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Noir Film Guide

Best noir on Criterion Channel.

Home › Best noir on Criterion Channel.

The Criterion Channel is the essential subscription for serious noir viewers. No other service has as deep or well-curated a collection of classic Hollywood noir, international noir, and neo-noir. The service programs themed collections and filmmaker retrospectives which means you understand where films came from, not just what they are.

Essential Noir on Criterion Channel

#1 · 1931 · Fritz Lang

M

★★★★★

Fritz Lang's masterpiece. Criterion has programmed this consistently. Essential.

Streaming: Verify on Criterion Channel

#2 · 1950 · John Huston

The Asphalt Jungle

★★★★

The original heist film. Criterion's presentation includes extensive supplementals.

Streaming: Verify on Criterion Channel

#3 · 1984 · Coen Brothers

Blood Simple

★★★★

The Coens debut in the Criterion Collection. Exceptional transfer.

Streaming: Verify on Criterion Channel

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#4 · 1953 · Samuel Fuller

Pickup on South Street

★★★½

Criterion has championed Fuller's work for decades.

Streaming: Verify on Criterion Channel

#5 · 1967 · Jean-Pierre Melville

Le Samourai

★★★★

Alain Delon. The most influential European neo-noir. Criterion's definitive presentation.

Streaming: Verify on Criterion Channel

#6 · 1955 · Robert Aldrich

Kiss Me Deadly

★★★

Criterion restored the proper ending that was cut from most prints for decades.

Streaming: Verify on Criterion Channel

#7 · 1970 · Elio Petri

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion

★★★★

Criterion's essential presentation of the Italian political thriller.

Streaming: Verify on Criterion Channel

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Criterion Channel worth it for noir fans?

Yes, absolutely. Criterion Channel has the deepest and most carefully curated noir library of any streaming service.

What classic noirs are on Criterion Channel?

M (1931), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Blood Simple (1984), and Le Samourai (1967) are among the essential noirs regularly on Criterion Channel.