Rosamund Pike’s Top Picks from the Criterion Closet: The Criterion Collection has been the gold standard for film lovers across the globe for more than four decades, scrupulously restoring and distributing classic and contemporary masterpieces with exceptional care. Revered for its steadfast commitment to presenting movies as close as possible to their makers’ vision, Criterion has, over the years, secured a special place in the hearts and minds of cinephiles, turning every movie-watching act into an immersive, profound one. Yet, in recent years, it’s not just their immaculate restoration that has enthralled audiences—it’s an intimate, warm video series called Closet Picks that has stolen the spotlight.

Snug in Criterion’s New York City office lies a cozy, homey space—a closet brimmed with each and every film the company has released. In Closet Picks, this modest space unfolds into a stage where directors, actors, and luminaries...