Beyond the Valley of the Dolls — Criterion Collection Blu-ray

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls from The Criterion Collection is a widescreen Blu-ray of Russ Meyer’s 1970 film, with a 1 hour and 49 minute runtime. Its special features include audio commentaries, interviews, documentaries, trailers, and an essay. The film’s deliberately provocative exploitation-comedy style and adult rating are central considerations for viewers.

At a glance

High-definition digital restoration with uncompressed monaural soundtrack, according to the listing.
Includes two audio commentaries, one featuring screenwriter Roger Ebert and another featuring cast members.
Additional material includes a new John Waters interview, archival Russ Meyer interviews, five making-of documentaries, trailers and TV spots.
The listing also describes a film essay by Glenn Kenny.

Price

$19.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$39.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A broad supplement selection gives film enthusiasts several commentaries, interviews, archival material and documentaries to explore.
The English-language listing specifies English subtitles.
The Criterion edition presents the film in widescreen with a restored image and uncompressed monaural soundtrack, as claimed.

Cons

The NC-17 (Adults Only) rating and the film’s provocative exploitation style make it unsuitable for some viewers.
The soundtrack is monaural, which may not suit buyers seeking a multichannel presentation.

Technical specifications

11 specifications

Film and disc
Format	Widescreen
Media	Blu-ray
Runtime	1 hour and 49 minutes
Disc count	1
Language	English
MPAA rating	NC-17 (Adults Only)
Release date	September 27, 2016

Credits
Director	Russ Meyer
Actors	Cynthia Myers, Dolly Read, Erica Gavin, Harrison Page, John LaZar
Studio	Criterion Collection

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 4 ounces

What to know before buying

Customer reactions characterize the film as entertaining and funny, with music among the praised elements, while opinions on picture quality, acting, creepiness and value vary. The listed special features may appeal especially to viewers interested in the film’s production and context.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Russ Meyer and cult-film fans interested in a provocative 1970 exploitation comedy.
Criterion collectors looking for a disc with commentaries, interviews and multiple making-of documentaries.

Less suited to

Viewers who prefer restrained content or want to avoid an Adults Only-rated film.
Buyers seeking a multichannel soundtrack.

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls — Criterion Collection Blu-ray · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.3 / 5 · 897 ratings

5 stars68%68%
4 stars12%12%
3 stars8%8%
2 stars7%7%
1 star5%5%

Customer feedback describes the movie as entertaining and funny, with music also receiving positive mention. Views are divided on quality, acting, creepiness and value, with some treating it as a classic and others finding the acting or tone excessive. That split matters for a film whose listed extras emphasize interviews and production history, but the edition’s features do not guarantee that the movie itself will suit every viewer.

Positive themes

Customers describe the movie as entertaining and funny, and praise its music.

Negative themes

Some customer feedback criticizes the acting and finds the film’s tone excessive.

Mixed feedback

Reactions to the film’s quality, acting, creepiness and value vary.

Frequently asked questions

What extras are listed for this Criterion Blu-ray?

The listing names two audio commentaries, a new John Waters interview, archival Russ Meyer interviews, a Q&A, five documentaries, trailers and TV spots, plus an essay by Glenn Kenny.

What should viewers know about the film’s content?

The listing gives it an NC-17 (Adults Only) rating. Customer feedback also describes its tone as provocative and divisive.

What audio and subtitle details are specified?

The listing claims an uncompressed monaural soundtrack and English subtitles.