If you're a hardcore film enthusiast, you must have heard of the Criterion Channel. Its exclusive movie-oriented library and a rich collection of classic films have attracted many audiences. Even better, you only need to pay less than the Netflix ad-free plan to enjoy the high-quality content here.
Sometimes, you might need to download your favorite movies and watch them on the go, while travelling or commuting. It's easy to make it true with the Criterion Channel.
This site will introduce the possibility, items you need to prepare in advance, and the detailed steps to download from Criterion Channel. Read on and download your favorite films from Criterion on phones, Windows PC, or Mac!
And since you're here, you may also be interested in how to solve Hulu downlods not working problem quickly.
What is Criterion Channel?
The Criterion Channel is a wonderland of movie enthusiasts. Started by providing CD, DVD, Blu-ray products, the company hosts various movies in high definition all over the world.
First, Criterion offered its streaming VOD content on Mubi, Hulu+, and TCM's FilmStruck. But on April 8 in 2019, the Criterion Channel stood alone as a new streaming platform, and became a unique definition in the cruel streaming market.
You can find many licensed films from various studios and rights holders in Criterion, which are often offered for a limited time. Hesitating in choosing titles? Navigate to Criterion 24/7 and enjoy the endless rotating playlists.
Note: Sometimes, you can find a special offer on the Criterion Channel. For example, in 2025, Criterion offered a free 24/7 live channel service at night from April 8 to April 14 to celebrate the 6th anniversary.
The offer included All We Imagine as Light, Beau Travail, Paris, Texas, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, and many other hit titles or classic movies.
That's not all. The most attractive content is the original content of certain titles, such as the commentary, featurette, curated introductions, and other official stuff that has yet to be released on physical media.
By subscribing at $10.99/mo or $99.99/yr, you can enjoy all of the wonderful content from the Criterion collection, online on your PC or mobile devices. What if you prefer to download films for offline viewing? It's also possible with Criterion.
Can You Download Movies on Criterion Channel on Mobile Devices?
Of course, you can download from Criterion Channel. Similar to many popular streaming services, the Criterion Channel published an official app for mobile devices and allows subscribers to use the download function.
Prepare in Advance
To download videos from Criterion Channel, you need to prepare the following 3 items in advance:
- A supported mobile device: Android, iOS phone/tablet;
- An active subscribed account: The download function is only available for subscribers;
- A robust internet connection: Wi-Fi or cellular connection
Note: For now, the Criterion Channel is only available in the UK, US, and Canada. If you live outside of Europe or North America, it's impossible to enjoy films from Criterion.
Criterion Download Offline Steps
After ensuring that you own the 3 necessary items above, it's time to download from Criterion Channel. Now, connect your mobile devices to the Internet and follow these steps:
1. Download the Criterion Channel app from the app store on your phone/tablet.
2. Tap the film or video you want to download/sync.
3. Tap the Options button and choose Download to save the title.
4. Once the download is done, you can find them in the Library > OFFLINE VIDEOS.
Now you can watch your favorite movies offline on your mobile devices anytime, anywhere.
Note: Due to DRM, The Criterion Channel imposes a strict limit on the duration of video availability offline. Normally, you have 30 days to start playing a downloaded title. When it starts, you only have 48 hours to finish playback.
Can You Download Movies on Criterion Channel on Windows?
It's pretty easy to download from Criterion Channel with the official app. However, there is no such program on a Windows PC or a Mac. Can you download movies on Criterion Channel on laptop?
Yes. KeepStreams for MPD can make it for you. Although audiences are only allowed to watch Criterion movies through the webpage, KeepStreams and its advanced tech can analyze the title and help you save them on Windows PC with ease.
Apart from the Criterion Channel, KeepStreams supports 170+ streaming sites that apply MPD, such as AMC, DZAN, France TV, NPO, Plex, Starz, etc. Nearly all the videos from the Criterion Channel, including the VOD and live content can be downloaded easily.
Supported by advanced tech, KeepStreams will automatically analyze the video when you play it in the Criterion Channel with the built-in browser. All you need to do is play and watch the film as usual, and leave everything to KeepStreams.
To download Criterion movies on a Windows PC, follow these steps:
1. Download and install KeepStreams for MPD on your PC. It's recommended to download it from the official site in order to prevent possible spam or viruses.
2. Visit Criterion Channel using the built-in browser. Just paste the URL into the search bar.
3. Log in to your own Criterion account to access the titles you want to download. Rest assured that KeepStreams will never steal your private information or use it for purposes other than downloading videos. Based on 66 reviews from Trustpilot, there is no dispute about the safety.
4. Play the video and wait for the automatic analysis. You can also click the origin Download Icon at the right bottom to do it manually.
5. Set download options and click "Download Now". All the titles will be saved into the local folder on your computer in MP4 or MKV format (you can change this through the Settings). Enjoy it!
Note: KeepStreams for MPD is able to remove DRM from videos, including movies from the Criterion Channel. It's a good choice to build your own film library.
FAQs
Q1. Where can I watch movies on Criterion Channel?
A1. Now, you can only watch Criterion shows in the UK, the US, and Canada. If you want to access it from other regions, it's recommended to use a VPN to change your IP address to the service region of the Criterion Channel.
Q2. Can I save the downloaded movies from Criterion Channel forever?
A2. When you use the official Criterion Channel app to download videos, they're set with a limited available period. After 30 days or 48 hours, these downloads will be deleted automatically.
When you use KeepStreams to download Criterion movies, it's possible to save the downloaded movies on your Windows PC. You can find the downloads in the local folder and move them to any device you like.
Q3. Is it legal to download Criterion movies?
A3. It's totally acceptable if you only download Criterion movies for personal entertainment. However, you should be aware that you're responsible for the downloaded files and should never share them with other people or use them for commercial purposes.
Conclusion
Can you download Criterion movies? Of course. Follow these steps mentioned in the article, and you can download from Criterion Channel on your mobile phone/tablet and even Windows laptop.
With the help KeepStreams for MPD, you can even remove the DRM protection and save the Criterion shows forever. If you're still hesitating, go ahead and use the free trial to download 3 of your favorite movies from Criterion and see what you can get from KeepStreams!
And since you're here, you may also be interested in how to download Netflix movies on Mac, and rip videos from Hulu easily.