The Criterion Collection and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced a multi-year home entertainment distribution agreement for the launch of the Criterion Collection on Blu-ray in the UK. Starting on 18th April 2016, SPHE will bring selected titles from Criterion’s extensive catalogue and future new release slate to the UK for the first time. The first wave of films, featuring all the supplements from the US editions along with their widely regarded exclusive artwork and packaging, are Grey Gardens, It Happened One Night, Macbeth (Roman Polanski), Only Angels Have Wings, Speedy and Tootsie.

The Criterion Collection is dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions of the highest technical quality with award-winning, original supplements. Until now only available in the US and Canada on Region A format, SPHE’s launch of Criterion titles in the UK will enable British film fans to enjoy and collect some of the defining moments of cinema.

Criterion Collection Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Turell said: "We are excited to launch the Criterion Collection in the UK. Starting with these six great titles, we are happy to be able to bring selections from Criterion to our very devoted audience in the UK. We are thrilled to build upon our strong relationship with Sony and look forward to expanding the Criterion audience."

"Criterion represents the very best of classic and contemporary filmmaking and we are delighted to bring this prestigious collection to the UK for the first time," added Aodán Coburn, Executive Vice President, International, SPHE. "This partnership demonstrates SPHE’s continued commitment to growing our distribution business."

Committed since 1984 to creating and preserving the most significant continuing archive of important classic and contemporary films available to the home viewer, the Criterion Collection is described by Criterion Studio President Peter Becker as "a film school in a box." Criterion presents each film uncut, in its original aspect ratio, as its maker intended it to be seen. Sourcing the best available film elements in the world, and using state-of-the-art technical procedures, Criterion creates the most pristine possible image and sound. Complete with excellent film extras which enable viewers to appreciate films in context, Criterion editions are widely regarded by film aficionados as the definitive versions to own.