FAQs

What is the relationship between the Criterion Collection and Janus Films?

The companies share similar missions but focus on different markets. Criterion publishes DVDs and spends most of its energy on the home video market. Janus handles theatrical and nontheatrical showings, as well as television and cable licenses.

To learn more about Janus Films, please visit: www.janusfilms.com.

How does Criterion decide which films receive the “Criterion Treatment”?

We aim to reflect the breadth of filmed expression. We try not to be restrictive or snobby about what kinds of films are appropriate. An auteur classic, a Hollywood blockbuster, and an independent B horror film each has to be taken on its own terms. All we ask is that each film in the collection be an exemplary film of its kind. Of course we can’t just pick movies and put them out. The process of getting the rights to release a film can take years. Even if we want a film, we can’t work on it unless the film’s owners grant us the rights. Why so few films from South Asia or China?”—and we’re continually working to fill those gaps.

How does Criterion decide which special features to include, and who contributes to them?

Each film release has a producer who oversees the entire process, from restoration to supplemental features to packaging. The producer researches available materials, conceives of original supplements, and decides which features truly add value to the appreciation of the film. We are fortunate to work with many great film directors, cinematographers, actors, scholars, and critics. We do not let market factors or an arbitrary quantity of supplements determine our decision for inclusion; rather it is on a case-by-case basis, serving the purpose of enhancing the viewer’s experience of that particular film.

Does Criterion sell its DVDs outside of the United States, and what regions do the DVDs play in?

We only publish DVDs for the North American market and our DVDs are encoded region 1.

Will Criterion rerelease its laser disc collection on DVD, or any older titles that have gone out of print?

We would love to be able to rerelease all our laser disc titles on DVD, however it isn’t always possible due to rights issues. We are continuously working on acquiring rights to films we want to include in the collection, including renewing rights for films we previously released on laser disc, or for DVD titles that have gone out of print. However, whether or not we can acquire those rights again depends a lot on the rights holder, and each film is a different case.

Who do I contact if I have a problem with my packaging or a technical issue with my DVD?

Please send an e-mail to Jon Mulvaney at mulvaney@criterion.com. We are happy to replace any defective DVDs you have. And we appreciate hearing about any technical issues with our DVDs, as we care a lot about the quality of our products.

Are all Criterion DVDs presented in their original theatrical aspect ratio? Why does Criterion windowbox?

Every Criterion DVD features an About the Transfer section in the DVD insert. Here you will find the aspect ratio of the film listed, along with information about the picture and sound elements from which it was transferred. We endeavor to present every film in its original aspect ratio (i.e., the ratio of height to width of the image), unless the filmmaker expressly requests a slightly different framing. What that means is that the Criterion brand is your guarantee that you’re getting the complete picture as the filmmaker intended.

We present films that were shot in 4 x 3 Academy ratio windowboxed because almost all television sets scan the image, and a portion of the image is cut from the area that is visible on the screen. So that no portion of the picture is missing when the DVD is played, we provide black around the picture in the hope that only the black is scanned.

Do all Criterion DVDs have English language subtitles? Does Criterion subtitle in other languages?

All our DVDs have English subtitles. We do not subtitle in other languages, because in almost all cases we only have the rights to publish our DVDs in the original language and/or an English version.

Why do Criterion DVDs often cost more than other DVDs?

Our prices reflect all the resources we put into making each DVD a special release. Each DVD has a producer who finds the best supplemental features that will help further the appreciation of the film, often producing original content. The technical staff ensures that we are working with the best original source materials and digital masters by performing rigorous visual and audio restoration processes.

How can I tell if a Criterion DVD is a bootleg copy?

For the reasons stated above, it costs a lot of money for us to make a good DVD, and we know Criterion discs are not inexpensive, but we feel they are a good value. If you can buy a Criterion disc at a price you think is absurdly low, it’s probably not a legitimate disc. Also, a good thing to do is to make sure that the DVD’s ISBN number, UPC code, and catalog number match those that appear on our website. In addition, look for our copyright and confirm that the audio, video, and features specs match up. Although this cannot definitively determine a disc’s authenticity, you can feel safer if this information is consistent.

What are the upcoming titles? And how can I make a title suggestion?

We announce all our upcoming titles on our website as soon as we can make them public. Also, we announce upcoming titles in our newsletter, which we encourage you to sign up for to get special offers and contest giveaways. Click here to visit our sign-up page for more information.

If you would like to suggest a title, please write to suggestions@criterion.com. Though you will get an automatic reply, our acquisitions staff reads all the suggestions and appreciates hearing from you.

Do you have a loyalty program for people who buy directly from your website?

We appreciate the loyalty of our customers, and we do offer a gift certificate in the amount of $50 for every $500 spent at our store. Here’s how it works: every dollar you spend at the Criterion store (our website only) gets credited towards your total purchases. When you get to $500, we will send you a gift certificate with a coupon code worth $50. Don’t worry, we’ll keep track for you, but at the moment the running total of your purchases is not available online.

Can I get a discount or credit for a previously purchased title that you have rereleased?

In general, we’ll only rerelease a movie when we’ve obtained access to new materials that can make a significantly better release. These could be new film elements or a new restoration, or some supplements that were unavailable when we first released the movie. We tried to offer a rebate program for second releases of DVDs, but it wasn’t successful. The participation was very low, and we couldn’t price it at a level that made economic sense without unfairly competing with our resellers.

Who do I contact if I want to sell Criterion DVDs in my store, or license films for television, nontheatrical screenings, or clips usage?

Please send all sales inquiries to Jon Mulvaney at mulvaney@criterion.com. For other contact questions, please see our Contact Us page.

Do you offer wholesale pricing?

For information on wholesale discounts, please contact Jon Mulvaney at mulvaney@criterion.com. Wholesale sales are final and nonreturnable.

Are Criterion's Blu-ray discs region-encoded?

Yes. Criterion is licensed to sell most of its editions only in North America.

Why should I buy regular DVDs when I don't know if Criterion will release a Blu-ray version six months from now?

If you love these films, keep buying DVDs. It is going to be quite a while before the Blu-ray marketplace can support many of the titles Criterion releases on DVD. For new releases, if we think a title has a shot of succeeding on Blu-ray, we aim to put out both editions at the same time, so you can make an informed choice. Where classics from our catalog are concerned, to give you a little extra comfort we'll be offering a $20 Blu-ray upgrade program for customers who have already bought the equivalent edition on DVD.

You send us the movie disc from your DVD edition, and for $20 (plus tax and shipping) we'll exchange it for the Blu-ray version, simple as that.

How will the Blu-ray upgrade program work?

Just mail your disc to:

The Criterion Collection
Attn: Jon Mulvaney
215 Park Avenue South, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10003

Be sure to include your U.S. or Canadian mailing address inside the package, as we cannot ship outside of North America. Please also include your e-mail address in case we need to contact you. You can send in your disc for exchange anytime, but we won’t be sending out the Blu-ray discs until their release dates.

You can pay the $20 (plus $5 shipping and handling) by a check or money order made payable to the Criterion Collection. You can also pay by PayPal by making a payment to store@criterion.com (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover welcome).

We’ll mail the Blu-ray disc in a sleeve, and you'll be able to place the new disc in your existing packaging. This doesn't give you the new Blu-ray packaging, but it does give you an option if you want the Blu-ray version but don't want to buy the entire set again. This offer only applies to "like" editions. For example, you can return disc 1 of the rerelease of The Third Man but not the earlier, out-of-print edition.

If you have any questions about the Blu-ray upgrade offer please e-mail Jon Mulvaney at mulvaney@criterion.com. We reserve the right to change or discontinue this program at any time.

What is the Blu-ray packaging going to look like?

Our Blu-ray packaging will be similar to our DVD packaging, only in the smaller Blu-ray size. As with DVDs, we'll use a range of paper and plastic packaging, and we'll bring the same care and attention to the design. Where we're upgrading an existing release, the design will match right down to the disc labels, so if you want to take advantage of the $20 Blu-ray upgrade program, your replacement disc will fit right into the design of your existing Criterion DVD edition. In the store, if you want to be sure you're buying the Blu-ray edition and not the standard-def DVD version, you'll know it by the smaller size and the blue Blu-ray sticker on the front.

Will Criterion's Blu-ray discs have spine numbers?

Spine numbers on our Blu-ray discs will match the existing DVD editions. Our Blu-ray releases represent a significant upgrade when it comes to audiovisual quality, and many of our customers will want to take advantage of that, but we're not starting over at number 1, and we're not expecting our longstanding DVD collectors to do so either. Where content is concerned, we aren't planning on publishing anything on our Blu-ray editions that won't also be available on DVD. Whether you collect only DVDs or only Blu-ray discs or a mix, it's all part of your Criterion collection—and they'll all line up in spine-number order.

What will Criterion Blu-ray discs cost?

Criterion's Blu-ray editions will generally be priced to match our DVDs. It makes sense to us: High-definition mastering and restoration has been a part of our DVD production standard for years. And for our customers who might be on the fence about whether to buy DVD or Blu-ray, we thought the best thing we could do was take price out of the equation.