Welcome to the fifth annual Criterion Challenge where we celebrate The Criterion Collection! Can you believe it has been HALF A DECADE? When I started this challenge, I never expected it to hit the ground running as fast as it did, so thanks to all of you for participating. I wanted this year to mix in some categories throughout the years as well as be even more collaborative. I took many of your suggestions and turned them into categories. It’s a very exciting line-up for 2025!
But first, time for the rules:
There are 52 categories. The goal is to watch any Criterion released film based on the categories below between 1/1/25-12/31/25. Your choices can be any films released by…
Welcome to the fifth annual Criterion Challenge where we celebrate The Criterion Collection! Can you believe it has been HALF A DECADE? When I started this challenge, I never expected it to hit the ground running as fast as it did, so thanks to all of you for participating. I wanted this year to mix in some categories throughout the years as well as be even more collaborative. I took many of your suggestions and turned them into categories. It’s a very exciting line-up for 2025!
But first, time for the rules:
There are 52 categories. The goal is to watch any Criterion released film based on the categories below between 1/1/25-12/31/25. Your choices can be any films released by Criterion on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, VHS, Laserdisc, or ones that have been featured on The Criterion Channel streaming service (although I'd prefer you choose films they've actually put out themselves).
The films can be watched daily, weekly, or monthly, and in any order! Watch them at your own pace, but remember you have to finish by 12/31/25.
I would like for all picks to be first time watches, but will leave that up to you.
Don't forget to visit The Criterion Collection for all your film needs, and they have a pretty sweet streaming service for endless options to choose from when you're struggling to find things to watch.
HUGE SHOUTOUT to Josh and Criterion Closet Picks for their amazing lists which helps this process be much smoother.
Now...what you all have been waiting for...
Categories:
1. Watch a film from the CC40 Boxset
2. Watch a film from the year you were born
3. Directed by Robert Altman
4. Watch a film that would be your first choice in the Criterion Closet
5. Great Soundtracks
6. John Turturro’s Adventures in Moviegoing
7. 1920s
8. Watch a film that will be added to the physical collection in 2025
9. 1930s
10. Andrew Garfield’s Closet Picks
11. 1940s
12. Celine Song’s Top 10
13. 1950s
14. Watch a film from the Criterion Channel’s all time favorites lists
15. 1960s
16. Watch a film that is currently out of print from the physical collection
17. 1970s
18. William Friedkin’s Closet Picks
19. 1980s
20. Spine #451-499
21. 1990s
22. Documentary
23. 2000s
24. Janus Contemporaries
25. 2010s
26. Bill Hader’s Second Closet Picks
27. 2020s
28. Noir and Neonoir
29. All Time Top Criterion Closet Picks
30. Criterion Releases Never Picked in the Closet
31. North American film
32. Ayo Edebiri’s Closet Picks
33. Wim Wenders’ Adventures in Moviegoing
34. South American film
35. Random Number Generator (Google random number generator, set values from 1 to whatever number Criterion has listed last here. This number will change as more releases are announced so please keep up to date by using the link I have provided as I will not be updating each time Criterion makes announcements. Watch whatever movie corresponds to the spine number you are given.)
36. AAPI Filmmakers
37. Watch a film shorter than 80 minutes
38. European film
39. Cult Movies
40. Isabella Rossellini’s Adventures in Moviegoing
41. Winona Ryder’s Closet Picks
42. African film
43. John Carpenter’s Top 10
44. Horror
45. Asian film
46. Dark Comedies
47. Rachel Kushner’s Adventures in Moviegoing
48. Australian film
49. Female Filmmakers
50. Ben Wheatley’s Closet Picks
51. A film by a director whose work you have not seen before
52. Watch any Criterion film from your watchlist
Helpful Links:
The Complete Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection by Spine Number
Every Film Available on The Criterion Channel
Please use the tags "cc2025" and “criterion challenge 2025” so that we can keep track of everything, and link your lists in the comments below. Have fun!
Previous challenges:
The Criterion Challenge 2021
The Criterion Challenge 2022
The Criterion Challenge 2023
The Criterion Challenge 2024
Started: 1/1/25
Watched:
Completed: 14/52
