The Criterion Collection

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by RojD

I like this set. There's a restless experimentation throughout it which, for me, keeps the set engaging. Not saying that some of the films aren't misses, but overall, I've enjoyed it. You can probably find some of his work on You Tube, but the range makes it hard to pin down a style or look for him. That butterfly thing.....!

The set's also worthwhile because Brakhage is a major experimental touchstone. It's good to know his work since so many people refer to it.

Thanks. Appreciate you taking the time to respond.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by kidglov3s

I was referring to this when I wrote that:

And I stand by it.

DVDs still being big sellers for Criterion is all you need to know.

I'm not against Criterion going 4K - bring it on! - but a release from another region is an absurd justification for it from a business standpoint. No matter how much some of you may want to inflate your own "importance," the reality is, you guys buying these 4Ks from another region and label are a drop in the bucket to Criterion's bottom line.

If that ever changes, and it very well might, then and only then will Criterion jump into the 4K arena for that and other valid business reasons that only they know and can determine.

As for the one guy saying there are far more Criterion Blus than DVDs at his B&Ns, I suspect stuff like that is regional and based on sales for that specific area.

My B&N had an equal mix last time I checked (but it has been a year or so, admittedly). As for non-Criterions, there were double or triple the amount of DVDs than Blu-rays.

BTW, most of you are also severely underestimating and sleeping on The Criterion Channel as another potentially important revenue stream for Criterion. I wonder if an oddity like Girlfriends got a lot more viewers there than they were expecting, directly leading to the upcoming physical release. It's possible the deal was there all along - I don't know - but the version on the Channel looked rough as hell and certainly didn't resemble anything near remastered.

IMO, everyone who cares about Criterion should have a subscription to the Channel. The "but I prefer physical" holdouts - well, me too - are missing the point. It helps Criterion, gives you access to an amazing service, and I do feel it can only give them more money to put toward those physical releases we all love - maybe even 4K one day!

[postmodel]

Originally Posted by dwk

Apparently Lionsgate is credited on the sellsheet for Amores perros, so a one-off at Iñárritu's insistence or some bigger deal?

Interesting! It starts with the Lionsgate opening on Prime as well...so this probably means...a one off haha. I guess we shall see though.

[Reddington]

I'm in for Crash. I plan to pick up my first Bresson in the upcoming Flash Sale, so I'll see how I go before committing to Mouchette.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by Mike0284

Love the cover art by Phil Hale for Crash.

[Show spoiler]

https://www.instagram.com/accounts/l...hilhalestudio/

If this is ever sold at Walmart - fat chance, ha! - I wonder if we'll get an alternate cover because of the bare ass, like we've seen with other movies at Walmart.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by bergman864

From what I've heard, they sell a lot to libraries.

Bingo! My public library purchases Criterion titles on both Blu-Ray and DVD. But they usually have more copies of DVDs. I'm sure it's that way around the nation. Plus, there are still a lot of people who only use DVDs. Many have wandered in to this forum. It's hard to believe sometimes, but there are a lot of people who are perfectly happy buying DVDs and saving a little money.

[Rayjg]

When it comes to library rentals I prefer DVDs. I’ve had to return Blu-rays a few times and take out the DVD to finish the movie. A nearly flawless Blu-ray with one bad scratch will skip and pause but a DVD that looks like Freddy Krueger was handling it will play flawlessly. I think most of the Blu-rays at my library are donations anyway.

[kwr212]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

BTW, most of you are also severely underestimating and sleeping on The Criterion Channel as another potentially important revenue stream for Criterion. I wonder if an oddity like Girlfriends got a lot more viewers there than they were expecting, directly leading to the upcoming physical release. It's possible the deal was there all along - I don't know - but the version on the Channel looked rough as hell and certainly didn't resemble anything near remastered.

I am a big fan of the Channel and was one of the (many?) who watched Girlfriends on it. I also assume that Criterion must be looking at the streaming numbers when deciding what to release or upgrade. It’s very relevant market data. The Channel’s current platform does not support 4K yet, but if it ever does, it will obviously be less of a risk to have streaming 4K HDR. I also think Criterion will go to physical 4K at some point, but this year the Channel was the priority, as well as the pandemic causing delays. Still, I will always prefer a 4K release to 1080, and have already gotten 4K releases of some titles instead of the Criterion Blu-ray: Crash, The Princess Bride, Parasite, Dr. Strangelove. (Although I would have gotten Parasite for the B&W version, but had already gotten it a few months previously from another label.) I hope Criterion goes 4K soon, as I’m dying for high bitrate versions of some of my digital 4K HDR titles like Nashville and The Silence of the Lambs and The Irishman, as well as the many Criterion titles that would greatly benefit from the format. I can only hope that the New Year’s clue will hint at 4K, because I’m eager to give Criterion my money.

[ShellOilJunior]

From 2013 (Maybe around 80/20 now?):

Today, something like 60 percent of the discs we sell are Blu-rays, 40 percent DVDs.

https://www.criterion.com/current/po...hy-dual-format

[javy]

Now that Criterion is releasing films that are owned by Lionsgate, does that mean we could possibly see Dogville in the future? That would be really swell.

[sonicyogurt]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

I've heard this before, but I find it hard to believe.

You're right to be skeptical, IMO. Way back in 2013, Criterion reported that their Blu-ray releases were outselling their DVDs (~60% BD; ~40% DVD). Criterion also noted that their DVD sales were in decline and that Blu-ray was growing for them -- to the point that the BD growth more than compensated for the drop in DVD. And while a lot's certainly changed in the past 7 years, it's hard for me to imagine their sales shifting towards DVD so dramatically.

[Show spoiler]Industry-wide, sure, DVD holds a larger share of the market, but that's always been the case. And since we know that wasn't true for Criterion, at least back in 2013, I don't think an assumption can be made that overall market trends apply to Criterion now when they didn't then.

[bergman864]

Originally Posted by liveandletmarblerye

Page 10,000 just 10,000 more to match the Friday the 13th Thread.

I think I'll have to go with the 4K Arrow release for Crash.

Still need to check out Bresson, he's one of those directors that has slipped past my radar. Is Mouchette a good one to start with?

As good as any. Or Pickpocket. But if you like those continue to check out the rest of his filmography.

[jcs913]

Elephant Man and Crash are coming in 4K from others, yet CC still releasing them on blu and oh yes...dvd. All over it again...

[Mike0284]

Just like Flash Gordon I'll be importing the 4K and grabbing the US Blu-ray of Crash.

Also I can finally bin the custom dvd I downloaded years ago that combined the New Line dvd with the Criterion commentary from their Laserdisc release.

Now they need to release Se7en so I can also bin the custom dvd of their Laserdisc release I downloaded years ago.

[NeoNical]

If Lionsgate is giving titles to Criterion, then Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (And most likely The Third Man, Ran, Contempt, and the Grand Illusion. Possibly Man Who Fell to Earth but most likely not since it already has a Blu-ray release 3 years ago.) is most likely coming then hopefully.

Also, I hope Criterion will regain the rights back to Coup de Torchon. I have been meaning to watch this one for a while now.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by bergman864

As good as any. Or Pickpocket. But if you like those continue to check out the rest of his filmography.

It is a very good film, but it does not flow as well as his best work. Something is off in the editing. It is less seamless than usual.

Still, you can't really go wrong with Bresson, and Mouchette isn't a bad place to start for its relative simplicity.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by postmodel

Interesting! It starts with the Lionsgate opening on Prime as well...so this probably means...a one off haha. I guess we shall see though.

The DVD of Kicking and Screaming was licensed from Lionsgate

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by sonicyogurt

You're right to be skeptical, IMO. Way back in 2013, Criterion reported that their Blu-ray releases were outselling their DVDs (~60% BD; ~40% DVD). Criterion also noted that their DVD sales were in decline and that Blu-ray was growing for them -- to the point that the BD growth more than compensated for the drop in DVD. And while a lot's certainly changed in the past 7 years, it's hard for me to imagine their sales shifting towards DVD so dramatically.

[Show spoiler]Industry-wide, sure, DVD holds a larger share of the market, but that's always been the case. And since we know that wasn't true for Criterion, at least back in 2013, I don't think an assumption can be made that overall market trends apply to Criterion now when they didn't then.

But are those percentages representative of the number of units sold or the dollars received? Blu-Rays sell for more, so I wouldn't be surprised if they're gross sales with Blu-Rays is more. Not to mention the fact that libraries probably get a discounted price. What this all means is that they may be bringing in more money with Blu-Ray sales, but DVDs could still be outselling Blu-Rays. And, even if it's closer to 50/50, that's a huge portion of they're overall sales.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

When it comes to library rentals I prefer DVDs. I’ve had to return Blu-rays a few times and take out the DVD to finish the movie. A nearly flawless Blu-ray with one bad scratch will skip and pause but a DVD that looks like Freddy Krueger was handling it will play flawlessly. I think most of the Blu-rays at my library are donations anyway.

I have not run into that problem. In fact, for me, it's usually the opposite. Usually it's the DVDs that have a problem. But even that is rare.

[sonicyogurt]

Originally Posted by regeyer

But are those percentages representative of the number of units sold or the dollars received?

Units sold. From the link I posted:

Today, something like 60 percent of the discs we sell are Blu-rays, 40 percent DVDs.

I'm definitely not trying to discount the importance of DVDs to Criterion -- the fact that they're still producing them speaks to that -- but I'm not onboard with the assumption that DVD is a larger market for Criterion than Blu-ray.