Criterion Collection 40-Film Box Set Preorders Are 50% Off Ahead Of November 19 Release

The Criterion Collection is responsible for restoring and preserving a bunch of classic and contemporary movies over the past four decades. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Criterion is releasing a 40-film box set dubbed CC40 on November 19. This mammoth collection contains 49 discs, 40 films, hundreds of hours of special features, and a 216-page retrospective book, all stored in a premium clouthbound slipcase. CC40 has a list price of $800 (ouch indeed), but you can preorder the set for 50% off at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

The massive $400 discount is being offered as part of the annual 50% off holiday sale on Criterion movies at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. But if you're interested in watching and owning a good portion of the included films, you're paying $14 per movie--and that is a great price for a Criterion Collection Blu-ray.

CC40: The Criterion Collection Blu-ray Bundle

$400 (was $800)

• Amazon -- $400 ($800)
• Barnes & Noble -- $400 ($800)
• Criterion -- $640 ($800)

Aside from 40 digitally restored films, the collection includes exclusive packaging, a clothbound slipcase, and a 216-page book with essays from critics, authors, and other members of the industry. Criterion Collection says this isn't a "top 40 compilation" or a "historical survey," but rather is a wide assortment of films that display the artistic range of the community.

Preordering at Amazon locks in the preorder price guarantee (making you eligible for any additional price cuts between now and release), though if Amazon sells out, you'll also find the collection on sale at Barnes & Noble. As a reminder, Amazon won't charge your credit card until your order ships.

CC40 Film List

• 8 ½
• Tokyo Story
• All That Jazz
• Bicycle Thieves
• Repo Man
• Naked
• Jules and Jim
• Being There
• Weekend
• Yi Yi
• The Night of the Hunter
• Pickpocket
• Sweet Smell of Success
• On the Waterfront
• Do the Right Thing
• Ratcatcher
• Sunday Bloody Sunday
• Mirror
• Barry Lyndon
• Safe
• Seconds
• His Girl Friday
• Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
• Y tu mama tambien
• My Own Prive Idaho
• Love & Basketball
• Night of the Living Dead
• Ace in the Hole
• 3 Women
• The Red Shoes
• Down by Law
• La Cienaga
• Wanda
• House
• Sullivan's Travels
• The Battle of Algiers
• A Woman Under the Influence
• Cleo from 5 to 7
• Persona
• In the Mood for Love

CC40 Special Features

As for bonus features, you'll get to enjoy alternate soundtracks, audio commentaries, documentaries, interviews with cast and crew, deleted scenes, TV ads, and more. The 216-page book is also a nice addition to the bundle, giving you a way to learn more about your favorite films while away from the screen.

It's hard to predict whether preorders for this collection will sell out. The Criterion Collection is well-respected in the physical media collector space. There are plenty of Blu-ray enthusiasts who specifically collect Criterion's releases. That said, it's a very expensive Blu-ray collection--even though you're actually getting a pretty solid per-film deal.