57 Essential Films from The Criterion Collection

Nine years after meeting on a train in Vienna, Jesse and Celine, a French-American couple, now live in Paris with their twin daughters. They spend a summer in Greece at the invitation of a colleague of Jesse's. As the vacation…

Three young men find solace in each other as they try to leave behind difficult family situations in their Rust Belt hometown. Years later, as they navigate the challenges of adulthood, long-held secrets emerge and put their decade-long friendship to…

A young woman pursuing a dance career relocates to New York City and finds herself surrounded by unreliable acquaintances, declining prospects, and disappointing professional opportunities.

In 1956 Pennsylvania, Frank Sheeran, an Irish war veteran working as a truck driver, crosses paths with mob boss Russell Bufalino. Becoming Bufalino's trusted associate, Frank is dispatched to Chicago to assist Jimmy Hoffa, a powerful union leader with ties…

In the American Northwest, three independent women navigate life's challenges. A lawyer struggles to manage a difficult client. A wife and mother's ambitious home-building project exposes problems in her marriage. And a solitary ranch hand develops a complex relationship with…

Adèle's life takes a turn when she meets Emma, a young woman with distinctive blue hair. Emma helps Adèle explore her own desires and develop a sense of independence. Through their relationship, Adèle learns to express herself and discover who…

This film is an impressionistic look at a Texas family in the 1950s. It follows Jack, the eldest son, from childhood into adulthood as he struggles to understand his complicated relationship with his father. Lost in the changing modern world,…

A restaurant owner forms a friendship with a Syrian refugee who has recently settled in Finland.

Following a night of drinking with his straight friends, Russell goes to a gay club. He meets Glen just before closing, and what starts as a casual encounter evolves into a deeper connection.

Drummer Ruben starts losing his hearing. A doctor warns him it will get worse, making him feel like his career and life are over. His girlfriend Lou sends him to a rehab facility for the deaf, hoping it will prevent…

The Grand Budapest Hotel follows a renowned concierge at a prestigious European hotel during the interwar period and his developing friendship with a young employee who becomes his close protégé. Their story centers on the theft and recovery of a…

In 1960s Montana, 14-year-old Joe lives with his mother, Jeanette, and father, Jerry, a golf pro. A large forest fire erupts near the Canadian border, and when Jerry loses his job, he impulsively joins the firefighting efforts, leaving his family…

A stage director and an actress navigate a difficult divorce that spans the country, testing their limits and forcing them to confront their deepest selves.

Three strangers, haunted by war, pretend to be a family and escape Sri Lanka's civil war for a fresh start in a difficult Paris suburb. However, their past experiences begin to affect them as they try to build a life…

Isabelle, a Parisian artist and divorced mother, is searching for lasting love.

This is the story of Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, a Venezuelan revolutionary who established a global terrorist group. In 1975, he led a raid on the headquarters of OPEC before being apprehended by French authorities.

In early 1960s Greenwich Village, Llewyn Davis, a talented but troubled folk musician, faces difficulties with finances, his personal life, and his prospects for the future.

This film blends documentary, concert footage, and surreal imagery to reflect the mood of 1975 America and Bob Dylan's vibrant performances during that year.

While in Tuscany promoting his new book, a middle-aged English writer encounters a French woman who guides him to the village of Lucignano.

Amidst a world marked by conflict, this film follows a group of friends, family members, and romantic partners as they navigate the complexities of love, forgiveness, and finding purpose. The story balances humor and heartfelt moments against a backdrop of…

This film is a collection of 24 short films, each approximately four and a half minutes long, inspired by still images – paintings and photographs. It's an experimental project created by filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami during the final three years of…

Mexico City, 1970s. Two women working as domestic servants provide support to a mother of four while her husband is away for a long time.

"Pina" is a 3D dance film featuring the renowned Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch company, created by the influential German choreographer who passed away in the summer of 2009.

In Le Havre, France, young African refugee Idrissa meets Marcel Marx, a thoughtful, artistic shoe-shiner. With unwavering hope and the help of his community, Marcel challenges the authorities who are trying to deport Idrissa.

Two mermaid sisters working at a nightclub are forced to make difficult and violent decisions when one of them develops feelings for a handsome human.

Alina travels back to Romania from Germany with the intention of bringing Voichita home. Voichita is the only person Alina has ever loved, and vice versa. However, Voichita has embraced a religious life, and her devotion to God proves the…

A seventeen-year-old boy and his younger sister's futures are disrupted when their father is accused of murder.

This film follows Agu, a child caught in the civil war of a West African nation. He's compelled to join a group of soldiers. Though he both fears his commander and the other soldiers, the war has already destroyed his…

Maureen, in her mid-twenties, works as a personal shopper for a famous media personality. The job allows her to live in Paris, a city she's determined to leave only after finding her twin brother, who died there years ago. Her…

This lyrical and deeply personal film explores grief through the lens of loss: the deaths of her husband Lou Reed, her mother, and her dog, alongside reflections on family, surveillance, and Buddhist philosophy.

This film explores the early life of David Lynch. It follows him from a peaceful childhood in a small American town through his experiences in Philadelphia, revealing the events that profoundly influenced the work of this highly distinctive filmmaker.

For years, Jep Gambardella has navigated Rome's glamorous social scene. However, after his 65th birthday and a surprising event from his past, Jep begins to see beyond the city's glittering parties and nightclubs. He discovers a deeper, timeless beauty in…

A middle-aged carpenter, now reliant on government assistance following a work injury, finds his life intersecting with a single mother facing similar circumstances.

In modern-day Japan, young Masashi relocates from a shelter to a quiet village. There, he learns that all the children can speak with magical beings, but their abilities are being exploited for a sinister purpose: to gather their negative emotions.…

A charming New York City jeweler, constantly searching for his next big opportunity, takes a series of risky bets that promise a life-changing fortune. Howard navigates a dangerous path, trying to manage his business, his family, and growing threats from…

A seasoned actress is forced to confront a difficult truth about herself when she accepts a role in a revival of the play that made her famous two decades ago.

A strange creature damages the moon and threatens Earth, demanding to be the homeroom teacher of the third-year class, Class E, at Kunugigaoka High School if the planet is to be spared. With the deadline for the creature’s attack and…

Sandra, a young professional, has just one weekend to persuade her coworkers to forfeit their bonuses. Her goal: to secure her own job amidst a challenging economic climate.

In the summer of 1965, on an island off New England, two twelve-year-olds fall in love and decide to elope into the wilderness. Their secret is discovered, and authorities pursue them as a violent storm approaches, disrupting the island community.

A Brooklyn teenager struggles with who they are while navigating friendships, love, and family expectations as they explore their sexuality.

CAMERAPERSON is a visually striking memoir that uses filmmaker Kirsten Johnson's existing footage to explore moments that have deeply impacted her. The film reframes these scenes, transforming their original presentation into a personal story about journey, filmmaking, and genuine human…

Left alone by his father, a young boy is cared for by someone who isn't really equipped to handle the job.

Spalding Gray established himself as a master of the monologue with his groundbreaking performance of "Swimming to Cambodia," a one-man show detailing his experience making the 1984 film *The Killing Fields*. His performances were known for their raw honesty, humor,…

In the mountains of Lesotho, an 80-year-old widow prepares for her end. However, when her village faces forced relocation for a reservoir project, she rediscovers her determination and inspires her community to fight back.

Mija takes a dangerous stand to stop a powerful global corporation from taking her close friend, Okja – a huge animal.

In late 18th-century Brittany, a female painter living in isolation is commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.

This film chronicles the experiences of a divorced couple as they navigate parenthood while raising their young son. The story follows the boy over twelve years, from first grade at age six through his teenage years, exploring his evolving relationship…

Filmmaker Martin Bell documents the life of Erin Blackwell, a mother of ten, tracing her journey from a 14-year-old working as a prostitute through struggles with drug addiction, poverty, and the challenges of raising a large family.

In the aftermath of World War II in Poland, a man and a woman encounter one another. Despite their contrasting personalities and origins, they find themselves inexplicably drawn together, even though their connection seems destined for tragedy.

Retired General Enrique is confined to his mansion by large protests, accused of genocide against the Mayan people. Abandoned by his staff, the angered general and his family are forced to confront the consequences of his actions as they experience…

In Tokyo, an elderly man and a young woman cross paths. She is unaware of his past, while he believes he recognizes her. He invites her into his home, and she offers herself to him. But the connection they forge…

Nelly, a German-Jewish cabaret singer who survived Auschwitz but bears facial scars from the experience, is approached by her former husband, Johnny. He asks for her help in claiming his late wife's inheritance. Suspecting betrayal, Nelly agrees to the task,…

This is a personal and compelling look at the remarkable life and career of Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982). A young woman from Sweden, she rose to become one of the most acclaimed actresses in film history.

With no jobs, Ki-taek's family develops an unusual fascination with the affluent Park family, hoping to make a living from them. Their lives become complicated when they are unexpectedly drawn into an unforeseen event.

Fresh out of film school, Aura moves back to New York to live with her mother, Siri, a photographer, and her sister Nadine, who recently graduated high school. Feeling lost about her future career and personal life, Aura takes a…

A highly successful but self-centered architect, known for domineering behavior towards his wife, colleagues, and romantic partners, seeks reconciliation as he faces the end of his life.

Kate Mercer is preparing for her 45th wedding anniversary party, and everything is proceeding smoothly. However, a letter arrives for her husband revealing that the body of his first love has been found – frozen and preserved in the Swiss…