Criterion has always been the gold standard for movies on disc, and their 4k titles are no different. With careful attention to color grading, image resolution, and sound mastering, the 4k presentions on Ultra HD from Criterion have always been the highest quality. The distributor currently has about 135 titles on 4k Blu-ray (see the entire collection here) but we’ve narrowed down what we believe to be the essential movies for your home theater based on these criteria: movie, video, color, and sound. We also take into consideration packaging, as Criterion editions are highly sought after given the quality of the case designs that often include booklets and other collectible media.
The Best 4k Blu-ray Discs From Criterion Collection
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Summary: Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and over two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.
Review: This 4x Oscar-winning film (including Best Picture) from Joel and Ethan Coen renders beautifully in the 4k restoration that was supervised and approved by director of photography Roger Deakins. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround soundtrack in No Country for Old Men is sharp as a tack, and even the silent moments are powerful underscore to the dramatic visuals.
The Shape of Water (2017)
Summary: At a top-secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.
Review: The grain, color depth, and sharpness in The Shape of Water are superb on 4k Blu-ray, which is no surprise given the remaster was supervised by Director/Writer Guillermo del Toro. The stylized color palette is enhanced in Dolby Vision/HDR, giving the film a rich painterly quality. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack reveals nuances in frequencies and effects that one might only expect in movie theaters.
Seven Samurai (1954)
Summary: Farmers from a village exploited by bandits hire a veteran samurai for protection, who gathers six other samurai to join him.
Review: Akira Kurosawa’s archetypal samurai action film has been newly restored in 4K with the original uncompressed monaural soundtrack (and an optional 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio). The results are stunning for a film from the late 50s. The 3 disc edition includes 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) as well as plethera of special features.
The Last Emperor (1987)
Summary: Bernardo Bertolucci’s Oscar-winning dramatization of China’s eleventh and final monarch of the Qing dynasty: Emperor Puyi.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022)
Summary: A father’s wish magically brings a wooden boy to life in Italy, giving him a chance to care for the child.
Review: All we can say is “wow” to this
Days of Heaven (1978)
Summary: A hot-tempered farm laborer convinces the woman he loves to marry their rich but dying boss so that they can have a claim to his fortune.
Three Colors Trilogy: Blue, White, Red
Summaries: death of her husband and child. Red: A model discovers a retired judge is keen on invading people’s privacy. White: After his wife divorces him, a Polish immigrant plots to get even with her.
Wall•E (2008)
Summary: A robot who is responsible for cleaning a waste-covered Earth meets another robot and falls in love with her. Together, they set out on a journey that will alter the fate of mankind.
In the Mood for Love (2000)
Summary: Two neighbors form a strong bond after both suspect extramarital activities of their spouses. However, they agree to keep their bond platonic so as not to commit similar wrongs.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Summary: Following the death of publishing tycoon Charles Foster Kane, reporters scramble to uncover the meaning of his final utterance: ‘Rosebud.’
Review: One of the most influential films of all time has been given a proper treatment on 4k Blu-ray Disc from a new 4k restoration with Dolby Vision HDR and with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. The 4-disc edition includes 3 audio commentaries, documentaries, interviews, new programs, ‘The Complete “Citizen Kane,”’ a rarely seen feature-length BBC documentary, and more. It’s must own for the cinefile with a 4k home theater!
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Summary: Two best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns around to a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two women escape for the crimes they committed.