Key Highlights
- Cinephiles lined up for hours to experience the three-minute visit inside the famous Criterion Mobile Closet in Chicago.
- The event coincided with the opening weekend of the 61st Chicago International Film Festival.
- The Criterion Mobile Closet, a replica of the New York City-based product closet, offered thousands of movies from the Criterion Collection.
- Visitors were limited to three movies and a three-minute duration inside the closet for their selection.
Chicago Film Lovers Embrace the Criterion Mobile Closet Experience
The Criterion Mobile Closet made its way to NEWCITY Plaza in Lincoln Park, Chicago, on October 17, 2025. This mobile storefront, a replica of the product closet seen in the “Closet Picks” video series, provided cinephiles with an exclusive opportunity to explore and purchase films from the renowned Criterion Collection.
Harold Moore, a 40-year-old resident of Austin, shared his experience: “It was a full circle moment. I remember taking out Criterion Collection releases from the library when I was a student at DePaul University.” Moore’s selections included Mira Nair’s “Mississippi Masala” (1991), a Robert Downey Sr. film collection, and a Melvin Van Peebles film collection.
The Line-Up Phenomenon
Sam Velazquez, 32, of Roscoe Village, was the first person in line for the Criterion Mobile Closet event. “It is a really cool and important effort to codify the art form of cinema and movies,” he said after stepping out of the closet. “All the sickos are out for the Criterion truck, so it’s really cool to see.” Velazquez picked up copies of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” (1989) and Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours” (1985) and “The Last Waltz” (1978).
While some enthusiasts were lucky enough to step inside, others like Jacquelyn Delgado, 25, from East Chicago, Indiana, missed out. “It was unclear where the line started,” she explained, adding that organizers randomly let in a few more people after initial capacity limits.
The Mobile Closet Experience
Visitors were limited to three movies and had only three minutes inside the closet before stepping outside with their selections. Jingxing Gao from Champaign was one of those lucky enough to enter. “For me, I’m a little bit nervous and also (excited) because I’m an introvert,” she said. “Getting to know other people who are really into films is really a good thing.” Her choices included a boxset of “Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons” and Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Stalker” (1979).
Peter Becker, President of Criterion Collection, expressed his hope that those who visited would feel connected: “A lot of the time people come into the closet and they’re suddenly reminded of films that they haven’t thought about for a long time or they remember who they saw them with. Film is a mode of connection.”
The Impact on the Cinephile Community
Matthew Waller, 24, from Ravenswood, visited with his mother Genevieve and exchanged contact information with fellow cinephiles. “For me, it’s like creating friends out of strangers,” he said. The event coincided with the opening weekend of the 61st Chicago International Film Festival, adding to the excitement for film enthusiasts.
“It is a really cool and important effort to codify the art form of cinema and movies for a younger generation who is clearly out in force to support it,” Velazquez added. The Criterion Mobile Closet has made previous stops in New York City, Austin, Los Angeles, and Toronto, but this was its first time in Chicago.
The event ran from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with lines beginning to form at 9:30 a.m. The mobile closet will continue to be available through the weekend, offering dedicated film lovers a unique and memorable experience.
