Sure, Netflix has all those Marvel TV shows, “Stranger Things,” and about a million terrible horror films that you watch with your friends. Even Hulu, Amazon, and yes, CBS All Access have series and films that general audiences can sit back and enjoy. But if you’re a film fan, particularly a classic film fan, then FilmStruck was probably the streaming service you enjoyed most of all. Sadly, it looks like the days of watching all your Criterion Collection favorites, all-time classics, and indie films are coming to an end.
According to WarnerMedia, the media company is shutting down the FilmStruck streaming service on November 29. And with it, cinephiles are going to also lose access to the Criterion Channel.
“While FilmStruck has a very loyal fanbase, it remains largely a niche service. We plan to take key learnings from FilmStruck to help shape future business decisions in the direct-to-consumer space and redirect this investment back into our collective portfolios,” WarnerMedia said in a statement (via THR).
As mentioned, perhaps the best part of FilmStruck was the Criterion Channel, which is the hand-selected films from the Criterion Collection that fans could view on the streaming service. And with the death of FilmStruck comes the death of the Criterion Channel.
“When we launched the Criterion Channel in 2016, we had two goals: to ensure that our entire streaming library remained available, and to address our audience in our own voice. We’re proud of the work we’ve done, bringing curated programming and the full range of supplemental features to the streaming space, championing a diverse array of filmmakers from beyond our collection and creating original content that invites you into exciting conversations about cinema culture,” said Criterion in a statement.
Criterion hinted that the end of FilmStruck doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the Criterion Channel, as the company will look at other ways to bring the content to consumers. However, in the meantime, it looks like cinephiles have just over a month to enjoy FilmStruck before WarnerMedia pulls the plug.
Sadly, the Great Streaming Wars have a new casualty, as it appears that the streaming giants will continue to grow and spend large amounts of money, destroying all in their path.
So long, FilmStruck and the Criterion Channel. You’ll be missed.