Criterion opens new chapter for film collection with WarnerMedia
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Joseph O'Halloran
| 18 November 2018

In the latest stage of its evolution that has seen it adopt the latest distribution methods, the Criterion Collection is teaming with WarnerMedia to launch an independent streaming service.

Founded in 1984, the Criterion Collection has been dedicated to publishing important classic and contemporary films from around the world in editions that the company says offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements. Delivery media have included laserdisc, DVD, Blu-ray to FilmStruck, the streaming service developed in collaboration with Turner Classic Movies but which will close at the end of November 2018.

From Spring 2019, through an arrangement with WarnerMedia, the Criterion Channel will now launch as a free-standing streaming service. Also, as part of the deal, Criterion’s library of films will be part of WarnerMedia's recently announced direct-to-consumer platform that is planned to launch in the fourth quarter of 2019. The companies say that the result will be a rich and curated experience, which will further expand the audience footprint for these classic and acclaimed movies.

The partners assert that the Criterion Channel will pick up where FilmStruck left off, with thematic programming, regular filmmaker spotlights, and actor retrospectives, featuring major classics and hard-to-find discoveries from Hollywood and around the world, complete with special features like commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage and original documentaries.

The Criterion Channel will continue to produce its guest programmer series, Adventures in Moviegoing, which has already featured such cinephiles such as Barry Jenkins, Guillermo del Toro, Bill Hader, and Mira Nair. Criterion's monthly 15-minute film school, Observations on Film Art, Tuesday's Short + Feature, and the Friday double-bill will all be back as well.