The Criterion Channel vs Last Chinatown
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
The Criterion Channel
Stream a curated collection of classic and contemporary films from around the world. Discover Hollywood, international, art-house, and independent movies with special features and exclusive series. Enjoy daily refreshed selections and in-depth film analysis.
- Criterion Collection streaming library
- Thematic film programming
- Director and star retrospectives
- Guest-curated film series
- Supplemental film features
- Original Criterion Channel series
Read full descriptionHide full description
A movie lover’s dream, Criterion features exclusive new releases, classic films, and global discoveries, along with bonus features, all ad-free. Start watching today. WHAT YOU GET: - Access to thousands of films: major Hollywood hits alongside classic, foreign, art-house, and independent films from around the world - Special features no other streamer can match: audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, new and archival interviews, introductions, and scholarly analysis - Original series: Adventures in Moviegoing, The Craft of Acting, and more - Guest picks from filmmakers like Spike Lee, Guillermo del Toro, Sofia Coppola, and more FEATURES: - Stream on TV, web browser, mobile, and gaming consoles, at home or on the go - Unlimited ad-free streaming on every device - Download movies and extras you love for offline viewing - Save everything you want to watch in one place with “My List” - Search and sort “All Films” by decade, genre, director, and country - Drop into a steady stream of must-see movies with “Criterion 24/7” - Stream high-quality video and 5.1 surround sound 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 Apple 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.criterion.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.criterion.com/privacy
Last Chinatown
Experience a site-specific augmented reality memorial that explores the history and erasure of Santa Cruz's last Chinatown. This interactive journey uses historical photos, interviews, and virtual recreations to bring the past to life at significant locations.
- Augmented reality experience
- Historical photos and interviews
- Virtual recreations
- Performative interpretation
- Site-specific locations
Read full descriptionHide full description
“Watermarks of the Last Chinatown” is an interactive public memorial in the form of a site-specific augmented reality experience that speaks to the rich narrative landscape of Santa Cruz, California, through the lens of historical erasure with a focus on its last Chinatown. The work is a collaboration between Huy Truong, Susana Ruiz, and Karen Tei Yamashita. It includes interviews with community members, historical photographs, virtual recreations, and a performative interpretation of an original story by Yamashita. The work incorporates documentary, holographic film, and gameplay and is experienced on mobile devices at historically important sites in downtown Santa Cruz to render visible the lives, legacies, and labors of those who lived there.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Last Chinatown at none against The Criterion Channel's 2. Last Chinatown also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). The Criterion Channel's advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 2) and chart position (#82 vs unranked). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. The Criterion Channel sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.99 per month. Last Chinatown asks for nothing beyond the download.
Last Chinatown holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Criterion Channel has 14K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
The Criterion Channel ships an update monthly, Last Chinatown every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | The Criterion Channel | Last Chinatown |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (14K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 89.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 14K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #82 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 1.7 GB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Criterion Collection, Inc. | Susana Ruiz |
Customer experience
The Criterion Channel
Last Chinatown
Bugs and requests
The Criterion Channel
Reported bugs
3 issues- Frequent playback interruptions and freezing
- Unreliable offline viewing and download issues
- Inconsistent app performance across devices
Requested features
5 requests- 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
Last Chinatown
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
The Criterion Channel
- Criterion Channel Subscription7 Days trial$10.991 Month
- Criterion Channel Subscription7 Days trial$99.991 Year
Last Chinatown
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is The Criterion Channel free?
Is Last Chinatown free?
Which has better reviews, The Criterion Channel or Last Chinatown?
Do The Criterion Channel or Last Chinatown have ads?
Which is updated more often, The Criterion Channel or Last Chinatown?
Other comparisons















