The Criterion Collection Reveals Comprehensive Stanley Kubrick 4K Edition

      One year after their Wes Anderson set, the Criterion Collection is set to launch what might be their most ambitious release of the decade: a comprehensive, all-4K Stanley Kubrick retrospective on October 20. This collection features 30 discs—yes, thirty—available in UHD and Blu-ray formats. It includes previously released editions of Eyes Wide Shut and Barry Lyndon; enhanced versions of Paths of Glory, The Killing, and the very old Spartacus; and marks the debuts (at least since the LaserDisc era) of 2001, Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, alongside others down to The Seafarers, Flying Padre, and (in two versions) Day of the Fight.

      Over 25 hours of supplemental content are included in packaging that, according to Criterion, is “inspired by the director’s legendary archive” and “adorned with rare photographs, artwork, and documents annotated by Kubrick himself.” The front cover, designed by Drusilla Adeline/Sister Hyde Design, is intended to strike a balance between boldness and simplicity. While opinions on Criterion art can vary widely today, this writer finds their design to possess an academic quality—reminiscent of an old book discovered in a university library—and early images only hint at the depth of the set.

      Michael Chaiken, the release producer, remarked, “The Complete Kubrick took two years to bring to fruition, but as Kubrick fans know, one’s connection to his films is never truly over. It was a privilege to be invited to produce this set, and a significant responsibility: to the fans, to the Kubrick estate, and ultimately to Kubrick himself, whose dedication to how his work was presented remained unwavering throughout his life. To achieve this, Criterion consulted Kubrick’s closest collaborators, archival experts, and the studios that have managed his films over the years, ensuring these works look and sound better on home video than ever before. As shown in the set’s numerous interviews and documentaries, behind Kubrick’s darkly comedic vision lies a world of family, friendships, and lasting creative partnerships that highlight the humanistic core of this remarkable body of work.”

      See below for the cover art, including a gallery of individual film covers, a trailer, and more at Criterion.