What Are the Supplemental Features in Criterion Collection Editions?

Updated

Criterion Collection editions pair each film with a curated set of supplemental features—the site describes them as "award-winning supplemental features"—that ship on the same Blu-ray or DVD as the movie. They are included with the physical edition rather than sold as a separate product, and they exist to add context and value beyond the film itself. The exact lineup varies by title, so the reliable way to know what you're getting is to check the individual release page before buying.

What "supplemental features" covers

Criterion's extras are produced or licensed to accompany a specific film, and they generally fall into a few recognizable categories:

  • Commentary and discussion — audio commentaries or conversations among filmmakers, critics, and scholars.
  • Interviews and documentaries — new or archival interviews with cast and crew, plus making-of documentaries.
  • Essays and writing — printed or booklet essays that frame the film's history and reception.
  • Visual and archival material — trailers, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, and restored or alternate versions where relevant.

Because the site only commits to "supplemental features" as a general promise, treat any specific extra as title-dependent. A release page is the authoritative list for that edition.

How to find the extras for a specific film

  1. Go to criterion.com and locate the film through the shop or search.
  2. Open the individual release page for the Blu-ray or DVD edition.
  3. Read the features section on that page—this is where the supplements for that title are enumerated.
  4. Compare editions if more than one format is listed, since the feature list can differ between them.

Expected result: you leave the page with a concrete list of what is on the disc, rather than relying on the general description.

Common sticking points

  • Assuming all editions are equal. The site's description is a category-level statement; individual releases vary in how many and which extras they carry.
  • Confusing the streaming service with the discs. The Criterion Channel is a separate subscription offering reached through the site's sign-up links. The "supplemental features" language describes the Blu-ray and DVD editions, so don't assume a Channel subscription includes the same extras.
  • Skipping the release page. The fastest way to be disappointed is to buy based on the film alone and only then discover which supplements that particular edition does or doesn't include.

Deciding whether the extras matter for you

If you watch films mainly for the feature and rarely revisit context material, the supplements may not change your choice between editions. If you value commentary, interviews, and essays as part of how you study a film, check the release page first and let the feature list—not the general marketing line—drive the purchase.