Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

Message

therewillbeblus · Wed Dec 31, 2025 5:28 pm

FrauBlucher wrote: Wed Dec 31, 2025 5:00 pm What are the chances Criterion will release Haneke’s Time of the Wolf? I see the Strand Releasing edition is going for $75

I'd be surprised if they released it before Caché

nicolas · #7502 Post by **nicolas** » Wed Dec 31, 2025 6:37 pm

This film desperately needs a new master. The one Strand and now Curzon released is dated, to put it mildly. With Criterion’s standards these days, I don’t think they’d release it and I also doubt that they’ll do the remastering themselves if it’s just for a solo release.

FrauBlucher · #7503 Post by **FrauBlucher** » Wed Dec 31, 2025 8:38 pm

Unless Janus has it and they can look to tour it after any kind of restoration. Hopefully

hearthesilence · Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:26 am

Michael Almereyda‘s adaptation of Hamlet is being worked on with Criterion, so says the producers at tonight’s To Save and Project screening of the Nadja restoration.

#7505 Post by **domino harvey** » Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:27 am

Sister release with Cymbeline obv

beamish14 · #7506 Post by **beamish14** » Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:30 am

hearthesilence wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:26 am Michael Almereyda‘s adaptation of Hamlet is being worked on with Criterion, so says the producers at tonight’s To Save and Project screening of the Nadja restoration.

That’s great. I wish SOMEONE would release Twister, which is still LionsGate

crimlaw · #7507 Post by **crimlaw** » Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:27 pm

I wish Criterion would release Frankenheimer’s Seven Days in May.

Seems more timely than ever.

Maybe it’ll be an April announcement in two days.

onedimension · #7508 Post by **onedimension** » Wed Jan 14, 2026 4:21 am

hearthesilence wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:26 am Michael Almereyda‘s adaptation of Hamlet is being worked on with Criterion, so says the producers at tonight’s To Save and Project screening of the Nadja restoration.

Wildcard: Hamlet box set? Olivier, Almereyda, Zeffirelli, Branagh, Kozintsev, and the BBC Hamlet at Elsinore

MichaelB · #7509 Post by **MichaelB** » Wed Jan 14, 2026 9:15 am

Wild rights. I don’t imagine the Kozintsev is easy to license right now, and BBC material is notoriously fiddly. As is ITV right now, and I believe they own the Olivier film.

I mean, it would be amazing if it happened, but my amazement would be for more than one reason.

sjromig · #7510 Post by **sjromig** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:56 pm

Coming soon: ‘Sentimental Value,’ ‘It Was Just an Accident’ and ‘The Secret Agent’

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/neon ... 1236631561

brundlefly · #7511 Post by **brundlefly** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 3:31 pm

Easier to get a spine number if you're distributed by NEON than if Janus picks you up.

DRW.mov · #7512 Post by **DRW.mov** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 4:11 pm

But what of No Other Choice?

Omensetter · #7513 Post by **Omensetter** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 4:19 pm

I was curious how Criterion would handle last year's NEON crop, and I guess now I know. I figure Oliver Laxe would get the shrift, but No Other Choice screams money-maker regardless of how it fares at the Oscars. I imagine the Panahi or the Trier will be announced today.

#7514 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 4:20 pm

If Sirat over performs at the actual Oscars like it did on the shortlist, perhaps that one will happen as well

ryannichols7 · #7515 Post by **ryannichols7** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 4:28 pm

No Other Choice still getting snubbed, goodness. this is in addition to The Handmaiden not happening (Criterion license from Amazon!), so don't know what's going on there

but yeah, a Neon pickup means you probably get a mainline release versus getting JC'd, awfully hilarious

rrenault · #7516 Post by **rrenault** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 4:39 pm

I think, since the Contemporaries line was introduced, Flow has been the only first-run Janus pickup to get a mainline release. I'm surprised The Shrouds didn't get a mainline release.

#7517 Post by **Finch** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 4:54 pm

Mifunefan found a Barnes and Noble listing for a No Other Choice 4K for late April from NEON direct.

The Narrator Returns · Thu Jan 15, 2026 5:27 pm

It’s pretty rude that all the free advertising Nirvanna the Band the Show has given Criterion isn’t getting paid back with a release. Just because that would actually entail three releases, including one of a frequently racist webseries? For shame.

dwk · #7519 Post by **dwk** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 5:34 pm

Finch wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 4:54 pm Mifunefan found a Barnes and Noble listing for a No Other Choice 4K for late April from NEON direct.

No surprise there, I would assume that Park Chan-wook's films are a bigger draw in the US than the others.

ryannichols7 · #7520 Post by **ryannichols7** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:18 pm

can't imagine Neon said "we'd rather release No Other Choice but you can have our three big awards darlings that are getting a lot of press", but maybe that's just me. Criterion really might not be interested in Park Chan Wook

beamish14 · #7521 Post by **beamish14** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:37 pm

onedimension wrote: Wed Jan 14, 2026 4:21 am
hearthesilence wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:26 am Michael Almereyda‘s adaptation of Hamlet is being worked on with Criterion, so says the producers at tonight’s To Save and Project screening of the Nadja restoration.

Wildcard: Hamlet box set? Olivier, Almereyda, Zeffirelli, Branagh, Kozintsev, and the BBC Hamlet at Elsinore

How can you neglect Tony Richardson’s phenomenal, minimalist take with Niccol Williamson and Marianne Faithfull? A Sony title that I would love to own in a 4K edition

hearthesilence · Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:42 pm

Since No Other Choice was produced by CJ Entertainment, it’s possible Criterion had to work out a deal with them directly, and for whatever reason it hasn’t been finalized (or it was passed over or not done yet) with nothing to do with the distribution rights licensed to Neon.

#7523 Post by **Matt** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:13 pm

What an odd article. No source at all, and essentially one sentence of news that's stated as if it's already happened:

Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just an Accident” and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” have been added to the Criterion Collection.

No further details than that. I suppose we'll find out more very soon, possibly even today, but I wonder why they bothered with this story at all. Well, other than to draw traffic, obviously.

I actually wouldn't be surprised to see them in the Criterion Premieres line, even though that's previously been reserved for Sideshow/Janus titles. I doubt any of them will have the wealth of extras Flow has.

#7524 Post by **Matt** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:21 pm

Ah, a little more searching shows a press release from Neon as the source. Thanks, Ryan Gallagher at CriterionCast for having more journalistic transparency than the leading trade paper.

ryannichols7 · #7525 Post by **ryannichols7** » Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:34 pm

hearthesilence wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:42 pm Since No Other Choice was produced by CJ Entertainment, it’s possible Criterion had to work out a deal with them directly, and for whatever reason it hasn’t been finalized (or it was passed over or not done yet) with nothing to do with the distribution rights licensed to Neon.

in fairness, this exact same arrangement was worked out for Parasite, but that was still licensed from Neon. the CJ Entertainment logo still appears on the case, sure, but Neon was the licensee there

Matt wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:21 pm Ah, a little more searching shows a press release from Neon as the source. Thanks, Ryan Gallagher at CriterionCast for having more journalistic transparency than the leading trade paper.

and forum member! but yes, Neon have done this every other year seemingly when they announce titles via press release before Criterion announces them. not all too shocking here, especially when 2/3 directors already have a Criterion relationship (also why Perfect Days was no surprise even though it wasn't announced in the same manner)

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