Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Calvin]

I emailed Mosfilm a few years back about the Eisenstein films and at the time I was told that Criterion did indeed license the newest restorations from them, but obviously they can't be touched stateside at the moment..

Morally and ethically is a different debate, but Deaf Crocodile seem to prove that there aren't any legal barriers to releasing Russian restorations

[yoloswegmaster]

Titles are up:
Network 4K
A Woman Under the Influence (standalone BD only?)
3:10 to Yuma 4K upgrade
Playtime 4K
Lubitch Eclipse upgrade
The Man Who Wasn't There 4K
Cloud (Criterion Premiere)

[Tuppence]

Lubitsch Musicals upgrade is 2 discs and $80.

[soundchaser]

I'll keep guessing Trouble in Paradise until I'm deep in the cold, cold ground; but I gotta say, this is dispiriting.

[Finch]

You and me, soundchaser. Maybe they'll spring for a 4K whenever they get to it.

Pretty heavy on the upgrades this month. Happy about Playtime (hopefully the first of all the Tatis to get upgraded) and 3:10 To Yuma. Need to revisit The Man Who Wasn't There via Universal's BD.

[criterionsnob]

A Woman Under the Influence is just a Blu-ray? Wasn't that already released?

[Blutarsky]

Kind of odd that these titles have been up for close to 45 minutes and Criterion has yet to update the home page or socials for the new titles. Potentially more new titles for the month (2 seems pretty light for them).

[Finch]

No, they just updated the site with the Coming Soon banner. This is it for the month.

[yoloswegmaster]

The standalone BD edition for A Woman Under the Influence is already the front-runner for most pointless release of 2026.

[Zot!]

The standalone BD edition for A Woman Under the Influence already front-runner for most pointless release of 2026.

I think there is some weird third/fourth wave of appreciation for this happening on social media. My wife referenced it out of the blue a week ago, and we've not watched it in 10+ years...so I'm guessing this is in response to that.

[DRW.mov]

The standalone BD edition for A Woman Under the Influence already front-runner for most pointless release of 2026.

Feels like a very Criterion Closet motivated release. It's one of, if not definitively, the most selected titles in the Closet, but its only been available in the box set or on a standalone DVD. They might just be getting tired of giving away box sets, but also, it gets mentioned so much I'm sure that's driving a lot of sales to the title but the barrier for entry to new fans on blu ray is the price tag of an entire box for people who might only want the one movie. It makes sense from a business perspective and I'm kind of surprised they didn't give it a standalone blu 10 or 15 years ago at this point.
This does also feel like them confirming something we've held suspicions of, that based on the source they're not able or are not expecting to be able to perform a complete 4K restoration any time soon. If memory serves a lot of Cassavetes prints and negatives are in pretty rough shape.

[yoloswegmaster]

The standalone BD edition for A Woman Under the Influence already front-runner for most pointless release of 2026.

I think there is some weird third/fourth wave of appreciation for this happening on social media. My wife referenced it out of the blue a week ago, and we've not watched it in 10+ years...so I'm guessing this is in response to that.

It's just pointless to make it a BD only release when a 4K restoration does exist and could be used for a 4K upgrade:

It indeed has. A DCP has screened here, here and here for its 50th anniversary.

[Zot!]

The standalone BD edition for A Woman Under the Influence already front-runner for most pointless release of 2026.

I think there is some weird third/fourth wave of appreciation for this happening on social media. My wife referenced it out of the blue a week ago, and we've not watched it in 10+ years...so I'm guessing this is in response to that.

It's just pointless to make it a BD only release when a 4K restoration does exist and could be used for a 4K upgrade:

It indeed has. A DCP has screened here, here and here for its 50th anniversary.

Ah....that I have no answer for.

[Captain Paranoia]

Certainly the most disappointing lineup announced in the past few months (if not the whole year), that's all I have to bring to the table.

[nicolas]

Here’s hoping that they’re prepping a complete Cassavetes 4K set to be released down the road. All the masters in the set are dated and have a lot of potential for upgrades, particularly in terms of color.

[domino harvey]

2025 was broadly a great year for boutique labels, but 2026 is looking grim as fuck

[ryannichols7]

I loathe the Cassavetes film but even I can state how laughable this release is - even if you're cashing in on all the Criterion Closet picks, how is it defensible to release a breakout Bluray of a DVD era master when we have a new restoration available? this is one of the strangest releases in a long time. put out the new restoration and cash in properly!

I'm happy about two faves - Playtime and Network getting 4Ks, and I successfully held off on the Bluray for 3:10 to Yuma. but I agree it's a bizarre month with only two new spines, only one film not in English, and yes, no Trouble in Paradise (which, again, has a 4K master available)

[andyli]

I think there is some weird third/fourth wave of appreciation for this happening on social media. My wife referenced it out of the blue a week ago, and we've not watched it in 10+ years...so I'm guessing this is in response to that.

It's just pointless to make it a BD only release when a 4K restoration does exist and could be used for a 4K upgrade:

It indeed has. A DCP has screened here, here and here for its 50th anniversary.

Ah....that I have no answer for.

Someone on their social media pointed out there's rights issue involved. "Criterion wanted to release the 4K but lost that battle."

[andyli]

2025 was broadly a great year for boutique labels, but 2026 is looking grim as fuck

I'm slightly more hopeful. If we are to see multiple Wiseman sets, some restored Angelopoulos films, a Muratova set, a second volume of Chabrol set, 4K restoration of Raise the Red Lantern and A City of Sadness, Arrow's touch on the Golden Princess library, and all those promised Eclipse sets realized on disc next year, I'm at least as happy as in 2025.

[yoloswegmaster]

Someone on the BR forum who received their copy of the Oshima box from Radiance states that the 4K restoration used for Boy was done by Criterion as per the restoration notes in the booklet. I wonder if this is the first time that a different label has released a restoration that they performed before they had the chance to release it themselves. Also curious to see if they do a standalone release or release it as a part of a big Oshima set.

[CSM126]

Someone on the BR forum who received their copy of the Oshima box from Radiance states that the 4K restoration used for Boy was done by Criterion as per the restoration notes in the booklet. I wonder if this is the first time that a different label has released a restoration that they performed before they had the chance to release it themselves. Also curious to see if they do a standalone release or release it as a part of a big Oshima set.

lol Channel exclusive

[dwk]

Not 4K masters, but I think Eureka's Youth of the Beast Blu used Criterion's master and Arrow's Sisters Blu used Criterion older master (Criterion did a new 4K master for their own Blu)

[beamish14]

2025 was broadly a great year for boutique labels, but 2026 is looking grim as fuck

I'm slightly more hopeful. If we are to see multiple Wiseman sets, some restored Angelopoulos films, a Muratova set, a second volume of Chabrol set, 4K restoration of Raise the Red Lantern and A City of Sadness, Arrow's touch on the Golden Princess library, and all those promised Eclipse sets realized on disc next year, I'm at least as happy as in 2025.

Probably Ju Dou on 4K as well

[Calvin]

Other than Arrow's Golden Princess releases, is there any solid evidence the rest of those are actually coming in 2026 though?

[andyli]

Just speculation and expectation based on assorted gossips.