There’s no question that Criterion Collection releases come at a premium, but the level of care, restoration, and supplemental content that goes into each one makes many of them must-own titles. I started collecting Criterion laserdiscs back in 1989, and my library has since grown to over 323 titles. Every month feels like a trip to the candy store for film lovers.
Criterion’s first 4K Ultra HD releases included Citizen Kane, Menace II Society, Uncut Gems, The Piano, Mulholland Dr., The Red Shoes, and A Hard Day’s Night — the series has has now expanded to 124 titles with more coming almost every month.
After not watching any films for over 14 weeks due to my inpatient therapy in Florida, the desire to return to my favorite pastime and catch up is incredibly strong. Before heading down to Florida, I packed up my entire Criterion Collection, including some advance copies of new 4K restorations, and placed them in the backseat of my SUV. Having seen all of these iconic films multiple times, I consider them irreplaceable parts of my collection, each representing essential offerings from the Criterion label.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Why it’s essential:
A modern classic from the Coen Brothers, No Country for Old Men is a masterful exploration of fate, morality, and violence in a desolate Texas landscape. Based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel, the film features a chilling performance by Javier Bardem as the relentless Anton Chigurh, whose pursuit of a drug deal gone wrong drives the plot. With its stark cinematography, minimalistic dialogue, and haunting soundtrack, this film is a seminal example of neo-western cinema and is a must-have for any serious collector.
The Criterion Collection’s 4K UHD release of No Country for Old Men offers significant technical upgrades that enhance the viewing experience including a new 4K digital master, supervised and approved by director of photography Roger Deakins, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack.
The use of Dolby Vision HDR delivers deeper contrast, richer colors, and improved dynamic range, especially in the film’s shadow-heavy scenes. The Director-approved transfer also ensures that the visual tone and mood reflect the Coen brothers’ original intent with precise color grading and image fidelity.
Before I entered my 12-weeks of inpatient therapy I received a copy of the new 4K transfer as a gift and both the violence and dialogue stayed with me for many weeks. Before entering my 12 weeks of inpatient therapy, I received the new 4K transfer as a gift—and its haunting violence and razor-sharp dialogue lingered with me for weeks. Not one for the kids. Cormac McCarthy scarred me for life.
Where to buy: $26.73 at Amazon
Godzilla (1954)
Why it’s essential:
The original Godzilla (or Gojira) by Ishirō Honda is not only the birth of the iconic kaiju genre but also a profound allegory about nuclear fear in post-war Japan. The film tells the story of a massive, radioactive creature awakened by nuclear tests, wreaking havoc on Tokyo. With its striking special effects and deeply political undertones, Godzilla is a pivotal piece of cinematic history that influenced countless monster films that followed.
Criterion Collection’s 4K release of Godzilla brings the iconic film to life with stunning clarity and detail. The restoration features a 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. The restoration was scanned from the original 35mm negative, offering significantly improved sharpness and fine detail; and the original Japanese monaural soundtrack has been cleaned up for better fidelity and clarity.
The release also includes Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) with Raymond Burr, fully restored in HD. Director Ishirō Honda could never have imagined the film’s status as a cult classic so many decades later.
Where to buy: $14.78 at Amazon
Double Indemnity (1944)
Why it’s essential:
Directed by Billy Wilder, Double Indemnity is one of the defining films of the film noir genre. With razor-sharp dialogue, morally ambiguous characters, and a dark, shadowy visual style, it set the blueprint for future thrillers. The story of an insurance salesman and a femme fatale plotting a murder for money is still as thrilling today as it was when it was released. It’s essential for understanding the evolution of American cinema and the noir genre’s impact on film history.
Nearly 78 years later, few films can rival the razor-sharp brilliance of Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity. Dialogue is everything in this noir masterpiece — a craft Hollywood seems to have increasingly neglected — and Wilder’s script remains a benchmark for screenwriting excellence. Barbara Stanwyck delivers a performance for the ages, her seductive yet chilling presence matched only by the equally compelling turns from Edward G. Robinson and Fred MacMurray.
It’s almost criminal that an entire generation of moviegoers may have never experienced this cinematic firestorm — a film that shattered conventions and forever changed the trajectory of American cinema.
Criterion’s 4K restoration is housed in an impressive three-disc set, featuring a UHD presentation in Dolby Vision HDR. Black levels are deeper, detail is more refined, and image sharpness is strikingly improved. The monaural soundtrack has also been meticulously cleaned up, allowing every biting line of dialogue to cut through with newfound clarity.
The two accompanying Blu-ray discs feature the film and a wealth of special features, including a captivating documentary on Billy Wilder that adds valuable context to his masterful direction.
Wilder infuses this dark, perverse 108-minute thriller with relentless intrigue and simmering sexual tension that holds you captive from start to finish. Don’t even bother trying to predict the ending — it’s a masterpiece of suspense. With one of the greatest screenplays ever written, Double Indemnity remains a film noir classic that hasn’t been topped in over 77 years.
Where to buy: $34.63 at Amazon
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Why it’s essential:
A taut, socially conscious thriller, In the Heat of the Night features Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs, a black detective from Philadelphia, who teams up with a racist southern sheriff (Rod Steiger) to solve a murder in a small town. The film’s nuanced exploration of race, justice, and power in America makes it an essential film for understanding both the social climate of the 1960s and the evolution of police procedurals in film.
Criterion Collection’s 4K release of In the Heat of the Night delivers a striking visual and sonic upgrade to this groundbreaking 1967 classic. The technical highlights include a new 4K digital restoration supervised by cinematographer Haskell Wexler; the transfer offers vastly improved clarity, color accuracy, and fine detail.
The monaural audio has been remastered for cleaner, more dynamic dialogue and Quincy Jones’ memorable score; there is an alternate 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack which offers greater atmospherics but the real focus remains the hard-hitting dialogue. There are also interviews with director Norman Jewison and actor Lee Grant; the added bonus of audio commentary featuring Jewison, Grant, actor Rod Steiger, and cinematographer Haskell Wexler make this one of the hottest releases of 2025.
Where to buy: $34.99 at Amazon
The Last Emperor (1987)
Why it’s essential:
Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, The Last Emperor is an epic biographical drama about Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China. The film beautifully captures the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the tumultuous political changes that shaped the 20th century. With its lavish production design, historical depth, and mesmerizing cinematography, the film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It’s a stunning portrait of a vanished world, a visual and emotional journey that remains essential for any cinephile.
Criterion Collection’s 4K release of The Last Emperor offers a stunning restoration of Bernardo Bertolucci’s epic, bringing the grandeur of the film to new technical heights with a 4K Digital Restoration with Dolby Vision HDR; enhancing the film’s vivid color palette, intricate production design, and sweeping cinematography with greater depth, contrast, and nuance.
One 4K UHD disc of the film is presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features; including Interviews with composer David Byrne and cultural historian Ian Buruma. There is also the 218-minute television version (the theatrical version runs 163 minutes) on one of the supplementary Blu-ray discs.
Where to buy: $37.86 at Amazon
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Seven Samurai (1954)
Why it’s essential:
Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is the quintessential samurai film and an enduring masterpiece of cinema. It tells the story of seven ronin hired to defend a village from bandits. Its epic scale, complex characters, and innovative narrative structure have influenced countless films, from westerns to modern action films. Seven Samurai isn’t just a film; it’s an institution. It’s a must-have for anyone serious about the artistry of filmmaking. Toshiro Mifune plays Kikuchiyo in Seven Samurai, one of the most iconic characters in Japanese cinema and arguably Mifune’s most unforgettable role.
Criterion’s new 4K digital restoration of Seven Samurai, featuring the original uncompressed monaural soundtrack and an optional 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio track, breathes new life into this legendary film. The enhanced visual and audio clarity brings a renewed intensity to Kurosawa’s epic, which cemented his status as a cinematic giant in North America—an impressive feat following the international success of Rashomon just four years earlier.
Included in the package is one 4K UHD disc of the film (in the aspect ratio of 1.37:1) and two Blu-rays with the film (in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1) and special features including My Life in Cinema (1993), a two-hour conversation between director Akira Kurosawa and filmmaker Nagisa Oshima. And that is just the beginning.
Where to buy: $69.99 at Amazon
Trainspotting (1996)
Why it’s essential:
Directed by Danny Boyle, Trainspotting captures the hedonistic, self-destructive lives of a group of heroin addicts in Edinburgh, Scotland. With unforgettable performances from Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle and Ewen Bremner, the film blends dark humor, raw emotion, and social commentary on the scourge of addiction. Its impact on ’90s cinema is immense, and it remains a cultural touchstone for exploring youth rebellion, drug culture, and friendship in the modern world.
Mark Renton was definitely not the “chosen” one in this dark and twisted portrayal of addiction, which ultimately turned more people off heroin than any other film of its kind in the 1990s. Trainspotting also marked the second film in a series by Danny Boyle based in Scotland, featuring Ewan McGregor, who would soon soar into a galaxy far, far away, embarking on a career that would catapult him to international fame.
The 4K digital restoration of the uncut version of the film, supervised by director Danny Boyle, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack elevates the film to another level. One 4K UHD disc of the film is presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features.
This is definitely the 4K transfer you were looking for.
Where to buy: $32.29 at Amazon
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Uncut Gems (2019)
Why it’s essential:
Uncut Gems, directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, is a nerve-wracking, high-stakes thriller about a jeweler (Adam Sandler) who finds himself on the brink of financial and personal collapse. The film’s relentless pacing, sharp dialogue, and Sandler’s electrifying performance make it one of the most intense viewing experiences of the past decade. It’s an essential watch for its portrayal of obsession, risk, and desperation in the fast-paced world of high-stakes gambling.
Having lived in the Syrian Jewish community for almost two decades, Uncut Gems hits rather close to home. More than a few characters in the film could have easily been familiar faces sitting across from me in synagogue on the Jersey Shore over the years.
Adam Sandler’s performance in Uncut Gems is widely regarded as a standout in his career, showcasing a level of intensity and depth that many had not previously seen from the actor. Known primarily for his comedic roles, Sandler’s portrayal of Howard Ratner, a fast-talking, morally compromised New York City jeweler, proved he could excel in more dramatic and gritty material — the Academy needed to show a lot more respect.
One 4K UHD disc of the film is presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and supplements including audio commentary from 2019 featuring the Safdies, writer and editor Ronald Bronstein, and producer Sebastian Bear-McClard.
The price was definitely wrong, Howard.
Where to buy: $49.99 at Amazon
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Yojimbo / Sanjuro: Two Samurai Films by Akira Kurosawa (1961-1962)
Why it’s essential:
Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo and its sequel Sanjuro are two of the greatest samurai films ever made. Yojimbo follows a wandering samurai (played by Toshiro Mifune) who pits two criminal factions against each other, while Sanjuro expands upon the character and themes from Yojimbo. Two of my most prized film posters are the Japanese versions from both films, and it’s impossible to overstate their value as examples of iconic pop art.
These films are foundational to the Western genre, particularly the Spaghetti Westerns, and remain pivotal examples of storytelling, cinematography, and character development. They are essential for understanding the broader influence of Japanese cinema on the world.
Both films are offered as restored high-definition 4K digital transfers and now feature optional Dolby Digital 3.0 soundtracks, preserving the original Perspecta simulated-stereo effects (DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray edition).
Where to buy: $49.89 at Amazon
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Why it’s essential:
Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies of all time. Starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon, the film tells the story of two musicians who witness a mob hit and disguise themselves as women to escape. What ensues is a delightful mix of farce, gender-bending humor, and witty dialogue. Its themes of identity, desire, and comedy continue to resonate with audiences today, making it an essential film for any collection.
Some Like It Hot cleverly pushed boundaries with its subtle commentary on sexuality and relationships, something that was particularly revolutionary for the era. It tackled taboos with sharp wit, yet it did so in a way that still felt lighthearted and entertaining.
One 4K UHD disc of the film is presented in Dolby Vision HDR, while a Blu-ray disc includes both the film and special features, making this the definitive version to own. The alternate 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack enhances the clarity of the dialogue, restored from the original mono soundtrack.
Where to buy: $26.58 at Amazon
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Anton Ebert
April 8, 2025 at 1:30 am
10 very solid selections but can’t say that I loved “Trainspotting” which had a few moments that were too much. The baby in the crib was very dark.
Not sure how old you are but rather mature taste and “Double Indemnity” has no equal.
Not one screenwriter alive today could write something that good or intense. Billy Wilder was better than any director born in the past 70 years. Not even close.
“Uncut Gems” was a surprise. Sandler has more talent than I imagined. Solid script.
Very well written article. May have to buy some of those now.
Ian White
April 8, 2025 at 2:13 am
Appreciate the feedback and I agree that “Double Indemnity” is without peer.
Big Gay Andy
April 8, 2025 at 6:38 pm
Funny Girl and The Prince of Tides are essential. More Barbra Streisand titles, please.
Ian White
April 8, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Funny Girl was a lot better than Yentl and the Price of Tides, but not sure it is essential. 100% agree on the Princess Bride. Inconceivable that it didn’t make my list? 🙂
Papa can you hear me!!!
IW
ORT
April 9, 2025 at 5:40 pm
Princess Bride was the first laser disc I ever purchased and it was of course done by Criterion. I just watched “Funny Girl”. Since I was but a tadpole I have adored (and kinda-sorta “lusted”) after Miss Streisand. Her voice is one for eternity, if you will.
Oddly I have never been tempted to watch either “Yentl” or “Prince of Tide Pods”. I’ve seen “A Star is Born” back when it came out but have zero desire to see Lady Gagmee’s version. I very much recommend Criterion’s “Sullivan’s Travels” not only to everyone reading this but also to the Hollyweird collective as they have long forgotten just what a good movie should do.
I own Criterion’s “Zatoichi” Collection. The plot is always the same in that Ichi saves womenz from a life of humdrum ho’dum and defeats/ de-arms the feudal fiends and restores the peasants to a sense of freedom. I like Ichi.
Enough ORTwellian ramblin’. Thus endeth the ORTer Limits for the momento!
ORT
Ian White
April 9, 2025 at 5:58 pm
ORT,
Lady Gagmee’s version is unwatchable. Wish they would have both drowned in the shallows. Too soon?
Zatoichi is wonderful. One of my favourites.
The Kurosawa restorations are worth every cent. Uncut Gems was very underrated. I lived with those people for 15 years.
I would love to see some of the Oliver Stone films redone like Talk Radio, JFK, and Platoon.
IW