Just in time for TIFF, the legendary film label Criterion Collection is opening its first permanent Canadian home in Toronto. Steps from the TIFF Lightbox and Scotiabank Theatre the new brick-and-mortar store will have its first permanent Canadian home at Cinema Cellar.
If you’re not already familiar with Criterion, think of it as the ultimate destination for people who believe movies are worth collecting. Founded in 1984, the company has spent more than four decades preserving and celebrating classic and contemporary cinema through meticulously restored films, beautifully designed physical editions and extensive bonus material including filmmaker interviews, commentaries, essays and archival footage.
It’s this attention to detail that has made Criterion something of a cult favourite. Its 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD releases transform movies into collectible objects, complete with distinctive artwork and numbered spines that have made building a Criterion shelf almost as satisfying as watching the films themselves. The catalogue spans everything from auteur cinema and Hollywood classics to cult favourites and contemporary masterpieces.
Now, Toronto gets to experience that world IRL. The opening follows an overwhelming response to Criterion’s Mobile Closet, which made its first international stop at the festival last year and attracted more than a thousand visitors during opening weekend.
Cinema Cellar will offer Criterion’s catalogue alongside other respected labels including Kino Lorber and Arrow Video. Visitors will also get an early look at Criterion’s forthcoming The Complete Kubrick box set, while a dedicated Polaroid wall will invite filmmakers, artists, collectors and movie lovers to become part of the store’s opening.
The Canadian selection will include Criterion editions of David Cronenberg’s Crash and François Girard’s Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, alongside films from around the world.
The arrival also taps into the growing return to physical media. In an age when most entertainment disappears into a streaming library, Criterion has made the act of owning a movie feel special again, turning cinema into something tangible and collectible.
Cinema Cellar opens at 129 John Street this September.