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

For many years, the Criterion Assortment has been a guiding star for film buffs. Launching within the LaserDisc period, after which transferring into DVDs, then Blu-rays, and now 4K Blu-rays, the corporate has been on the forefront of releasing traditional and artwork home movies from all around 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.

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 characteristic I did not know I desperately wanted in my life.

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Film buffs can be completely happy to know they’ll now stream movies from the Criterion Assortment utilizing a devoted app.

What does Criterion 24/7 supply?

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 most of the finest 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 in contrast to Netflix, which barely options any films made earlier than 1980, Criterion Channel is full of 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 mother or father firm of Criterion, which has been distributing international, artwork home cinema in the US for the reason that Fifties. That features films by necessary filmmakers like Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini, Agnes Varda and lots of extra. There are additionally many modern movies, together with this yr’s glorious 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 reality, if 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 thought is to imitate the best way issues could be within the previous days, on an precise TV channel — the viewer was merely caught watching no matter was on.

That will sound like a foul factor within the period of video on demand, the place person alternative is king, however there was one thing easier about simply turning on a film channel and testing no matter occurred to be taking part in. What’s extra, it is an effective way to find films. It may be so troublesome to decide on one thing new to look at, and it is usually simple to choose one thing acquainted.

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

How I exploit Criterion 24/7

It is the brand new TCM

Criterion Channel

I’ve at all times cherished Turner Basic Films, however with out cable, I wanted a substitute, and Criterion 24/7 affords simply that. It is not precisely the identical or as thoughtfully curated, the schedule is not introduced prematurely, and it does not characteristic interstitial content material like previous newsreels, movie intros, or documentaries. That stated, the flicks are an important factor, and on that entrance, Criterion 24/7 greater than delivers.

Because it launched, I’ve used Criterion 24/7 rather a lot, principally as one thing to have on within the background whereas I work. That is not the perfect method to watch films, however every time I come throughout one that really captures my consideration, I am going to simply add it to my Criterion Channel watch record and stream it later. I additionally use the 24/7 channel rather a lot at night time, once I’m too drained to go looking via my varied 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 course of some film that is already taking part in, getting a style of one thing I would wish to rewind and watch in full, or settling in with an previous favourite.

My Criterion 24/7 discoveries

The most effective issues I’ve seen on the channel

Criterion Channel

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

• Le Samouraï (Jean-Pierre Melville, 1967)
• Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984)
• Yojimbo (Akira Kurosawa, 1961)
• Within the Temper for Love (Wong Kar-wai, 2000)
• The Crimson Sneakers (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1948)
• Implausible Planet (René Laloux, 1973)

And that is only a small style of the sorts of flicks you will see in the event you tune in.

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