Criterion 24/7 helped me uncover one of the best films I might by no means seen

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Criterion Channel

Criterion 24/7 affords randomness to find new films with out realizing what’s taking part in.
Accessible on the Criterion Channel app, this live-streaming function gives a steady rotation of movies.
Customers can get pleasure from basic and up to date movies from Criterion’s huge library, paying homage to previous TV channels.

For many years, the Criterion Assortment has been a guiding star for film buffs. Launching within the LaserDisc period, after which shifting into DVDs, then Blu-rays, and now 4K Blu-rays, the corporate has been on the forefront of releasing basic and artwork home movies from everywhere in the world. In 2019, they launched the Criterion Channel, a streaming service housing an enormous portion of their library, together with licensed titles from many different studios and distributors.

Criterion Channel is crammed with films from throughout the entire historical past of cinema, from the silent period to in the present day.

Then, in April 2024, 5 years after introducing the streaming service, the corporate launched a brand new live-stream channel inside the app referred to as Criterion 24/7, for subscribers. The idea is easy: a 24-hour-a-day stream of movies, one after the opposite, from Criterion’s streaming library. Seems, it is also the streaming function I did not know I desperately wanted in my life.

What Is The Criterion Channel And Why Is It Perfect For True Film Lovers image 1

Associated

What is the Criterion Channel? Pricing, availability, movies, and more

Film buffs shall be joyful to know they will now stream movies from the Criterion Assortment utilizing a devoted app.

What does Criterion 24/7 provide?

Solely one of the best films of all time

Criterion Channel

As a result of Criterion 24/7 pulls from Criterion Channel’s huge library, that additionally means it is filled with lots of the greatest movies ever made. There are over 2,000 movies on Criterion Channel, which can not sound like a lot in comparison with giants like Netflix. However not like Netflix, which barely options any films made earlier than 1980, Criterion Channel is crammed with films from throughout the entire historical past of cinema, from the silent period to in the present day.

A lot of the library is pulled from Janus Movies, the mum or dad firm of Criterion, which has been distributing overseas, artwork home cinema in the US because the Fifties. That features films by essential filmmakers like Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini, Agnes Varda and plenty of extra. There are additionally many up to date movies, together with this 12 months’s wonderful Evil Does Not Exist, by director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who was Oscar-nominated for Drive My Automobile in 2022.

Why Criterion 24/7?

Randomness is the spice of life

Criterion Channel

The important thing factor to learn about Criterion 24/7 is that you just by no means know what you are going to get, and that is the great thing about it. In actual fact, while you tune in to Criterion 24/7, which exists as a channel inside the Criterion Channel app, it will not even say what’s at present taking part in. The concept is to imitate the best way issues can be within the previous days, on an precise TV channel — the viewer was merely caught watching no matter was on.

It is a good way to find films.

Which will sound like a nasty factor within the period of video on demand, the place consumer selection is king, however there was one thing less complicated about simply turning on a film channel and testing no matter occurred to be taking part in. What’s extra, it is a good way to find films. It may be so troublesome to decide on one thing new to look at, and it is typically simple to decide on one thing acquainted.

Whereas acquainted titles may pop up on Criterion 24/7, the randomness means being uncovered to loads of new movies as effectively. Need to know what’s taking part in, or when the following thriller film will begin? Simply head over to the positioning’s What’s On Now page.

How I take advantage of Criterion 24/7

It is the brand new TCM

Criterion adventures in moviegoing hader with a man smiling in front of a bookcase.

Criterion Channel

I’ve all the time liked Turner Traditional Motion pictures, however with out cable, I wanted a alternative, and Criterion 24/7 affords simply that. It isn’t precisely the identical or as thoughtfully curated, the schedule is not introduced upfront, and it does not function interstitial content material like previous newsreels, movie intros, or documentaries. That mentioned, the films are an important factor, and on that entrance, Criterion 24/7 greater than delivers.

Because it launched, I’ve used Criterion 24/7 quite a bit, largely as one thing to have on within the background whereas I work. That is not the perfect option to watch films, however each time I come throughout one that really captures my consideration, I will simply add it to my Criterion Channel watch checklist and stream it later. I additionally use the 24/7 channel quite a bit at night time, once I’m too drained to look by way of my numerous streaming companies for one thing to look at. I can placed on Criterion 24/7 and let it select for me.

It is even enjoyable to activate in the midst of some film that is already taking part in, getting a style of one thing I’d wish to rewind and watch in full, or settling in with an previous favourite.

My Criterion 24/7 discoveries

The perfect issues I’ve seen on the channel

Criterion main page featuring three rows of movie titles.

Criterion Channel

There actually is a wealth of nice content material for film lovers on Criterion Channel and Criterion 24/7, and because the live-stream channel launched, I’ve found many nice titles. Listed below are a number of the greatest.