Visual enhancements including the retroreflector in Fiona's eyes and additional lighting vignettes were created by visualist Ash Beck.

The video features Apple sulking in various states of undress, and The New Yorker described her as "looking like an underfed Calvin Klein model",[6] known as the "heroin chic" look.

Len Righi of The Morning Call wrote that she was surprised at Cole's ability to transform the "agonizing, brazen lament" into "a funky, Tina Turner-type, rump-shaker".

[29] In "Massacres and Matinees", the second episode of American Horror Story: Freak Show, Bette and Dot Tattler (played by Sarah Paulson) perform a duet version of "Criminal".

[32][33] "Criminal" was ranked number 423 on Rolling Stone's 2021 list of the "Top 500 Songs of All Time".