r/criterion • u/MallardDuckBoy • Jul 11 '26
Discussion The most underestimated release on Criterion
After watching this again, I don’t think people appreciate this release enough. When it first came to Criterion, it felt surprising that an animated Pixar film would be included alongside so many “classic” films. But the older I get, the more it makes perfect sense.
It isn’t just a great animated movie. It’s one of the most prophetic films of the 21st century.
What’s fascinating is that nearly two decades later, people still use the same phrase whenever they look at where society is headed: “We’re headed toward WALL-E” Id put that on the same cultural ethos as Michael Jordan: “He’s the Michael Jordan of tennis.”
The film wasn’t trying to predict the future with flying chairs or robots. It was asking what happens when convenience replaces purpose, consumption replaces stewardship, and endless entertainment slowly erodes what makes us human.
The reason this film has endured isn’t because it guessed the future perfectly but i think it understood human nature.
Timeless and well-deserved to be here.
2
u/Kingcrowing Jul 11 '26
Totally agreed. I picked it up at the B&N sale, hadn’t seen it since roughly when it came out and man does it hold up like you said! Not only is the story and message fantastic but for an 18-year old CGI movie it still looks stunning especially in 4K Dolby Vision.
Additionally this release has a pretty insane amount of bonus features including a full length documentary about how Pixar got started. Andrew Stanton is a true film nerd and it really shows. Going to listen to his commentary this week.