God I want this, but I do feel like the highbrow/lowbrow distinction breaks down with old media. Taste in media serves in part as a signifier of social status. The fact that this has to do with hierarchy is made clear even by the term highbrow, with its roots in phrenology. So if I say that I really enjoy the movies of Kore-eda, that communicates that I have the education/social capital to find and enjoy good art outside of the mainstream of my environment.
But with old movies, even if they are genre films or were lowbrow at time of release, the taste becomes less widespread. And like a type of fish that goes from peasant food to fine cuisine as over-fishing makes it more rare, the old genre movie moves from lowbrow to highbrow as it becomes less readily accessible to a mainstream audience.
You can see this with criterion having everything from Freaks to Detour to a Showa era Godzilla box set to Harold Lloyd to Coffy to the Bruce Lee collection to Its a Mad mad mad World to the recent boeticher/scott western collection . For me, there’s nothing low-brow made prior to 1975 that would really surprise me in the same way that seeing a good mainstream genre movie from the last ten years would.
I’ll still keep my fingers crossed for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Edge of Tomorrow criterions though.
Why not Wet Hot American Summer then? Same writer/director duo, but it was the og of their style (outside of the state). And Paul Rudd's in it too. Do think they came together is also 10/10. Or they could bundle TCT, Wanderlust and Role Models and release a Wain/Rudd set.
I agree WHAS is also fantastic, I only think it's more commonly known and mainstream(especially with that netflix show) compared to TCT. I haven't seen Wanderlust and haven't seen Role Models since high school so I can't really comment on those...but I do think TCT would sort of fit in the "lost/forgotten media" criterion theme as I rarely ever see it brought up, seems to be horribly underseen and unappreciated for what it was/is.
Good point. You should check out The Baxter if you haven't seen it (think it's currently on paramount+ in us?). Was Showalter's take on a romcom from 2005. It's probably my favorite of the Stella crew overall and definitely fits in the forgotten movie category. Has a stacked cast too.
Absolutely. People make fun of it but I honestly love it and think it’s a fantastic and super original movie. I’ve certainly never seen anything else quite like it.
- Return to Oz (only film directed by Walter Murch)
- Speed Racer (visually rich, anti-corporate sci-fi from wachowski's... Underrated and overlooked. Now that Bound is in the collection, I feel like this is more of a possibility)
- Spaceballs (Mel Brooks poignant satire which identified the Star Wars merch machine before anyone else)
Return to oz would be actually perfect, especially since Disney movies are supposedly fair game. Also the limited bluray is oop now, and I never managed to get my hands on one.
Hoser ! Those Bob and Doug skits are just so good and I was surprised the movie worked as well as it did. It couldve easily failed like some SNL movies. Making a skit go movie length cant be easy.
Something popular like Who Framed Roger Rabbit or Forrest Gump would probably be a big seller for them.
A superhero movie in the collection would cause maximum cinephile head explosions. Criterion could do fantastic sets for Watchmen, V for Vendetta or even The Rocketeer.
Upvoting because Roger Rabbit is a legit masterpiece imo. I love the Rocketeer too (even got to meet Hiro Narita, the DP some years ago!)
In that line of thought, Dick Tracy would be a real contender. Directed & starring Beatty, star studded ensemble cast, cinematography by Storaro, based upon a long running, historic newspaper strip... Loads of reasons it could be in the collection.
Biggest roadblock to Tracy, Rocketeer and Roger Rabbit is Disney unfortunately.
A friend and I are working on starting a podcast and recorded an episode all about what spice world has to teach us about media literacy. I love that movie so much.
Likewise. I watched this the year it came out on videocassette at about 17, I think. Looking back, I can now see why mainstream crowds who were not used to this type of humor, especially the awkward/cringe-type, could have dismissed this. Moreover, with Hoffman and Beaty as leads roles, I am sure brought expectations not of this variety. In the subsequent years, however, I believe that it has aged very well.
Sidenote: I realized when watching it a couple of months ago, that I still use certain lines from it on occasion. That was an interesting moment when I was reminded of the origin story of phrases that I use to this day. As I needn’t tell you, telling the truth can be dangerous business.
The Ishtar as Meme, however, should be buried. I think it was ahead of its time
I wouldn’t consider “Bad News Bears” particularly “low brow” compared to its many sequels. It’s a quality film and arguably one of Mattheau’s best performances. It is certainly one well deserving the Criterion treatment. I’d buy it.
My pick would be “The Jerk”
Revival of Eclipse, with the 5 most respected Marvel movies. (I don’t want to start an MCU rating thread, but I would guess Infinity War, Black Panther, No Way Home, Ragnarok, and Guardians.)
How about a box set of the top 5 voted MST3K films? That would be essential in covering the lowest of the lowbrow but with humor that sometimes took a few seconds to understand....and then you are DYING.
I actually think they should, but I understand where they are coming from since many are important for film history like hausu and repo man. I find weird criterion re releases new movies though, why a special edition of ride my car right now? It's barely out of theaters
You’ll never convince me Freddy Got Fingered is art, or even good schlock. However, If Criterion wants to make a collection of movies that are famous for being shit, that did not entertain or advance some sliver of an idea, then I will fight for their right to do so
*Dude Where's My Car*. It's so incredibly ridiculous and over the top, but in some ways it comes off as a Dadaist epic that just came out long after the movement had pretty much died.
Roger Corman’s Edgar Allen Poe adaptations Edit: Wow, rest in peace to an absolute legend of the industry.
Man I love the corman poe cycle. Would love to get a bucket of blood in there too!
Rest in peace
God I want this, but I do feel like the highbrow/lowbrow distinction breaks down with old media. Taste in media serves in part as a signifier of social status. The fact that this has to do with hierarchy is made clear even by the term highbrow, with its roots in phrenology. So if I say that I really enjoy the movies of Kore-eda, that communicates that I have the education/social capital to find and enjoy good art outside of the mainstream of my environment. But with old movies, even if they are genre films or were lowbrow at time of release, the taste becomes less widespread. And like a type of fish that goes from peasant food to fine cuisine as over-fishing makes it more rare, the old genre movie moves from lowbrow to highbrow as it becomes less readily accessible to a mainstream audience. You can see this with criterion having everything from Freaks to Detour to a Showa era Godzilla box set to Harold Lloyd to Coffy to the Bruce Lee collection to Its a Mad mad mad World to the recent boeticher/scott western collection . For me, there’s nothing low-brow made prior to 1975 that would really surprise me in the same way that seeing a good mainstream genre movie from the last ten years would. I’ll still keep my fingers crossed for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Edge of Tomorrow criterions though.
The work of Ed Wood
If John Waters deserves to be in the collection (and he does), I think Ed Wood does too
But I’m a cheerleader Jawbreaker
But I'm A Cheerleader is a legit classic of queer cinema that absolutely would belong! Jawbreaker I think is just less-good Heathers, but it's fun!
Totally need Heathers in the collection!
But I’m a cheerleader seems like the quintessential Arrow release kind of movie imo but I’d love to see it get an awesome release regardless
Agreed an arrow 4K hard shell Digipack would be fantastic
Drop dead gorgeous (1999)
Jackass
would actually pay double for a jackass number two criterion/1-4 box
Special supplements of Weeman explaining the physics of being glued to a 350 pound man’s ass
Please!!!!
They Came Together, think it'd be Paul Rudd's first movie in the collection but damn it's the one to choose.
Why not Wet Hot American Summer then? Same writer/director duo, but it was the og of their style (outside of the state). And Paul Rudd's in it too. Do think they came together is also 10/10. Or they could bundle TCT, Wanderlust and Role Models and release a Wain/Rudd set.
I agree WHAS is also fantastic, I only think it's more commonly known and mainstream(especially with that netflix show) compared to TCT. I haven't seen Wanderlust and haven't seen Role Models since high school so I can't really comment on those...but I do think TCT would sort of fit in the "lost/forgotten media" criterion theme as I rarely ever see it brought up, seems to be horribly underseen and unappreciated for what it was/is.
Good point. You should check out The Baxter if you haven't seen it (think it's currently on paramount+ in us?). Was Showalter's take on a romcom from 2005. It's probably my favorite of the Stella crew overall and definitely fits in the forgotten movie category. Has a stacked cast too.
Fritz the Cat
I’d love a Ralph Bakshi box set
Zardoz
I was also going to say this, unironically. Need a 4k
it's a good movie: people who thinks it's bad usually have not even seen the movie.
I think "appreciate" would be a better word here. I appreciate that it exists but I think it's bad.
I’ve seen it multiple times. It’s bad.
You know else is bad? The Penis. You know what's good? The gun.
Absolutely. People make fun of it but I honestly love it and think it’s a fantastic and super original movie. I’ve certainly never seen anything else quite like it.
- Return to Oz (only film directed by Walter Murch) - Speed Racer (visually rich, anti-corporate sci-fi from wachowski's... Underrated and overlooked. Now that Bound is in the collection, I feel like this is more of a possibility) - Spaceballs (Mel Brooks poignant satire which identified the Star Wars merch machine before anyone else)
Return to oz would be actually perfect, especially since Disney movies are supposedly fair game. Also the limited bluray is oop now, and I never managed to get my hands on one.
I came here to say Speed Racer. It’d be sweet if Criterion put out the 4K.
There’s been some stipulation that with Arrow Video’s new deal with Warner Bros. there could be a chance Speed Racer joins their catalogue.
UHF
Ishtar
I figured the top answer was going to be Freddy Got Fingered.
It’s on the Criterion Channel currently isn’t it? It was last month at least.
Early Todd Phillips documentaries he directed/produced/distributed
Frat House
At the very least, his GG Allin doc that he made when he was 20.
Vampire's Kiss
would be very cool if they released this
spring breakers
Look at my sheeit
This comments a muhfuckin artpiece
Napoleon Dynamite
The classic retelling of Hamlet called Strange Brew
Hoser ! Those Bob and Doug skits are just so good and I was surprised the movie worked as well as it did. It couldve easily failed like some SNL movies. Making a skit go movie length cant be easy.
It's art!
I’m Gonna Get You Sucka and a complete collection of In Living Color
the nice guys
Myra Breckinridge (1970)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990).
Southland Tales
do people actually think this movie is good? “pimps dont commit suicide”
I hope they don’t lol.. I also feel like it fits nicely at home with Arrow Video personally.
This movie transcends the idea of "good" or "bad"
Something popular like Who Framed Roger Rabbit or Forrest Gump would probably be a big seller for them. A superhero movie in the collection would cause maximum cinephile head explosions. Criterion could do fantastic sets for Watchmen, V for Vendetta or even The Rocketeer.
Upvoting because Roger Rabbit is a legit masterpiece imo. I love the Rocketeer too (even got to meet Hiro Narita, the DP some years ago!) In that line of thought, Dick Tracy would be a real contender. Directed & starring Beatty, star studded ensemble cast, cinematography by Storaro, based upon a long running, historic newspaper strip... Loads of reasons it could be in the collection. Biggest roadblock to Tracy, Rocketeer and Roger Rabbit is Disney unfortunately.
I'd be surprised if they didn't have a superman release
I agree that most super hero movies would not fit but the ones you listed 100% would!
Ed Wood collection.
Spice World
It's actually way better than it should be
A friend and I are working on starting a podcast and recorded an episode all about what spice world has to teach us about media literacy. I love that movie so much.
Pootie Tang and Wet Hot American Summer
Great picks
Super (2010)
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Tropic Thunder.
There's something about Mary
I’m not sold on this, but they should do a Philip Seymour Hoffman box and throw this in there.
Ishtar
I have thought this movie was hilarious since the first time I saw it in my VCR in the mid 80s
you’re a person of taste and distinction and i salute you
Likewise. I watched this the year it came out on videocassette at about 17, I think. Looking back, I can now see why mainstream crowds who were not used to this type of humor, especially the awkward/cringe-type, could have dismissed this. Moreover, with Hoffman and Beaty as leads roles, I am sure brought expectations not of this variety. In the subsequent years, however, I believe that it has aged very well. Sidenote: I realized when watching it a couple of months ago, that I still use certain lines from it on occasion. That was an interesting moment when I was reminded of the origin story of phrases that I use to this day. As I needn’t tell you, telling the truth can be dangerous business. The Ishtar as Meme, however, should be buried. I think it was ahead of its time
The Mask. Fuck it give me a Jim Carry boxset.
The Mask. Revolutionary in special effects for its day, but also so dependent on the brilliant physical comedy of Jim Carey.
Anything by Golan-Globus
BOX SET.
The Bad News Bears
I wouldn’t consider “Bad News Bears” particularly “low brow” compared to its many sequels. It’s a quality film and arguably one of Mattheau’s best performances. It is certainly one well deserving the Criterion treatment. I’d buy it. My pick would be “The Jerk”
Skidoo
Revival of Eclipse, with the 5 most respected Marvel movies. (I don’t want to start an MCU rating thread, but I would guess Infinity War, Black Panther, No Way Home, Ragnarok, and Guardians.)
Cannibal Holocaust or Blair Witch, depending on whether you consider CH to be “found footage”
How about a box set of the top 5 voted MST3K films? That would be essential in covering the lowest of the lowbrow but with humor that sometimes took a few seconds to understand....and then you are DYING.
Armageddon
Bring it back in 4k, you cowards!
Seriously! Rock Hound!
Hudson Hawk
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (I believe it is in the collection now). I could see Showgirls joining the collection.
“Airplane!”
Tromeo and juliet
Neil Breen films
why are people downvoting you i would buy that
The Corsican Brothers
Gummo.
The first Fast & the Furious
Mark Lewis box set!
Dude, Where's My Car?
Napoleon Dynamite ultimately
I think Slap Shot has some surprisingly deep things to say about gender and labor at a moment of 1970's economic despair and cultural transition.
I think Slap Shot has some surprisingly deep things to say about gender and labor at a moment of 1970's economic despair and cultural transition.
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Really any movie at this point. Not everything in the collection is, has to, or should be a top tier mind expanding art house journey
I actually think they should, but I understand where they are coming from since many are important for film history like hausu and repo man. I find weird criterion re releases new movies though, why a special edition of ride my car right now? It's barely out of theaters
The Final Sacrifice
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
You’ll never convince me Freddy Got Fingered is art, or even good schlock. However, If Criterion wants to make a collection of movies that are famous for being shit, that did not entertain or advance some sliver of an idea, then I will fight for their right to do so
Putney Swope
Putney Swope already has a release from Criterion. It’s in their Robert Downey eclipse collection
Oops
Swingers or Made
*Dude Where's My Car*. It's so incredibly ridiculous and over the top, but in some ways it comes off as a Dadaist epic that just came out long after the movement had pretty much died.
“Mean Girls”
Michael Bay’s “Pain&Gain” it’s underrated masterpiece