Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley is officially joining the ranks of the Criterion Collection with a deluxe 4K UHD release arriving this fall. Set to release on October 28, 2025, the new edition will include both the Nightmare Alley theatrical cut and the black-and-white extended version, titled Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light, offering fans the most comprehensive home video release of the film to date.
Criterion describes the release as a showcase of “noir fatalism” at its most “alluring,” with Guillermo del Toro delivering a lush, stylized take on Nightmare Alley, based on the 1946 novel by William Lindsay Gresham. The film follows Stan Carlisle (played by Bradley Cooper), a down-and-out drifter who reinvents himself as a manipulative mentalist, clawing his way into high society through deceit and charm—only to find himself swallowed by the same darkness he exploits.
First released in 2021, Nightmare Alley was lauded for its dazzling production design and rich atmosphere. Del Toro, known for visually distinct and emotionally resonant films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, brings his signature flair to this noir story of ambition, fraud, and downfall. The film’s ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, and Rooney Mara, and it earned four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Cinephile Corner gave the film a positive review.
This Criterion 4K edition of Nightmare Alley will be a dual-format release, featuring both the full-color theatrical version and the extended monochrome edition which del Toro previously described as closer in tone to the old-school noir aesthetics that inspired the project. Both versions will benefit from new 4K digital restorations, supervised by del Toro himself.
Beyond the films, the Criterion release is packed with new special features, including:
- New audio commentary on the extended director’s cut featuring Guillermo del Toro
- New documentary exploring the film’s performances, visual language, costume and production design, and score
- New conversation between del Toro and star/producer Bradley Cooper, diving into the film’s themes and creative process
- New conversation between del Toro and co-screenwriter Kim Morgan
With its themes of deceit, desire, and downfall set against the backdrop of pre-war America, Guillermo del Toro’s Nightmare Alley stands as one of the most haunting and visually sumptuous entries in recent noir cinema. This Criterion 4K release is an essential pickup for fans of del Toro’s work, aficionados of classic noir, and collectors looking for the definitive edition of the film.
Read more about what is coming to The Criterion Collection in October 2025 or view the new cover art for Nightmare Alley (2021) below:
