Max and HBO have announced a multi-year deal extension with The Criterion Collection to continue bringing its catalog of films to streaming.
As part of the deal extension, a handful of films will also be newly available on Max, including Isabella Rossellini’s “Green Porno” (2008), Héctor Babenco’s “Kiss of the Spiderwoman” (1985), Mira Nair’s “Mississippi Masala” (1991), Alejandro Amenábar’s “Open Your Eyes” (1997) and Nicolas Roeg’s “Walkabout” (1971). The streamer will also add three “Godzilla” titles: Koji Hashimoto’s “The Return of Godzilla” (1984), Kazuki Ōmori’s “Godzilla vs. Biollante” (1989) and “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah” (1991).
“We are excited to continue to bring the Criterion Collection’s catalog of top-quality films to our audiences,” said Royce Battleman, executive vice president of content acquisitions at Warner Bros. Discovery. “Both the existing and new additions to the collection provide Max viewers with the opportunity to experience cinematic excellence as part of our offering.”
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The Criterion Collection restores and publishes classic and contemporary films in editions with the highest technical quality. Among its renowned titles are “Modern Times,” “Tokyo Story,” “In the Mood for Love,” “Night of the Living Dead” and “Cléo From 5 to 7.” Additional titles include “L’Avventura,” “Eraserhead,” “The Last Emperor,” “A Room with a View,” “The Great Beauty,” “La Strada,” “Fanny and Alexander,” “8½,” “Babette’s Feast,” “Seven Samurai” and “Cries and Whispers.”
Warner Bros. Discovery has similar multi-year licensing deals in place with A24 and Studio Ghibli, making Max the U.S. streaming home of films like “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Uncut Gems,” “Priscilla,” “The Zone of Interest,” “The Whale,” “Past Lives,” “The Iron Claw,” “Love Lies Bleeding” and “Civil War,” as well as Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away,” “Princess Mononoke,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “The Wind Rises” and “The Boy and the Heron.”