Criterion Announces New Limited Edition Triple Format Series, VHS Fans Rejoice!

In the wake of a rather controversial piece posted over at the film site Film Divider about the seemingly bizarre and, in the writer’s eyes, illogical rise of VHS nostalgia, The Criterion Collection has announced that they have gone all in on this ever growing trend of physical media collecting.

Just a handful of months after the debut of the company’s dual format releases, The Criterion Collection announced Tuesday that, in a similar vein to the limited run art prints that have become the biggest thing on the planet thanks to the like of Mondo, they will be releasing a limited run of triple format box sets, including the normal dual format releases, and a VHS copy of the respective film.

Starting with their July releases, the company will be releasing 500 editions of each subsequent release hoping to capitalize on the rising trend of niche home video collecting. In a statement, lead producer Kim Hendrickson said that this was simply a “smart” business move and allows the company “to flex its muscle with regards to where we can take home video restorations,” and it’s a lane the company has yet to try to fill in its history.

Yes, LaserDisc was talked about as a possible venture for the company, but as Criterion Collection President Peter Becker puts it, “VHS is a challenge we all think we can conquer. It’s a niche, but it’s a niche that has some room in it for the Criterion stamp of approval.”

There were also a few leaks, as the press release available here reveals that the first handful of releases will include a pair of Jan Troell films, The Emigrants and The New Land, as well as none other than Michael Bay’s The Island, the controversial auteur’s third entry into The Criterion Collection.

While the details and price point for these releases aren’t known yet, it does seem like they’ll cost a pretty penny. Overall, I think this is an interesting enough move for Criterion, and adds a bit of percieved validity to both the, in this writer’s eyes silly, fad of VHS collecting and also the interest in limited edition pieces of entertainment. Count me in.