The short answer
CRITERION* CHANNEL represents a monthly ($10.99) or annual ($99.99) streaming subscription for classic, international, and art-house cinema from The Criterion Collection.
Why Criterion Channel appears on your card
The charge descriptor CRITERION* CHANNEL on your bank or credit card statement indicates a recurring subscription payment to The Criterion Collection. As a premier boutique film distributor and cinema archivist, the company operates The Criterion Channel, an independent video-on-demand platform presenting classic cinema, international films, auteur restorations, and special commentaries. Similar to genre-specific streaming services like shudder-amc or mubi-stream, the service caters to dedicated movie enthusiasts.
This charge appears on your statement because an automatic monthly or annual subscription has billed. Members pay either $10.99 every month or $99.99 per year for unlimited streaming across smart TVs, web browsers, and mobile devices. A frequent reason for an unexpected charge is a 14-day promotional free trial that completed and transitioned into standard monthly billing without user cancellation. Web enrollments process through the Vimeo OTT infrastructure, which may also show variant descriptors on banking alerts.
To review billing details or cancel upcoming subscription renewals, sign in at criterionchannel.com and navigate to Manage Subscription under your profile avatar. Selecting Cancel Subscription ensures your payment card will not be debited on the next billing date while maintaining access until your paid term expires. If you never created an account and suspect fraudulent card usage, report the billing descriptor directly to your bank to initiate a chargeback.
- Monthly Criterion Channel subscription renewal ($10.99).
- Annual Criterion Channel subscription renewal ($99.99).
- Free 14-day trial converting to a paid plan.
- Check criterionchannel.com account Log in at criterionchannel.com/manage/subscription to view plan details and payment history.
- Cancel subscription online Click 'Cancel Subscription' in the subscription management portal before your renewal date.
How do I cancel Criterion Channel?
Go to criterionchannel.com, log in, click your avatar > Manage Subscription, and select Cancel Subscription.
Why did The Criterion Collection charge my card or bank account?
Charges from The Criterion Collection under statement descriptor "CRITERION* CHANNEL" usually correspond to authorized direct purchases, digital orders, or recurring membership renewals.
Independent reference — not affiliated with The Criterion Collection. Billing names and policies change; verify with the merchant or your bank before acting.
Verified sources
Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.
- Criterion Channel Terms of Service https://www.criterionchannel.com
- CFPB: Subscription Billing Rules https://www.consumerfinance.gov
Reviewed Aug 15, 2026 · high · About UnknownCharges