The Criterion Collection has been acquired by Indian Paintbrush founder, Steven Rales

Steven Rales, the founder of Indian Paintbrush, has purchased Criterion and its distribution affiliate, Janus Films. The existing leadership, including Criterion and Janus Films president Peter Becker, is expected to stay on, with no significant changes to the companies' mission and direction post-acquisition.

Indian Paintbrush, which has a history of partnership with Wes Anderson on his films, also operates Galerie, an online film club and subscription service. Galerie, launched in November 2023, provides its members access to films, essays, and live events selected by a changing group of storytellers like Wes Anderson, Ethan Hawke, Karin Kusama, and others.

Janus Films, established in 1956, has been instrumental in exposing American audiences to European and Eastern cinema. Recently, it launched Janus Contemporaries, a platform for home-video releases of films initially streamed on The Criterion Channel. Criterion, in operation since 1984, transitioned from LaserDisc to Blu-ray discs, and in 2019, launched The Criterion Channel streaming service. Peter Becker is optimistic about the potential opportunities the acquisition will bring, with no significant operational changes anticipated for Criterion and Janus Films, at least for now.