# The Criterion Channel — Watch classic movies and more > Streaming service for classic and art-house films with extensive special features. (iPhone/iPad app by The Criterion Collection, Inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [The Criterion Collection, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1454275198) - Category: Entertainment - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.80/5 from 13,348 App Store ratings · 1,226 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 16.6 · 71 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2019-04-08 - Data updated: 2026-08-26 - Monetization: subscription - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199/reviews.md ## What is The Criterion Channel? A movie lover’s dream, the Criterion Channel offers classics and discoveries from around the world, thematically programmed with special features, on a streaming service brought to you by the Criterion Collection. With constantly refreshed selections of Hollywood, international, art-house, and independent movies, plus access to Criterion’s entire streaming library of more than 1,000 important classic and contemporary films, there’s something new to choose from every day of the week on the Criterion Channel. Start with Sunday Spotlights on directors, stars, genres, and themes; Tuesday’s Short + Feature; or the Friday double bill. Try out our 15-minute-a-month film school, Observations on Film Art, or choose from suggestions by friends like Barry Jenkins, Guillermo del Toro, or Mira Nair. Go deep with the Criterion Collection’s archive of special features for context that no other service can match. FEATURES - The Criterion Collection’s streaming library, including many complete editions released on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as unreleased titles - Ongoing programs of Hollywood, international, art-house, independent, documentary, and short films, including thematic programming, director and star retrospectives, and guest-curated series - Original Criterion Channel series such as Observations on Film Art, Adventures in Moviegoing, and Art-House America - Supplemental features to deepen your appreciation of the art of film, including audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, scholarly analyses, introductions, new and archival interviews, and trailers To access all features and content you can subscribe to The Criterion Channel on a monthly or yearly basis with an auto-renewing subscription right inside the app.* Pricing can vary by region and will be confirmed before purchase in the app. In app subscriptions will automatically renew at the end of their cycle. * All payments will be paid through your iTunes Account and may be managed under Account Settings after the initial payment. Subscription payments will automatically renew unless deactivated at least 24-hours before the end of the current cycle. Your account will be charged for renewal at least 24-hours prior to the end of the current cycle. Any unused portion of your free trial will be forfeited upon payment. Cancellations are incurred by disabling auto-renewal. Terms of Service: https://www.criterionchannel.com/tos Privacy Policy: https://www.criterionchannel.com/privacy ## Key features - Criterion Collection streaming library - Thematic film programming - Director and star retrospectives - Guest-curated film series - Supplemental film features - Original Criterion Channel series ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Criterion Channel Subscription | $10.99 | per month | | Criterion Channel Subscription | $99.99 | per year | ## Chart rankings - #74 in Top Grossing · Entertainment (US App Store) ## What do users think of The Criterion Channel? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🎥 Excellent collection of films - 🎨 Great curation and themed collections - 🔍 Ability to discover new and classic films - 🎬 High-quality film viewing experience - 🤓 Educational and informative supplementary content - 💰 Good value for the price - 🏆 Essential service for film enthusiasts **Cons** - 🔍 Difficult to browse full catalog - 🔍 Limited search and filtering options - 🐛 Playback issues and interruptions - 🔌 Problems with offline viewing and downloads - 🤖 Lack of personalized recommendations **Commonly reported bugs** - Frequent playback interruptions and freezing - Unreliable offline viewing and download issues - Inconsistent app performance across devices **Most requested features** - Ability to view full catalog of available titles - More advanced search and filtering tools - Improved playback stability and offline functionality - Personalized recommendations based on viewing history - Ratings and user reviews system ## Recent user reviews (10 of 1,226) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-criterion-channel/id1454275199/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Cinema *2026-08-18, version 10.301.1* Criterion is and always will be the goat. Expand your worldview and pick up a sub ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-08-17, version 10.301.1* The app doesn’t work for me and they will not help. I’ve asked for a refund and they won’t provide it. Beware ### 5/5 — A treasure among walled garden detritus. *2026-08-16, version 10.301.1* The only streaming service that matters. ### 5/5 — Perfect *2026-08-16, version 10.301.1* What a beautiful, thoughtful, and well designed app for lovers of The Criterion Collection. Thoughtful, easy to use, great selections! ### 5/5 — If you’re serious about film *2026-08-15, version 10.301.1* I was a film major at NYU and, though most of my career has been in the theater, have continued to explore different corners of film history. Criterion has been useful in not only helping me see hard-to-find stuff but also stimulate interest in new areas. I do wish there were a way to suggest series and request specific films. ### 5/5 — Channel Title: Criterion *2026-08-15, version 10.301.1* Criterion is more than just a streaming service—it feels like a home for serious cinema. The selection of classic, independent, international, and overlooked films is incredible, and the restoration quality is often outstanding. I also love the extras, interviews, commentaries, and the care that goes into presenting each film. For anyone who truly loves cinema and wants to discover films beyond mainstream platforms, .Criterion is absolutely worth having ### 5/5 — Great picks *2026-08-15, version 10.301.1* The Criterion Channel offers a wide range of honorable films across a multitude of genres and time periods. With category updates every month, it’s easy to appreciate this streaming service for its price and quality. ### 5/5 — The best of the best *2026-08-15, version 10.301.1* Unbelievable selection and curation ### 5/5 — Perfect *2026-08-14, version 10.301.1* the best movie platform in existence ### 5/5 — ATX Criterion Guy *2026-08-14, version 10.301.1* Love everything about Criterion Channel. I feel like I am in film school, in an empty theater or with my two favorite directors in Spike Lee and Richard Linklater. Tablet, phone, flat screen or movie screen in my theater room, the feelings I get picking a movie for the night is an experience I want to continue feeling for life. Keep up the great work! ## Frequently asked questions about The Criterion Channel ### What is the Criterion Channel? The Criterion Channel is a streaming service offering a curated selection of classic and contemporary films from Hollywood, international, art-house, and independent cinema. It provides access to Criterion's extensive library of over 1,000 films, along with special features. ### What kind of movies can I watch? You can watch a wide range of movies including Hollywood classics, international films, art-house cinema, independent movies, documentaries, and short films. Selections are refreshed regularly and include thematic programming, director retrospectives, and guest-curated series. ### How much does the Criterion Channel cost? Access to all features and content requires a subscription to The Criterion Channel, available on a monthly or yearly basis. Pricing varies by region and is confirmed before purchase within the app. Subscriptions auto-renew unless deactivated at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current cycle. ### What are the special features? The app offers supplemental features to enhance your appreciation of film, such as audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, scholarly analyses, introductions, interviews, and trailers. These provide context and deeper insights into the films. ### Is the Criterion Channel available on all devices? The description does not explicitly state compatibility with all devices. However, it mentions payments are managed through your iTunes Account, suggesting availability on Apple devices. Subscription payments are managed within the app, implying it's a mobile application. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 10.301.1 — 2026-07-02 * Bug fixes * Performance improvements ### 10.300.1 — 2026-05-25 * Bug fixes * Performance improvements ### 10.000.1 — 2026-01-08 * Bug fixes * Performance improvements ### 9.304.1 — 2025-11-05 * Bug fixes * Performance improvements ### 9.200.1 — 2025-09-06 * Bug fixes * Performance improvements ## Apps similar to The Criterion Channel | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [PlutoTV: Stream Free Movies/TV](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plutotv-stream-free-moviestv/id751712884) | 4.8 (1,615,606) | Free | Entertainment | | [JustWatch - Movies & TV Shows](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/justwatch-movies-and-tv-shows/id979227482) | 4.7 (29,463) | Free | Entertainment | | [Tubi: Movies & Live TV](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tubi-movies-and-live-tv/id886445756) | 4.8 (1,226,701) | Free | Entertainment | | [Plex: Find Movies and TV Shows](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plex-find-movies-and-tv-shows/id383457673) | 4.6 (137,660) | Free | Entertainment | | [IMDb: Movies & TV Shows](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/imdb-movies-and-tv-shows/id342792525) | 4.8 (547,576) | Free | Entertainment | | [TV Time: Track Shows & Movies](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tv-time-track-shows-and-movies/id431065232) | 4.7 (56,943) | Free | Entertainment | ## Related topics [the criterion channel](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-criterion-channel) · [criterion](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/criterion) · [criterion collection](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/criterion-collection) · [free mivies foreign](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/free-mivies-foreign) · [hollywood film](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hollywood-film) · [criterion go](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/criterion-go) · [academy museum of motion pictures](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/academy-museum-of-motion-pictures) · [luis arndt](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/luis-arndt) · [tomas hudak](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tomas-hudak) · [indie films r us](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/indie-films-r-us) · [my genrecinema](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/my-genrecinema) · [royal films sas](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/royal-films-sas) · [sundance institute](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sundance-institute) · [telluride film festival show](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/telluride-film-festival-show) · [indie films world](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/indie-films-world) · [turner classic movies](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/turner-classic-movies) · [nfb films](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nfb-films) · [liway](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/liway) · [cow wallpapers](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/cow-wallpapers) · [bccls](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bccls) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*