This special issue is the first part of In Media Res's ongoing series "Critique and the Moving Image." This edition presents four brief articles by Nico Baumbach, Sulgi Lie, Chang-Min Yu, and Genevieve Yue. The second part of the series is forthcoming and includes insightful contributions by Daniel Fairfax, Erica Stein, and John Roberts. The series is organized by Jordan Chrietzberg and co-edited by Navid Darvishzadeh.