The Complete Kubrick 4K Box Set Is Criterion’s Biggest Yet

This is huge!

I love Stanley Kubrick, but if you’re asking collectors to shell out close to 480 bucks for a box set, you’d better make it worth the investment. Looking at what Criterion has packed into The Complete Kubrick, I have to admit, this is one of the most impressive physical media releases I’ve ever seen.

For the first time, Criterion is bringing together Kubrick’s entire career in one massive collection. The set includes all 13 feature films and his three early short films, all restored in 4K with both their original soundtracks and newly restored 5.1 mixes. On top of that, you’re getting more than 25 hours of documentaries, interviews, commentaries, and behind-the-scenes material, all wrapped in deluxe packaging filled with rare photos, production artwork, and documents that Kubrick himself annotated. The entire thing is housed in a box inspired by his legendary archive.

The collection spans everything from Fear and Desire and The Killing to Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut. Even Kubrick’s earliest short films, Day of the Fight, Flying Padre, and The Seafarers, are included, making this the definitive collection of his work.

One of the biggest surprises is the inclusion of both versions of The Shining. Along with the familiar U.S. theatrical cut, Criterion is also including the shorter international version that Kubrick personally edited, a version that has been frustratingly difficult to find in high quality.

Collectors have been losing their minds over this announcement, and it’s easy to see why. The bonus material alone is enough to get film buffs excited, including a brand-new commentary for The Shining by Lee Unkrich, previously unseen Lolita screen tests, and all of Kubrick’s rare early shorts.

Of course, not everyone is completely sold. Some collectors already own many of these films on 4K from Warner Bros. or picked up Criterion’s recent release of Eyes Wide Shut, so there are plenty of people grumbling about buying the same movies again. Others are already worrying about how the discs will be stored. If Criterion uses tight cardboard sleeves instead of proper cases, you can bet collectors will have plenty to complain about.

Then there’s the price.

The suggested retail price hovers around $600 USD, although you can currently pre-order it for around $480. That’s still a serious investment, and I suspect a lot of collectors will do what they always do and wait for one of Criterion’s famous 50 percent off sales before taking the plunge.

Still, if you’re a Kubrick fan and have been waiting for one collection that truly lives up to the director’s legacy, this might be the one. It’s 30 discs, packed to the brim with films and extras, and it arrives in mid-October. It’s expensive, no question about it, but it’s also the kind of release that reminds you why physical media collectors keep coming back for more.