Tired of scrolling through streaming apps for thirty minutes only to re-watch the same show? There’s a better way to find your next favorite movie. Think of The Criterion Collection as a museum for film, where curators find the world’s most essential movies and restore them to look better than ever (Bull Durham Criterion).
This month’s Criterion Collection July announcements are the perfect entry point, offering everything from a beloved sports classic to an influential Japanese thriller. Here is your guide to what’s new.
Bull Durham Criterion: Why a Criterion Version of a Movie Is Worth the Hype
Why buy a special version of a movie you might find on streaming? It’s all about quality and context. Many Criterion films get a full 4K restoration, a frame-by-frame process where the image is cleaned, making colors pop and details sharp. These new 4K upgrades make classic films look stunning on modern TVs.
Beyond the restored picture, each disc is packed with special features that act as a guided tour for the film. You get to see behind-the-scenes documentaries, new interviews with the creators, and expert analysis explaining the movie’s importance. These features provide fantastic context that deepens your appreciation, making each release a definitive, all-in-one package.
July’s Highlights: A Grand Slam Comedy and a Nail-Biting Thriller
The Criterion Collection July 2024 releases cover a lot of ground, but two standouts offer a perfect choice between comedy and suspense.
For fans of smart, funny movies, the slate includes Bull Durham. Starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, it’s widely considered one of the best sports movies ever made—a sharp, witty, and surprisingly romantic look at minor league baseball. This isn’t just the version you’ve seen on cable; it’s a beautiful new transfer approved by its director, Ron Shelton.
If you prefer nail-biting tension, then The Wages of Fear is a must-see. This classic French thriller is about a group of desperate men hired to drive trucks loaded with nitroglycerin over treacherous mountain roads. Every bump could be their last. It’s the kind of high-stakes story that inspired decades of action movies, and this release shows you where the blueprint for modern suspense was born.
- For Fans of Smart Comedies: Bull Durham (1988)
- For Fans of Edge-of-Your-Seat Thrillers: The Wages of Fear (1953)
Bull Durham Criterion: How to Start Your Criterion Journey This Month
Ready to start your journey beyond the usual streaming fare? You can pre-order the July titles from major retailers. For a low-risk first step, the Criterion Channel lets you ‘try before you buy’ by streaming thousands of films.
A pro tip: look for the Criterion summer sale, as their big discounts often happen in July. Think of it less like choosing a movie and more like starting an adventure.