5 Wes Anderson movies that will help you nail the viral social media trend
Netizens are turning their life into an Anderson-directed film; these will serve as the perfect inspiration for you.
If you’ve not been living under a rock, and are an active social media user, then chances are you have recently come across a charming video trend doing the rounds on the internet, where people shoot and edit a reel in the style of a Wes Anderson movie—think eccentric compositions, symmetry, and vibrant colour grading.
The trend couldn’t have blown up at a better time, with two Wes Anderson films releasing in 2023. Asteroid City, starring Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johannson, Margot Robbie, Maya Hawke, and others is slated to release in June, post its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May. His second, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, which is an adaptation of a Roald Dahl book of the same name and has Benedict Cumberbatch in a leading role, is slated for release later in the year.
Ahead of the new releases, now’s the perfect time to catch up on the work of the cinematic genius. And who knows? The binge-watching session might result in an eccentric reel of your own!
Below, discover seven movies by the film director that are our favourites.
The French Dispatch (2021)
His last released film, The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun, or simply The French Dispatch, was filmed in parts due to the pandemic, and is an anthology comedy-drama that follows three different storylines as the French foreign bureau of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun newspaper prepares to publish its ultimate issue. The film features an expansive ensemble cast, but the most notable is definitely Timothee Chalamet.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
The Academy Award-winning The Grand Budapest Hotel is considered to be Wes Anderson’s best and for good reason. The visual spectacle of the film will blow you away—from the exquisite colours and the compositions, to the heart-tugging storyline. The comedy-drama stars Ralph Fiennes in the lead role as a hotel concierge who’s framed for murder, and his journey to clear his name, and acquire a priceless Rennaisance painting along with his protégé Zero.
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Get prepared to tumble down memory lane with this adorable movie about adolescent love. Moonrise Kingdom has a heavy-hitting cast of Brice Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and others in a coming-of-age storyline that follows two kids on the fictional island of New Penzance in New England, USA. The orphan boy escapes from a scouting camp and unites with his pen pal (and love interest) before they run away together to an isolated beach. What ensues is a search party led by the island’s police captain along with the other scouts and family members. This one will make you melt!
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)
This one is as whimsy as they come—the film stars Bill Murray as Steve Zissou, an oceanographer who is out to seek revenge on the shark that killed his partner, Esteban. The character is an ode to and parody of the famous French diving pioneer Jacques Cousteau. Alongside Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, and others round up the cast.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
When people think of Wes Anderson films, earlier masterpieces like The Royal Tenenbaums come to mind. The 2001 film was co-written by Owen Wilson, and has him, along with Danny Glover, Bill Murray, Ben Stiller, and Gwyneth Paltrow in the cast. Follow the lives of three gifted siblings who go from experiencing success in childhood to facing great disappointment and failure as adults.