Canadian Filmmaker Guy Maddin stops by the Criterion Collection office and product closet!
SNL funnyman (and apparent cinephile) Bill Hader stops by the Criterion Collection DVD closet.
Robert Downey Sr. stops by the Criterion Collection office and product closet!
André Bonzel (MAN BITES DOG) stopped by the Criterion Collection production office and DVD closet. Check out what he picked!
Wim Wenders (Director of WINGS OF DESIRE and PARIS, TEXAS) stopped by the Criterion Collection office and product closet. Check out what he picked!
Philip Kaufman (THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING, THE RIGHT STUFF), in town for a book-signing/retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, stopped by our production office and DVD closet.
Guillermo del Toro the Criterion Collection production office and DVD closet!
The Oscar-winning costume designer recalls a memorable screening of DOWN BY LAW in Rome and explains what makes the Italian classics BICYCLE THIEVES and THE LEOPARD so revelatory.
The supremely talented Alec Baldwin stopped by the Criterion Collection office and the DVD closet!
Nicolas Winding Refn, the man behind DRIVE and ONLY GOD FORGIVES stopped by the Criterion Collection office and DVD closet.
Alfonso Cuarón (GRAVITY) and Paweł Pawlikowski (IDA), on their way to Toronto after the Telluride Film Festival, made a pit stop in New York and stopped by the Criterion Collection office and DVD closet!
Philip Kaufman (THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING, THE RIGHT STUFF), in town for a book-signing/retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, stopped by our production office and DVD closet.
Richard Ayoade (SUBMARINE, THE DOUBLE) stopped by the Criterion offices and talked about a few of his favorite films in the DVD closet!
Philosopher and theorist Slavoj Žižek stopped by the Criterion offices and the DVD closet!
Legendary director William Friedkin stopped by the Criterion offices and DVD closet!
Volker Schlöndorff (THE TIN DRUM, DIPLOMACY) stopped by the Criterion Collection offices and took a few films on the way out.
Mike Leigh (NAKED, ANOTHER YEAR) stopped by the Criterion Collection production office and DVD closet!
Richard Ayoade (SUBMARINE, THE DOUBLE) stopped by the Criterion offices and talked about a few of his favorite films in the DVD closet!
Philosopher and theorist Slavoj Žižek stopped by the Criterion offices and the DVD closet!
Korean director Bong Joon Ho (SNOWPIERCER, THE HOST) stopped by the Criterion offices and picked up some movies on the way out. Check out what he picked!
Force majeure director Ruben Östlund stopped by the Criterion production office and took a few films from the DVD closet.
Acclaimed English filmmaker Edgar Wright (HOT FUZZ, SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD) stopped by the Criterion Collection office and picked out a few of his favorite films from the DVD closet!
At the Criterion offices to celebrate the release of A MASTER BUILDER, André Gregory and Wallace Shawn took a trip to the DVD closet. Check out what they picked!
The hilarious and charming Michael Cera stopped by the Criterion Collection offices last week and even popped into the DVD closet.
Legendary musician, artist, and filmmaker Laurie Anderson stepped into the Criterion closet after a screening of her dreamy new film, HEART OF A DOG.
See what movies director Gaspar Noé (ENTER THE VOID, IRREVERSIBLE, LOVE) wanted to talk about when he visited the Criterion DVD closet.
Director Sean Baker has proven himself to be one of the most interesting new voices working in American independent cinema. With his latest feature, TANGERINE, Baker has made his most vibrant and critically acclaimed film yet. Starring the dynamic newcomers Mya Taylor (who recently won a Gotham Award for breakthrough actor) and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, the film portrays a day in the life of two transgender sex workers as they walk the streets of Los Angeles on Christmas Eve. The film, which is one part screwball revenge comedy and one part moving portrait of female friendship, was remarkably shot on an iPhone 5s. It’s now also making Hollywood history: Magnolia Pictures has launched Oscar-nomination campaigns for Rodriguez and Taylor—for best actress and best supporting actress—marking the first time a film distributor has backed the Oscar campaign of a transgender actor.
Earlier this month, English director Andrew Haigh visited Criterion for a screening of his new film, 45 YEARS, and he was joined by his movie’s star, the exquisite Charlotte Rampling. The film, based on a short story by David Constantine, presents a quietly heartbreaking examination of a marriage under pressure, and pairs Rampling with fellow screen legend Tom Courtenay: the duo play a retired couple whose peaceful, stable life is rocked when they receive a bit of surprising news from the past. While the story might seem worlds away from WEEKEND, Haigh’s breakout 2011 drama about two young men whose one night stand develops into a love affair, the director’s affinity for intimate, delicately observed stories about the complexities of relationships is ever-present. When Haigh and Rampling took a trip into the Criterion closet, their own charming closeness was clearly evident. The films they chose to talk about and take home are listed below.
Last month, award-winning director Asif Kapadia paid a visit to the Criterion closet. Working in both documentary and narrative cinema, the British filmmaker is best known for his movies THE WARRIOR, SENNA, and this year’s heartbreaking, Academy Award–nominated Amy Winehouse documentary AMY. Here, watch Kapadia pluck a wide range of selections, from SIMON OF THE DESERT to YI YI.
Ten years ago, with the release of his debut film REPRISE, a spirited drama about two young aspiring novelists, Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier emerged as one of the most interesting new voices in European cinema. His follow-up effort OSLO, AUGUST 31ST, made five years later, reimagined Louis Malle’s 1966 French character study THE FIRE WITHIN in the context of contemporary Norway. Both of Trier’s first two films were melancholy meditations concerned with existential questions of love, ambition, memory, and identity, as well as intimate experiments combining a punk ethos with poetic refinement. And with his latest film, the English-language drama LOUDER THAN BOMBS, which opened this week, Trier has tackled his most challenging effort to date. He paid us a visit to chat about directing, filmmakers who inspire him, and even stepped into our DVD and Blu-ray closet to highlight some favorite films.
In conjunction with the release this week of A Whit Stillman Trilogy, our box set including METROPOLITAN, THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO, and BARCELONA, actor-director Chris Eigeman stopped by for a trip inside the Criterion closet.
Yesterday, we had the great honor of hosting the incomparable Anna Karina. While she was in the neighborhood, Anna made a stop in our film closet to reminisce about her groundbreaking work with Godard, acting for Agnès Varda in CLEO FROM 5 TO 7, her affection for Charlie Chaplin, and much more.
Louis Garrel visits the Closet.
Oscar-winning actor and director Tim Robbins stopped by the Criterion closet to pick up a few films and reminisce on his memories of Robert Altman and Samuel Fuller!
The actor and filmmaker came in to work on a supplement for our The Squid and the Whale edition. We learned he's a big fan of the Robert Downey Sr. Eclipse series.
Back in November, director Barry Jenkins stopped by Criterion for a visit while in New York promoting his sophomore feature, MOONLIGHT.
Phil Rosenthal, Emmy-winning creator of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND and star of the James Beard Award–winning food documentary series I’LL HAVE WHAT PHIL’S HAVING, stopped by the Criterion closet to grab some films!
Director Ben Wheatley stopped by the Criterion “cupboard” to pick up some films!
The Argentine filmmaker stopped by the closet to grab a few films.
Barry Levinson stops by the Closet.
Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena stop by the Closet.
The duo behind DADDY LONGLEGS, HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT, and GOOD TIME stopped by the Criterion closet to grab some films.
The queen of the French New Wave stepped into the Criterion closet after a quick visit. See what films she wanted to take home.
Last month, when Isabelle Huppert was in town for the New York Film Festival, she took some time out to visit our film closet, where the screen legend gave charming voice to her love for Nicolas Roeg’s BAD TIMING and Pierre Etaix’s YOYO, and shared fond reminiscences of directors Federico Fellini and Curtis Hanson.
Filmmaker Amy Heckerling stopped by the Criterion office to grab a few films.
Ahead of the release of his new film DOWNSIZING and a new edition of his biting satire ELECTION, Oscar-winning writer-director Alexander Payne stopped by the Criterion closet to pick up some films.
Longtime friends and collaborators Ethan Hawke and Jonathan Marc Sherman, who stopped by last year to contribute to our new edition of Baal, took a trip into our closet to pick up some favorite films.
A trip to the Criterion closet revealed the great Argentine director’s hankering for genre cinema, from the wild fantasy of TIME BANDITS to the “intelligent horror” of CAT PEOPLE.
The great French director (BEAU TRAVAIL, LET THE SUNSHINE IN) paid a visit to our closet this spring and talked about a handful of favorites.
The Oscar-nominated veteran bagged a few favorite movies—and delivered some spot-on impressions of Jeanne Moreau and Dustin Hoffman while he’s at it.
While in town for the release of his new movie THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE, the legendary filmmaker stopped by to pick up some Criterion favorites.
The actor-director stopped by our offices to stock up on movies by Yasujiro Ozu, Edward Yang, and other filmmakers who have shaped his sensibility.
On a recent visit, the award-winning SEX AND THE CITY star—who has worked with directors including Otto Preminger, John Carpenter, and Brian De Palma—chatted with us about falling in love with movies as a child and the Hollywood and art-house classics that have been her personal touchstones.
While we were working on our new edition of POLYESTER, the Pope of Trash paid us a visit and shared stories about meeting Shirley Stoler and watching 8½ under the influence.
The acclaimed actor chatted with us about his fondest movie memories, including his experience of discovering art-house cinema in Catholic school.
The trailblazing director of A DRY WHITE SEASON reminisces about her childhood love of Hitchcock, the kindness that François Truffaut showed her, and a Brazilian classic that changed her life.
The creator and star of the HBO series HIGH MAINTENANCE shared a few wacky urban tales with us while digging through some of his favorite movies.
The underground rock veteran (and founding member of the band Osees, a.k.a. Thee Oh Sees or Oh Sees) stopped by our office to stock up on an eclectic mix of cinematic thrills.
During a trip to our offices, the actor reminisced about working with legendary directors like Robert Altman, Carroll Ballard, and Stanley Kubrick.
The Emmy- and Tony-winning actor stopped by our offices to regale us with stories and stock up on some of his favorite Hollywood classics.
The veteran New York comedian selects some of his favorite films, including a handful that capture his hometown through the decades.
The director of BROADCAST NEWS and TERMS OF ENDEARMENT paid us a visit and talked about some of his comedy favorites, from Oscar Wilde to Albert Brooks.
The costar of MISSISSIPPI MASALA stocks up on films she cherishes, including classics by Satyajit Ray, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Stephen Frears.
While perusing our collection, the acclaimed actor and singer-songwriter linked some of her favorite films to memories of her family.
The breakout star of THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD takes home films by Michael Haneke, David Lynch, Claire Denis, and more!
While in New York this spring for the release of her new book MANAGING EXPECTATIONS: A MEMOIR IN ESSAYS, celebrated actress and passionate cinephile Minnie Driver stopped by our office for a trip inside our film closet.
This summer, the great actor Kyle MacLachlan stopped by our office for a trip inside our film closet.
While in town for the New York Film Festival premiere of their new film TÁR, Cate Blanchett and director Todd Field stopped by the Criterion office for a trip inside our films closet!
Earlier this autumn, comedian-actor-podcaster Marc Maron stopped by Criterion for a trip inside our films closet!
While in town last October for the New York Film Festival premiere of Marie Kreutzer's CORSAGE, actor Vicky Krieps visited Criterion to film an interview for our upcoming edition of Mia Hansen-Løve's BERGMAN ISLAND (2021) and to take a trip inside our films closet!
The costar of MISSISSIPPI MASALA stocks up on films she cherishes, including classics by Satyajit Ray, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Stephen Frears.
While in New York this spring for the release of her new book MANAGING EXPECTATIONS: A MEMOIR IN ESSAYS, celebrated actress and passionate cinephile Minnie Driver stopped by our office for a trip inside our film closet.
While in New York to promote her new film THE WOMAN KING, award-winning director and screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood stopped by our office for a trip inside our film closet.
While in New York for the release of his new film EO—Poland’s official entry for Best International Film at the 95th Academy Awards®—legendary director Jerzy Skolimowski stopped by Criterion for a trip inside our films closet!
Just after the New York Film Festival premiere of her acclaimed debut feature AFTERSUN, writer-director Charlotte Wells visited the Criterion office for a trip inside our films closet, where she picked up favorites such as Chantal Akerman's NEWS FROM HOME.
With his new film BEAU IS AFRAID now in theaters, writer-director Ari Aster stopped by for a trip inside our films closet!
With his feature directorial debut FOOL'S PARADISE premiering in theaters this weekend, the writer- director-actor visited Criterion for a trip inside our films closet, where he shares the connection between IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA and François Truffaut, the inspiration of Hal Ashby's BEING THERE, the importance of Spike Lee's DO THE RIGHT THING, and his excitement to explore the work Agnès Varda.
While in New York earlier this spring for the theatrical opening of his feature debut CARMEN, director-choreographer-dancer Benjamin Millepied visited Criterion for a trip inside our films closet, where he talked about the evolution of Elia Kazan’s cinematic style, Terrence Malick’s unique ability to capture moments of grace on set, Bob Fosse’s use of editing as rhythm and movement, and much more!
The award-winning actor highlights performances he admires, including John Hurt in THE ELEPHANT MAN, Peter Sellers in BEING THERE, and Catherine Keener in BEING JOHN MALKOVICH.
The singer-songwriter and founding member of the Bangles recommends a must-see film for all rock musicians, highlights a favorite scene in KLUTE, and recounts her childhood memories of hanging out at Ben Gazzara’s house.
The Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins and his collaborator James Deakins—who discuss filmmaking on their podcast, Team Deakins—share stories about the heyday of punk, childhood memories of watching THE SEVENTH SEAL, and commentary about one of the most stunning black-and-white films ever made.
The actor and comedian gravitates to 1940s film noir, the “weirdly timely” shock comedy of John Waters, and movies with memorable soundtracks.
The pioneering video game creator throws a spotlight on treasures of 1950s and ’60s Japanese cinema, including Yasujiro Ozu’s TOKYO TWILIGHT and Nobuo Nakagawa’s JIGOKU.
The legendary filmmaker talks about the brilliance of TARGETS, his memories of collaborating with a young Martin Scorsese, and his experiences as a story analyst at Twentieth Century-Fox and as a distributor of art-house classics like AMARCORD.
The actor and director praises MIDNIGHT COWBOY as “a miracle of a movie,” calls James Stewart his favorite actor, and talks about discovering John Cassavetes’s films in his teenage years.
The writer and director of Safe, Carol, and May December describes the influence that Brief Encounter and Beau travail have had on his work, praises classic Douglas Sirk movies as “the most perfect films ever made,” and gives a shout-out to the late Terence Davies and his friend Kelly Reichardt.
The writing and directing partners behind the new show A MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD talk about the influence of Alan J. Pakula, share their deep connection to THE DOUBLE LIFE OF VÉRONIQUE and AFTER LIFE, and praise the storytelling in DRIVE MY CAR.
The prolific actor praises the old-school flavor of COOLEY HIGH, tells us about his first time seeing Edward James Olmos onstage, and reminisces about a chance encounter with Marlon Brando.
With his 1995 cult classic THE DOOM GENERATION—the blistering second installment in his Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy—now newly restored to its audacious, uncut glory and playing exclusively on the Criterion Channel, the filmmaker reminisces about writing papers on BRINGING UP BABY in film school, defends one of David Lynch’s most polarizing masterpieces, and calls John Waters “the original godfather of everything.”
The legendary filmmaker talks about the brilliance of TARGETS, his memories of collaborating with a young Martin Scorsese, and his experiences as a story analyst at Twentieth Century-Fox and as a distributor of art-house classics like AMARCORD.
The Palme d’Or–winning Belgian duo talk about their friends Jane Campion and Cristian Mungiu, a Krzysztof Kieślowski masterpiece that has influenced their own work, and the “profound loneliness” of Barbara Loden’s Wanda.
The director of ONE FALSE MOVE and DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS talks about his love of Yasujiro Ozu, the exploration of crime in PIXOTE, the inspiration he took from CHILDREN OF PARADISE, and one of the greatest jazz films of all time.
The actor, whose work includes BARBIE and BAD THINGS, praises Luis Buñuel’s thorny explorations of desire, shares her Powell and Pressburger favorites, and shouts out the visionary costume and production design of Eiko Ishioka.
During a trip to what director Christian Petzold calls our “city of movies,” the director of AFIRE talked about the jazzy qualities of Steven Soderbergh’s films, the inspiration he has taken from Preston Sturges, and an overpoweringly erotic moment in STROMBOLI.
Earlier this year, Rodrigo Prieto—the acclaimed cinematographer of AMORES PERROS, THE IRISHMAN, 25TH HOUR, SILENCE and much more—stopped by Criterion for a trip inside our films closet!
The actor, who stars in Wes Anderson’s ASTEROID CITY, highlights a Clu Gulager performance that the director recommended to him, recounts how his wife introduced him to AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, and shares his mother’s favorite movie.
The award-winning actor and producer discusses his work in such Mexican-cinema classics as Y TU MAMÁ TAMBIÉN and AMORES PERROS, shares his love for the mysterious pleasures of BLOW-UP and PURPLE NOON, and praises the brilliance of Luis Buñuel and Jean-Claude Carrière.
The writer and director, best known for creating and starring in the hit television show SCHITT'S CREEK, talks about the eternal inspiration of Moonstruck, shares his love for Parker Posey, and reminiscences about watching Sofia Coppola direct on the set of THE VIRGIN SUICIDES.
The acclaimed actor shares his deep connection to ONIBABA, praises Isabelle Huppert and her performance in THE PIANO TEACHER, recalls GATE OF FLESH's influence on the Wooster Group, and selects a few of his collaborations with Wes Anderson and Martin Scorsese.
The award-winning actor, best known for Todd Haynes’s MAY DECEMBER, champions the twisted pleasure of MEMORIES OF MURDER, selects favorites featuring his costar Julianne Moore, and talks about the subtle beauty of films like DRIVE MY CAR and AFTER LIFE.
The Oscar-nominated writer and director of ANATOMY OF A FALL praises the perfection of AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, talks about the feminist qualities of LA VÉRITÉ, and selects PETITE MAMAN for her daughter.
The acclaimed actor, writer, and director praises Jackie Chan as one of the great creators of all time, talks about his love for “uncomfortable” films like BENNY'S VIDEO and WAGES OF FEAR, and shares how becoming a father deepened his love for BICYCLE THIEVES.
The award-winning actor talks about his childhood experience seeing CARNIVAL OF SOULS and his love for low-budget horror treasures, shares how BLUE VELVET ignited his desire to become an actor and why RASHOMON always moves him to tears, and praises the performances in John Frankenheimer’s SECONDS.
The actor describes the beauty of discovering Agnès Varda, shares how MEAN STREETS inspired his desire to act, and selects all-time favorite films, from FIVE EASY PIECES to THE LEOPARD.
The father-daughter team behind the new film WILDCAT talk about their love of CHILDREN OF PARADISE, the films of Wim Wenders, and the influence of PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK and AN ANGEL AT MY TABLE.
The award-winning actor, writer, and director shares his love for the hard-boiled voice-over in BLAST OF SILENCE, praises the exquisite acting and production design of TOPSY-TURVY, and selects favorites by his frequent collaborators Joel and Ethan Coen.
The writer-director of JANET PLANET joins the film’s editor in praising Maurice Pialat’s unsentimental depiction of childhood, their collaborator Maria von Hausswolff’s cinematography in GODLAND, and the ineffable magic of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.
The actor shares her love for sexy and stylish heist movies like CHARADE and THIEF; praises the work of Juzo Itami (whom she calls “the G.O.A.T.”) and his wife, Nobuko Miyamoto; and talks about the African American surrealist imagery in TO SLEEP WITH ANGER.
The legendary actor shares his love for Akira Kurosawa classics RED BEARD and IKIRU, recalls how Tatsuya Nakadai was his teacher when he first began acting, admires the visual storytelling of CITY LIGHTS, and shouts out his latest collaborator, Wim Wenders.
The Oscar-winning writer and director talks about ARMY OF SHADOWS and Jean-Pierre Melville’s cinema of betrayal, shares his love for Denis Lavant's dancing in BEAU TRAVAIL, and selects favorites by Yasujiro Ozu, Ernst Lubitsch, and Nicholas Ray.
The legendary French auteur talks about the intimacy of discovering yourself in cinema, shares her lifelong connection to VIRIDIANA and BLACK ORPHEUS, and praises directors whose work continues to inspire and transport her, from Elia Kazan and David Lynch to Shohei Imamura and Andrei Tarkovsky.
The writer, director, actor, and producer shares what Marlon Riggs’s work means to her as a Black queer filmmaker, praises Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s radical approach to melodrama, and spotlights Chantal Akerman, Agnès Varda, and other directors whose work she can’t live without.
The award-winning playwright, actor, producer, and director shares his love for SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG, celebrates how Bob Fosse captured dance on-screen like no one else, and talks about the artists who have shaped him, from Lena Dunham and the Dogme 95 directors to Pasolini and Fassbinder.
The legendary actor reminiscences about her collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, recalls a memorable lunch she had with John Cassavetes, and talks about her connection to films by Ingmar Bergman and Mike Leigh.