"There was a time when nearly everyone had a sizable collection of movies on DVD or VHS. As kids, nothing was more exciting than getting your hands on a physical copy of a film you'd been dying to see. Owning it meant you could watch it as many times as you wanted, whenever you wanted, without needing an internet connection. Plus, there was often the added thrill of bonus features like bloopers or deleted scenes. ... Criterion's appeal resides in its attention to detail and consideration for dedicated film fans, filling every release with special features that are actually worth watching or reading, like short films, exclusive interviews, essays, and audio commentary. Each film comes with gorgeous artwork and sometimes even a poster inside, making the price tag (a single film is typically between £15 and £23) much more worth it. Additionally, Criterion takes great pride in restoring films to their original glory, with one of the most striking examples being their restoration of Jacques Demy's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. The company also offers boxsets for prestigious directors, like Agnes Varda, Ingmar Bergman and Wong Kar-wai, as well as film series, like the Before trilogy and Eric Rohmer's Six Moral Tales. Evidently, film fans can trust Criterion to deliver high-quality editions of their favourite pictures, with the company ensuring that beloved classics and newer releases all get special treatment. With frequent sale seasons allowing buyers to bulk buy some of their most-wanted titles for a more reasonable price, it's rare you'll meet a self-confessed cinephile who doesn't own at least a few Criterions. The company also has a streaming service, too, helping them to expand their business even further, although their physical copies are the main selling point. To attract even more customers, their YouTube channel offers a series where celebrities, typically actors or directors, are allowed to enter the Criterion Closet and pick out any titles they like and discuss their brilliance. Criterion knows its audience, and the combination of their marketing techniques and the genuine care it puts into its releases makes it a champion of the home video market. They're not the only company releasing collector's editions, though. Arrow Films, an independent British distributor, offers some of the greatest cult and horror films, complete with a variety of special features, carefully designed artwork, and high-quality Blu-Ray transfers. BFI also provides an impressive collection, focusing on niches such as kitchen sink dramas, forgotten British gems, documentaries, and other acclaimed classics. Another notable company is Eureka, which specialises in films by directors they consider masters of cinema. ..."
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