Criterion Crazy: September 2025 Releases

Written by Andreas Babiolakis


After the massive announcement Criterion dropped on us two weeks ago (the release of their fancy — yet expensive — Wes Anderson box set), anything else that is to be released alongside this collection may pale in comparison. Then again, the rest of the films announced for the month of September are quite strong, so there is quite a lot to gush over anyway. I will be ignoring the Wes Anderson box set, as well as the individual releases of the auteur’s films Isle of Dogs and The French Dispatch (which were the only two films that weren’t already in the Criterion Collection that are now in the Wes Anderson box set). There are still six films to get through (one of which is a 4k upgrade of an already existing Criterion title), so we have five other brand new Criterion titles, ranging from one of the best animated films in recent memory, a beloved comedy classic, a fascinating docudrama experiment, and two films by an established titan of cinema. Let’s not waste any more time and explore what has proven to be yet another strong month of releases in the Criterion Collection.

The Favourite: Born in Flames (1983)

Lizzie Borden’s Born in Flames is under eighty minutes in length, made with a nearly non-existent budget, and criminally slept on. It is a brilliant work of experimental docufiction that depicts a futuristic United States where the concerns of minorities are being voiced a decade after what is considered the most peaceful revolution in the nation’s history. Even if you didn’t think that Born in Flames is prescient (which feels like an impossible belief to have), the film is worth preserving given its overlooked status and low-budget nature; it’s begging for you to discover and love via this Criterion release. Born in Flames is available only on Blu-ray (which already feels like a massive upgrade from practically any version of the film you could watch before), and the features present are small but mighty. These include Borden’s debut film, Regrouping, audio commentary featuring Borden and over half a dozen cast and crew members (outside of the biggest surprise of the film: director Kathryn Bigelow acting as a newspaper editor), and an intro by Borden. Trust me when I say that you will be happy picking up Born in Flames, even if it is a blind buy: it’s one of those films that feel like they are an extreme vision that has come to life like lightning in a bottle.

Buy Born in Flames Here

Best Newer Release: Flow (2024)

It’s the independent animated film that could. The dialogue-free, Latvian Oscar-winner, Flow, is now a part of the Criterion Collection, which will likely please thousands of Letterboxd users. This film about animals living in an environmentally-shifted world is meant to be understood and felt by the masses is now available via Criterion on 4K, Blu-ray, and even DVD: a reason to celebrate for all kinds of cinephiles. If that wasn’t enough, Criterion has gone all out with the special features here (if anything, Flow may boast some of the most impressive features for a Criterion release in recent memory). You’ll get an animatic (meaning an early, rough cut) of Flow, as well as an audio commentary by director Gints Zilbalodis; if that wasn’t enough, there’s a making-of documentary that will help detail the rest of Flow’s conception. Are deleted scenes not enough? Zilbalodis agrees, as there will be what is labeled as an “unused-shot reel” with commentary by the director himself (which, I admit, is far more interesting than just dumping deleted scenes onto a menu and calling it a day). If you cannot get enough even with all of this, Zilbalodis’ short films Aqua and Priorities will also be included, as well as interviews and even more. This is a gigantic release for all of the Flow ride-or-die fanatics who still sing the film’s praises (and rightfully so).

Buy Flow Here

Dial it Up to 11: This is Spinal Tap (1984)

With the news of a sequel to This is Spinal Tap having just dropped, it looks like the party surrounding everyone’s fictitious, satirical rock band has just begun. It’s no secret that this mockumentary has been very easy to find on physical media, so it being knighted with the Criterion sword would have to be worth it (yes, even with the massive following this comedy classic has, I think most people would just opt for any cheaper release if the Criterion version doesn’t encourage them to change their minds). I’d argue that Criterion understood the assignment, because the features are quite great. There are three different audio commentaries, and while the one with director Rob Reiner and his fellow filmmakers on the film sounds enticing already, what seems far more interesting to me are the other two tracks: the first being one supplied by the three stars of the film (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer) and the other by their fictional Spinal Tap counterparts (now that is creative). There’s a featurette called Spinal Tap: The Final Tour that is included as well, a series of deleted scenes and abandoned subplots, and an interview between Reiner and This is Spinal Tap super fan Patton Oswalt. This film is available on Blu-ray and 4K (the latter may be another incentive to add Criterion’s version of This is Spinal Tap to your collection).

Buy This is Spinal Tap Here

It’s Not Emilia Pérez: Read My Lips (2001)

Criterion has a new habit of releasing two films by one director in the same month, perhaps to play catch-up with directors whose catalogues are lacking in the Collection. September’s answer to this new tradition is the inclusion of two early works by Jacques Audiard: the French master of genre-bending. While Audiard has films with much larger followings like A Prophet, Dheepan, and Rust and Bone, it’s never too late for cinephiles to get acquainted with his preliminary works. Starting off with Read My Lips, this crime thriller will be available on Blu-ray and 4K. It is also stuffed with features, including an afterword by Audiard, audio commentary with stars Vincent Cassel and Emmanuelle Devos, a making-of program, and an interview with the film’s score’s composer, Alexandre Desplat (and more).

Buy Read My Lips Here

Still Not Emilia Pérez: The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)

There’s also The Beat That My Heart Skipped: another crime film but one that is rooted in the desperation of the human experience. The quality of this film is just as good as Read My Lips, but it feels a little less incentivized to purchase. Firstly, it is available only on Blu-ray. There are also fewer features; these include an interview with director Jacques Audiard, a couple of interviews (another with Alexandre Desplat as well), and the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival press conference of the film. Ignoring the formats and the features, both Audiard releases are worth buying for anyone who already likes other works of his; if you have never seen an Audiard film before, I’d recommend starting with A Prophet or Rust and Bone which are phenomenal. Even so, it’s nice to see Audiard in the Criterion Collection at all, and I feel like there is more where these films came from.

Buy The Beat That My Heart Skipped Here

It’s Time to Upgrade: High and Low (1963)

Whether it’s in response to Spike Lee’s upcoming adaptation, titled Highest 2 Lowest, or because it is one of the most popular Criterion releases to date, it’s about time that Akira Kurosawa’s breathtaking classism thriller, High and Low, was available on 4K. I don’t even know what else to say about this release outside of the fact that it is a landmark film in Japan and a highly-referenced feature, from Parasite to The Batman (and many, many more). This film is a must for anyone who enjoys the medium. If you don’t want to pick up the 4K, High and Low is already available in other formats. What are you waiting for? If you don’t already own High and Low, your collection is severely lacking. It’s true.


Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.