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Criterion 24/7

Criterion 24/7 is an independent iPhone and iPad app I built to see what’s playing on the Criterion Channel’s continuous stream.

Open it to see the current film, its details, time remaining, and a history of recent airings. Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets keep the current film in view. Optional notifications let you know when a film changes over; open the app to find out what’s started.

Powered by Zabriskie, which keeps a continuous record of the stream to provide start times, runtimes, and recent airings. Current film information also comes from Criterion’s public What’s On Now page.

A look around

What’s on now

The current film screen puts the title, director, year, runtime, and remaining time together. Expand the description for more detail, open the film on Criterion, or save it for later. Watching happens through Criterion; this app is the companion.

Criterion 24/7 showing The Shepherd and the Bear with its remaining time and Watch Later button
Now playing, captured from the running iPhone app on September 6, 2026.

What you missed

History comes from the server’s record of the stream, so it includes airings that happened while the app was closed. Search by title, director, or year, then open a film to see its details or save it.

Criterion 24/7 history listing recent airings with titles, directors, and start times
A searchable record of earlier airings, rather than just the films you happened to see in the app.

Save something for later

Watch Later keeps the films you want to come back to. Saving works without an account. An optional Zabriskie sign-in syncs saved films between devices; film alerts are a separate option and share saved titles with the backend to check for an airing.

Criterion 24/7 Watch Later list with The Shepherd and the Bear saved
A film saved during this walkthrough. This is a demonstration list, not my viewing history.

On iPad, and at a glance

The iPad layout gives the artwork and description more space. Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets show the current film without opening the app. Widget refreshes are scheduled by iOS, so they may trail the live app.

Criterion 24/7 on iPad showing The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
The iPad layout, from an earlier app capture.

The companion app doesn’t need an account. Watching the stream through the Criterion Channel may require a Criterion Channel subscription. Film information and timing depend on the availability of the underlying services, and widget updates are scheduled by iOS.

The first App Store release is being prepared. I’ll add the download link here when it’s available.

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This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Criterion Collection or the Criterion Channel.