Criterion Collection Region Guide — Which Discs Are Region Locked?

Here's something that'll sting if you're a serious film fan: the Criterion Collection — the gold standard of home video, the label that treats cinema like the art form it is — still sells region-locked Blu-rays in 2024. A disc you bought in New York won't play on a player you bought in London. A gift shipped from the US to a friend in Australia might be completely useless to them. It's maddening, and it's totally fixable once you know the rules.

Why Does Criterion Lock Their Discs at All?

Criterion doesn't do this to be difficult. They do it because they have to. Licensing rights for films are sold territory by territory, and when Criterion licenses a Bergman film for North America, they're often not allowed to sell it into Europe without a separate deal. The studios and rights holders demand it. So the region coding is contractually baked in.

That said, Criterion has been more region-friendly than most. Here's how their physical media actually breaks down:

Criterion Blu-rays: Region A by Default

The vast majority of Criterion's Blu-ray spine numbers are encoded as Region A. That covers the US, Canada, and most of South America. If you're in the UK, Europe, Australia, or Japan, your standard Blu-ray player will refuse to read them.

A small number of releases — particularly co-productions with Janus Films distributed through European partners like the BFI — have come out as Region B editions. But these are the exception, not the rule.

Criterion DVDs: Mostly Region 1, Some Region Free

Criterion's DVD catalog is predominantly Region 1 (US/Canada). However, some of their older spine numbers were released region-free, especially early Eclipse Series titles. Your best bet before importing is checking DVDBeaver.com or the Criterion Forum, where obsessive collectors have documented region codes for almost every release.

The Criterion Channel: US and Canada Only

The Criterion Channel — their streaming platform at $10.99/month (about £8.70 / €10.10) — is geographically restricted to the United States and Canada. Full stop. If you're anywhere else in the world and try to sign up or stream, you'll hit a wall. Their website will either redirect you or show an error. This is where a VPN becomes your best friend.

How to Watch the Criterion Channel Outside the US

This is the fix most people land here looking for. You need a VPN that can connect you through a US server, so the Criterion Channel thinks you're in New York or Chicago. We'd recommend NordVPN for this specifically because their US server network is large enough that you rarely get throttled or blocked, and their streaming speed is genuinely reliable — you don't want buffering on a 4K print of The Rules of the Game.

NordVPN costs $3.99–$6.99/month (about £3.15–£5.50 / €3.70–€6.50) depending on the plan length. ExpressVPN is a solid alternative if NordVPN ever has issues with a particular Criterion server block, and Surfshark works well too, especially if you need multiple simultaneous connections.

On Desktop (Windows or Mac)

1. Download and install NordVPN from nordvpn.com.
2. Open the app and log in.
3. Click "United States" in the country list, or search for it.
4. Connect. Wait for the confirmation that you're connected.
5. Open your browser and go to criterionchannel.com.
6. Sign up or log in as normal. The site will now load as if you're in the US.

That's genuinely it. No technical wizardry required.

On Mobile — iPhone and Android

1. Download the NordVPN app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Log in with your account details.
3. Tap the country selector and choose United States.
4. Tap "Connect."
5. Open the Criterion Channel app, or go to their site in your browser.

One thing to flag for iOS users: if the Criterion Channel app isn't available in your local App Store, you'll need to create a US Apple ID to download it. Annoying, yes. But it's a one-time thing, and there are plenty of guides for doing that without a credit card.

On a Smart TV

Smart TVs are trickier because most don't have native VPN apps. You've got two real options here:

• Router-level VPN: Set NordVPN up on your router directly. Everything on your home network then routes through the VPN. This is the cleanest solution but requires a router that supports VPN firmware.
• Smart DNS: NordVPN includes a SmartDNS feature (called SmartPlay) that handles geo-unblocking without encrypting everything. It works on smart TVs and is easier to configure than a full router VPN.

Will a Free VPN Work?

Technically, some free VPNs will work — for about ten minutes. Here's the problem: streaming services like the Criterion Channel actively detect and block VPN IP addresses. Free VPNs cycle through a tiny pool of servers shared by thousands of users, so those IP addresses get flagged and blocked constantly. You'll connect, get excited, start a film, and then hit a geo-error halfway through. It's not worth the frustration.

Paid VPNs like NordVPN invest in rotating their IP addresses frequently enough to stay ahead of those blocks. That's what you're actually paying for.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

"I'm connected to the VPN but still getting a region error"

Try switching to a different US server within NordVPN. The one you're on may be temporarily flagged. In the app, look for "Specialty Servers" and try an obfuscated server if the standard ones aren't working.

"My Criterion Blu-ray won't play on my player"

This is a region mismatch. You need a region-free Blu-ray player. Look for players marketed as "multi-region" — brands like Cambridge Audio or certain modified Sony/Panasonic units. In the US, search "region-free Blu-ray player" on Amazon; in the UK and Europe, many electronics retailers sell them pre-modified.

"The Criterion Channel site says it's not available in my country"

Make sure your VPN is actually connected before you open the browser. Sometimes browsers cache your real location. Clear cookies, reconnect the VPN, then open a fresh browser window.

FAQ

Are any Criterion Blu-rays region-free?

A small number are, yes. Some early releases and certain Eclipse Series DVDs have no region coding. Check DVDBeaver or the Criterion Forum before buying — they list region codes for individual spine numbers.

Does the Criterion Channel work with NordVPN?

Yes, reliably. NordVPN's US servers work well with the Criterion Channel. If one server doesn't work, try another — it usually takes thirty seconds to switch.

Can I pay for the Criterion Channel from outside the US?

You'll need to use a payment method accepted in the US. Most international credit cards work fine. Some users have had success with PayPal linked to a US address. The subscription itself is $10.99/month (about £8.70 / €10.10) or $99.99/year (about £79 / €92).

Is it legal to use a VPN to watch the Criterion Channel?

VPNs are legal in almost every country you're likely reading this from. Whether using one to access a geo-restricted service violates the platform's terms of service is a separate question — technically it may, but enforcement against individual subscribers essentially never happens. We're not lawyers, and this isn't legal advice, but millions of people do this every day without consequence.

Do Criterion's 4K UHD releases have region coding?

4K UHD discs (the Ultra HD Blu-ray format) are technically region-free by specification — the format doesn't support region coding the same way standard Blu-ray does. However, some players have region restrictions baked in at the hardware level. If you have a region-free 4K player, you're fine. Check your player's specs.

What if I want UK or European Criterion editions instead?

Some films are only available on Blu-ray through European distributors like the BFI, Eureka, or Arrow. These are encoded Region B. If you want those, you'd need a multi-region player — or a Region B-capable player if you're already in Europe. The good news is that many of those releases are excellent in their own right.

Our Honest Recommendation

If streaming is your main goal, get NordVPN, connect to a US server, and subscribe to the Criterion Channel. That combination works, it's stable, and the Criterion Channel's library is genuinely worth $10.99/month (about £8.70 / €10.10) if you care about serious cinema. The streaming quality on a good connection is excellent.

If you're a collector who wants the physical discs — and honestly, for Criterion's packaging and supplemental materials, that's understandable — invest in a multi-region Blu-ray player. It's a one-time purchase that removes the region problem permanently for every disc you ever buy.

And if someone buys you a Criterion disc from another region as a gift? Tell them it's beautiful, smile, then order a region-free player. Cinema this good deserves to actually be watched.