Get ready to cancel your weekend plans, film lovers! The Criterion Collection, the brand known worldwide as the definitive curators of classic cinema, are opening their digital archives to the public for complimentary streaming from now until February 18th.
Criterion always offers streaming access to their archives via Hulu Plus, but the $9.99 monthly membership charge is a barrier for many movie buffs. But now, anyone with high-speed Internet access can enjoy beautifully restored transfers of celebrated films by Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, Jean-Luc Goddard, Charlie Chaplin, Guillermo del Toro, and dozens more.
Those who know Criterion primarily as a manufacturer of DVDs and blu-rays (and formerly laserdiscs) might be surprised to know that many titles in their streaming collection have not yet been released in a physical format, at least not by Criterion. Such films include David Lynch's Eraserhead and Charlie Chaplin's City Lights. This weekend, cinephiles are encouraged to stream them before they can buy them.
It's a great time to be a film snob!
To stream the Criterion Collection, visit Hulu.
Comments