Why should Freddy Got Fingered (2001), directed by Tom Green, be released by The Criterion Collection? Well, I have multiple reasons why I think this movie is a gem that time has sort of forgotten.

First of all, Freddy Got Fingered hasn’t had a home release in an extremely long time. It’s currently only on VHS and DVD and on Youtube as of writing. A film such as this needs to be in the highest quality so that the audience can study every pixel to understand the WHOLE picture. Also, the lack of having this film on new formats means that there is potential extra content and deleted scenes that are currently unavailable to see. It would be easy for a new generation to discover this film if it was on their radar, not only as a Blu-ray/4K release but as a Criterion release.

The film is distributed by FOX, which might be difficult to get licensed from as they are now owned by Disney. But you did it with Wall-E, not to mention I feel like they probably don’t care as much about Freddy Got Fingered, so it doesn’t seem too difficult.

The film's reputation is also something that needs to be discussed. Several people I know and people I follow have many different views on this film.

I’ll start with opinions by Roger Ebert, who claimed Freddy Got Fingered was the most disgusting movie of 2001 and said that he found it unfunny and sad about how the movie treated characters and the actors. In a later review, Roger Ebert discussed another movie Tom Green starred in called “Stealing Harvard.” In the review, Ebert said that Stealing Harvard was generic and forgettable. But seeing Tom Green reminded him of Freddy Got Fingered, and he said, “I remember ‘Freddy Got Fingered’ more than a year later. I refer to it sometimes. It is a milestone. And for all its sins, it was at least an ambitious movie, a go-for-broke attempt to accomplish something.”

RedLetterMedia’s Mike and Jay also had different views on the movie. Mike claimed that it’s a movie he has a love-hate relationship with. But with his most recent viewing, it surpassed his expectations and made him question if Tom Green was actually a hidden genius director. Jay thought the movie was gross-out 2000s trash.

Zach Hadel, aka Psychicpebbles thought the movie was unfunny garbage and seemed to hate it. Cory Spazkid and Chris Oney loved the movie and disagreed with Zach’s views.

Rebeltaxi Pan Pizza loved the movie, and he loved it so much that he brings it up an uncomfortable amount. He has admitted that the videos and cartoons he creates are heavily inspired by movies just like Freddy Got Fingered.

That’s all for the general responses to Freddy Got Fingered, but there are several personalities I listen to who went in to hate the movie, only to change their views and fall in love with it.

Now, as a company, you have to ask yourself: would releasing this film bring in a profit?

Honestly, I’m not entirely sure of that answer myself. Personally, I own a copy of the movie and won’t be against an upgraded Blu-ray copy. I do believe the cult around this movie would definitely consider buying another copy in an updated format.

Though I would say the name of the film itself might be its own worst enemy, I am not sure if every business would have a film titled “Freddy Got Fingered” on their shelf. But online stores don’t seem to mind, and of course, you have your own online store.

I do believe people would come around and re-watch Freddy Got Fingered, and the people who love it would buy it.

Plus, if you don’t release, another company probably will. Honestly, I’m shocked it hasn’t happened yet.

Of course, while writing this, Freddy Got Fingered was released for free on Youtube.

So it would be best to have bonus features, and the YouTube release is currently only 480p.

I’ll end by saying Freddy Got Fingered is a modern-day classic. A great comedy written by possible hidden genius Tom Green I do wish for a modernized release, and I think it would be in the best interest for a distributor like Criterion to be perfect for the release of this movie.