What was the first Criterion movie you watched?

Like others here, I think my first CC DVD was either the Seventh Seal or Royal Tenenbaums. I bought my copy to RT used from a Blockbuster Video clearance table. They had literally dozens of them that they were getting rid of right after the film had faded from being a “hot new release” so I got it for $5 (which is about what it goes for used on eBay these days!) Sad thing is that it didn’t include the insert so I still don’t have that one. But I did get my Criterion edition of Rushmore there too later and it had the nice fold out map inside. I think someone had traded it in. Seventh Seal was definitely the first that I bought new. I had already seen it on VHS before that. Shortly after that, I chanced upon a used DVD store where someone had apparently unloaded their Criterions and I picked up 8 1/2, Seven Samurai, Life of Brian and the three-disc version of Brazil. A pretty big splash to get my collection started and I’ve been going full blazes ever since…

I think the first film I saw that eventually got a CC release was Hidden Fortress on VHS, the first actual CC release I watched was The Bad Sleep Well.

I bought and watched Wes Anderson’s “The Life Aquatic” when it first came out on DVD, not knowing anything about the criterion collection. I think the first film I watched, after learning what the CC was all about, is “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” or “Jules and Jim”.

I’m pretty sure that it was The Passion of Joan of Arc. This was the first Criterion title that I ever bought.

Fellini’s 8 1/2. I remember it being very expensive and totally worth it.

Walkabout

My first was Two-Lane Blacktop and I loved it!

If you mean as a Criterion – Bergman’s Magic Flute. First movie seen that is now a Criterion – The Third Man.

Rushmore

My first was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I remember that it was the cover that drew me in and I automatically purchased it. My second was Man Bites Dog which scared the crap out of me the first time (I was young) but the next day when I re-watched it I simply laughed my ass off.

Laserdisc: Dr. No. Dvd: Band Of Outsiders

Band of Outsiders.

Diabolique

Sid and Nancy

Before making it to dvd – 8 1/2 (VHS). On Criterion DVD – Seven Samurai

between Rules of the Game, Wild Strawberries or Grand Illusion…hazy memory on the timings

Cleo de 5 a 7

Peeping Tom

Tokyo Story

Charade.

Saw it for years as an el-cheapo public domain release on tape; eventually, when I first found it on DVD, it was Criterion’s release that I stumbled on.

wes anderson’s THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS. not only the first criterion i ever saw, but first dvd i ever purchased, and started my deep love for film.

first Criterion DVD ever owned: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

first movie that i saw in the theaters that eventually became part of the Criterion collection: CHASING AMY

That would be “Straw Dogs”. The DVD cover of a young Dustin Hoffman wearing cracked spectacles was… interesting, to say the least.

The first one I purchased was The Blob…Amazing!!

The Scarlet Empress (in high school film studies)

Seven Samurai, taught me that films could be more then just entertainment.

Citizen Kane. Laserdisc. Silver cover. Loved it.

From one of York’s Uni. library I asked my sister to check out 8 1/2 and The 400 Blows. I watched 8 1/2 at night and the following morning I watched The 400 Blows; I was completely happy (=

seven samurai

I believe the first that I ever saw was technically ‘Dr. NO’, but the first that I ever purchased with the actual criterion stamp was ‘The Royal Tenenbaums.’ My how time flies and the collection grows.