We rank every Wes Anderson movie. How does 'The Phoenician Scheme' compare?
We rank every Wes Anderson movie. How does 'The Phoenician Scheme' compare?
Show Caption
Hide Caption
'The Phoenician Scheme' trailer: Benicio del Toro is a wanted man
Benicio del Toro plays an industrialist with plenty of rivals and a plan to build a grand project in Wes Anderson's "The Phoenician Scheme."
You know immediately when you're watching a Wes Anderson film.
The signature imagery, the eccentricity, the wide camera shots, the usual suspects (from Bill Murray to Owen Wilson) – all are hallmarks of Anderson's cinematic work. And over the last three decades, the Oscar-nominated auteur has made movies about dysfunctional families, thieving buddies, an island of stray dogs, young kids in love, an adventurous hotel lobby boy and many more colorful personalities.
In the filmmaker's latest all-star effort "The Phoenician Scheme" (in select theaters now, nationwide June 6), Benicio del Toro plays a wealthy businessman targeted for assassination, who makes his nun daughter (Mia Threapleton, Kate Winslet's daughter) the heir to his company and fortune.
In honor of this quirky new work, we're ranking all of the director's outings:
Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
13. 'Bottle Rocket' (1996)
Luke and Owen Wilson star as friends who plan to pull off a bunch of heists before joining the gang of a criminal landscaper (James Caan) until one of them falls in love with a hotel maid. Anderson's first film – and the debut for both Wilson brothers – is rough around the edges but the talent potential for all three is there from the beginning.
12. 'The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou' (2004)
Bill Murray plays the Jacques Cousteau-esque title character, a famed oceanographer and documentarian who seeks the jaguar shark that once killed his best friend. The very strange quest for his "white whale" even includes a love triangle between Zissou, a pregnant reporter (Cate Blanchett) and a man (Owen Wilson) claiming to be his son.
11. 'Asteroid City' (2023)
The sci-fi dramedy is pretty out there, even for an Anderson jam. Featuring kicky period tunes and fantastic production design, the film stars Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson and others as parents of talented kids who gather for a science convention and are quarantined by the government when a UFO shows up. But that's only half the story, as "City" has a tale-within-the-tale that distracts from the narrative more than it deepens.
10. 'Isle of Dogs' (2018)
Anderson pays tribute to Japanese cinema and the scrappy nature of underdogs in this whimsical stop-motion animated comedy. A dog flu leads a metropolis to banish pooches (voiced by Bill Murray, Edward Norton and more) to an island full of trash, and an orphan boy seeking his best friend befriends a grumpy stray (voiced by Bryan Cranston).
9. 'The Darjeeling Limited' (2007)
A year after their father's death, a trio of estranged brothers (Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman) meet up for a spiritual journey/train ride through India. They bicker, fight, save some folks and seek out their mercurial mom (Anjelica Huston) in the Himalayas on a humorous but thoughtful trip of sibling reconnection.
8. 'The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar' (2023)
There are worse things than a winsome Ralph Fiennes introducing Roald Dahl's beloved prose to a younger generation. Playing Dahl himself, he shares the story of Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch), a wealthy British man who schemes to see without using his eyes in order to win millions at blackjack − and instead, he makes a life-changing discovery.
7. 'The Phoenician Scheme' (2025)
After his latest frequent brush with death, infamous arms dealer Zsa-Zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro) makes estranged nun daughter Liesl his sole heir. With Norwegian insect nerd Bjorn (Michael Cera), they embark on a plan to build Zsa-Zsa's grand infrastructure project but also anger friends and foes alike. While the absurd shenanigans are fun, the real joy is watching a delightful del Toro and refreshing Threapleton navigating the oddly heartfelt family reconnection.
6. 'Moonrise Kingdom' (2012)
Young talent shines in Anderson's splendid 1965-set love story. The coming-of-age romance centers on two 12-year-olds – a lonely scout (Jared Gilman) and a troublemaking girl (Kara Hayward) – who run away to a New England island, with the scout's troop leader (Edward Norton) and girl's parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand) in hot pursuit.
5. 'The Royal Tenenbaums' (2001)
Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller and Luke Wilson star as genius siblings who garner fame and renown as kids yet face lackluster adulthoods. Gene Hackman hijacks the movie as their estranged father, who shows up claiming to have terminal cancer in the bittersweet and drolly hilarious dramedy – which is, for many, Anderson's signature work.
4. 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' (2009)
Anderson's first foray into stop-motion is his animated masterpiece, a brilliantly charming effort with George Clooney voicing the title character. Mr. Fox steals local food and produce to feed his family (including Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox), but running afoul of three very dangerous farmers endangers his friends and his marriage.
3. 'The French Dispatch' (2021)
An excellent ode to New Wave cinema and oddball reporters, the film follows three stories in the final issue of the titular journal, including tales of an incarcerated painter (Benicio del Toro) and a student revolutionary (Timothée Chalamet). And while he's barely in the film, Bill Murray is the beating heart playing the beloved French Dispatch editor.
2. 'Rushmore' (1998)
Anderson's Hollywood breakthrough was this stellar coming-of-age comedy with Jason Schwartzman, in his film debut, as an idiosyncratic teenager who befriends a wealthy businessman (Bill Murray). Yet the pair become rivals for the affections of a widowed first-grade teacher (Olivia Williams) and engage in some great one-upmanship shenanigans.
1. 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (2014)
Anderson's most multifaceted film is this wonderful and wild gem with comedy, adventure, mystery, action, high drama and themes of war and friendship. Zero (Tony Revolori) is a bellhop at a famous European hotel who goes on the lam with his concierge boss (Ralph Fiennes) and falls in love with a kind baker (Saoirse Ronan) in a madcap story that also involves a rare Renaissance painting and the rise of a fascist empire.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
Megan Thee Stallion enters the villa on 'Love Island USA'
Megan Thee Stallion enters the villa on 'Love Island USA' Some 'Love Island USA' fans said Megan Thee Stallion's appearance was the 'best episode of the season.' Show Caption Hide Caption 'Love Island USA' host Ariana Madix on if she watches 'The Valley' "Love Island USA" host Ariana Madix explains to USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa what it would take to get her back on Bravo reality TV show. Hot girl summer took on a new meaning when a Grammy Award-winning bombshell entered the "Love Island USA" villa for the show's June 19 episode. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion appeared on the reality dating show for Season 7 episode 15 to host a challenge and promote her new swimsuit line, "Hot Girl Summer." "Love Island USA" features a group of single twenty-somethings known as "Islanders" who must stay coupled up to remain at the villa. As it airs, fans get to cast votes for their favorite couples and one winning pair walks away with $100,000. While the show is no stranger to big-name guest appearances — "Summer House" star Paige DeSorbo hosted a challenge earlier this month — Megan Thee Stallion made history as the first platinum recording artist to make a cameo on the series. It comes as the American iteration of the dating show earned more than one billion minutes in views in the week after its debut, per Deadline. Here's what to know about Megan Thee Stallion's appearance. Megan Thee Stallion hosts twerking challenge on 'Love Island USA' Megan Thee Stallion hosted a challenge for the Islanders during her appearance on the show. The girls competed against the boys in a three-round competition, after which the winning team would earn a new bombshell entering the villa. The first round saw four girls and four boys face off for a twerking challenge, which Megan Thee Stallion declared a tie. After that, the remaining Islanders competed in a limbo round, which the boys won. The final round consisted of each team putting together a puzzle of their prospective bombshell — the girls completed theirs first. In the end, Megan Thee Stallion declared the entry of two new contestants. Before the end of the episode, 23-year-old TJ Palma and 24-year-old Andreina Santos arrived in Fiji. Fans react to Megan Thee Stallion's cameo on 'Love Island USA' "Love Island USA" fans took to social media to praise Megan Thee Stallion's appearance on the show, with some users calling it the "best episode of the season." "i need megan on every episode this has been the most i've laughed or smiled since starting this season," one person wrote on X. "I actually think she should be included in every tv show and/or film in production just because," another wrote, while one user said the singer's time on the show was "the most i've seen the islanders happy." The show itself even got in on the action, updating its Instagram bio to say, "This is now a @theestallion stan account." Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
UPI
40 minutes ago
- UPI
Watch: Jessica Alba joins Katseye in 'Gabriela' music video
1 of 3 | Jessica Alba arrives for the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2020. She stars in Katseye's latest music video. File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI | License Photo June 20 (UPI) -- Actress Jessica Alba joins girl group Katseye in their new music video. Katseye released a single and video Friday for "Gabriela," which will appear on their upcoming EP, Beautiful Chaos, due June 27. The music video for the song shows Alba, 44, play the CEO of the fictional Gabriela Enterprises. She stands at the head of a conference table, with the members of Katseye in attendance. "I've built and sustained this empire over the last 20 years," Alba says before the music starts. "A miracle truly. No thanks to any of you. I would love to say that my legacy is in capable hands. But alas, the talent in this room is quite disappointing." "However, one of you must succeed me, and claim my name as the next CEO of Gabriela Enterprises," she continues. The members of Katseye -- Daniela, Manon, Lara, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae -- then fight over who will replace Alba. Beautiful Chaos will mark the group's second EP. "We are so excited to invite you into this beautiful and chaotic world that we have built," the group captioned an Instagram post promoting the upcoming release. "Thank you for being here." Katseye is also set to take the stage during the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Saturday.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp reveal wedding fiascos: 'Almost ruined' the day
Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp reveal wedding fiascos: 'Almost ruined' the day Before saying 'I do' to their new action comedy 'Bride Hard,' 'Pitch Perfect' stars Anna Camp and Rebel Wilson witnessed plenty of wedding day drama in real life. When Camp married 'Pitch' actor Skylar Astin in 2016, the bride's friend accidentally struck Camp's "Pitch Perfect" costar Elizabeth Banks in the face while busting a move at the reception. 'Elizabeth Banks froze, and then (Banks) just kept dancing, and I saw the entire thing,' Camp, 42, shares, laughing uncontrollably. 'The marriage didn't last, but that moment will never leave my head.' (Camp and Astin divorced in 2019.) Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Tragically for Wilson, the indoor pyrotechnics she arranged at her sister's wedding 'were fricking massive and started catching the (place) on fire,' Wilson, 45, says. 'It almost ruined the whole wedding … everyone had to be evacuated.' The gas needed to be turned off in the building, Wilson says, which meant they couldn't prepare the food. 'It was kind of a disaster, which I blame myself for.' 'Bride Hard' trailer: Watch Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp in action "Bride Hard" reunites "Pitch Perfect" costars Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp for a wedding-themed action comedy. In 'Bride Hard' (in theaters now), Wilson's character Sam also creates a bit of tension for her bestie, Betsy (Camp), ahead of her big day. Sam is a secret agent and keeps her occupation hidden from Betsy. Unfortunately, Sam's missions keep her from fulfilling her maid of honor duties, so Betsy replaces Sam with her soon-to-be sister-in-law (Anna Chlumsky). Sam still attends the fête and relies on her skills to save the day when the wedding is hijacked by mercenaries. Justin Hartley and Da'Vine Joy also star. Wilson says she brought some martial arts experience to the role and trained for five weeks. 'It was really fun to do the action scenes, until the day when I got hit in the face by a gun and my nose got slashed open,' she says. 'That day was terrible, but the rest were pretty good.' Camp felt a rush riding in a hovercraft with Wilson. 'We get ejected up into the air and we got to shoot that,' Camp says. 'We were really in harnesses, and they yanked us up through the air on a soundstage.' Both Camp and Wilson believe their acting skills would help them be terrific spies. 'I can pretend that I don't really know what's going on, but really, I've like not missed a single thing in the entire room,' Camp says. 'I can clock literally everything, and I have a really good memory, and I feel like I can maybe charm people into telling me important information.' The Australian Intelligence Corps offered Wilson a scholarship, the actress says. 'So they obviously saw something in me. I could have been recruited,' Wilson says with a laugh. 'I could have been good.' She once was integral in bringing down a criminal, she says. 'They tried to hack my phone, and then I gave the information to the FBI, therefore I'm an FBI informant,' says Wilson, referencing the celebrity phone hacking incident of 2014. Edward J. Majerczyk received a nine-month sentence for the invasion of privacy. 'The piece of the information that I gave was the piece that actually cracked it down,' Wilson says. 'I love the FBI. I love the CIA. Don't ever deport me, guys.'
