Two months into 2026 (already?), we are given six new releases from Criterion. There are no new box-sets, no new Criterion Premieres, but we get a slate of excellent films that I don’t think get enough love. What we’re getting includes a physical media release of the latest modern masterpiece from America’s greatest auteur, an overlooked film from an audacious Spanish filmmaker, a couple underappreciated films hailing from the French New Wave, and an absolute humdinger of a film from a Hong Kong legend. This month of releases are not all super popular, but they’re opportunities to broaden your personal cinematic horizons.
Viridiana (1961)
Luis Buñuel is a filmmaker I adore a great deal. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, That Obscure Object of Desire, and Él are all fiendish, provocative, and biting in their own right. In Viridiana, Buñuel tackles the taboo of sex in the way that only he can. This film is served best by going in completely blind, it is a trip. Most modern ‘provocative’ filmmakers wish they could do what Buñuel was doing – and he was doing films on the subject orgies, sexual violence, and lust. The craziest part is that he was doing this in the 1950s and 1960s, when these topics were reviewed by governmental bodies (not studios – GOVERNMENTS). This film is no different, there was a censored ending by the Spanish board of censors. This film is a 4K+Blu-Ray combo pack with a new 4K restoration from Criterion.
Testament (1983)
Oppenheimer, while an excellent film, articulated a long standing fear that the entire world can grapple with – nuclear devastation. Testament is a fictional story about the aftermath of a hypothetical nuclear devastation. In reference to my earlier point, in Oppenheimer we are given this sort of rising anticipation and nihilistic fear of the possibilities of nuclear war. Testament, while fictional, is a show of the harrowing pain of what a world could look like afterwards. It is incredibly difficult for a film to project our long standing anxieties in a tactful 89 minute runtime, but Lynne Littman nailed it and then some. Testament is a devastating film that should be seen by as many people as possible. This film is a Blu-Ray release with a new 4K restoration from Criterion.
Classe tous risques (1960)
Classe tous risques is a hidden masterpiece from the French New Wave. A French crime thriller that would inspire the brilliant Jean-Pierre Melville, Classe tous risques is one of the many support beams forming what the modern crime thriller would look like. This film released during the height of the Nouvelle Vague (New Wave) and had to compete with Breathless, Shoot the Piano Player, and Les Bonnes Femmes. However, Classe tous risques would lead the way for films such as Le samouraï and Le Cercle Rouge – and to add, Classe tous risques is a clencher of a film. This film is a 4K+Blu-Ray combo pack with a new 4K restoration from Criterion.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
I feel like praising Martin Scorsese in any capacity is the equivalent of saying “water is great”, “air is incredible”, or what have you. Killers of the Flower Moon came, absolutely rocked, won zero awards – much to my chagrin, then was left to rot in Apple’s digital graveyard. A physical media release of any kind would’ve been welcome, and a Criterion 4K release would be best case scenario. So…we won? An incredible film from our greatest living filmmaker coming to Criterion is always stupendous. I don’t even know what else to say, if you haven’t seen Killers of the Flower Moon – rectify that ASAP. I mean, Scorsese’s entire career has always shown a light on the ugly side of America and Killers of the Flower Moon is the ultimate version of that. This is a 4K+Blu-Ray combo pack release with a new 4K digital master approved by Martin Scorsese.
A Man and a Woman (1966)
French romantic melodrama has never been this lush. A sensory treat for the eyes and the ears, A Man and a Woman is Claude Lelouch’s cinematic masterpiece. This film utilizes a variety of film formats and the result is entrancing and drives home interesting visuals that complement the narrative. Furthermore, the film’s theme song is instantly recognizable and is one of cinema’s great theme songs – it’s as if France was bottled up into a piece of music. A Man and a Woman is just as captivating today as it was 60 years ago, one of the French New Wave greats. This is a Blu-Ray release with a new 2K digital restoration approved by Claude Lelouch.
The Blade (1995)
Hong Kong cinema is a one-of-one type of film product. Mostly operating on limited budgets, the golden age of Hong Kong cinema delivered the most over the top action films the world has ever seen. Eccentricities galore, in terms of plot, filmmaking, and placement in film’s grander scope – without Hong Kong cinema we wouldn’t have the types of creative swings featured in John Wick, for example. Tsui Hark, director of The Blade was a major figure in this golden era of Hong Kong cinema and The Blade is an absolute stunner of a film. Brutal & heavily stylized, The Blade wasn’t a success at its release but has since become a beloved film amongst action film fans. Any piece of Hong Kong cinema is good cinema, the people behind the camera operate at full throttle and aim to please the viewer at every turn. This is a must get for fans of action, full stop. This is a 4K+Blu-Ray combo pack release with a new 4K digital restoration.
Last month I said that we may get a new flash sale in February, and unfortunately that didn’t happen. But, it is almost certain that the sale will happen in March. Keep your eyes peeled on Criterion’s social media, and check out some of their new releases as they release!
