1998, and it took another decade for Criterion to change format again, this time to a high-definition format Blu-ray Disc. Since then, Criterion has stuck with Blu-ray Discs as their primary format, and they don't appear to be changing anytime soon.

One of the most beloved things on a Criterion Blu-ray Disc is all the additional features. Criterion pioneered the special features section for home movies as we know it and on most releases there are hours of additional content a movie fan can sink their teeth into. Special features often include video essays, directors commentary, deleted scenes, different music scores, and behind-the-scenes footage.

Where To Stream Criterion Collection Films

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Yes! As of April 8th, Criterion released its very own streaming platform, The Criterion Channel. Available in the U.S. and Canada, the streaming service grants access to over 1,000 titles that are currently present in the Criterion Collection. This is a movie lovers’ dream! Sure you don’t get the beautiful artwork and additional content of the physical release, but it is really satisfying to log on and watch a brilliantly restored classic film at the touch of a few buttons. You can access the channel from a web browser or through apps available on Amazon Fire, Roku, iOS, Apple TV and Android Devices.