The Criterion Collection Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Tom Cruise has finally entered The Criterion Collection. While technically, “Cocktail” has been available on the Criterion Channel in the past (no, really), in announcing its July titles today, Criterion made Cruise’s inclusion with a DVD/Blu-Ray title official today with the addition of 1983’s classic comedy, “Risky Business,” the actor’s breakthrough film.

While Criterion devotes itself to essential classics and contemporary films, in a rare but not unprecedented move, the boutique DVD/Blu-Ray cinephile label is adding some TV to its collection in June. Just announced, Barry Jenkins’ ten-episode “Underground Railroad” mini-series, originally having premiered on Prime Video in 2021, is coming to the Criterion Collection this summer.

While the movie industry seemingly buckles, Disney’s seemingly cutting back on any physical media anymore, and Best Buy is apparently ending its run of selling DVDs and Blu-Rays, companies like the Criterion Collection are staying the course. As usual, the boutique, cinephile-friendly company always aims to release and rediscover classic movies in the annals of film history, and they’re doing much the same with their May 2024 announcements.

The Criterion Collection is constantly curating and adding the best and brightest of cinema to its collection, but its April 2024 is pretty stellar and adds two classic films that haven’t been in the collection previously that really deserved to be there. The first film added to the collection in April is notable because of Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr.

The Criterion Collection always kicks off its releases for a new calendar year with a couple of big titles. And 2024 starts off very strong for the boutique DVD series, with Danny Boyle‘s “Trainspotting” leading the way.

Another month, another set of new The Criterion Collection releases. And while December is typically the lightest month for releases on Criterion’s calendar, three titles will be out in time for the holidays: two remasters, with the addition of four other films to one of those releases, and one new spine #.

You know what time it is: time for a Criterion Collection update with their newly announced November releases. Two significant highlights anchor November: a six-film Jackie Chan box-set, “Jackie Chan: Emergence Of A Superstar,” and Martin Scorsese’s classic low-level gangster film “Mean Streets.” “Mean Streets” needs little introduction.

Before “The Underground Railroad.” Before “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Before his Best Picture-winning “Moonlight,” there was “Medicine for Melancholy.” The debut feature from writer/director Barry Jenkins, “Medicine for Melancholy” is a mumblecore journey through the streets of San Francisco shared by Micah (Wyatt Cenac) and Jo (Tracey Heggins), two brief lovers who share a day together after a one-night stand.  Released in 2008, the low-budget film captures a specific moment in San Francisco before it gentrified from a vibrant denizen for young artists into a moneyed landscape composed of tech giants.

On the week I’m scheduled to speak with legendary artist Terry Gilliam, a quote from Martin Scorsese starts going viral. “I’m only now beginning to see the possibility of what cinema could be, and it’s too late,” Akira Kurosawa had expressed at 83.

The Criterion Collection already corners the home-video market for prestige releases of classic and contemporary foreign films. Now the company adds a new line of releases alongside its central line-up.

One of the most anticipated films of 2021 is Joel Coen’s awards contender, “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” And in early 2022, it appears Criterion is set to honor Joel Coen, along with his filmmaking brother, Ethan Coen, by adding the 1990 film, “Miller’s Crossing,” to the coveted Collection. But February 2022 has some other additions to the Criterion Collection that should get you excited.

Every Tuesday, discriminating viewers are confronted with a flurry of choices: new releases on disc and on-demand, vintage and original movies on any number of streaming platforms, catalog titles making a splash on Blu-ray or 4K. This biweekly column sifts through all of those choices to pluck out the movies most worth your time, no matter how you’re watching.

We’re not even there yet, but The Criterion Collection is planning on ringing in 2022 with a bang and doing so by celebrating some amazingly inventive women filmmakers.

It is too easy to throw superlatives around when talking about filmmakers. Many directors with a decent enough filmography, who have been around long enough to be forgotten about can attain such a status.

Even though there are a number of award-winning films being released through streaming platforms, that isn’t stopping The Criterion Collection from making sure they get added to the esteemed library.

Last week, it was revealed that The Criterion Collection would add a new disc format to its release schedule, announcing its first batch of 4K UHD titles. And in November, the first wave of those titles, as well as a highly-anticipated box set, aim to lighten your wallets.

Sometimes it takes more than a decade for a feature to be added to the Criterion Collection. Other times, it could be 60-plus years.

The Criterion Collection prides itself on curating fantastic classic cinephile-friendly films that may have gone under-the-radar in the home release market and their upcoming Blu-Ray release won’t be any different. Criterion has announced that they’ll be putting together an essential collection of Melvin Van Peebles movies with their latest offering, “Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films” set to be released on September 28.

Today is a day that we celebrate the very best in film from the past year, as we all scour the Oscars nominations and figure out which films deserved the praise and which deserved a bit more, perhaps. But today is also a day that we can discuss some previously-released, acclaimed works of cinema that don’t really need to be argued about, as Criterion unveils the June 2021 additions to the Criterion Collection.