Celebrating Six Years of the Criterion Channel

Celebrate six years of the Criterion Channel with a week of free live screenings from essential classics to groundbreaking horror.

In a world of endless content churn, where disposable entertainment floods our screens, there’s something almost sacred about a curated cinematic experience. For six years, the Criterion Channel has been a haven for cinephiles, offering carefully selected masterpieces, hidden gems, and essential works that remind us why we fell in love with movies in the first place. And now, for one week only, that sanctuary is opening its doors to everyone.

Beginning April 8, 2025, the Criterion Channel is celebrating its six-year anniversary with a week of free live screenings of some of the most beloved films in its library. Whether you’re a longtime subscriber or a newcomer curious about the hype, this is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in cinema that has shaped generations.

From art-house classics to genre-defining horror and action films, this lineup is a crash course in film history—and a testament to the power of storytelling.

A Brief History of Criterion: Preserving Cinema’s Legacy

The Criterion Collection has long been synonymous with high-quality film restoration, preservation, and appreciation. Since its inception in 1984, Criterion has championed world cinema, bringing overlooked and essential films to new audiences with meticulously restored editions, in-depth special features, and scholarly commentary.

When the Criterion Channel launched in 2019, it expanded that mission into the streaming era, offering a rotating selection of classics, cult favorites, and contemporary treasures. Six years later, it remains one of the most essential film platforms, a rare oasis in the streaming desert.

The Lineup: A Celebration of Essential Cinema

Each film in this anniversary showcase represents a milestone in cinematic history, whether through bold storytelling, innovative filmmaking, or sheer cultural impact. Here’s what’s in store:

Tuesday, April 8

Persona

• Breathless (1960, dir. Jean-Luc Godard) – The film that redefined cool and kick-started the French New Wave, with its jazzy edits and devil-may-care attitude.
• The Beast (2023, dir. Bertrand Bonello) – A surreal and unsettling blend of sci-fi, romance, and psychological horror.
• Chungking Express (1994, dir. Wong Kar Wai) – A visually intoxicating, melancholic ode to love and loneliness in neon-lit Hong Kong.
• Persona (1966, dir. Ingmar Bergman) – A mind-bending psychological thriller that explores identity, madness, and the fragility of the self.

Wednesday, April 9

House

• 8½ (1963, dir. Federico Fellini) – A fever dream of a filmmaker’s creative crisis, full of dazzling imagery and self-reflection.
• The Daytrippers (1996, dir. Greg Mottola) – A quirky indie road trip film with sharp wit and heartfelt performances.
• EO (2022, dir. Jerzy Skolimowski) – A haunting, visually poetic story told through the eyes of a donkey.
• House (1977, dir. Nobuhiko Obayashi) – A psychedelic horror nightmare, as if a haunted house movie collided with a fever dream. A must-watch for lovers of the bizarre.

Thursday, April 10

The Trial

• The Trial (1962, dir. Orson Welles) – A Kafkaesque horror story of bureaucracy, paranoia, and existential dread.
• Evil Does Not Exist (2023, dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi) – A quiet, unsettling meditation on nature and human interference.
• Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985, dir. Paul Schrader) – A stunning portrait of the controversial Japanese writer, blending biography with avant-garde beauty.

Friday, April 11

Night on Earth

• All We Imagine as Light (2024, dir. Payal Kapadia) – A poetic, deeply personal exploration of modern womanhood.
• Mikey and Nicky (1976, dir. Elaine May) – A raw, gripping gangster drama with two of the greatest performances in the genre.
• Night on Earth (1991, dir. Jim Jarmusch) – A globe-hopping, offbeat collection of taxi cab stories spanning continents and cultures.

Saturday, April 12

Blood Simple

• Tampopo (1985, dir. Juzo Itami) – The ultimate “ramen Western,” blending food, comedy, and philosophy.
• Playtime (1967, dir. Jacques Tati) – A visual symphony of modern life’s absurdity.
• Blood Simple (1984, dir. Coen Brothers) – The Coens’ neo-noir debut, drenched in tension and betrayal.
• Beau travail (1999, dir. Claire Denis) – A hypnotic tale of desire, masculinity, and discipline in the French Foreign Legion.
• Police Story (1985, dir. Jackie Chan) – Pure action cinema at its most jaw-dropping, with stunts that defy belief.

Sunday, April 13

Cure

• Black Narcissus (1947, dir. Powell & Pressburger) – A visually stunning psychological thriller about repression and madness.
• Daisies (1966, dir. Věra Chytilová) – A riotous feminist satire, anarchic and exhilarating.
• Paris, Texas (1984, dir. Wim Wenders) – A hauntingly beautiful meditation on loss and redemption.
• Cure (1997, dir. Kiyoshi Kurosawa) – A chilling, atmospheric horror film that seeps into your bones.
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992, dir. David Lynch) – A harrowing descent into trauma, loss, and the supernatural. Essential Lynch.

Monday, April 14

Stalker

• Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962, dir. Agnès Varda) – A real-time portrait of existential dread and self-discovery.
• Rashomon (1950, dir. Akira Kurosawa) – A masterclass in storytelling and perspective.
• The Player (1992, dir. Robert Altman) – A Hollywood satire that cuts like a knife.
• Stalker (1979, dir. Andrei Tarkovsky) – A mesmerizing, dreamlike journey into the unknown. A must for fans of eerie, thought-provoking cinema.

A Cinematic Shelter in a Chaotic World

At a time when endless algorithm-driven content threatens to dull our cinematic senses, Criterion remains a beacon of curation and intention. This anniversary celebration isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about rediscovering the art of film, engaging with its history, and opening ourselves up to stories that challenge, thrill, and move us.

Whether you’re a horror devotee drawn to HOUSE and CURE, a fan of surreal nightmares like PERSONA and STALKER, or simply someone seeking the pure joy of a well-crafted film, there’s something in this lineup for you.

More than just a free screening event, this is an invitation: to watch, to think, to feel, and to talk about movies that matter.

So grab some popcorn, turn off the outside world for a while, and step into the Criterion Channel’s cinematic sanctuary. Let’s celebrate six years of film history together.