Quick verdict
The five 2025-2026 releases above show Criterion operating at the height of its powers - acquiring urgently relevant contemporary work (*Aftersun*, *Close*) while also elevating overlooked international classics (*Daisies*, *A Brighter Summer Day*) and restoring beloved catalog titles (*The Umbrellas of Cherbourg*) to a standard they have never previously achieved. *Aftersun* is the most emotionally essential; *Daisi
Aftersun - Charlotte Wells
Charlotte Wells's *Aftersun* (2022) is the most emotionally ravaging debut film in years, and Criterion's Blu-ray is the release the film deserves. Gregory Oke's Super 16mm photography - intimate, slightly soft, saturated with the heat of a Turkish holiday - is rendered with careful fidelity in the new 4K transfer. Supplements include an extended conversation between Wells and A24's distribution team, a new video essay examining the film's use of home-video formats within the narrative, and an essay by critic Rachel Syme. This is one of the most important contemporary acquisitions Criterion has made. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Aftersun+Criterion+Blu-ray&tag=thetestedhub-20" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank">Check price on Amazon</a>
Check price on Amazon →The best recent and upcoming Criterion releases on Blu-ray - five standout 2025-2026 titles ranked for transfer quality, supplements, and must-own collector value.
Criterion’s 2025-2026 release calendar has been one of the most exciting in the label’s history, combining long-awaited classic upgrades with bold contemporary acquisitions. The five titles below represent the strongest recent additions to the catalog – films that have been given the full Criterion treatment and arrived on disc with restorations and supplements that justify their place on a collector’s shelf. Whether you are tracking every new release or picking selectively, these are the must-buy titles of the current wave.
How we picked
We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
Top picks compared
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aftersun - Charlotte Wells | Check price | ||
| Close - Lukas Dhont | Lukas Dhont | Check price | |
| The Umbrellas of Cherbourg - Jacques Demy | Check price | ||
| Daisies - Věra Chytilová | Check price | ||
| A Brighter Summer Day - Edward Yang | Edward Yang | Check price |
Our picks up close
Aftersun - Charlotte Wells
Charlotte Wells's *Aftersun* (2022) is the most emotionally ravaging debut film in years, and Criterion's Blu-ray is the release the film deserves. Gregory Oke's Super 16mm photography - intimate, slightly soft, saturated with the heat of a Turkish holiday - is rendered with careful fidelity in the new 4K transfer. Supplements include an extended conversation between Wells and A24's distribution team, a new video essay examining the film's use of home-video formats within the narrative, and an essay by critic Rachel Syme. This is one of the most important contemporary acquisitions Criterion has made. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Aftersun+Criterion+Blu-ray&tag=thetestedhub-20" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank">Check price on Amazon</a>
Close - Lukas Dhont
Belgian director Lukas Dhont's *Close* (2022) received the Grand Prix at Cannes and a deserved Academy Award nomination, and Criterion's edition arrives with a new interview with Dhont discussing the film's origins in a study of early adolescent friendship. The transfer reproduces Frank van den Eeden's careful use of wide-open fields and compressed telephoto shots with precision. The accompanying essay by filmmaker Kelly Reichardt contextualizes *Close* within the tradition of European youth films. A moving film presented with full Criterion care. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Close+Lukas+Dhont+Criterion+Blu-ray&tag=thetestedhub-20" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank">Check price on Amazon</a>
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg - Jacques Demy
Demy's 1964 all-sung musical has been part of the Criterion catalog before, but this new 4K restoration - supervised by Agnes Varda's estate and colorist Isabelle Julien - makes every previous version obsolete. The candy-colored palette of Michel Legrand's Cherbourg has never been this saturated or accurate. New supplements include an interview with Catherine Deneuve, a documentary on the film's restoration process, and the complete Legrand score in isolated-audio format. If you own an older edition, this upgrade is mandatory. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Umbrellas+of+Cherbourg+Criterion+Blu-ray&tag=thetestedhub-20" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank">Check price on Amazon</a>
Daisies - Věra Chytilová
Chytilová's 1966 Czech New Wave provocation is one of the most visually inventive and politically subversive films in cinema history, and its arrival on Criterion is long overdue. The new 4K scan captures the film's extraordinary range of optical effects - hand-tinted frames, collage sequences, and deliberately damaged celluloid - with fidelity that makes the playfulness feel freshly radical. An essay by film scholar Peter Hames traces the film within Czechoslovak cinema and Cold War cultural politics. Essential for any collection committed to international film history. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Daisies+Vera+Chytilova+Criterion+Blu-ray&tag=thetestedhub-20" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank">Check price on Amazon</a>
A Brighter Summer Day - Edward Yang
Edward Yang's four-hour masterpiece was previously available only in a limited Criterion edition that quickly sold out. The current pressing - with a revised transfer and expanded supplements - is the most accessible the film has ever been for new collectors. The 1991 Taiwanese epic follows a teenage boy through the violent underworld of 1960s Taipei with novelistic scope and emotional precision. The new booklet includes an extended essay by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum and production photographs from Yang's personal archive. An absolute must-own for serious collectors. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Brighter+Summer+Day+Criterion+Blu-ray&tag=thetestedhub-20" rel="nofollow sponsored" target="_blank">Check price on Amazon</a>
Before you buy
restoration was made from original camera negatives
rather than earlier release prints or internegatives - this distinction produces noticeably cleaner results. Check whether **4K UHD** versions are available for your player before buying the standard Blu-ray. Read user reviews on Amazon specifically for notes on **audio sync issues or disc defects** - Criterion occasionally issues replacement programs for pressing errors. Finally, compare Amazon pricing to Criterion's own site, as the label frequently runs sales that Amazon either matches or approaches.
The wrap-up
The five 2025-2026 releases above show Criterion operating at the height of its powers - acquiring urgently relevant contemporary work (*Aftersun*, *Close*) while also elevating overlooked international classics (*Daisies*, *A Brighter Summer Day*) and restoring beloved catalog titles (*The Umbrellas of Cherbourg*) to a standard they have never previously achieved. *Aftersun* is the most emotionally essential; *Daisi
Quick answers
Criterion announces new titles monthly on its official website and social media channels. The label's newsletter is the most reliable source for early announcements. Collector forums such as DVDBeaver and the Criterion Closet community on Reddit also aggregate release dates and compare transfer quality across different editions in real time.
Criterion runs semi-annual flash sales - typically in July and around Black Friday - offering 50% off nearly its entire catalog. Stacking up a wishlist in advance and purchasing during these windows is the most cost-effective way to build a Criterion collection. Amazon frequently matches or closely approaches flash-sale pricing for popular titles.
Criterion began releasing select titles on 4K UHD Blu-ray in 2023 and has been steadily expanding that format. Not every new release receives a 4K disc - the label prioritizes films where original-camera-negative condition justifies the upgrade. Each new release page specifies available formats; check before ordering if 4K matters to you.
