The Criterion Collection

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by jw007

I have an OOP library of Criterion titles too, except they're all on blu-ray (except for a few titles). About 6 or 7 years ago I went on a shopping binge of buying OOP Criterion blu-rays and even paid $125 for The Third Man in new condition (with the replacement case on top of that). I found an OOP blu-ray of Le Cercle Rouge in a local Barnes & Noble store to my disbelief and hid it behind a shelf so I could come back and purchase it when I had more funds. Now that release is selling for $215+ on Amazon. I ended up buying every single Criterion blu-ray that was OOP back then and the whole fun was tracking them down online or in stores (that I didn't realize were out of print).

Here's my known, current OOP collection (and please don't be jealous):

Army of Shadows (BD - 1st Edition) (OOP): Bought it for $16 at B&N, sale
Chungking Express (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $16 at B&N, sale
The Confession (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $18 at B&N, sale
Howards End (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $16 at B&N, sale
Last Year at Marienbad (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $32 at B&N, non-sale
Le Cercle Rouge (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $36 at B&N, non-sale
Léon Morin, Priest (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $20 at Amazon, sale
Mafioso (DVD) (OOP): Bought it for $25 at DVDEmpire.com, non-sale
The Man Who Fell to Earth (DVD) (OOP): Bought it for $13 at B&N, sale
The Man Who Fell to Earth (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $60 at a local media store, non-sale
The Milky Way (DVD) (OOP): Bought it for $13 at B&N, sale
Pierrot le Fou (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $20 at Amazon, sale
Playtime (BD - 1st Edition) (OOP): Bought it for $16 at B&N, sale
The Third Man (BD) (OOP): Bought it for $125 at eBAY, non-sale
Trafic (DVD) (OOP): Bought it for $22 at a local media store, non-sale

[Show spoiler]

[jw007]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

Daaamnnn. I don't have enough dedication to pay a lot for an OOP collection. I joined about 2 years ago around the same time I came around to Blu-ray.com so I have nothing special. However, I found out that my grandma had an OOP copy of the Flamenco Trilogy from Eclipse Set. One of the most unexpected things I have ever seen! I'm glad you got all these films and there are definitely some films I wish I would've bought if I was into Blu-rays years ago. Luckily, most of these films have wonderful alternatives so I can always buy them. I'm sure Criterion fans would call you a legend to have all of those OOP gems that not much people would have dedication to pay $125 for a Blu-ray even when there's a better alternative for it.

Nowadays, $125 for The Third Man is a steal! It's all relative, but yeah, that's the most I ever paid for a film or blu-ray as far as I know. I just HAD to have them all. I tried to block out that aforementioned film but I had an itch I needed to scratch badly and in order to feel content, I had to seek it out (which I did on Ebay). Yeah, as much as people love buying movies digitally, I still cannot find an OOP digital film (because they don't exist! - well unless you download it illegally without paying). Yet on physical media, I will always be able to find something rare, and better yet, sell it online if I want in the future (something one cannot do with a streaming/digital movie).

[DaBargainHunta]

The only OOP Criterions I have are:

The Third Man: Paid $25 when the OOP announcement was made. I didn't realize that was actually an amazing price. I thought it was "high."

Chungking Express: Got what was probably the last MSRP copy anywhere on the internet from the BN site for $40.

The Confession: Snagged a copy from an out of the way B&N for $20 during a sale when the OOP announcement was made. Got lost on the drive but it was worth it.

[Ray Jackson]

I only have two OOPs.

And one of them, Army of Shadows, just came back in print.

...I was not happy about that.

That was part of my retirement plan.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by jw007

Nowadays, $125 for The Third Man is a steal! It's all relative, but yeah, that's the most I ever paid for a film or blu-ray as far as I know. I just HAD to have them all. I tried to block out that aforementioned film but I had an itch I needed to scratch badly and in order to feel content, I had to seek it out (which I did on Ebay).

In 2015, I paid $129.99 for a "Like New" copy of The Third Man, and it took a lot of patience. I came late to Blu-ray as a format, and it was already OOP. I set myself a maximum price of $130, but at the time most copies in the same (or not as good) condition were twice that, or more. It's the most I've ever paid for one film. Even though I had already bought the new Studio Canal Region B release, like you, I had to have the Criterion. It's definitely the pride of my collection.

The only other OOP Criterion I bought was a very reasonably-priced mint copy of Last Year at Marienbad - from a member here on the site.

[mediocre]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I only have two OOPs.

And one of them, Army of Shadows, just came back in print.

...I was not happy about that.

That was part of my retirement plan.

Ha. Before the reissue announcement I had some spare cash and went back and forth on picking up either that or Le Cercle Rouge for around $80. Went with Le Cercle Rouge and literally a week later Army of Shadows was announced as coming back into print.

I'm sure having made this post they'll announce a reissue of Le Cercle Rouge next month...

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I only have two OOPs.

And one of them, Army of Shadows, just came back in print.

...I was not happy about that.

That was part of my retirement plan.

I feel that pain. Bought the DVD for it a few months before announcement. I'll probably wait another year before buying the Blu-ray version of Army of Shadows. And IMO, the second printing of AoS looks worse than the first version surprisingly. So, I'm a little upset about it but I'll keep my old copy. However, it looks really dark on my 4K TV for some reason. I'll need to probably do some adjustments to my 4K TV screen on it. Oh well

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by mediocre

Ha. Before the reissue announcement I had some spare cash and went back and forth on picking up either that or Le Cercle Rouge for around $80. Went with Le Cercle Rouge and literally a week later Army of Shadows was announced as coming back into print.

I'm sure having made this post they'll announce a reissue of Le Cercle Rouge next month...

They definitely will. I have a very strong feeling they will. I'm glad Melville films are coming back in print though. About damn time

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by Reddington

The only other OOP Criterion I bought was a very reasonably-priced mint copy of Last Year at Marienbad - from a member here on the site.

Nice. Last Year at Marienbad is probably my fourth favorite OOP Criterion film followed by Chungking Express, The Killer and Hard Boiled being number 1 on my list. Just watched it for the first time a few months ago on Kanopy and the new version looks spectacular. However, I feel like Criterion had a much better contrast and a few details were easier to see like Seyrig's eyes for example but it was also very dark so a lot of the grain seen on Kino is not there in Criterion version. However, the Kino version seems to have been zoomed in by a little so nothing much being missed. I wish they would give the film the same packaging as Breathless for the Kino Version so they would look like a good pair of B&W digibooks with the Kino cover of course. That LYaM must've been a great steal though!

[BluLobsta]

The only OOP I have is Pierrot Le Fou (I think). Sounds right, considering I have bought most of my Criterions in the past three weeks

[traths]

Originally Posted by Reddington

No. And I've asked in all three stores near me since they reopened last week, and got the same response per my earlier post:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...stcount=196991

I went to the Barnes and Noble at the Mall of America earlier and had nothing scheduled yet for July.

[joy-division]

I think I only have Dead Ringers

Silence of the Lambs if you count the original cover

[ilenewoodsfan99]

Not sure if it counts as OOP but I do have the original bulky set of The Killers.

[belcherman]

The only OOP Criterion I have is the 2008 DVD release of The Third Man. I bought it for the extras. I think I paid $35 on eBay. I’m very content with the latest StudioCanal blu ray version.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

However, I feel like Criterion had a much better contrast and a few details were easier to see like Seyrig's eyes

I can't imagine any details being easier to see on the Criterion, which looks almost video-like compared to the newer restoration. This was an easy double-dip. Of course, I haven't as yet offloaded the Criterion.

I have a few other C's that are now OOP:
The Confession - Got it blind for relatively cheap from a fellow forum-user, and it turned out a darned good film.
Leon Morin - Probably the one release I plumped for after I heard it was going OOP and was disappointed by the film itself, which I felt was kinda muddled. Extras are slim too.
Howard's End - this one I ordered the first sale opportunity after its release as it's one of my favorite Merchant-Ivory productions. It's still a handsome looking disc which is why I didn't upgrade to the Cohen restoration which turned out to have its own set of issues.

[dbhl3000]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

As much as I dislike what Polanski did and think he needed to be jailed, I can't deny that I really wish Knife in the Water got released. Really wish Criterion got to that one already.

Girl in the water is what got him in trouble.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Reddington

In 2015, I paid $129.99 for a "Like New" copy of The Third Man, and it took a lot of patience. I came late to Blu-ray as a format, and it was already OOP. I set myself a maximum price of $130, but at the time most copies in the same (or not as good) condition were twice that, or more. It's the most I've ever paid for one film. Even though I had already bought the new Studio Canal Region B release, like you, I had to have the Criterion. It's definitely the pride of my collection.

The only other OOP Criterion I bought was a very reasonably-priced mint copy of Last Year at Marienbad - from a member here on the site.

Very cool.

[Sifox211]

I was amazingly lucky to pick up Last Year at Marienbad, Chungking Express, Army of Shadows, Le Cercle Rouge and Pierrot le Fou as my first few Criterion BDs after I went MR in 2010 - I had no idea they were about to go OOP. The last three were actually on sale at Amazon for around $18 each

[blurayisnice]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

I was amazingly lucky to pick up Last Year at Marienbad, Chungking Express, Army of Shadows, Le Cercle Rouge and Pierrot le Fou as my first few Criterion BDs after I went MR in 2010 - I had no idea they were about to go OOP. The last three were actually on sale at Amazon for around $18 each

Wait what, Criterion's go OOP? Didn't realise they were limited editions, always assumed they'd just press more when stock's low (I only occassionally buy Criterions, not really in-the-loop).

Your comment caught my attention because you mentioned Army of Shadows; I looked it up; it seems like there was a re-release earlier this year?

https://www.criterion.com/films/153-army-of-shadows

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by blurayisnice

Wait what, Criterion's go OOP? Didn't realise they were limited editions, always assumed they'd just press more when stock's low (I only occassionally buy Criterions, not really in-the-loop).

Your comment caught my attention because you mentioned Army of Shadows; I looked it up; it seems like there was a re-release earlier this year?

https://www.criterion.com/films/153-army-of-shadows

Criterion has the rights back to a small number of Studiocanal films. The titles went OOP back in the day because the rights went to Lionsgate for a bunch of films in which they didn’t do much with. Many of the films have been licensed out to Kino, while some are back with Criterion.

Films of Studiocanal films that went OOP