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Closet Picks is a video series by The Criterion Collection. Involving its Criterion Closet where all of its distributed titles are stored, Criterion regularly invites individuals in the film and entertainment industries, as well as those adjacent to them, to peruse and choose from its selection of discs. The video series began in 2010 when director Guillermo del Toro visited the Criterion office, during which he was filmed making his selections from the Criterion Closet. Since then, Criterion has filmed over two hundred installments of Closet Picks; past visitors include Ari Aster, Wim Wenders, Hideo Kojima, and many others.

All dates are drawn from the closet picks database.

January

Charles Melton (January 3)

Criterion citation: "The award-winning actor, best known for Todd Haynes's May December, champions the twisted pleasure of Memories of Murder, selects favorites featuring his costar Julianne Moore, and talks about the subtle beauty of films like Drive My Car and After Life."

Joel Kim Booster (January 22)

Criterion citation: "The comedian, actor, and writer recalls wearing out videotapes of Mothra vs. Godzilla; praises Sound of Metal and its star, Riz Ahmed; and talks about the power and importance of seeing love between two Asian men depicted on-screen in Happy Together."

Callum Turner (January 24)

Criterion citation: "The actor describes the beauty of discovering Agnès Varda, shares how Mean Streets inspired his desire to act, and selects all-time favorite films, from Five Easy Pieces to The Leopard."

Devo (January 28)

Criterion citation: "The duo behind the legendary band share their formative memories of encountering Island of Lost Souls, praise Fellini's unique sonic sensibility, and talk about their love for Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster in Sweet Smell of Success."

February

Paul Giamatti (February 6)

Criterion citation: "The award-winning actor talks about his childhood experience seeing Carnival of Souls and his love for low-budget horror treasures, shares how Blue Velvet ignited his desire to become an actor and why Rashomon always moves him to tears, and praises the performances in John Frankenheimer's Seconds."

JR (February 27)

Criterion citation: "The artist and codirector of Agnès Varda's documentary Faces Places talks about his intimate collaboration with the late iconic filmmaker, praises world-expanding masterpieces like La haine and Roma, and shouts out his friend Louis Garrel."

Tim Blake Nelson (February 28)

Criterion citation: "The award-winning actor, writer, and director shares his love for the hard-boiled voice-over in Blast of Silence, praises the exquisite acting and production design of Topsy-Turvy, and selects favorites by his frequent collaborators Joel and Ethan Coen."

March

Chelsea Peretti (March 5)

Criterion citation: "The comedian, actor, and director talks about loving the relatable weirdness of Grey Gardens and the compulsive passion of Crumb; praises Miranda July's singular, offbeat voice; and shares how The 400 Blows (a Natasha Lyonne recommendation) evokes empathy for the pains of growing up."

Molly Ringwald (March 11)

Criterion citation: "The actor and writer shares her love of the literary qualities of Eric Rohmer's cinema, recalls the thrill of watching Bruno Dumont's La vie de Jésus, and selects films by auteurs she has worked with, including Jean-Luc Godard and John Cassavetes."

Cheryl Dunye (March 17)

Criterion citation: "The writer, director, actor, and producer shares what Marlon Riggs's work means to her as a Black queer filmmaker, praises Rainer Werner Fassbinder's radical approach to melodrama, and spotlights Chantal Akerman, Agnès Varda, and other directors whose work she can't live without."

Kerry Condon (March 28)

Criterion citation: "The acclaimed actor shares how Nancy Savoca's Dogfight profoundly affected her views of acting and love, praises the way David Gordon Green conjures the feeling of youth in George Washington, and selects endlessly entertaining favorites, from Valley of the Dolls to The Night of the Hunter."

St. Vincent (March 28)

Criterion citation: "The singer shares her love for The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant and its decadent drama, praises Nicole Kidman's hilariously psychotic performance in To Die For, and talks about the intimate dream state of Brand upon the Brain!"

April

Bertrand Bonello (April 3)

Criterion citation: "The writer, director, and composer talks about the enduring inspiration of The Age of Innocence, praises the tonal precision of David Cronenberg's Crash, and shares his love for Pasolini's potent mix of poetry and intelligence."

Maya Hawke and Ethan Hawke (April 5)

Criterion citation: "The father-daughter team behind the new film Wildcat talk about their love of Children of Paradise, the films of Wim Wenders, and the influence of Picnic at Hanging Rock and An Angel at My Table."

Annie Baker and Lucian Johnston (April 9)

Criterion citation: "The writer-director of Janet Planet joins the film's editor in praising Maurice Pialat's unsentimental depiction of childhood, their collaborator Maria von Hausswolff's cinematography in Godland, and the ineffable magic of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger."

Jane Schoenbrun (April 16)

Criterion citation: "The writer and director admires how filmmakers like Jacques Tati, Wes Anderson, and David Lynch sculpt their own universes, selects a Spike Lee double feature, and praises Víctor Erice's films as some of the best in cinema history."

Jeremy O. Harris (April 16)

Criterion citation: "The award-winning playwright, actor, producer, and director shares his love for Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, celebrates how Bob Fosse captured dance on-screen like no one else, and talks about the artists who have shaped him, from Lena Dunham and the Dogme 95 directors to Pasolini and Fassbinder."

May

Ryusuke Hamaguchi (May 3)

Criterion citation: "The Oscar-winning writer and director talks about Army of Shadows and Jean-Pierre Melville's cinema of betrayal, shares his love for Denis Lavant's dancing in Beau travail, and selects favorites by Yasujiro Ozu, Ernst Lubitsch, and Nicholas Ray."

Dylan Baker (May 7)

Criterion citation: "The actor, who stars in Todd Solondz's Happiness, shares his appreciation for the playwright behind the source material of George Cukor's Holiday; praises It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World as one of the funniest films he has ever seen; and talks about the deep impression that Local Hero has left on him."

Ross brothers (May 9)

Criterion citation: "The acclaimed filmmaking duo reminisce about getting their cinematic education while working in a video store, share how Touki bouki has inspired every film they've ever made, and select life-changing favorites by Barbara Kopple, Abbas Kiarostami, and Les Blank."

Paul Scheer (May 21)

Criterion citation: "The comedian, actor, and author reflects on what Alex Cox's Walker has to say about American history, talks about the subtle depth of Two-Lane Blacktop, and praises performances by Peter Falk and Walter Matthau."

Jerry Schatzberg (May 22)

Criterion citation: "The legendary photographer and filmmaker talks about the inspiring beauty of Marlene Dietrich, reminiscences about the great actor and screenwriter Carole Eastman, and selects favorites such as On the Waterfront and 'Round Midnight."

June

Viggo Mortensen (June 3)

Criterion citation: "The award-winning actor and director goes deep on his favorite westerns, highlighting Gregory Peck's psychological performance in The Gunfighter and Barbara Stanwyck's fierceness in The Furies, Leonard Cohen's music in McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and Budd Boetticher's lean, mean Ranown films."

Carol Kane (June 14)

Criterion citation: "The legendary actor talks about her lifelong love of Bette Davis, reminisces about working with John Cassavetes, and selects favorites by Hal Ashby, Gillian Armstrong, and Bill Forsyth."

Lily Gladstone and Erica Tremblay (June 15)

Criterion citation: "The award-winning actor and star of Fancy Dance is joined by the film's director in praising the brilliance of Kelly Reichardt, sharing their connection to After Life and Frances Ha, and selecting favorites by Martin Scorsese and Hirokazu Kore-eda."

Winona Ryder (June 16)

Criterion citation: "The iconic actor shares her profound connection to Hirokazu Kore-eda's After Life, recalls the deep impact Gena Rowlands had on her life and career, and selects favorites by Gordon Parks, Jim Jarmusch, Albert Brooks, and John Sayles."

Ayo Edebiri (June 17)

Criterion citation: "The actor shares her love for sexy and stylish heist movies like Charade and Thief; praises the work of Juzo Itami (whom she calls 'the G.O.A.T.') and his wife, Nobuko Miyamoto; and talks about the African American surrealist imagery in To Sleep with Anger."

Agnieszka Holland (June 21)

Criterion citation: "The writer-director of Europa Europa and Green Border talks about Agnès Varda's influence on women in cinema, praises contemporary masterworks like Parasite and Anatomy of a Fall, and shares why she always returns to Diamonds of the Night before making a new film."

July

Gina Gershon (July 2)

Criterion citation: "The acclaimed actor shares her love for Donald Sutherland's and Julie Christie's performances in Don't Look Now, praises Terry Gilliam's vast imagination, and talks about getting energized by listening to the Godzilla score."

Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum (July 9)

Criterion citation: "The director of Blink Twice is joined by the film's star in sharing their love for John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, praising Paris Is Burning as 'the greatest documentary of all time,' and selecting favorites, from Harlan County USA and The Fisher King to Moonstruck and The Rose."

Greg Gonzalez (July 17)

Criterion citation: "The singer of the band Cigarettes After Sex shares his love for La Bamba, talks about how the romance of Eric Rohmer inspires his music, and selects favorites, from The Worst Person in the World to The Tales of Hoffmann."

Bill Hader (July 23)

Criterion citation: "The actor and director returns to the Closet, where he clarifies his feelings on Salò, or The 120 Days of Sodom; shares how much he learned about filmmaking from supplemental features on the Criterion editions of Barry Lyndon and Roma; and selects favorite films such as Real Life and Cold War."

August

Lee Daniels (August 2)

Criterion citation: "The writer-director talks about how Federico Fellini and John Waters gave him the passion and confidence to become a filmmaker, shares his poignant experience watching Claudine as a young man, and selects favorites such as Pickup on South Street, Do the Right Thing, and The Piano."

September

Jarvis Cocker (September 13)

Criterion citation: "The musician and Pulp front man shares how films like Blue Velvet and Meantime altered his view of cinema, talks about collaborating with Wes Anderson and Danny Boyle, and decides he's finally ready to watch Salò, or The 120 Days of Sodom."

Jude Law (September 16)

Criterion citation: "The actor talks about what Andrei Tarkovsky's films have taught him about stillness in cinema, reflects on the various adaptations of The Talented Mr. Ripley, and shares his formative experience of seeing London on-screen in My Beautiful Launderette and Mona Lisa."

Jennifer Kent (September 18)

Criterion citation: "The writer and director of the cult classic The Babadook shares her love for fellow Australian filmmaker Peter Weir's The Last Wave, talks about her repeat viewings of Mulholland Dr., and selects spine-tingling Japanese horror classics Kuroneko and Onibaba."

Nathalie Emmanuel (September 25)

Criterion citation: "The actor and star of Megalopolis shares her deep connection to Steve McQueen's Small Axe, reminisces about growing up repeatedly watching Love & Basketball, and reflects on the cultural importance of Paris Is Burning."

Kevin Smith (September 26)

Criterion citation: "The filmmaker and author shares how Hollywood Shuffle and Slacker inspired him to make movies, talks about why actors make great directors, and selects favorites such as His Girl Friday and Bull Durham."

October

Janelle Monáe (October 1)

Criterion citation: "In celebration of Halloween, the singer-songwriter, actor, and producer shares her spooky season favorites, highlighting both the spine-tingling sensations and social undercurrents that permeate such classics as Night of the Living Dead, Brazil, and Eraserhead."

Andrew Garfield (October 2)

Criterion citation: "The actor praises films by directors he has worked with, talks about how Mike Leigh's Naked and Ken Loach's Kes helped define contemporary British cinema, and thanks his father for his love of Tampopo."

RaMell Ross (October 2)

Criterion citation: "The director and cowriter of Nickel Boys praises The Qatsi Trilogy as 'vital for understanding the visual world,' quotes from Chris Marker's Sans Soleil, and talks about watching Bruce Lee movies with his dad."

Isabelle Huppert (October 3)

Criterion citation: "The legendary actor returns to Closet, where she shares her love for independent American gems such as Barbara Loden's Wanda and Michael Roemer's Nothing but a Man, talks about Roberto Rossellini's work with Ingrid Bergman, and selects Italian cinema classics I Knew Her Well and Juliet of the Spirits."

Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Mike Leigh (October 7)

Criterion citation: "The legendary director joins the star of his new film Hard Truths in the Criterion Closet, where they share their love for Akira Kurosawa and Charles Burnett, reminisce about early moviegoing experiences, and select favorites for each other."

Anna Kendrick (October 7)

Criterion citation: "The actor and director talks about the thrilling sensation of seeing All That Jazz for the first time, reminisces about watching Klute while on the set of Twilight, and reflects upon her favorite Ingmar Bergman films, such as Winter Light and Cries and Whispers."

Payal Kapadia (October 8)

Criterion citation: "The writer and director of All We Imagine as Light shares why Sans Soleil and Arabian Nights are gifts that keep on giving, talks about Aki Kaurismäki's 'fun and audacious' Leningrad Cowboys films, and praises Louis Malle's Phantom India as a must-watch for everyone."

André Holland (October 9)

Criterion citation: "The actor and star of Exhibiting Forgiveness talks about his hero, the late James Earl Jones, and his performance in Claudine; shares how Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun sparked his desire to perform; and selects films by friends and collaborators Dee Rees and Barry Jenkins."

Amelia Dimoldenberg (October 9)

Criterion citation: "The host of the hit interview show Chicken Shop Date talks about Portrait of a Lady on Fire and being drawn to films with undeniable chemistry, praises 12 Angry Men as one of the greatest films of all time, and reflects on how realistically The Worst Person in the World portrays the experience of being a woman falling in and out of love."

Gints Zilbalodis (October 17)

Criterion citation: "The director of Flow praises the mixture of abstraction and emotion in Woman in the Dunes, talks about how Martin Scorsese played by his own rules with After Hours, and selects his comfort movie, Fantastic Mr. Fox."

Edward Berger (October 18)

Criterion citation: "The director of All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave shares his love for Downhill Racer and its innovative sound design, talks about the emotional impact of Cold War, and selects a few of Roberto Rossellini's films featuring Ingrid Bergman, in honor of his friend and collaborator Isabella Rossellini."

Maura Delpero (October 24)

Criterion citation: "The writer and director of Vermiglio expresses her love for the poetry of Ermanno Olmi, praises how Michael Haneke's films cut right to your heart and mind, and celebrates the emotional power of The Piano."

November

Jeremy Pope (November 11)

Criterion citation: "The singer and actor reflects on Marlon Riggs's Tongues Untied and the importance of seeing Black queer men express themselves on-screen, talks about working with Regina King on One Night in Miami . . ., and selects favorites by Carl Franklin and Spike Lee."

Pamela Anderson (November 12)

Criterion citation: "The actor and star of The Last Showgirl talks about being profoundly inspired by Barbara Loden's Wanda, shares her passion for the poetry of Abbas Kiarostami, and praises the style and craft of actors like Romy Schneider, Katharine Hepburn, and Jeanne Moreau."

Johnnie To (November 25)

Criterion citation: "The legendary director shares the importance of learning from the work of Krzysztof Kieślowski, talks about how Straw Dogs sparked his desire to pursue filmmaking, and selects box sets by two of his favorite filmmakers, Martin Scorsese and Masaki Kobayashi."

Andrew Stanton (November 26)

Criterion citation: "The director and cowriter of WALL·E shares why Paper Moon and Local Hero speak to his heart, reminisces about the privilege of collaborating with Albert Brooks, and talks about why Matewan is an essential film for everyone to see."

December

Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes (December 4)

Criterion citation: "The celebrated actors and costars of The Return recommend favorites to each other, share their love for Andrei Tarkovsky and Orson Welles, and discover such Eclipse box sets as The First Films of Samuel Fuller and Basil Dearden's London Underground."

Norman Reedus (December 12)

Criterion citation: "The actor and author raves about the visual beauty of The Color of Pomegranates, shares his love for Debbie Harry and her performance in Videodrome, and reflects on the formative experience of seeing River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho as a young actor."

Mikey Madison (December 19)

Criterion citation: "The actor and star of Anora talks about Five Easy Pieces and being drawn to morally ambiguous characters, praises Isabelle Huppert's performance in The Piano Teacher as one of the greatest of all time, and selects Take Out, one of her collaborator Sean Baker's early New York films."

Francis Ford Coppola (December 19)

Criterion citation: "The legendary filmmaker praises Jacques Tati's dedication to getting his films made, reflects on the lessons he learned from Dorothy Arzner when she was his professor, and shares the joy he finds in inspiring new generations of directors."

References

1. Ang, Raymond (2024-09-27). "How the Criterion Closet Became Internet Famous". GQ. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
2. "Search all Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
3. ^ "Charles Melton's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
4. ^ "Joel Kim Booster's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
5. ^ "Callum Turner's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
6. ^ "DEVO: Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
7. ^ "Paul Giamatti's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
8. ^ "JR's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
9. ^ "Tim Blake Nelson's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
10. ^ "Chelsea Peretti's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
11. ^ "Molly Ringwald's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
12. ^ "Cheryl Dunye's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
13. ^ "Kerry Condon's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
14. ^ "St. Vincent's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
15. ^ "Bertrand Bonello's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
16. ^ "Maya and Ethan Hawke's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
17. ^ "Annie Baker and Lucian Johnston's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
18. ^ "Jane Schoenbrun's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
19. ^ "Jeremy O. Harris's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
20. ^ "Ryusuke Hamaguchi's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
21. ^ "Dylan Baker's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
22. ^ "Bill and Turner Ross's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
23. ^ "Paul Scheer's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
24. ^ "Jerry Schatzberg's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
25. ^ "Viggo Mortensen's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
26. ^ "Carol Kane's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
27. ^ "Lily Gladstone & Erica Tremblay's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
28. ^ "Winona Ryder's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
29. ^ "Ayo Edebiri's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
30. "Agnieszka Holland's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
31. ^ "Gina Gershon's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
32. ^ "Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
33. ^ "Greg Gonzalez's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
34. ^ "Bill Hader's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
35. ^ "Lee Daniels's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
36. ^ "Jarvis Cocker's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
37. ^ "Jude Law's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
38. ^ "Jennifer Kent's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
39. ^ "Nathalie Emmanuel's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
40. ^ "Kevin Smith's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
41. ^ "Janelle Monáe's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
42. ^ "Andrew Garfield's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
43. ^ "RaMell Ross's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
44. ^ "Isabelle Huppert's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
45. ^ "Marianne Jean-Baptiste & Mike Leigh's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
46. ^ "Anna Kendrick's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
47. ^ "Payal Kapadia's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
48. ^ "André Holland's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
49. ^ "Amelia Dimoldenberg's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
50. ^ "Gints Zilbalodis's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
51. ^ "Edward Berger's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
52. ^ "Maura Delpero's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
53. ^ "Jeremy Pope's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
54. ^ "Pamela Anderson's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
55. ^ "Johnnie To's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
56. ^ "Andrew Stanton's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
57. ^ "Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
58. ^ "Norman Reedus's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
59. ^ "Mikey Madison's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
60. ^ "Francis Ford Coppola's Closet Picks". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2025-01-05.