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The Criterion Channel App User Positive Comments 2024
The Criterion Channel app received 89 positive comments and reviews by users. Can you share your positive thoughts about the criterion channel?
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The Criterion Channel for Positive User Reviews
✓ Essential service, app is okMy life is legitimately improved by the criterion channel. Not sure why you can’t filter by country, director and decade in the app though since you can on the website..Version: 7.610.1
✓ Great cinemaSuperb application for the cinema lovers. Great selection and new movies added every months. It allows you to discover classics and masterful directors..Version: 8.402.1
✓ Great App Getting Better!I’ve had the Criterion Channel app since it premiered and I’ve always loved it. What impresses and pleases me further is to see when features get added that improve the experience. One of the biggest recent improvements is a playback speed function, which I worry my fellow cinephiles would judge me for using, but come on y’all, get serious. War and Peace is beautiful but comes in 4 segments. The Human Condition is a monumental achievement and one of the greatest anti war films of all time, but rounds up to about 10 hours. If we were in film school, sure, we could judge people for speeding up playback, but don’t be gatekeeping. If playback speed options encourage someone to watch a classic film they wouldn’t have otherwise, that is a net positive for culture. So, yeah, good on The Criterion Channel for adding this feature. I’ll probably play around with it if y’all ever add Satantango to streaming again. ;).Version: 8.010.1
✓ Please change one thingI am very happy with the content and the app and the streaming performance. I would like the developer to consider one change. Whenever you search for movies, the results are listed in 2 different categories, “videos” and “collections”. If you click on the item under the “videos” column, the movie starts playing immediately and you don’t see all of the featurettes, audio commentary track, etc. that are connected with the movie. Please get rid of this “video” search category and listing! When you click on the movie under the “collections” column, you see all of the special features connected with the movie. That should be the default result that comes up every time you click on a movie. Otherwise, the search results are confusing and you might not see or notice all of the special features attached to a movie..Version: 5.100
✓ Criterion a mustWith so many mainstream services limited in terms of historical depth and variety of film offerings, Criterion is a breath of fresh air. I feel the developers and curators of this site are constantly striving to address technical issues in a timely manner and with the user in mind, and are working hard to bring to your attention unique and under-appreciated or forgotten cinematic gems, as well as offering different takes on stone-cold classics through unique extras, including interviews with film students and creators. I absolutely adore this streaming service and this app in particular, as it allows me countless hours of top-end entertainment both on my phone and through projection options such as Chromecast. I would implore others to keep this service going by subscribing and sharing classic cinema with their friends and family..Version: 5.200
✓ For movie lovers!Criterion collection is the best of the best. Hands down, you are not a real cinephile unless you sign up for this service. The only reason I give it for stars because I think this review is also really about the app itself. I think the app could be better in terms of being able to have more effective control of fast forward and rewind. I also think that there is a lot of amazing movies that criterion collection has that are not appearing to me when I’m browsing. I love the curated collections and I would say to keep going with that..Version: 8.700.1
✓ WonderfulThe greatest collection of films..Version: 8.402.1
✓ Criterion Channel is a Public ServiceThe Criteron Channel is, no hyperbole, greatest thing to happen in my life..Version: 8.500.1
✓ On its way to perfectThis review makes no comment on the *content* of the Criterion Channel. I’m assuming you already are aware of the consistently great movies and works of art they put out, not to mention the behind-the-scenes stuff. In regards to the app itself, however, it’s great! So long as they’re still working on it. It can be difficult to browse the movies, and there’s no option on the phone app to just look through everything. For that, you have to use your laptop browser, then add things to your list to find on the app later. It can also be a bit glitchy at times. For example, if I cast something to my TV, then close my app, then open the app 20 minutes later, I will sometimes experience interruptions in the movie. There are some other small things like that scattered throughout. Nothing awful, and I have full confidence that it will be ironed out over time..Version: 5.302
✓ Good however better Play-Pause-Rewind interface would be a benefitWonderful selection and page layouts. The only improvement could be a better Play-Pause-Rewind interface. There is a lag of three or four seconds after opening the program and touching the casting logo, while playing a film, before the Play-Pause-Rewind appears. When it Appears, options are two arrows backwards/forwards or play/pause. The arrows for back or forward could be labeled as -15 sec or -30 sec to be more helpful. Currently the arrows move the film back/forward by 10 sec. And because of the lag if I'm are trying to jump back like 30 secs, I will be there pressing the back arrows over and over trying to guess when it reaches -30 secs. It's frustrating. NBD, however, Just adding 30 back/forward buttons would be helpful or adding two 15 sec and two 30 sec back/forward buttons would be amazing. These movies are so lush and it is so easy to miss dialogs in old films, it would be a big plus for someone like me who likes to be thorough in her dissections of the films. Thank you..Version: 6.020.1
✓ Best Streamer Out ThereCriterion Channel is like the endless pile of books on my night stand. It’s anxiety-producing. There are so many movies I want to watch and rewatch here. The recent series that have dropped—‘80s Horror, November Noir, Snow Westerns, Screwball Comedy—nudged me into finally adding a review. The curation is fantastic: I look forward to the first of the month to see what new collection they come up with. They pay as much attention to Classical Hollywood cinema as they do to the art house here and abroad. I get my old favorites while taking chances with stuff I’ve never heard of. Films in danger of falling through the cracks after video stores closed over a decade ago pop up here with regularity. I love it, and I do not take it for granted. I’m close to dumping the other major streamers because I can’t keep up with the stuff I really want to watch on this channel..Version: 8.500.1
✓ Gives me access to the films I want to seeI am so glad to have this resource. The Criterion Collection has always meant the best of film to me. Classics as well as films outside of the mainstream that I wouldn’t find anywhere else. Jewels I remember and new jewels I discover. I appreciate being able to ‘sample’ films. I love the “collections” system. It’s like going to a library and being able to browse around the shelves for similar titles. It’s a way to discover new films that works well for me. I really enjoy the educational pieces on aspects of film like editing or use of off screen sound or use of aspect ratio. These pieces make me excited to see the films they reference and more apt to see the technique and appreciate it in other films. All in all, I love the channel..Version: 8.321.1
✓ They call it an app but...It’s more like the gift of a lifetime. I hold Criterion Collection very dear. My grandfather’s favorite film was Seventh Seal. I wasn’t really a film buff when he passed, but a few years later I would watch my first Criterion when I found Seventh Seal at the local Blockbuster. Since then Criterion and Janus seemed to, in itself, be a harbinger of taste, style, the cutting edge, and the avant-garde. Obviously I am very biased. This app could have been bad and I probably still would have felt it were like a very special key providing access to the Library of Alexandria. You don’t get access to every Criterion film, year-round, 24-7, on this app. But that’s okay, because they have so much stuff in their catalogue, as well as collections, special movie night picks, etc. that you in turn will find many other films providing that seal of taste, style, and the cutting edge that you look forward to when you see or hear the word Criterion..Version: 5.701.1
✓ A neverending film festival in your pocketI am going to be losing a lot of free time with this app! The amount of content is incredible. For movie fans, the variety of classics, independents, world cinema is astounding. Plus tonnes of commentaries, interviews, and special supplements. So far it works flawlessly on my iOS, Safari and TV. Thanks Criterion!.Version: 4.920.3
✓ The only place where i can satisfy my intl film nostalgiaAfter hours of frantic searching for an affordable option to watch all the Wong Kar Wai's movies again (yes, i was willing to buy DVDs but not @ $50 a pop!) i am so glad i found criterion channel streaming services. i do not watch TV, i have netflix and britbox. but neither carries a good selection of true older intl (aka non-english) films. two days ago, i develop this craving for the older movies from HK i grew up watching. even contacted my friends in china to see what app they've got for movies such as "days of being wild", "in the mood for love", and "2046"! no one had any good option. criterion channel app is the only one after hours of google search that actually carries some of the movies i wanted. they do not have "days of wild" or "2046" (maybe later??) but they have a great collection for the "in the mood for love" including all the scenes that did not make to the final release. they are gems! really appreciate it..Version: 5.610
✓ Amazing!Have always had a Criterion addiction so I have a feeling this channel is actually saving me money. Great selection. They have terrific themes/collections that change every month and a permanent collection that is second to none..Version: 8.402.1
✓ An almost perfect streaming service…The selection of films and special content practically defines the word “eclectic.” I was thrilled to discover classics that I’d always promised myself I’d watch (“Here Comes Tomorrow,” “Seven Samurai”) and almost as happy to finally sample schlock like the works of Herschel Gordon Lewis and John Waters (none of which I’ll ever watch again, but thanks for the one-time look). One of its biggest advantages? All final credits are shown without having to leap for the remote to prevent automatically being taken to a different film with only a passing relationship to what you just watched (we’re looking at you, Netflix). Suggested improvements: Quit packing the “Leaving at the end of the month” list with titles that come back in a month or two. It’s a lame tease instead of a device that should help prioritize viewing. Fix the mobile app so the picture automatically goes to full screen when your device rotates. Sync my stopping point in a film so that it’s the same if I pick up where I left off on a different device. Otherwise, keep up the good work! Another mobile app fix — allow the back button on my device to take me completely out of the app and not just to the home page..Version: 7.204.1
✓ A wonderful serviceObviously, I love having a way to watch wonderful, new films wherever I go - be it classic foreign films from Asia, Europe, and beyond, screwball comedies and noir from Old Hollywood, artsy-fartsy fare from the likes of David Lynch and John Waters, or new indie gems from the past few years. But what I really appreciate, is that whenever I need a reminder of how film can make me feel, I can watch a few minutes of The Passion of Joan of Arc, my favorite movie, wherever I am. I understand that the roster is ever changing, and that Joan won’t always be available, but I’m grateful to have had the access to it so readily these past couple of months. It’s a beautiful movie that I wouldn’t have ever seen were it not for the fine people at Criterion and I can’t count how many times I’ve thrown it on since discovering it. Thanks a whole whole lot, and keep up the good work. It means the world to me!.Version: 5.302
✓ Criterion ChannelThe Good: TONS of titles from the main collection (but not all), with lots of the extra features and videos and commentaries from those videos, plus a healthy monthly rotation of stuff outside the collection. Playback functions as expected, can rewind and fast forward and download for offline viewing. Good streaming quality. Good subtitle options. Needs Improvement: Searching for titles and searching for the special features is rather clunky. Some searches seem to have little relevance. Hard to view the extra features for a title in one spot - seems rather scattershot and randomized. No ability to view the entire collection of titles in list form inside the app, instead you must go to the website for that view. WISH it had: (1) Advanced search and sorting functions (by year, country, genre, director, actors, keywords, etc.), (2) Allow users to create multiple custom watch lists, and allow sorting those lists manually by quick and easy drag and drop in the list itself, (3) Ability to rewind and fast forward the video by tapping the edges, (4) clicking names in app would bring up lists of movies that person is involved with and (5) would be cool to see end of year watch metrics. THANK U CRITERION TEAM, KEEP IT UP..Version: 7.001.1
✓ The app is ok but the films are stellarThe one streaming service I can never bring myself to cancel.Version: 8.402.1
✓ Criterion is the bestThe greatest films of all time, presented beautifully with tons of supplemental features and constant updates. Would give 6 stars if I could :P.Version: 8.600.1
✓ Favorite Streaming ServiceWhile I mourned the end of Filmstruck, I’m even happier with the Criterion Channel. I initially thought it was going to be just Criterion films, but that’s not the case due to the differences between streaming rights and distribution rights. So, films that Criterion may not be able to acquire for physical releases (even if they want them) may very well be easier to license for streaming. This keeps it interesting! The whole channel feels extremely curated in the best way possible, down to each well written synopsis. And of course, the supplemental videos for some films are *chef’s kiss* fantastic. In the past month or so I’ve really only been using this app to watch movies. A lot of the other services feel so bogged down lately by so many options and I can never tell the quality. It was getting frustrating until I remembered I had this app. Oh and if you feel overwhelmed by all the new stuff you’ve never heard of before, check out their Instagram - they’re constantly posting about interesting films and series. Sometimes all it takes is seeing a screenshot of a film for me to watch it! As far as functionality goes, I have no complaints. Maybe in the future they could have a rating or like feature so the app could recommend films..Version: 5.800.1
✓ Finally reliable access to the best movies and films.They don’t have everything yet, but they have enough to keep me going for a long time. I haven’t had access to so many, for so long, that I thought it was all in the past. AND, there are so many that are unknown to me, exploring itself is entertaining..Version: 8.600.1
✓ The ultimate subscription for film fansIf you love movies, Directors, film history, and quality releases, this is your number one stop..Version: 5.610
✓ Love the serviceI never write reviews for these things, but I genuinely love Criterion. Ive seen so many classic movies that really are tough to find elsewhere. It makes picking movies really easy to have this many classics at your finger tips. Ive had this app for a few months now and have at least 5 new favourite movies. Not just like “I liked them” but like “these are in my top 10. My one tiny complaint would be that I wish the phone app made it easier to sort by category, but you can easily get around this by searching on the computer and just adding films to your list..Version: 8.402.1
✓ Amazing App and Streaming ServiceThere’s no better streaming app for arthouse fans..Version: 8.402.1
✓ Great collectionAwesome collection of movies. They group some by interesting themes like the recent ‘caught on tape’ and ‘heist’ lists. They have others lists like women filmmakers or Martin scorcese’s world cinema project or double features with unique themes. There are also short videos of filmmakers talking about their favorite movies. I think generally quite a few of those movies are simultaneously available. I just wish criterion gets hold of more newer movies at least from the past two decades. Like Todd Solondz’s Happiness, or Miranda July’s Me and you and Everyone we know or Richard Ayoade’s The Double or lesser known international gems like a death in the Gunj or so many others I just heard of but never got to see. But that has nothing to do with the app. As for the app please keep grouping movies by themes or moods or tropes, it makes a person like me feel like bingeing those set movies rather than those occasional gems which I heard are good but remain in my to watch list for a long time. And also more favorite movie lists of filmmakers. That’s it, thanks for releasing criterion movies in a streaming app.Version: 5.701.1
✓ Better than CraveTitle says it all.Version: 8.500.1
✓ Absolutely essential viewingThis is more a review of the criterion channel than the app as I haven’t used the app often enough to review it (I promise to do so if I use it on a regular basis). Long review short, Criterion has all the titles I desperately searched Netflix/HBO for and couldn’t find - titles I find to be essential cinema viewing - the alternative to fast-paced, attention grabbing, avatar-escapism movie making that dominates today’s mainstream market. There are perspectives here. There is boredom, meditative and altered states to explore here. Above all, humanity, pain, joy and confusion that defines our experience. Will you relate to everything you watch? No, that’s the beauty of it. You will be richer for the experience and you will give your brain a much-needed break from your daily dopamine dump. At least, that has been my experience thus far..Version: 5.200
✓ It’s frustrating but goodIt’s hard to browse the site, but the offerings are so good that a little misdirection can lead to unexpected good finds.Version: 8.700.1
✓ Only the bestYou’d think it’s good for the fancy prestigious movies, but it’s really the best because you can pick basically anything and end up with something surprising and super interesting. You want Babette’s Feast or 70s Mechagodzilla? Wong Kar-Wai’s longing colors or Jackie Chan’s Police Story 2? Just throw a dart at something in the 30s-50s and get blindsided. You’ll be hootin and hollerin in no time Whether you want to concentrate on somethin’ artsy or just go for a ride, it’s the only streaming service I return to. Five stars! Btw check out this documentary Infinite Football about a Romanian bureaucrat who thinks soccer should be redesigned to be about the ball. It’s an 80 minute conversation and I can’t explain why it was hypnotic! It’s like Tampopo but sports design instead of food! Criterion channel rules.Version: 8.402.1
✓ Only streaming service I’ve ever lovedThank you film nerds ilu.Version: 8.500.1
✓ Fav!Love it!.Version: 8.402.1
✓ Great moviesAt last a channel with a wide range of quality movies for those who love cinema as an entertainment medium. Quality movies from all over the world plus classic movies..Version: 8.402.1
✓ Best Streaming Service of all!I subscribed before the service was even online and I will never unsubscribe! Yes, it’s simply amazing!.Version: 8.500.1
✓ No ratings, no algorithms. Love it!The Criterion Channel is by far the best streaming service if you love movies and also love doing deep-dives into different time periods, genres, directors, cultured, actors, you name it. The curated lists are great inspirations for such deep dives. I look forward to the first of every month to see what Criterion added, and what I might want to watch before it leaves by the end of the month. The supplementary materials are great, and I like that the site points you in a few directions without overwhelming you. Plus: No ratings and no algorithms! This is an easily overlooked aspect, and I think it‘s wonderful. You actually get to browse this site like a library without it manipulating your experience with some star rating, or drawing you into feedback loops. I always worry that Criterion will go away some day like Filmstruck did, so please: Spread the word!.Version: 7.610.1
✓ Essential Films, Terrible AppWanted to wait a bit before reviewing the app, but update after update, none of the bugs seem to get fixed. 1) when watching in offline mode, the app doesn’t remember how far into the film you are. I watch movies for about an hour at a time (on the treadmill), and I have to screenshot my progress, because the app restarts the films at the beginning. 2) offline downloading (somehow called “syncing” in the app) is atrocious. If you close the app, the download progress is lost, and you have to start over. To download a film, I have to touch my phone every 30 seconds or so to make sure the download continues and my phone doesn’t auto turn off. 3) about 3/4 of the time, the “pause” button doesn’t work while doing offline playback. I’ll press “pause,” but nothing happens. I just have to turn the app off manually. 4) the biggest issue? On offline playback, the film pauses every 2-4 minutes (usually every 3 min, 23 seconds) for about 10 seconds. I can only assume it’s loading? But I have the most recent version of the app on an iPhone 10, so I can’t imagine what the problem is. The Criterion Channel is a gift, and these films are our heritage. But the app is atrocious..Version: 5.300
✓ THE ChannelI just refer to it as The Channel. You don’t need any others. There isn’t a streaming platform this dedicated to the preservation and history of film. Nutflix, and Foolu, don’t care about being a international, multi-cultural, highly functional cinematic app. That covers all your cinematic souls needs in one click. Criterion should be offered in all universities that teach film and art. This is a chance of a lifetime to expand your world and take a trip around the world without ever leaving your house for what it costs to change your synthetic automobile oil. For us, the ever wanting and needing movie loving audience that needs to escape into the darkness, letting go of reality and plunging ever deep into the suspension of disbelief, this is your home! Movies, film, cinema, (whatever you may call it) is art and history. Just as much as anything hanging in a gallery that will teach you where you came from. The Criterion Channel is essential to the knowledge of you, the world and your place in it..Version: 6.300.2
✓ I’m in loveI don’t know where to begin. If you love movies and aren’t subscribed! Shame on you. The selection is breathtaking. The quality of audio and video superb. The user interface, in my opinion, is one of the easiest to use. I love that it is curated. I love that it allows one to steep in the marrow and blood of the filmmaking process. I love that it provides films that are outside of the criterion catalogue. I write this in 2020, months into the world burning away. Film has always been a religion to me. This channel is the wall between my belief in humanity and despair. I visited an old friend today, the Magnificent Ambersons. I watched Maidstone yesterday which was so terrible it made my day brighter. Last week, last month, always something unexpected or intelligent or beautiful or anger inducing or tearfully poignant. I can’t see how a film enthusiast can go without criterion. And, being a film nerd, any film with the Janus logo makes my joy return a bit more..Version: 7.001.1
✓ Human art over computer algorithmsThese are superb, enriching movies that will entertain you and also make you a more intelligent and empathetic human being. They will also lead to interesting conversations, because Criterion Channel will inflame in you some passion, leading to genuine interest, leading to real insight and enthusiasm, leading, perhaps, if you are careful, to some intriguing stranger enjoying your company. For me, the passions have been for Aki Kaurismaki and Jim Jarmusch, Juno Itami and Billy Wilder, but you will find your own. If you want to wade into a copious sludge lake of video content, and raft on slurry rivers worn by artificial intelligence, and surf big data waves propelled by endless surveillance and machine learning, there are many streaming options for you these days! Enjoy your buffet. If instead you would like to rediscover your humanity through moving art (they call them “films”) chosen by caring and wise people who have devoted their lives to this form and its subcultures, there is but one choice, and you are reading its reviews..Version: 5.610
✓ Best streaming service for film loversNo matter what I choose (new or old, mainstream or not, Hollywood or foreign) the quality of the film always leaves me feeling like it was time well spent; like I got something out of the experience..Version: 8.500.1
✓ A treasure trove of the best movies everYou don’t need to be a movie snob to appreciate Criterion's vast collection of the best films ever made — only curious. You could, for example, be a student who is a movie fan, and wondering how previous generations tackled the themes that interest you most in modern films. Criterion is not influenced by box office success or star power — though it acknowledges the contributions of actors and directors who have achieved stardom through the excellence of their work. Consider Criterion to be a resource not just for the classic films you know, but also for those you don’t. Follow Criterion's excellent curation and take a flyer on a film you don’t know but meets your criteria for interesting subject matter. Chances are you will be in store for not only a pleasurable viewing experience, but in addition, a broadening of your cinematic perspective. Criterion's library has no equal, and you will recoup your modest monthly payment many times over, year after year..Version: 8.402.1
✓ A very good collection. I have enjoyed each of themAll.Version: 8.321.1
✓ Best streaming app, periodt!Best content of any streaming platform, bar none. It’s not always a perfect app, but the overwhelming amount of quality content makes me not care, and my complaints about the app really are insignificant. I love that they curate collections of films so if you really get interested in a certain director or film era you can easily explore that bundle further. They also have categories for what’s new for the month and what’s leaving at the end of the month so you can prioritize your watches to what’s leaving the channel. Suggestions for the app- allow us to clear the “continue watching” bar easily. Sometimes I start things and quickly decide I’m not interested and they just sit on the scrolling bar. Also implement more search criteria like country, decade, etc. so we can filter down content more easily..Version: 6.020.1
✓ Exceeds expectationsSo I started the two week free trial of this service with the intention of canceling and possibly paying for it later. Well, I wasn’t quick enough to cancel and ended up getting automatically charged for a yearly subscription and I couldn’t be happier about it. The scope of high quality cinematic content is unmatched. Not to mention supplemental videos to compliment many of the featured films. There’s so much there to keep me going well into the year. All of those films that you’ve read about but never watched or had access to are there. Not to mention a short, descriptive synopsis before each movie about the history of the movie, film transfer, etc. If you’re a Filmnerd and love classics, arthouse and indie flicks then this will be your jam. I wish there was a way to rate movies and maybe add user comments but perhaps in the future. Bravo Criterion!.Version: 7.204.1
✓ Absolutely essentialNo other streaming service out there makes watching great cinema quite so accessible. Mubi is great, Kanopy and Fandor are also good, but the Criterion Channel is exactly what we needed after FilmStruck, the former greatest thing ever, was shut down last year. In many respects, Criterion Channel is better, as it is easier to navigate and more appealing to the eye. The catalog is smaller, but with time I imagine it will expand to the great size of the late FilmStruck catalog. Nevertheless, the catalog currently available is chock full of great cinema, new and old, domestic and foreign, entertainment and artistic. There’s a film in here for everyone, and the app makes finding such films super easy. The way the app features films on the front page is very unique, as rather than an algorithm aggregating a bunch of movies under some generic genre title such as “independent dramas” a la Netflix, the people working on this app create a new themed collection of a few films every days. There are double features, short + feature pairs, director highlights, studio highlights, female filmmaker spotlights, etc. Long live cinema, and love live the Criterion Channel!.Version: 4.943
✓ I’m obsessedGreat main archive and addictive special collections..Version: 8.500.1
✓ Nothing quite like it!The Criterion Channel boasts an impressive array of over one thousand classic, cult, foreign, and hard to find titles. There is so much content to be found here and so much of it not found anywhere else. Having never used Filmstruck when it was around, this is a literal godsend. The service is seamless and the app is incredibly easy to navigate. While SO many other streaming services use algorithms to “personalize” your experience, Criterion offers full curation in a very user friendly and adventurous way. I’ve already found myself building a fairly large list based on their Adventures in Moviegoing lists and am excited to see how their guest collections evolve over time! Recommended for anyone looking to expand their film knowledge or get immersed into classic film in a new way..Version: 4.920
✓ Great App, Great FilmsIf you’re interested in the kind of material Criterion puts out, there’s no reason not to get the Criterion Channel. In addition to almost all of Criterion’s films, supplements, interviews, and commentaries, there are also great non-Criterion films added every month for a limited time. For example, they recently featured pre-code Barbara Stanwyck films and are currently featuring MGM technicolor musicals like The Band Wagon and Meet me in St. Louis. This rotating lineup gives subscribers an incentive to stick around and see what new films the first of the month will bring. The app itself works very well, but has a few flaws. In particular, there’s no way to access the complete list of available films, so it can be tough to find what movies that you aren’t already aware of if they don’t happen to be featured. The app supports Picture-in-picture, but the corner screen sometimes goes black and can only be restored by closing the app and firing up the film again. Beyond those nitpicks, the app is easy to use, and everything that’s on the app is available to download for offline viewing..Version: 5.302
✓ A gift from aboveIf you are reading this yet you yourself are not at all a large movie goer don’t let the specific collection of movies on this service intimidate you. You will be introduced to so many great films it is quite frankly unbelievable. You will cry, you will laugh, you will awe, buy you very rarely will you watch a movie that you don’t find any sense of beauty and artistic value in. Some films you end up watching may not end up being your thing, which is okay. Everyone views things differently and forming your own opinion is just apart of the cinematic experience. However you will discover films that you couldn’t discover any other way and they can and will change your life. The Criterion Channel contains so many movies and each one is always a promising viewing..Version: 8.102.1
✓ Favorite Streaming ServiceThis channel has been recommended to me a few times, but I finally got around to trying it out and I’m not going back. I get the sense that although these films, like any, are subjective. Although some may not land quite right with me, there’s cultural and historic significance in each one that makes them memorable. Aside from that, I’ve discovered some of my favorite films through this service, one recent one being Blood Simple. With a lot other streaming services, it seems like the objective is to drop an excess of mediocre, formulaic content in hopes one will stick, so finding a service like this where each pick feels purposeful is refreshing. If you’re a student or just a fan of film history, I highly recommend subscribing and diving into any of these collections..Version: 8.200.1
✓ The History of Cinema at your fingertipsIn my opinion, there is no better collection of movies and film than the criterion collection. You can find works from all of the greatest directors, a treasure trove of world cinema, the most important and influential films of all time, not to mention numerous short films, interviews, commentary and more. It’s literally the history of film laid out before your very eyes. Any true cinephile has access to this channel or has shopped this collection. I thought I loved movies, but once I started exploring this collection my love and appreciation for them deepened and grew exponentially. This is film as an art form and not just entertainment. I would say the only reason you would NOT want to start watching movies from the criterion collection is because once you do you can never watch a crappy Netflix movie again without feeling guilty that you just wasted 2 hours of your life. You’ll ruin 90% of all other programming on contemporary channels because it will all pale in comparison to what criterion has to offer. If you want to keep on sifting through trash, then keep with your current viewing habits, but if you want to expand your horizons then dive into all that Criterion has to offer!.Version: 7.200.1
✓ Good stuffBest streaming service there is..Version: 8.500.1
✓ Better than I could’ve imagined!The Criterion Collection is one of the ideas put forth by humankind PERIOD! There are so many films within the collection I’ve been dying to watch and re-watch (Sergei Bondarchuk’s “War and Peace” and Wong-Kar Wai’s “In the Mood for Love”for example). I didn’t want to you risk spending my whole paycheck on a number of titles so I prayed, as I searched Google, that the good folks at Criterion had been smart enough to create a streaming service for budgeting cinephiles like myself. And behold, there ‘twas! I’ve not stopped using the app since I subscribed to the service and it’s not disappointed me once! With over 1,000 films produced by some of best to ever approach the craft of filmmaking, this app ranks above all other streaming services. There’s nothing like it! I am unequivocally in love with this app and hope it endures for years to come because I doubt if I’ll ever cancel my subscription!.Version: 4.951
✓ Choices. A Plethora of Choices!I love the style and variety of cinema from different parts of the world that criterion channel has in it’s vault. There’s a certain sense that these movies were not meant to be forgotten and left in the waste bin of history collecting dust and fading away from the collective conscious. I’m so happy to see some of my old favorites (Kurosawa and Kubrick), but more importantly than that, new discoveries opening my vantage point of what I can imagine. There’s definitely a rabbit hole you can get into here. There was a month of Toshiru Mifune films and I literally binged them. Some I haven’t even seen from him or seen him act in, a dramatic role vs. as a samurai. This isn’t just for those high brow snobbery film critic reviewers. I think there’s a recency bias as far as, “oh if it was made in 1935 it can’t be good). My ex-girlfriend used to say, “if it’s in black-and-white it’s useless”. I was shaking my head, but moving on. Criterion has my favorite film of all time - “Ikuru”, with hours of extras! If you give that one a shot you’ll enjoy it. Good luck on your foils odyssey..Version: 7.800.1
✓ Great content, mid appBeen a subscriber since the beginning, even have my little metal card honouring being one of the first! Love the Criterion Collection and everything it does. The care they put into everything they do is premium except for the app. The app’s UX and UI hasn’t really changed since inception. It deserves some of that Criterion love! Definitely subscribe and give them your money but don’t expect a great app experience..Version: 8.402.1
✓ Best Movie Streaming Service EVER.For the distinguished person with taste!.Version: 8.500.1
✓ ReviewThe single greatest thing on the internet..Version: 8.500.1
✓ Tech fortuneI’m still not over the fact that we get access to this library any time we want… Doesn't seem real. So glad it’s real..Version: 8.500.1
✓ Magnificent films, but the app could be more user friendlyI am delighted with the content and streaming quality, though I have not attempted to download content for offline viewing, so I can’t really speak to the app’s functionality there. I give the app 4 stars instead of 5 only because I can’t stream on my Smart TVs and because the app’s search function could be more user friendly. At present, the search box is too unforgiving of spelling errors or omitted accent marks—a search for “Luis Banuel” yields nothing; the app insists it be spelled “Luis Bañuel,” so I have to either download a Spanish keyboard onto my iPad or copy and paste the name from Wikipedia or something. “First world problems,” I know, but still kind of a pain. And lord help you if you don’t know how to spell Krzysztof Kieslowski (oops, that should be Kieślowski! 😉). Some predictive text functionality would go a long way toward fixing these problems. All around great app, though. Really enjoying the content..Version: 4.941
✓ Great channel.We’ve watched many films from different eras. There’s so much choice. Sometimes it’s hard to choose. Watching the trailers helps narrow it down.the restorations are fantastic. We’re lucky to have Criterion!.Version: 8.402.1
✓ Great appElegant design..Version: 8.500.1
✓ Great resource with some frustrationsI really appreciate the Criterion Channel coming back after Filmstruck. I have no shortage of movies that I cannot wait to watch. I love the different collections, grouping together films by more than just genre or cast. The emails I receive are always worth reading to be up to date on new releases. However, the user interface could use some serious work. As shown in other reviews the lack of a full list of titles on the app is frustrating and often makes me miss out on things until they are out on a list of expiring titles. The closed captioning is pretty much non existent on the Apple TV app. I once began watching a movie on my phone which supported closed captioning and tried to see if they would work via AirPlay and they turned off and brought up a notice. What’s up with that? The good greatly outweighs the bad but I still find myself frustrated periodically..Version: 5.501
✓ A movie fan’s dream!An incredible selection of the best classic, international, and contemporary films, carefully curated and presented in an entertaining way..Version: 8.500.1
✓ THE best streaming service! Ditch ur Netflix! They mostly program garbage and u know itLike many fans of the Criterion Collection, I was frustrated with FilmStruck’s bugs and sad when it ended. But the Criterion Channel is SUCH an improvement. Some of the best movies you will ever see are available in their rotating selection of movies. I own about 40 criterion titles in physical form but I have to say, the channel may be the best way to experience the best of the Criterion Collection. Their sections on 21st century cinema and Women Filmmakers always point me towards great films. The Saturday matinees and Friday double features are excellent as well. I would also like to shoutout whoever it is that is managing the Channel’s collection. There have been some valid complaints lodged against the Criterion Collection due to the lack of diversity (specifically black directors) in the collection, but the Channel is an incredible resource for filmmakers that haven’t made it into the physical Criterion Collection, usually due to distribution rights. They’ve had great retrospectives of Kathleen Collins, Cheryl Dunye, Charles Burnett, Terence Nance, and many more. It is a Wonderful service, and I can’t recommend it enough!! Love u Criterion Collection lmk if ur hiring I graduate in May xoxoxoxo.Version: 6.120.3
✓ Great... except for one big thingFirst things first: I’ve been a fan of Criterion for decades. In the 80’s & 90’s I always loved getting their catalogs in the mail. The first few pages would show new and upcoming titles. The last pages would list available titles alphabetically in list form. Over the years it was always fun watching the list get longer. I bring this up because the app is great at showcasing new arrivals and highlighting original content on the “Explore” page, but lousy at showing what CC actually has. The search page needs to be more than a simple search field. For example: On the site is the amazing box set 100 Years of Olympic Films, but you wouldn’t know that unless you knew the names of the films (example: TOKYO OLYMPIAD or VISIONS OF EIGHT). You’ll have tough time finding Olympic films from 1912 or 1980 unless you know the titles. The collection of Olympic films is in the app under “Olympic Glory”. In short- Criterion needs to revamp the search engine and do a better job at listing what they have..Version: 5.200
✓ Criterion CollectionI am grateful and appreciative of the creators who fearlessly compiled and released this awesome app to watch a collection of thought provoking, engaging movies that are constantly updated every month. While the critical part of me wants to provide feedback on how the app can be improved, I feel that the more important part is the actual content. I could say it might be nicer to have a section to review the movies one has watched, or a Television application but I’m reminded of the content available on streaming applications that I don’t enjoy compared to the criterion collection for a slightly better app. The content has enriched my families life and reminded us of what truly matters in the world, all the while keeping us in a sense of awe of the artistic mastery of the esteemed directors of the past and present..Version: 8.320.1
✓ The best collection of films available!!The Criterion Channel is an invaluable resource for all film lovers. It is my go-to. New content all the time, wonderful curated collections. I’ve been a charter member since they started and I’ve used it consistently! There are tons of new amazing films every month, hidden gems, amazing and compelling collections, films you can’t find anywhere else. My only complaint is that the app can be glitchy. I use it on the Firestick mostly and I just always seem to have to restart/redownload the app. I will say their customer support is very personalized and helpful. Also “my list” is glitchy. Sometimes it lets me add films twice? Sometimes they don’t go away? I also need a way to clear my “continue watching” list that’s easier than just fast forwarding to the end. Sometimes I finish a film but I scroll back to watch one part again and then it stays on the continued watch list forever. I would also like to see a way to browse all films on the channel in alphabetical order or something. This feature exists on some platforms but not the Firestick. Despite all my small complaints, I will always be a member and encourage any film lover to join. Well worth it!.Version: 5.800.1
✓ Game-changerI LOVE Criterion. Nothing but the highest praise for this streaming service. Thank you so much!.Version: 8.500.1
✓ A must for any lover of filmBetter selection than any other streaming service bar none.Version: 8.402.1
✓ A must for any fan of filmI’ve loved the Criterion releases for a long time and have finally subscribed to the channel. There is so much content comprising of old favourites and films that I’ve never had access to before. Well worth it!.Version: 8.402.1
✓ My Favorite Channel is CriterionI love having the ability to see a film and listen to informative commentary tracks from those in support of it. A few months ago I saw The Blob along with listening to its two separate commentary tracks. I appreciate the various behind the scenes or making of specials that populate the landscape of this channel along with filmmakers that speak about films or directors that continue to inspire them. Recently when I couldn’t remember the name of a movie nor its director I was able to search for the country that it was made in. This is one of the great options in being able to seek out something that’s on the tip of your mind yet allows you to discover the source beyond just the film or director. With a bow of deep gratitude..Version: 7.204.1
✓ LoveLove the curated collections each month it’s so fun to work my way through them, i’ve seen more movies since i’ve started using this than ever.Version: 8.402.1
✓ All the greats!Full of amazing films, highly recommend.Version: 8.600.1
✓ One of the best things on the InternetCriterion Channel is a goldmine, can’t recommend it highly enough..Version: 8.402.1
✓ My favorite streaming service everThis is the best streaming service I’ve ever used. I’ve already watched 17 movies on it so far and I haven’t seen a single bad one yet. I like the way the movies are organized, with tons of different sub categories, and I love that most of the movies come with interviews and other supplementary material, but I do wish it had way more search options available than it does, because I’ve had to use third party sources, like a Letterboxd list that displays all of the service’s available movies, in order to find things I want to watch. I’d also appreciate some kind of rating system and a suggestion feed. But neither of those are enough to hinder my enjoyment of this service overall, as it contains a bunch of incredible movies that are difficult to locate. The service itself has also been consistently smooth. I’ve used it on three different devices so far without any issues, which is impressive for any service this early in its life..Version: 5.100
✓ Criterion UniversityThe best cinematic education for $14.99 per month you can possibly invest into.Version: 8.700.1
✓ Great service, app could use some workNeed better navigation options for the app to match the website. Otherwise, love it..Version: 8.700.1
✓ EXCELLENT!The Channel is wonderful! Of course I’m loving the enormous library and the ability to experience so many different films from all over the world that I didn’t even know existed. The player is also a big improvement from the one used on Filmstruck. Much easier to use I find. If I had one criticism, it would only be that I wish there were more genre fare. I’m sure the intention is to stick to films that are only the Criterion list, but I do wish that the site featured more Hammer horror films or perhaps Hong Kong action films. I recall Filmstruck having more of a genre selection in its library. This I feel is important not simply for my own benefit but also for those who’ve not yet experienced them and can’t find them on other sites. That aside, I love the site. I love the library. I love the app. Y’all are doing an awesome job and I truly appreciate the effort to bring such great cinema to those living in an increasingly streaming exclusive world. Thank you all! You’ll always have a customer in me..Version: 5.302
✓ Amazing selection of classic Hollywood and European classic films .Amazing selection of classics films ..Version: 8.600.1
✓ The bestThe greatest library of films you didn’t know you had to see..Version: 8.600.1
✓ Good app with some flawsThe user experience is pretty good but it’s really annoying to download films because the feature doesn’t work half the time. You download a movie, get on a plane two days later and the film doesn’t work. Very disappointing. Other then that, the content is very good but the lack of almost all “big” criterion films is annoying. I buy enough dvds and I’d like to get access to some classic criterion films without having to shell out big bucks. The best thing about the app is without a doubt the classic Japanese films. You’ve got all of Kurosawa’s stuff subtitled including the hard to find films like Madadayo, which is highly recommended, by the way. If anyone’s actually reading this and has any impact on content: I’d love to see an Irish film retrospective like the Australian one you made. Top notch stuff those collections..Version: 7.001.1
✓ Back that thang upSelection is cool, love the categories but can we please get a 15-30sec rewind button for mobile? I’ll be watching something with subtitles and every so often the character will say a lot and it’s all up on the screen in text but sometimes I may miss the last little bit of what was said, causing me back rewind with my finger and 99% of the time I go back further than necessary. Oh and also for mobile, can you make it easier to clear our lists such as the continue watching list. I’ll finish the movie but not the credits and stays stuck in that continue watching list. A swipe left option seems to be popular. One more thing, when I click on a title to read more about it, they all seem to play automatically. Can we stop that from happening? I tend to stop reading more about the film selected just to prevent the film from playing long enough to be stuck in the continue watching list. Overall it’s a nice platform..Version: 5.100
✓ Loyal customerI came over with some trepidation from FilmStruck, where I found the Criterion offerings on there often less compelling than the rest of FilmStruck. Nonetheless I joined as Charter member and have been glad to be a part of it since it’s launch. The app continues to grow slowly and lack some of the functionality I want, particularly stability of progress in a film and uninterrupted broadcasts, but the care in curation and greater inclusion of added features contextualizing films more than makes up for all the areas still in need of improvement. I’ve found the new releases to be addressing my concerns more and more as they go along. Finally, I’ve found the mix of the familiar art house classics has been expanded with better coverage of earlier eras of Hollywood, series featuring the work of directors who have just released a new film, and a healthy stream of films from the last decade and a commitment to highlighting women filmmakers that has become stronger and stronger. As someone from the film archivist community I also deeply appreciate the priority placed on new restorations and highlighting the many people who make them possible..Version: 5.901.1
✓ The best streaming service, ever👌.Version: 8.500.1
✓ At last!I had been hoping that Criterion would start a channel showing all the fabulous movies I’ve loved all my life. I must have been one of the very first subscribers, I could hardly believe that it was actually happening. To think I could have Gerard Philipe, Toshiro Mifune, Anna Magnani, Robert Donat..the list seems endless - and new titles every few weeks! Congratulations, Criterion on a magnificent enterprise......Version: 8.500.1
✓ Thank You Criterion.Elevate your understanding of the world and one of humanity’s greatest artforms. Film! Criterion are arguably one of the greatest curators of cinema on an international scale helping educate the masses on the depth and variety that is sorely misunderstood by the general viewing public..Version: 8.402.1
✓ Awesome!Best content out there.Version: 8.500.1
✓ Great films, have a few app suggestionsThe app does the most important thing that it needs to do, which is allow me to stream Interesting Cinematic Experiences to my heart’s content on my TV through a Chromecast. Yay! I would love to be able to browse the entire catalog within the app the way I can on the website. I can go between both of them, but it’d be nice to have it all in one place. Really the main reason this matters to me is that I often pick what I watch by a combination of genre and decade. The other nice thing would be a watch history to reference, or just browse for fun and be like “gee how did I pass quarantine in June 2020?” I know titles are rotating in and out and maybe you don’t want to remind me of things I watched in the past but don’t have access to anymore, but sometimes I forget the title of something I liked and instead of googling “documentary about pet cemeteries” I just want to open my Criterion Channel app. How often does anything win against googling? Anyway I promise I won’t get mad that The Hustler isn’t available anymore. Anyway, anyway, even if neither of these things happen, I will continue using the app just the same. So..Version: 6.300.2
😕 The Criterion Channel Negative Reviews
