Wesley Wales Anderson is a bright representative of American auteur cinema, a master of art-house, characterized by his unique visual style and meticulous attention to detail in every frame of his films. He also writes or co-writes the screenplay in most cases.
His stories are really recognizable, original, filled with amazing details and rich plot. We offer you to get acquainted with all full-length works of Wes Anderson, who for a quarter of a century went from a little-known oddball to a legendary Hollywood director.
Asteroid City
- IMDB Rating – 6.9
- Genre: Drama, Melodrama, Comedy
- Production: USA / 2023
- Worldwide Box Office: $43,474,465
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bryan Cranston, Adrien Brody, Michael Maggart, Hope Davis.
This bright comedy film participated in the Cannes Film Festival and competed for the Palme d’Or. The events unfold in a small American town located in a real desert. Here once fell a large asteroid, and now there is no shortage of fans of ufology, stargazers and tourists of all stripes.
Local organizations hold the next convention of young schoolchildren astronomers, the neighborhood is flooded with gifted children and their parents. And in the surrounding desert, government experiments are being conducted, and the town suddenly finds itself in a strict quarantine.
The movie is based on a story written by Wes Anderson and co-written by Roman Coppola. The director was somewhat inspired by the events of the COVID-19 pandemic and voiced all the animatronics characters in the movie.
The French Dispatch
- IMDB Rating – 7.1
- Genre: Drama, Melodrama, Comedy
- Production: Germany, USA / 2020
- Budget: $25,000,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $46,333,545
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Timothee Chalamet, Bill Murray, Lina Kudry, Anjelica Huston, Benicio Del Toro, Léa Seydoux.
Wes Anderson has assembled a terrific all-star cast in this gripping tragicomedy. The plot centers on the latest issue of a French supplement to an American magazine. It will feature a tour of the town, three of the most popular articles from past publications, and an obituary for the suddenly deceased editor-in-chief.
And then we watch the creation of these stories, the real adventures of responsible journalists collecting interesting facts for their readers, while at the same time preparing with the staff of the supplement to close this page of life forever.
Wes Anderson was inspired by the real-life material and people of The New Yorker magazine, being a passionate fan.
Isle of Dogs
- IMDB Rating – 7.8
- Genre: Cartoon, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy, Adventure
- Production: USA, Germany, Japan, UK / 2018
- Worldwide box office receipts: $64,241,499
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Kunichi Nomura, Akira Takayama, Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand
To this day, this animated film ranks high on the list of the highest-grossing puppet movies of all time. This animation brought genius storyteller Wes Anderson the “Golden Bear” in Berlin and nominations for all three major film awards.
The events unfold in futuristic Japan, where all dogs are captured and sent to a secluded island because of a disease spreading among them. Atari Kobayashi, a young boy who has lost his four-legged friend Spotzy, embarks on a journey to the island to get his dog. The authorities try to take the boy away, but he is protected by all the dogs on the island.
The extraordinary cartoon caused a flurry of admiration in the world. The Japanese were especially delighted, appreciating the tactful attitude to their culture. By the way, Wes Anderson promised to return to the “dog” theme in another animation in the future.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
- IMDB Rating -8.1
- Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Detective, Crime
- Production: USA, Germany / 2014
- Budget: €23,000,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $172,936,941
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Rafe Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Willem Defoe, Edward Norton, Mathieu Amalric, Harvey Keitel, F. Murray Abraham, Tilda Swinton
Wes Anderson’s best work so far, winning 4 Oscars and two more bags of important awards. This, which has become a legendary movie, is based on the stories of the Austrian classic Stefan Zweig. The events of the picture unfold over the course of half a century.
Several historical periods are woven into one narrative about the world, events and people who lived in these different times. Throughout the action is an extremely exciting story of Zero Mustafa, who joined the hotel in 1932, became its owner in the 40’s and received the nickname “the richest man in the country” in the 80’s …
By the way, this movie contains many famous musical themes performed on balalaikas by the Zykina State Academic Ensemble “Russia”.
Moonrise Kingdom
- IMDB Rating – 7.8
- Genre: Family, Comedy, Drama, Melodrama
- Production: USA / 2012
- Budget: $16,000,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $68,263,166
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Jared Gilman, Cara Hayward, Bob Balaban, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Harvey Keitel.
A great comedy that made it to the lists of the best movies of the year, it has several unique features. It starred a lot of movie stars of the first magnitude, but in second roles. The leading roles were given to children, the main characters of this story. Wes Anderson chose locations for filming with the help of Google Earth, and as a basis for visual style took the style of French sentimentalism.
In the 60’s, two teenagers, orphan Sam and withdrawn Susie, escape from adult supervision and go on an adventure in search of magic. They are caught up and separated, but soon those involved in catching the runaways become sympathetic and decide to help the two dreamers reconnect.
Wes Anderson dedicated this movie to his lover, the eccentric and delightful artist Juman Maloof.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
- IMDB Rating – 7.9
- Genre: Cartoon, Drama, Comedy, Crime, Adventure, Family
- Production: UK, USA / 2009
- Budget: $40,000,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $46,471,023
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wallace Wolodarsky, Eric Chase Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Defoe, Owen Wilson, Jarvis Coker.
As a fan of British author Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson was delighted to take on this project – a fun puppet tale about a cunning fox. About his family, his friends and the animals’ confrontation with evil and greedy farmers.
During another robbery of a human farm, Mr. Fox gets trapped with his wife. He learns that they will soon have offspring and, after getting out of the trap, promises his wife to never engage in theft again. Several years of prosperous life pass. The Fox family moves to a new place, which is located near three rich farms. The temptation is too great…
The actors voicing the cartoon (Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Owen Wilson, Willem Defoe and others) together with the director went out into the forests and fields, recording their parts in a natural environment. By the way, the movie was nominated for an Oscar.
The Darjeeling Limited
- IMDB Rating – 7.2
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Adventure
- Production: USA, India / 2007
- Budget: $17,500,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $35,078,918
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Amara Karan, Wallace Wolodarsky, Waris Ahluwalia, Irfan Khan, Barbet Schroeder, Camille Rutherford, Bill Murray.
And another visually gorgeous movie in the genre of family tragicomedy from Wes Anderson, which in the Russian distribution was presented as an entertaining road movie. But that’s a bit of a misnomer. In the packaging of the unpretentious journey of three brothers there is a deep theme of forgiveness, reconciliation and learning about the world.
After the death of his father, Francis arranges for his two brothers, whom he hasn’t seen in years, to take a long trip to India that ends with a meeting with their mother, who runs a remote monastery. However, Francis does not reveal all his plans to Peter and Jack, assuring them that together they will simply try to find enlightenment in this country.
Wes Anderson dedicated this movie to the memory of the famous Indian director Satyajit Ray, whom he admired.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
- IMDB Rating – 7.2
- Genre: Action, Drama, Melodrama, Comedy, Adventure
- Production: USA / 2004
- Budget: $50,000,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $34,808,403
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Willem Defoe, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Gambon, Noah Taylor, Bud Cort, Seu Jorgi.
A movie that eventually became iconic and iconic in the careers of both Wes Anderson and Bill Murray, who played the title role. With an impressive cast, gorgeous visuals, and an impressive soundtrack of hits from the ’60s and ’80s, this is a sweeping aquatic adventure for Steve Zissou, an oddball oceanographer who has vowed revenge on the tiger shark that ate his friend.
Zissou embarks on a dangerous journey filled with diving and searching for the shark. Like an obsessive, he grabs the slightest clue about this predator and checks every trail. His team, made up of the most eccentric characters, all share in the hardships of this protracted journey….
Wes Anderson wrote the screenplay for this movie in collaboration with Noah Bumbach because his usual co-writer, Owen Wilson, was gaining popularity and was unavailable due to filming.
The Royal Tenenbaums
- IMDB Rating – 7.6
- Genre: Drama, comedy
- Production: USA / 2001
- Budget: $21,000,000
- Worldwide Box Office: $71,441,250
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Danny Glover, Seymour Cassel, Kumar Pallana.
A light family drama with a brilliant cast that was nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay, co-written by Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson, and won a Golden Globe. And this is only the director’s third movie!
This is the story of the rise and fall of the Tenenbaum family. A great relationship between parents, extremely gifted and successful children – everything goes down the drain when Royal, the father of the family, announces a divorce. After 22 years, he tries to get back with his ex-wife by lying to her that he has cancer. He meets his children, who have lost all their talent and accumulated many problems.
Actor Gene Hackman agreed to the role, knowing that his career was coming to an end and in every way mocked the young director and actresses on the set. Bill Murray helped to put down the arrogant star, once again helping Anderson.
Rushmore
- IMDB Rating – 7.6
- Genre: Drama, Melodrama, Comedy
- Production: USA / 1998
- Budget: $20,000,000
- US box office receipts: $17,105,219
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams, Seymour Cassel, Brian Cox, Mason Gamble, Sarah Tanaka, Steven McCool, Connie Nielsen, Luke Wilson.
The second Wes Anderson movie, in which visual and plot solutions typical for this director already appear. This is the story of growing up of an eccentric boy named Max Fisher, a student of the elite school “Rushmore”.
Trying to be at the top in everything, Max leads a very hectic social life. He participates in all circles, is the captain and founder of several clubs, directs school theater productions. He simply does not have enough time for ordinary lessons.
One day this bigot gets an ultimatum from the principal: either he corrects his grades or says goodbye to Rushmore forever. He is helped by a young teacher, the widow Rosemary, with whom Max inevitably falls in love.
Bill Murray, agreeing to star with Anderson, brought the latter to indescribable delight, and also helped with the financing of the movie and did not take a fee for his work.
Bottle Rocket
- IMDB Rating – 6.9
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime
- Production: USA / 1995
- Budget: $7,000,000
- Worldwide box office receipts: $1,040,879
- Director: Wes Anderson
- Starring: Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Ned Dowd, Shea Fowler, James Caan, Hayley Miller, Robert Musgrave, Andrew Wilson, Brian Tenenbaum, Jenny Tooley.
This movie is the triple debut of actor brothers Owen and Luke Wilson and director Wes Anderson (they all went to the same college). Wes and Owen wrote the screenplay, and when Sundance didn’t like the movie, they completely reshot the beginning.
Three friends from the suburbs, all somewhere in their 20s, are disillusioned with their lives. Anthony has just gotten out of a mental institution, Bob is constantly picked on by his older brother. And Dignan dreams of becoming a famous thief and has even mapped out a 50-year plan to take him to the romantic heights of crime.
He persuades others to take part in his plans and soon finds out that there is no pleasure in robbery. The friends have to go on the run …
In 1994, the Wilson brothers and Wes Anderson created a 13-minute short film that helped secure Columbia Pictures’ backing for a feature-length film.
