A Definitive Archive in 30 Discs
The Criterion Collection is set to release The Complete Kubrick on October 20, a massive 30-disc compendium gathering the director’s entire filmography. The set features 13 feature films and three short films, all upgraded to 4K UHD and Blu-ray. Beyond the films themselves, the package offers hours of supplemental material, including documentaries and annotated documents pulled directly from the filmmaker’s archives.
Restoration and Cinematic Scope
According to the official Criterion Collection announcement, every title has undergone 4K restoration. The original soundtracks have been preserved, accompanied by remastered 5.1 surround sound. The contents include:
- Feature Films: 13 of Kubrick’s feature films.
- Short Films: Three short films.
- Bonus Content: A deep archive of interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and rare photographs and artwork personally annotated by Kubrick.
Expanding the Criterion Catalog
While Criterion has previously issued individual Kubrick titles—specifically Paths of Glory, The Killing, and Spartacus—this marks the company’s first effort to compile his work into a singular, cohesive box set. The release follows a series of director-centric collections for filmmakers such as Wes Anderson, Agnès Varda, and Akira Kurosawa. However, the Kubrick set distinguishes itself by incorporating hits like A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket, both of which were absent from the Criterion catalog until now.
Retail Strategy and Pricing
The collection carries an MSRP of $599.99. Preorders are open now via the Criterion website at a reduced price of $479.96. The set is also available through major retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with the latter currently offering a 30% discount.
Consolidating a Titan’s Legacy
Criterion describes Kubrick as a “titan of cinema” whose work has long been collected on home video only in partial form, never as a whole. By gathering his complete filmography in a unified 4K presentation, the set provides a record for a director whose influence touches visual arts, philosophy, and political satire.
Kubrick’s reputation relies on his command of widely varying genres—from the horror conventions of The Shining to the sharp political commentary of Dr. Strangelove and the technical innovation of 2001: A Space Odyssey. This release serves as the first time his total body of work has been presented as a unified collection on home media.