It’s been about half-a-year since we learned The Criterion Collection would be departing Hulu soon and bringing its entire streaming library to the new service FilmStruck, alongside films from Turner Classic Movies, Janus Films, Flicker Alley, Icarus, Kino, Milestone, Zeitgeist, Warners Bros. and more. Basically, it’s cinephile heaven, but on everyone’s mind is how much would this service-of-our-dreams cost?
Ahead of a launch on October 19, Turner has now revealed the subscription pricing plans, and thankfully it’s quite reasonable. The subscriptions are broken down into three options. First, for $6.99 a month, you get “a constantly refreshed library of hard to find & critically acclaimed films,” which we imagine will be the MUBI-style of a curated, more limited line-up featuring hand-picked selections from their entire library.
Then, for $10.99 a month, you get access to the entire The Criterion Channel, as well as exclusive bonus content, and “exclusive contemporary and previously unavailable films.” Lastly, for the best bang for your buck, there’s the $99 a year option, which includes everything above with a savings of $30 a year. So, in essence, for the price of a few Criterion disc releases a year, you get their entire streaming library.
We’ve had access to the beta for the last few months and while we’re not allowed to expand much further on details until it launches, we imagine fans will be pleased. Check out more details below, featuring an image from The Tree of Life in their header, as if they didn’t need to sell us anymore. Also, R.I.P. Hulu.
Check out the full press release below.
Global media company Turner announced today it will launch FilmStruck, the company’s first domestic subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, on October 19. Developed and managed by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) in collaboration with the Criterion Collection, FilmStruck will feature the largest streaming library of contemporary and classic arthouse, indie, foreign and cult films as well as extensive bonus content, filmmaker interviews and rare footage, making it a must-have service for serious film lovers. Later this year, FilmStruck will also become the exclusive streaming home to the world-renowned Criterion Collection library, where die-hard film aficionados can gain access to the Criterion Collection’s entire streaming library through FilmStruck’s exclusive premium add-on tier, The Criterion Channel. FilmStruck will be available exclusively on Amazon Fire TV, web, iOS and Android devices at launch, and on Apple TV and other platforms and devices in the coming months.
Film fans who sign up at www.filmstruck.com can explore FilmStruck’s curated and constantly refreshed library with a special 14-day free trial. Subscriptions to FilmStruck are available in three different pricing tiers:
- FilmStruck Subscription – $6.99/month – offering hundreds of constantly refreshed, hard-to-find and critically acclaimed films, plus exclusive bonus content including hosted introductions, originally produced pieces, interviews and rare footage
- FilmStruck + The Criterion Channel Subscription – $10.99/month – offering everything in the FilmStruck subscription plus unlimited access to Criterion’s entire streaming library of films and special features, along with channel-exclusive original programming such as filmmaker profiles, master classes, and curated series by celebrated guests from the film world and beyond
- Annual Subscription – $99/year for FilmStruck + The Criterion Channel (a $30 annual savings)
“Turner smartly identified a strategic way to move into the direct-to-consumer business by creating an over-the-top offering that was additive to the TV landscape, with programming not readily available in the streaming marketplace and that was completely differentiated from what TCM already offers” said Coleman Breland, president of Turner Content Distribution and TCM. “FilmStruck super-serves a niche and devoted audience of film fans and will be a strong addition to Turner’s portfolio of leading brands.”
“FilmStruck is a departure from the timeless Hollywood classics that we offer at TCM and a genuinely distinct offering for the streaming marketplace, focusing on a thoughtfully curated experience around hard-to-find, critically acclaimed, independent films from the most celebrated libraries in the world,” said Jennifer Dorian, general manager of TCM and FilmStruck. “By combining the expertise at TCM and the Criterion Collection – two of the leading authorities in film preservation and history – we have created something really special that is a must-have for passionate film lovers.”
“Joining forces with the team at TCM has been a dream come true, and we’re very excited about our new home,” said Peter Becker, President of The Criterion Collection. “FilmStruck is the first streaming platform to give movies the kind of deep, rich treatment that viewers have come to expect from The Criterion Collection, and The Criterion Channel opens up thrilling new ways for us to connect our passionate audience with the films and filmmakers they love.”
FilmStruck’s impressive library will feature a deep roster of constantly refreshed films from such celebrated indie studios as Janus Films, Flicker Alley, Icarus Films, Kino, Milestone, Zeitgeist, Film Movement, Global Lens, First Run Features, Oscilloscope Laboratories and Shout Factory, along with movies from Hollywood’s major movie studios, including Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Among the hundreds of critically acclaimed and award-winning titles to be featured on FilmStruck are Babette’s Feast, Blood Simple, Blow-Up, Breaker Morant, A Hard Day’s Night, Mad Max, Metropolis, Moulin Rouge, My Life as a Dog, Paths of Glory, The Player, A Room with a View, Seven Samurai, The Seventh Seal, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Stardust Memories, The Trip to Bountiful, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Woodstock.
Additionally, beginning on November 11, FilmStruck will become the exclusive streaming home to The Criterion Channel, offering the largest streaming collection of Criterion films available, including classic and contemporary films from around the world, interviews and conversations with filmmakers and never-before-seen programming. The channel’s weekly calendar will feature complete Criterion editions, thematic retrospectives, live events, short films, and select contemporary features, along with exclusive original programming that aims to enhance the Criterion experience for the brand’s dedicated fans as well as expanding its reach to new audiences.
Following the same curatorial expertise as TCM, FilmStruck’s massive library will feature over 70 fully curated and constantly refreshed programming themes, along with such as exclusive bonus content as hosted introductions, originally produced pieces, interviews and rare footage. Themes include:
- The Beauty of Italy – a collection of films that highlight the beauty of Italy, from the shores of the Mediterranean to the peaks of the Alps
- Cinema Passport – a monthly “franchise” showcasing the work of countries rich in film history and culture
- Contemporary Israeli Cinema – see the country through the eyes of its people in this collection of modern works
- Directed by Mike Leigh – highlighting the films that make this iconic director beloved by film festivals and critics and remind us that normal life is not always the norm
- Early Kubrick – the early films of renowned director Stanley Kubrick show how this cinematic visionary got his start and ultimately found his way into moviemaking
- Food for Thought – a collection of films that tickles the tongue by prominently featuring food
- Icon – a bi-monthly “franchise” featuring the work of a different iconic star with each installment, beginning with legendary actors Marcello Mastroianni and Ingrid Bergman
- The Masters – a monthly, director-focused “franchise” highlighting acclaimed directors including Akira Kurosawa, François Truffaut, Fritz Lang and Chantal Akerman
- Neo Noir – explores a collection of celebrated films that pay homage to the gritty and dark genre
- Panic Room – a monthly “franchise” that explores cult and indie horror film, hosted by actor-comedian Lucky Yates
- Political Documentaries – exploring filmmakers who documented democracy in action.
- World Discoveries – a monthly “franchise” hosted by film critic Alicia Malone spotlighting cinematic gems from burgeoning film industries around the world
Additionally, FilmStruck will offer cinephiles exclusive bonus content such as archival footage and newly produced pieces offering viewers a wealth of exclusive content including:
- Mini Documentaries – FilmStruck will offer in-depth looks at different franchises or themes each month, beginning with The Masters and Icons franchises, as well as the Political Documentary and Music by Michel Legrand themes
- Point of View (POV) – celebrities and experts will offer their retrospectives on the various franchises and themes each month, including director Mike Leigh exploring his own work, and Edoardo Ponti discussing a collection of films highlighting the majestic Italian country side from the Beauty of Italy theme
- Supplemental Material – FilmStruck will offer audio commentaries, original film trailers and filmmaker interviews to provide additional context and insight into the featured films
To provide additional historical context to films, franchises and themes, FilmStruck will feature hosted introductions from film critics, actors and more, including:
- Bill Hader – the Emmy® award winning actor will provide hosted introductions and insights into director Akira Kurosawa and screenwriter Sam Fuller
- Alicia Malone – Film reporter, critic, TV host and writer Alicia Malone has been a correspondent for CNN, Access Hollywood, E!, Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, MTV and Fandango, among others: she will host the monthlyWorld Discoveries franchise in additions to various themes on FilmStruck
- Lucky Yates – Actor and comedian Lucky Yates voices Dr. Algernop Krieger on FX’s Archer and will host the monthPanic Room franchise in addition to various themes on FilmStruck
FilmStruck launches on October 19.
Which plan would you do?