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The best shows on Criterion Channel right now

Right now the best shows on Criterion Channel in the United States are Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), The Prisoner (1967) and War and Peace (2016). This is the top 11 streaming there today, ranked by how well rated each one is, how many people have rated it, and what people are watching now.

Series only: the best-rated and most-watched streaming today.

Updated November 12, 2026 · streaming in the United States

Pick three for me

  1. 1. Neon Genesis Evangelion1995

    Series · 1 seasonSci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Drama★ 8.6

    At the turn of the century, the Angels returned to Earth, seeking to wipe out humanity in an apocalyptic fury. Devastated, mankind's last remnants moved underground to wait for the day when the Angels would come back to finish the job.

    Stream onNetflixCriterion Channel

  2. 2. The Prisoner1967

    Series · 1 seasonDrama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery★ 7.7

    After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre Kafkaesque prison. His warders demand information. He gives them nothing, but only tries to escape.

    Stream onPrime VideofuboTVCriterion ChannelNight Flight Plus+8

  3. 3. War and Peace2016

    Series · 1 seasonDrama★ 7.5

    The love story of young Countess Natasha Rostova and Count Pierre Bezukhov is interwoven with the Great Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon's invading army.

    Stream onPrime VideoPeacockBritBoxCriterion Channel+2

  4. 4. Horrible Histories2009

    Series · 11 seasonsFamily, Comedy★ 8.0

    Based on the best-selling children's books and liberally splattered with guts, blood and poo, a group of British comedians offer an anarchic and unconventional take on some of history's most gruesome and funny moments, with topics…

    Stream onPrime VideoCriterion ChannelAmazon MX Player (free)

  5. 5. Blossoms Shanghai2023

    Series · 1 seasonDrama★ 8.6

    Set against the backdrop of massive economic growth in the 1990s, the story follows A Bao, a self-made millionaire and his journey from being a young opportunist with a troubled past to accumulating dazzling wealth in the city of Shanghai.

    Stream onCriterion Channel

  6. Which of these would you actually like?

    Rate a few films you've seen and every title gets a match score for your taste, with picks from friends who agree with you. Free, about three minutes.

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  7. 6. Fanny and Alexander1984

    Series · 1 seasonDrama★ 8.3

    Through the eyes of ten-year-old Alexander, we witness the delights and conflicts of the Ekdahl family, a sprawling bourgeois clan in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Sweden.

    Stream onCriterion Channel

  8. 7. Scenes from a Marriage1973

    Series · 1 seasonDrama★ 8.1

    Johan and Marianne's marriage appears stable, but their relationship begins to unravel when Johan reveals an affair. Over several years, we follow their separation, divorce, and continued interactions as they form new relationships while…

    Stream onCriterion Channel

  9. 8. Berlin Alexanderplatz1980

    Series · 1 seasonDrama, Crime★ 7.5

    In late 1920s Berlin, Franz Biberkopf is released from prison and vows to go straight. However, he soon finds himself embroiled in the city’s criminal underworld.

    Stream onCriterion Channel

  10. 9. World on a Wire1973

    Series · 1 seasonDrama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery★ 7.3

    In the future, Simulacron, a computer project simulating reality, encounters strange occurrences after its leader's death. Dr. Stiller questions the sudden disappearance of a friend and wonders if Simulacron holds the answers.

    Stream onCriterion Channel

  11. 10. Carlos2010

    Series · 1 seasonDrama, Crime, War & Politics★ 7.4

    The story of the Venezuelan Ilich Ramirez Sanchez known as "Carlos", who was, for almost twenty years, one of the most wanted terrorists in the world.

    Stream onCriterion Channel

  12. 11. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex2002

    Series · 2 seasonsAnimation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy★ 8.2

    In the future when technological enhancements and robotics are a way of life, Major Motoko Kusanagi and Section 9 take care of the jobs that are too difficult for the police.

    Stream onYouTube TVCriterion ChannelSpectrum On Demand (free)Roku Channel (free)+3

Questions

What are the best shows on Criterion Channel right now?
In the United States, as of November 12, 2026: Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), rated 8.6 out of 10 on TMDB, then The Prisoner and War and Peace.
How is this list made?
Watchwalla asks TMDB for everything of this kind that streams in your country today, ranks it by rating (pulled toward the middle until enough people have rated a title), with a nudge for what's new and what people are watching now, and refreshes the list every day. Streaming availability comes from JustWatch, through TMDB.
Can it pick something for me?
Yes. The picker at watchwalla.com/tonight asks who's watching, how much time you have and what you're in the mood for, and gives three picks streaming where you are. Sign in and every title also gets a match score for your own taste.

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