66 Essential Films from The Criterion Collection

Newly arrived in Hollywood and chasing stardom, blonde Betty Elms encounters a mysterious brunette suffering from amnesia. As Betty and the woman try to uncover her past, filmmaker Adam Kesher faces unsettling problems while casting his new film.

Two unconventional, skeptical teenagers grapple with their futures after graduating high school. Following a prank on an odd, middle-aged record collector, one of them develops a friendship with him, creating tension between the two girls.

This film offers a raw and fragmented portrait of several individuals struggling with self-destruction and societal isolation, with a primary focus on Vanda Duarte, a woman battling heroin addiction.

Micah and Joanne wake up with no memory of their one-night stand. They spend the day together in San Francisco, talking over coffee as they try to build a connection.

A car crash in Mexico City triggers a series of unexpected events for three individuals: a supermodel, a young man planning to elope with his sister-in-law, and a homeless man. Their lives are dramatically altered by the seemingly insignificant fate…

Twelve-year-old Anaïs feels burdened by responsibility. She observes her fifteen-year-old sister, Elena, a captivating girl she both adores and resents. Elena, equally ordinary as Anaïs, struggles to grasp that she is seen as a possession. The film explores the theme…

Benjamin Button is born old in a New Orleans nursing home and ages backward. Twelve years later, he meets Daisy, a young girl who remains a presence in his life as she matures into a dancer. Throughout his unusual life,…

In the heat of a northern Argentina summer, two middle-class families seek respite in a decaying estate and a simple townhouse. The relaxed setting reveals underlying tensions and strained relationships among them, as well as the dynamics between parents, children,…

A retired Judo champion gets a second chance at glory when he forms an unexpected bond with a fellow competitor and a hopeful singer.

The Beastie Boys have been hugely influential for the past twenty years. They broadened hip-hop's appeal and redefined its sound, while their innovative music videos pushed the art form to new heights. This two-disc collection features eighteen videos with alternative…

Two neighbors develop a close friendship when they both become suspicious about their spouses' fidelity. They decide to maintain a purely platonic relationship, wary of repeating the mistakes they suspect their partners are making.

Feeling restless, Mr. Fox devises a daring plan to steal chickens from three nearby farmers. The farmers, fed up with the fox's constant raids, plot their revenge on him and his family.

Nine years after a single night in Vienna, Jesse tours Europe, reading from a book inspired by his encounter with Celine. In Paris, Celine unexpectedly finds him, and they reconnect for the day before Jesse departs for another flight. Both…

John Cassavetes is considered a pioneering figure in American independent film. The actor who became a filmmaker developed a realistic style, drawing heavily from documentary filmmaking. This film examines Cassavetes' life and career through interviews with his frequent collaborators and…

Each night, as New York City sleeps, Ahmad, a Pakistani immigrant and former rock musician, pushes his cart through the streets, selling coffee and donuts. This routine existence shifts when an opportunity for a better life presents itself.

In southern France, a Franco-Arabic shipyard worker and his partner's daughter work together to realize their dream of opening a restaurant.

Producer Pierre Delacroix, after being rejected by his network for his sitcom idea, deliberately pitches the worst concept imaginable: a 21st-century minstrel show, hoping to get fired. Instead, the network airs it and it unexpectedly becomes a huge success.

Following the passing of their mother, three adult children discuss how to divide her possessions.

Alex, a former convict now providing protection in a Vienna brothel, hopes to escape with his girlfriend Tamara, who works there too. Their attempt to leave triggers a series of events connecting them to a rural police officer and his…

Growing up in East Berlin, Hedwig decides to move to the U.S. She transforms herself into a rock star, known for being largely unknown but incredibly gifted. She presents herself as a woman, embracing a unique sense of self.

Richard, a single father, connects with Christine, a struggling artist who works as a taxi driver. They navigate a hesitant romance, complicated by Richard's emotional wounds from his divorce. At the same time, Richard’s sons – a teenager and a…

A Chinese immigrant working illegally is deeply in debt due to a massive smuggling operation. He has until the end of the day to find the money he owes.

This film examines the U.S. War on drugs through several viewpoints. The newly appointed head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy confronts a personal crisis when his intelligent daughter secretly struggles with cocaine use within their seemingly perfect…

Two teenage boys and an older woman take a road trip through Mexico, where they experience lessons about life, friendship, sex, and their relationships with one another.

A film crew journeys through Thailand, inviting local villagers to contribute to a continuously expanding narrative.

A man who struggles with social situations and has a tendency to be unpredictable finds love when he's targeted by a group of criminals.

"George Washington" is a coming-of-age story set in a rural Southern town, exploring how a group of young people navigate difficult choices and their repercussions. After a game in an abandoned amusement park ends tragically with the death of one…

A city painter travels to a secluded canyon with the intention of ending his life. Seeking peace, he finds lodging at the farm of Ascen, an elderly woman of faith. Despite minimal conversation, a connection blossoms between them, developing into…

This is the story of Bobby Sands, an IRA member who spearheaded the 1981 hunger strike. During The Troubles, Irish Republican prisoners undertook the strike to demand political status.

Amidst a turbulent power shift in a French-speaking African nation, Maria Vial struggles to keep her family's coffee plantation running. As rebels and the army battle for dominance, French peacekeepers withdraw, leaving the remaining white residents to fend for themselves.…

In a decaying house in East Hampton, mother and daughter Big Edie and Little Edie Beale live with six cats. Little Edie, in her fifties and known for her scarves and vibrant clothing, sings, poses for the camera, and converses…

This drama explores the conflict between Native Americans and English settlers in 17th-century America, focusing on the experiences of explorer John Smith.

Following the Spanish Civil War, ten-year-old Ofelia and her pregnant mother go to live with her abusive stepfather. She discovers a strange labyrinth and encounters a faun who tells her she might be a princess from a hidden kingdom. To…

Lenny, 34, has spent months alone. He picks up his sons, Sage, 9, and Frey, 7, from school. Each year, he spends a couple of weeks with them in his midtown New York studio apartment. During these visits, Lenny struggles…

Grace, a devout woman, lives with her children, Anne and Nicholas, in a darkened old house due to their extreme sensitivity to light. As strange occurrences and unsettling visions suggest the house might be haunted, Grace desperately tries to shield…

Monica Wright and Quincy McCall have known each other their whole lives, growing up in the same neighborhood. They fall in love as they become adults, sharing a deep passion for basketball. As Quincy and Monica navigate their relationship, they…

Fifteen-year-old Mia feels like she's always fighting with her family and everyone around her. Then she meets Connor, her mother's charming new boyfriend, and is surprised when he seems to notice her too. She hopes he can help her understand…

This film isn't about gun control. It explores the underlying anxieties of the United States and the 280 million Americans who can legally own a Uzi. Examining Columbine High School security footage, the home of NRA President Charlton Heston, a…

As Mark prepares to become a father, he feels increasingly overwhelmed by the demands of family life. He welcomes an invitation from his longtime friend Kurt for a camping trip in the Oregon wilderness. While spending time together, the two…

Spain, 1939. As the Spanish Civil War ends, young Carlos arrives at the Santa Lucía orphanage. There, he forms friendships and rivalries while unknowingly following the subtle trail of someone driven by a desire for vengeance.

In the late 1980s, two detectives in rural South Korea struggle to solve a series of brutal rape and murders targeting young women, terrifying their community. Working with limited resources and old-fashioned techniques, they soon realize they are hunting the…

Driven by revenge for a crewmate lost to a shark, celebrated oceanographer Steve Zissou sets out on a new expedition. He's joined by his usual crew, along with Ned, a man convinced Zissou is his father, and Jane, a journalist…

This film presents a series of images depicting today's world, shaped by widespread technology and conflict.

In 1956, Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara and a group of Cuban exiles, under Fidel Castro's leadership, land in Cuba from Mexico. Within two years, they build a popular movement and an army, ultimately overthrowing the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.

This film offers a look inside the world of Italy's contemporary crime families, specifically the Camorra in Naples and Caserta. Based on the work of Roberto Saviano, it reveals a reality dominated by power, wealth, and violence. Residents of the…

Amidst a period of social upheaval, war, and economic hardship, Maria, a young woman from a working-class background, wins a camera in a lottery. This unexpected prize fundamentally changes the course of her life.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, the heart of North America and Guy Maddin's hometown, is the captivating setting for his film. The story blends reality, imagination, and recollections to create a city that is both charming and unsettling.

Three American brothers, estranged for a year, embark on a train journey through India hoping to reconnect and rediscover their bond. Their self-proclaimed "spiritual quest" quickly takes an unexpected turn, complicated by incidents involving medication, local remedies, and a case…

After humanity abandons Earth, a lone robot named WALL•E continues his programmed work for centuries. His life changes when he encounters EVE, a sophisticated search robot. EVE discovers that WALL•E has found something vital for the future of the planet…

The fractured Vuillard family gathers for a strained Christmas when their matriarch falls ill. The reunion brings together Henri, a rebellious outsider, and Elizabeth, who is tightly wound. Sharing a home again after years apart, their complicated history of unspoken…

In Taipei, a family grapples with personal and ethical dilemmas as ordinary moments reveal cracks in their relationships and challenge what they believe matters.

Alejandro, a determined Latino street kid nearing his teenage years, lives and works in a bustling auto-body shop within a large junkyard in Queens, New York. Amidst the unpredictable environment of working adults, Alejandro strives to build a better future…

Actress Nikki Grace lands the lead in a film with a dark secret. As filming progresses, her life begins to blur with the movie's themes of betrayal, past lives, and unexplained phenomena.

A couple struggling with grief and marital problems seeks solace in their secluded cabin, "Eden," deep in the woods. Hoping to heal and reconnect, they find their situation escalating as nature unleashes unforeseen challenges.

Fårö, a remote and enigmatic island off the coast of Sweden, Baltic Sea, 2004. In this film, the renowned Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007) reflects on his life's work—over six decades dedicated to cinema, theater, and television. This is an…

Inspired by Noah Baumbach's childhood, The Squid and the Whale is a poignant story about two brothers navigating their parents' divorce in Brooklyn during the 1980s.

Royal Tenenbaum and his wife Etheline had three children before separating. All three children are exceptionally gifted – true geniuses. But two decades of betrayal, failure, and misfortune have largely obscured their former brilliance, with most blaming their father. "The…

Two college roommates have 24 hours to decide as they make final preparations for an illegal abortion.

A family comes together for a traditional ceremony, the meaning of which is revealed slowly.

Keith is a socially awkward outcast who considers himself a "troll." His anxieties trigger a downward spiral as his job selling coupons, his living situation, and his remaining relationships fall apart.

A man who grew up in an orphanage returns to his mother after she asks to see him one last time. He must face the painful childhood memories that have always troubled him.

With monsoon rains approaching, the large Verma family gathers in New Delhi for a final arranged marriage. The film follows five interconnected stories, exploring various facets of love as characters confront differences in social standing, location, and ethics.

After her husband's death, Shin-ae relocates to his hometown, struggling to find her place in the quiet, unfamiliar community. Following a devastating event, she finds solace in Christianity, but even this comfort is denied to her, leading her to a…

When the Portuguese government destroys his neighborhood and moves him to a housing project outside Lisbon, 75-year-old Cape Verdean immigrant Ventura journeys back and forth between his old life and his new one, encountering familiar faces along the way.

A small incident sets off a chain of events that connects five people in Paris. Anne is an actress, and her boyfriend Georges is documenting the war in Kosovo. Georges' brother, Jean, needs the code to access Georges' apartment. Their…

Erika Kohut, a piano teacher who suppresses her sexuality and lives under the control of her mother, begins to attract the attention of a young man who pursues her romantically.