22 Amazing Cult Classics That Deserve The Criterion Treatment
You don't have to be a full-fledged film enthusiast to be familiar with Criterion, the esteemed boutique distribution outlet that has successfully expanded their web into the streaming game.
Criterion may be the gold standard for home media release, whether it be on disc or digital, but their process is incredibly selective, with only a handful of titles being added to their collection every month.
So I've decided to assemble a list of 22 cult classics that deserve to be added to the hallowed halls of the Criterion Collection in 2022:
1.Taxidermia (2006)
Perhaps the most twisted family story ever told, Taxidermia is a lauded Hungarian satirical drama that recounts the experiences of three generations of a family, including a delusional military officer, a champion speed-eater, and an ambitious taxidermist.
2.Q&A (1990)
One of the unsung masterpieces from filmmaking legend Sidney Lumet, Q&A is a stellar drama that skewers and subverts every expectation one might have with a police thriller.
3.Girlfight (2000)
The feature film debut of Karyn Kusama, Girlfight received much critical acclaim for being one of the first films to depict women's boxing and providing the platform to launch the career of star Michelle Rodriguez.
4.Eve’s Bayou (1997)
While Criterion has been noted for their willingness to bring aboard more and more horror titles to their collection, the southern gothic drama Eve's Bayou has been long deprived of getting the recognition it deserves with the exception of its preservation in the Library of Congress in 2018.
5.Little Children (2006)
Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, Todd Field's compelling depiction of intersecting stories in a suburban community, including adultery and paranoia, garnered multiple Academy Award nominations and induction into the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection, even if it hasn't received a proper Blu-ray release yet.
6.The Last Minute (2001)
Shortly after directing Blade, filmmaker Stephen Norrington crafted this excellent and darkly humorous rumination on the fickle entertainment industry that is woefully overdue for a rediscovery.
7.The Fourth Man (1983)
Just prior to leaving his mark on Hollywood and the film industry in general, director Paul Verhoeven's sexually charged and utraviolent thriller rocked audiences around the globe and yet has been widely unavailable in the US for a number of years.
8.Dogville (2003)
Though the Criterion Collection has long been in the Lars von Trier business, his spellbinding (and devastating) Dogville has yet to be announced for their upcoming slate.
9.Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
There are a number of Martin Scorsese-directed films that seem to be Criterion-bound, but Bringing Out the Dead may be most fitting for the format, especially as it features one of Nicolas Cage's best (and most underrated) performances and stunning cinematography from Robert Richardson.
10.The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
A truly shocking and depraved comedy from controversial filmmaker Peter Greenaway, The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover is the kind of transgressive film that should have been a Criterion title years ago, if for no reason but Michael Gambon's all-timer of a villainous performance.
11.A Simple Plan (1998)
Though Sam Raimi would later venture into the worlds of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and Oz the Great and Powerful, his most understated and suspenseful film, A Simple Plan, is among his best and should undoubtedly be his debut in the Criterion Collection.
12.Palindromes (2004)
Todd Solondz was previously featured in the Criterion Collection with his 2010 film Life During Wartime, but his most polarizing and experimental film, Palindromes, is equally deserving of the boutique distributor's spotlight.
13.Intacto (2003)
An imaginative and occasionally nightmarish film about high-stakes gambling where one's luck is literally on the line, Intacto is a dazzling descent into darkness and magical realism that has had far too few eyes upon it over the past 20 years.
14.Pink Floyd — The Wall (1982)
A surreal retelling of Pink Floyd's concept album from visionary director Alan Parker, this critical darling's cult audience has grown over the years even if the film has yet to receive a definitive high definition transfer.
15.Redbelt (2008)
David Mamet's early films have occasionally graced the Criterion Collection, but his later (and underrated) directorial efforts, including the taut Spartan, the pulse-pounding Heist, and the soulful Redbelt, likewise deserve to be considered for inclusion.
16.Whatever (1998)
Before she became a scene-stealing regular on Gilmore Girls and How to Get Away with Murder, Liza Weil received rave reviews as the conflicted lead in Susan Skoog's New Jersey-set independent teen slacker drama Whatever.
17.Mute Witness (1995)
This inventive and intense horror film about a mute woman who stumbles upon a snuff film production has sat on the shelf for too damn long, and seems to be a perfect candidate for a Criterion-led revival.
18.The Fall (2006)
A brilliant fantasy from the mind of Tarsem, The Fall feels like The Wizard of Oz for an adult audience, expertly wavering between beautiful visions of a larger-than-life fantasy and the sobering (and occasionally, tragic) realities facing its leads.
19.Strange Days (1995)
Kathryn Bigelow is simply undeniable as a filmmaker, but among the many classics to her name, Strange Days is often considered her most underestimated film and frequently pops up in rumors considering future Criterion Collection films given its frequent inaccessibility.
20.Pi (1998)
The inaugural cinematic effort from Darren Aronofsky, Pi is a seminal piece of independent science-fiction filmmaking whose inclusion in the Criterion Collection feels closer to "when" than "if."
21.Red Rock West (1993)
Nicolas Cage, Dennis Hopper and Lara Flynn Boyle headline John Dahl's southern-fried noir film that has somehow avoided the embrace of mainstream audiences despite having all the ingredients to become a stone-cold classic of its genre.
22.Dead Presidents (1995)
The Hughes Brothers were recently highlighted by the Criterion Collection with their UHD release of Menace II Society, giving fans of their amazing 1995 drama Dead Presidents hope that the latter film would be following soon thereafter.
