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Criterion

The is an American distribution company founded in 1984 and dedicated to licensing, restoring, and publishing significant classic and contemporary from around the world in high-quality editions featuring technical excellence and original supplemental materials.
The company pioneered standards in , including director-approved aspect ratios, subtitles, and packaging with scholarly essays, interviews, and restored visuals, thereby elevating the appreciation and preservation of for general audiences and enthusiasts.
Through partnerships such as with and its own streaming platform, the Criterion Channel launched in , it has released over a thousand titles, emphasizing artistic integrity over commercial blockbusters and fostering deeper engagement with history.

General and Philosophical Usage

Definition and Etymology

A criterion is a , , , or test used as a basis for judgment, decision-making, or evaluation. It serves to distinguish, measure, or assess the quality, validity, or truth of something, often applied in contexts requiring between alternatives. In formal usage, criteria (the standard plural form) refer to multiple such standards employed collectively. The English term "criterion" derives from New Latin criterion, borrowed directly from Ancient Greek κριτήριον (kritḗrion), signifying "a test, means of judging, or standard for judgment." This Greek noun stems from κριτής (kritḗs, "judge" or "umpire") and the verb κρίνω (krínō, "to separate, decide, or judge"), reflecting an origin tied to acts of discrimination and verdict-rendering in classical thought. The word first appeared in English around 1605–1615, initially in scholarly and philosophical texts, evolving from earlier Latinized forms encountered in medieval translations of Greek works. While "criterions" appears as an archaic plural, "criteria" predominates, preserving the Greek plural κριτήρια (kritḗria).

Criterion in Epistemology and Logic

In , a criterion refers to a standard, principle, or test used to determine the truth of propositions, the justification of beliefs, or the distinction between and mere . Ancient philosophers, such as and , advanced the concept of katalêpsis—a secure and firm cognitive impression—as a primary criterion, arguing it provides a naturally available means for rational agents to discriminate true representations from false ones without reliance on external authority. This view emphasized perceptual clarity and non-contradiction as evidential markers, influencing later discussions on reliable cognition. Subsequent developments in epistemology linked criteria to broader theories of truth and justification. For instance, correspondence theories posit that truth obtains when a proposition aligns with objective states of affairs, with empirical observation or causal inference serving as the operational test; evidence from controlled experiments, such as those in physics confirming gravitational laws on specific dates like Newton's 1687 Principia publication, exemplifies this criterion's application. Coherence theories, conversely, evaluate truth by a proposition's consistency within a comprehensive belief system, as articulated by idealists like F.H. Bradley in 1893, though this risks circularity absent external anchors. Pragmatists, including William James in his 1907 Pragmatism, proposed practical utility—measured by predictive success in action—as the criterion, validated by outcomes like engineering feats grounded in tested hypotheses rather than abstract coherence alone. In logic, criteria function to assess argument validity and soundness, often through formal semantic or syntactic tests. Deductive validity, for example, is determined by the preservation of truth across all models or interpretations, as formalized in classical propositional logic where truth tables confirm tautological necessity; Gottlob Frege's 1879 Begriffsschrift introduced such rigor, enabling verification of inferences like modus ponens. Inductive criteria, by contrast, rely on probabilistic strengthening, quantified via Bayesian updating where posterior probabilities exceed priors based on empirical data frequencies, as in statistical models from Karl Pearson's 1895 chi-square test. These logical criteria prioritize non-ampliative certainty in deduction and empirical convergence in induction, distinguishing them from looser epistemic standards prone to subjective bias.

The Problem of the Criterion

The arises in as a foundational to establishing what counts as , highlighting a potential circularity or regress in justification. It questions whether one can identify instances of without first specifying the standards (or criterion) for , or , thereby threatening the possibility of any secure epistemic foundation. Philosopher formalized the problem in his Aquinas Lecture, posing it through two interdependent questions: (1) "What do we know? What is the extent of our ?" and (2) "How are we to decide whether we know? What are the criteria of ?" To answer the first requires applying the criterion from the second, yet deriving or validating that criterion demands prior examples of from the first, creating a dialectical known as the diallelus or wheel argument. The problem has ancient roots in Pyrrhonian skepticism, where Sextus Empiricus (c. 160–210 CE) described the diallelus in Outlines of Pyrrhonism (Book II), arguing that criteria for truth either lead to infinite regress, circularity, or arbitrary assumption, undermining dogmatic claims to knowledge. This connects to Agrippa's modes of skepticism (c. 1st–2nd century CE), particularly the mode of reciprocity, which exposes circular dependencies in justification. Chisholm identifies three possible responses to the dilemma. denies that either question can be answered without , concluding that no is possible. begins with the second question, positing a general criterion (e.g., empirical reliability or ) to then identify instances of , as in empiricist traditions. Particularism, which Chisholm endorses, starts with the first question, asserting direct acquaintance with particular cases of —such as perceptual ("I see a hand before me") or basic self-evident truths—before inferring the criterion from those instances. Chisholm defends particularism by appealing to common-sense intuitions and the self-defeating nature of : denying evident facts (e.g., that one is currently awake and perceiving) requires accepting some knowledge claims, such as the reliability of one's faculties under normal conditions. He draws on predecessors like and , who prioritized intuitive certainties over abstract methods, arguing that fails because it cannot coherently withhold assent from basic propositions without presupposing a criterion it claims to reject.

Applications in Science and Mathematics

Criteria in Mathematics

In mathematics, a criterion denotes a or test that establishes whether a given satisfies a specific , , or result, often serving as a necessary or sufficient benchmark for proof or computation. These criteria are foundational across branches like , , and , enabling rigorous verification without exhaustive case analysis. They typically arise from axiomatic derivations or empirical patterns observed in specific domains, prioritizing logical necessity over approximation. In , and similarity criteria provide explicit rules for determining when figures are identical or proportionally equivalent. For , the side-side-side () criterion holds if all three corresponding sides are equal in length; side-angle-side () requires two sides and the included angle to match; angle-side-angle () demands two angles and the included side; angle-angle-side (AAS) specifies two angles and a non-included side; and for right triangles, the hypotenuse-leg () criterion applies if the and one leg coincide. These criteria stem from principles, ensuring implies superimposability via rigid transformations, as verified through as the foundational postulate with others derived via auxiliary constructions. For similarity, the angle-angle () criterion suffices: two triangles are similar if two corresponding angles are equal, implying proportional sides by parallel line properties and alternate interior angles. Algebraic criteria often test structural properties like irreducibility. , for a polynomial f(x) = a_n x^n + \cdots + a_0 with coefficients, states it is irreducible over if there exists a prime p such that p divides all a_i for i < n, p does not divide a_n, and p^2 does not divide a_0. This sufficient condition leverages Gauss's lemma and prime factorization uniqueness, avoiding full factorization for high-degree polynomials. In number theory, Euler's criterion assesses quadratic residuosity: for odd prime p and a not divisible by p, a is a quadratic residue modulo p if a^{(p-1)/2} \equiv 1 \pmod{p}, derived from Fermat's Little Theorem and properties of Legendre symbols. In real analysis, convergence criteria quantify limits in sequences and series. Cauchy's criterion defines a sequence \{x_n\} in a complete metric space as convergent if for every \epsilon > 0, there exists N such that |x_m - x_n| < \epsilon for all m, n > N, equating completeness with sequential limits in spaces like \mathbb{[R](/page/R)}. For improper integrals or series, tests like Dirichlet's criterion establish : if \sum a_n has bounded partial sums and b_n decreases monotonically to 0, then \sum a_n b_n converges, as proven via analogous to . These criteria enable practical assessment in infinite processes, grounded in epsilon-delta rigor rather than intuitive "closeness."

Criteria in Scientific Methodology

In scientific methodology, criteria establish benchmarks for assessing the validity, testability, and demarcation of hypotheses and theories, ensuring claims are grounded in rather than unfalsifiable assertions. A primary demarcation criterion, proposed by philosopher in (1934), is : a qualifies as scientific only if it risks empirical refutation through observation or experiment. For instance, Einstein's predicted observable light bending during a 1919 , providing a testable prediction that could falsify the theory if discrepant; in contrast, modifications to theories, such as those shielding from refutation, fail this criterion by evading empirical confrontation. Popper's framework emphasizes that science advances via bold conjectures subjected to severe tests, rejecting in favor of potential disconfirmation. Reproducibility constitutes a core operational criterion, mandating that experimental procedures and outcomes yield consistent results when replicated by independent investigators using equivalent methods and materials. This principle underpins trust in findings, as demonstrated by guidelines from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which distinguish (regenerating results from original and ) from replicability (obtaining similar outcomes with new ). Failures in , evident in a 2016 survey where over 70% of researchers failed to replicate others' experiments, highlight systemic issues like selective reporting and insufficient statistical power, contributing to a "reproducibility crisis" across fields such as and cancer . Rigorous adherence involves detailed protocols, sharing, and pre-registration of analyses to mitigate p-hacking and . Peer review serves as an institutional criterion for methodological scrutiny, wherein experts evaluate manuscripts for soundness, originality, and adherence to evidential standards prior to publication. Established practices, such as those in journals like PNAS, require reviewers to assess experimental design, , and logical coherence, though critiques note its susceptibility to biases including and conflicts of interest. Empirical studies, including a 2017 analysis of 1,500 biomedical papers, reveal that peer-reviewed work correlates with higher citation rates but does not guarantee , underscoring the need for post-publication verification. Complementary criteria include (e.g., p-values below 0.05 as a for rejecting hypotheses, per Fisherian standards) and , where theories must forecast novel phenomena beyond training data. Additional methodological criteria emphasize systematicity and objectivity: hypotheses must derive from empirical observations, employ controlled variables to isolate causal factors, and prioritize parsimony via , favoring simpler explanations absent evidence for complexity. Bayesian approaches integrate prior probabilities with likelihoods to update beliefs quantitatively, providing a probabilistic criterion for evidence accumulation. These standards collectively enforce causal realism, distinguishing from by demanding verifiable mechanisms over correlative or ideological claims. Violations, as in non-replicable therapeutic interventions, erode credibility and necessitate reforms like mandatory data archiving.

Publishing

The Criterion Literary Magazine

The Criterion was a literary magazine founded and edited by , with its first issue published in October 1922. The journal appeared quarterly until its final issue in January 1939, spanning 18 volumes and over 200 issues, and aimed to foster a shared European literary culture amid post-World War I fragmentation by publishing works in English, , and other languages. Eliot envisioned it as a review emphasizing critical standards and intellectual discourse, drawing on classical traditions rather than ephemeral trends, with the name "The Criterion" suggested by his wife, Vivienne Haigh-Wood, who contributed pseudonymously in early years. Early issues featured prominent modernist and traditionalist writers, including , , , , and , alongside Eliot's own excerpts from in 1922 and 1923. By the mid-, financial difficulties nearly ended the publication in 1925, but support from Lady Rothermere, who provided funding from inception, allowed resumption; circulation stabilized around 1,000 subscribers by the late 1920s, granting Eliot full editorial autonomy. The magazine avoided overt political alignment, though Eliot's evolving Anglo-Catholic perspective influenced selections favoring metaphysical depth over experimentation, publishing critics like and translations of continental authors such as . In its later years, The Criterion critiqued rising and , with Eliot's 1939 valedictory lamenting the impossibility of sustaining independent literary judgment amid impending war. Despite modest readership, it shaped interwar by prioritizing rigorous standards and cross-cultural dialogue, influencing subsequent journals; its cessation reflected both Eliot's exhaustion after 16 years of editing and broader geopolitical shifts disrupting European intellectual unity. Archival scans of issues are accessible via university libraries, confirming its role in documenting early 20th-century literary debates without reliance on subsidized or ideologically driven outlets.

Other Publishing Uses

The Criterion, a weekly Catholic serving the , has been published by Criterion Press Inc. since its founding in 1915 as a means to disseminate archdiocesan news, doctrinal teachings, and community events to English- and German-speaking readers. Circulation peaked at over 100,000 copies in the mid-20th century before shifting to a digital edition in 2011, reflecting adaptations to declining print readership while maintaining editorial independence under archdiocesan oversight. The emphasizes factual reporting on matters, with content vetted by for alignment with Catholic , distinguishing it from secular press outlets. The Buffalo Criterion, established in 1925 by Frank E. Merriweather Jr., served as a key African-American newspaper in , focusing on local civil rights issues, community achievements, and political advocacy until its cessation in the late 20th century. Merriweather, who also organized the city's first African-American political , used the paper to counter underrepresentation of Black perspectives, publishing editorials and news from a grassroots viewpoint amid Jim Crow-era challenges. Archival records indicate it operated from a dedicated press at 623 William Street, fostering and activism in the community. In , The Criterion: An International Journal in English functions as an open-access, refereed e-journal launched in 2010, specializing in peer-reviewed articles on , language, , and social sciences. It publishes bimonthly issues with an emphasis on original research, maintaining a double-blind process to ensure scholarly rigor, though its reliance on voluntary submissions and from has drawn critiques for variable compared to established journals. By 2025, it had issued over 100 volumes, prioritizing over paywalls. Criterion: A Journal of Literary Criticism, a semi-annual publication by University's English Department since 1995, features undergraduate essays applying rigorous analytical methods to literary texts across eras and genres. Selections undergo faculty-guided , with past issues analyzing works from Shakespeare to modern authors, underscoring the journal's role in training emerging scholars while adhering to institutional standards of . Smaller presses bearing the name include Criterion Books, an imprint active from the mid-20th century that released over 500 titles in fiction, , and before merging or dissolving, and Criterion Press, which issued educational and niche works sporadically between 1905 and 2006. These entities, often short-lived or specialized, illustrate the term's appeal for imprints seeking connotations of in content selection.

Entertainment

The Criterion Collection

The Criterion Collection is an American distribution company specializing in the publication of classic and contemporary films from around the world, with a focus on high technical quality, state-of-the-art restorations, and supplemental materials such as audio commentaries, visual essays, and restored trailers to enhance viewer understanding of the films' artistic and historical context. Founded in by Robert Stein, Aleen Stein, and —who were later joined by Roger Smith—the company originated as a partnership involving and , initially releasing titles on format. Its mission centers on gathering the greatest films from directors past and present, licensing them from studios and filmmakers, and producing editions that reflect the original intent of the creators through meticulous sourcing of elements and collaboration with experts. Criterion pioneered several home video standards starting with releases from 1984 to 1998, introducing innovations like letterboxing to preserve original aspect ratios, (CAV) editions for frame-by-frame access and multiple audio tracks, and (CLV) for longer runtimes, which set benchmarks for special features in the analog era. The company transitioned to DVD in 1998 with a reset spine numbering system—beginning with titles like as spine #2—followed by Blu-ray in 2008 and 4K Ultra HD in 2021, enabling higher-fidelity transfers from original negatives or fine-grain materials. Releases often include newly commissioned translations for , restored soundtracks, and booklets with essays by film scholars, with over 1,100 titles cataloged via the iconic spine numbering system that sequentially identifies editions on packaging for collector organization. This system, which assigns unique numbers to individual films or box sets, has fostered a dedicated , though gaps occur due to licensing expirations or format shifts. The company's restoration efforts involve scanning original camera negatives at resolutions up to 8K, in , and audio remastering, often in partnership with filmmakers and archives; for instance, it has supported Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project by restoring rare international titles through archival sourcing and digital reconstruction. Criterion's editions span arthouse cinema, foreign-language films, silent classics, and select works, with supplements earning acclaim for contextual depth—such as interviews with directors like or restored alternate cuts—though availability depends on rights renewals, leading to some out-of-print titles. As of 2024, its catalog includes hundreds of restored features, contributing to by making obscure or damaged prints accessible via and licensed streaming.

The Criterion Channel

The Criterion Channel is a subscription video-on-demand service operated by , focusing on curated selections of classic, arthouse, independent, and international cinema, supplemented by interviews, essays, and restored films. Launched on April 8, 2019, in the United States and Canada, it provides access via web browsers, , , , , and devices. The service emerged as the successor to FilmStruck, a prior streaming platform co-operated by Criterion and that discontinued on November 29, 2018, amid WarnerMedia's strategic shifts under ownership. Criterion assumed full control to emphasize its archival expertise, launching with a core library exceeding 1,000 feature films, 350 short films, and over 3,500 supplemental materials such as audio commentaries and visual essays. Programming rotates monthly around themes like director retrospectives (e.g., spotlights on filmmakers such as or ), genres, national cinemas, and series exploring film history or techniques, alongside a permanent Criterion catalog and exclusive content produced in-house. This curation prioritizes high-quality restorations and contextual depth over algorithmic recommendations, distinguishing it from broader streaming competitors. By 2023, the library had expanded to more than 2,000 titles, with support for up to three simultaneous streams per account. Subscriptions are priced at $10.99 per month or $99.99 annually, including a seven-day free trial; early pre-launch rates were $9.99 monthly or $89.99 yearly. Revenue integrates streaming fees with physical media sales and licensing, bolstering Criterion's preservation efforts. In April 2024, the Criterion Collection and its distribution partner were acquired by billionaire , founder of Indian Paintbrush, through an undisclosed transaction valuing the entity's film library and infrastructure.

Preservation Techniques and Achievements

The Criterion Collection's film preservation process begins with producers researching and sourcing the highest-quality original elements, such as camera negatives, fine-grain masters, or vintage prints, frequently in partnership with film archives, studios, and international collaborators to ensure fidelity to the filmmakers' intent. These materials are then physically cleaned to remove dirt and dust, repaired for damages like tears, scratches, or warping—such as through detailed analysis of storage and projection history for elements like the print of Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)—and prepared for digital transfer using techniques like wet-gate printing to minimize visible flaws during scanning. Following physical preparation, the elements are scanned at high resolutions, often 2K or , which can take several days per feature, after which like Digital Vision's Phoenix applies automated detection for issues including dust, instability, and density fluctuations, followed by manual retouching for scratches, frame-by-frame to match original palettes, and audio remastering from surviving tracks or optical elements. This digital workflow allows reconstruction of censored or altered versions to their uncut forms, as seen in restorations addressing historical bans or edits in international titles. The resulting masters are encoded for physical formats like Blu-ray and UHD, as well as streaming, preserving films against further degradation of analog sources. Key achievements include the World Cinema Project, initiated in 2007 with The Film Foundation, which has restored or supported over 40 films from underrepresented regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East by 2020, reclaiming overlooked masterpieces like those by Med Hondo and Héctor Babenco through collaborations with labs such as Cineteca di Bologna. Criterion's efforts have produced more than 1,000 releases since 1984, establishing benchmarks for letterboxed transfers, supplemental restoration documentation, and accessibility of preserved classics in home video and digital formats. Notable examples encompass high-profile restorations like Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy (1955–1959), involving multi-element compositing for optimal visuals, and warped pre-Code films such as Merrily We Go to Hell (1932), demonstrating innovative digital stabilization. These initiatives have enhanced global film heritage by prioritizing empirical fidelity over aesthetic alteration, contributing to broader preservation awareness amid analog film's vulnerability to nitrate decay and triacetate shrinkage.

Criticisms and Controversies

The has faced criticism for its selection criteria, which some argue prioritize arthouse and international films over broader representation, including the inclusion of mainstream titles like (1984), which grossed over $200 million and was seen by detractors as diluting the label's focus on . This 1989 release sparked debate among cinephiles who viewed it as a commercial outlier in a catalog emphasizing critical reverence. A prominent controversy involves the underrepresentation of African-American directors; as of August 2020, only four such directors had feature films in the collection, comprising less than 1% of titles, despite the catalog spanning over 1,000 releases from more than 40 countries. Criterion's president acknowledged the gap, attributing it partly to historical acquisition challenges, though the company has since curated collections like "" and added titles such as restorations of early works by directors like William Foster in 2025. Restorations have drawn ire for perceived alterations to original aesthetics, notably in the 2021 4K releases of Wong Kar-wai's films, where changes to color grading and omission of voiceover in Happy Together (1997) prompted accusations of compromising authorial intent, despite the director's defense that they reflected his evolving vision. Similarly, unannounced edits, such as two minutes cut from the Coen brothers' Miller's Crossing (1990), fueled complaints about fidelity to source material. The Criterion Channel streaming service encountered backlash in June 2023 for censoring "racially insensitive" dialogue in (1971), removing a six-second scene with a racial slur spoken by a depicted racist character without disclosure or director approval, leading fans to decry it as that undermined historical context. This paralleled earlier issues, like halting sales of 1990s laserdiscs due to unapproved critical commentary tracks. Business practices have also been scrutinized, including a 2022 class-action alleging unauthorized sale of subscriber data through the Criterion Channel, settled in 2024 for $4.5 million with potential reimbursements for affected users from 2022 onward. The company lacks accreditation and recorded 12 complaints over three years regarding service issues.

Companies and Organizations

Criterion Games

Criterion Games is a British studio headquartered in , , , specializing in racing and action games. Founded in 1993 by Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry, the studio initially operated under Criterion Software, developing middleware technology such as the engine, which powered graphics, audio, and physics in numerous titles including , Vice City, and San Andreas. 's cross-platform capabilities contributed to its widespread adoption in the early 2000s gaming industry, enabling efficient development for consoles like and . The studio's first original game, Scorched Planet, released in 1996 for Windows, marked its entry into direct game development, followed by racing titles like Redline Racer (1998). Criterion gained prominence with the Burnout series, starting with Burnout (2001), known for high-speed crashes and arcade-style racing that emphasized vehicular destruction mechanics. Notable releases include Burnout Paradise (2008), an open-world racer that sold over 5 million copies and received critical acclaim for its seamless city navigation and multiplayer features. The studio also led development on Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005), which featured police pursuits and open-world progression, selling more than 12 million units worldwide, and later entries like Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010) and Need for Speed Unbound (2022). In August 2004, acquired Criterion Software, including the games division, for approximately £24 million in cash plus EA stock options valued at around £16 million, integrating it as a wholly owned . Under EA, Criterion expanded into other genres, contributing to (2006), a destructible-environment , and Star Wars Battlefront X-Wing VR Mission (2015), EA's first title built on the engine. The studio has earned multiple BAFTA awards for its work on simulations. As of August 2025, Criterion rebranded as "Criterion – A Battlefield Studio," shifting primary focus to the franchise amid EA's restructuring, with teams collaborating on narrative elements for future installments following the closure of Ridgeline Games. This pivot has introduced uncertainty regarding continued development of racing series like , as the studio's racing expertise is redirected toward multiplayer shooters. Headed by general manager Matt Webster, Criterion employs around 200 staff and continues operations from its Guildford base.

Other Criterion-Named Entities

Criterion Institute is a nonprofit founded in 2010 that focuses on and to leverage for , collaborating with investors, governments, and to reframe economic and address issues like gender equity in investments. It emphasizes broadening participation in through and institutional engagement, with programs targeting systemic inequalities in allocation. Criterion HCM provides human capital management software tailored for mid-market and enterprise users, offering tools for processes including , benefits, and , serving clients such as and firms. Established as a global provider, it emphasizes user-friendly interfaces and scalability for business operations. Criterion Systems, acquired by in March 2023, specializes in cybersecurity and services for U.S. federal agencies, delivering solutions in areas like and secure systems integration since its in 2005. The firm holds commitments to cleared personnel and performance excellence in government contracting. Other entities include Criterion Corporation, a service-disabled veteran-owned offering comprehensive support services to the U.S. in and operations, and Criterion Group LLC, a firm originating in multifamily housing in western , , that has expanded into broader and development.