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Dustin Hoffman's Criterion picks include the role he turned down

Elaine May's work on Tootsie and Parker Posey's visit to a new Closet give Criterion's week a personal touch.

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CRITERION Story of November 13, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The channel's weekly summary: what went up this week, what is drawing views now, and where the channel stands among similar channels.

Dustin Hoffman’s Closet Picks

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2:12Hoffman selects Being There and Shampoo, recalling Hal Ashby and a comic scene featuring Jack Warden.
3:22Elaine May helped resolve Tootsie's script problems, including giving Hoffman's character a roommate.
4:48Hoffman singles out Peter Falk's performance in Mikey and Nicky.
5:01Hoffman reveals he turned down The Royal Tenenbaums before Gene Hackman was cast, then praises Hackman's performance.

The stories take over. In "Dustin Hoffman's Closet Picks," choosing discs becomes a chance to remember collaborators, explain how Tootsie found its footing and admit to a part that got away.

Holding Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums, Hoffman says its lead role was offered to him before Gene Hackman was cast. "I'm embarrassed to admit that it was offered to me first by the director Wes Anderson, and I turned it down." He goes on to praise Hackman's performance. It is a particularly good fit for the Closet: a film recommendation with a little alternate cinema history tucked inside.

His selection of Elaine May's Mikey and Nicky brings another behind-the-scenes story. Hoffman credits May with helping resolve Tootsie's script problems, including the need to give his character a roommate. He also picks Hal Ashby's Being There and Shampoo. Viewers keep returning to the storytelling, with requests for a longer version and particular attention to his memories of May, Ashby and Teri Garr.

The visit was the most-watched of Criterion's seven new uploads, approaching half a million views. Parker Posey's own Closet visit brought a different milestone: she inaugurated the space in Criterion's new office. Her choices range from Olympic documentaries to My Dinner with André, which she says made her want an actor's life.

Hoffman and the "We ❤️ WITHNAIL AND I | Criterion Closet Picks Edition" compilation are carrying the most daily momentum among the highlighted uploads. A new Stanley Kubrick panel, featuring Matthew Modine, Vincent D'Onofrio, Katharina Kubrick, Lisa Leone and Josh Safdie, is also drawing viewers.

Criterion added about 5,000 subscribers over the week, although its current daily views are below their usual pace. The week's viewing total sits close to Focus Features', while A24 is enjoying an elevated daily audience. Here, the distinctive draw is actors explaining not just which films they choose, but what those films bring back.

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What viewers say

what a legend, talking about his friends before movies.
@ZachMorrisssSee it on YouTube
Probably the most talking and less movie picking of the closet videos, but his stories were incredible.
@FeltedBonsaiSee it on YouTube
Can we get a 1 hour version of Dustin Hoffman talking movies please!
@FootyEmpireSee it on YouTube

4 more comments

I am so glad he talked about Teri Garr, I loved her so much and she does not get enough credit for being the brilliant comic actress that she was!
@MADWORLD1427See it on YouTube
he stars in two of my favourite films ever: Kramer vs Kramer and Midnight Cowboy
@marianat1393See it on YouTube
Thanks for the Hal Ashby stories. One of our greatest directors.
@williammann2857See it on YouTube
Legendary refresh ❤️
Dustin Hoffman presenting "Being There" was not on my schedule.
@AngryCoreSee it on YouTube