Wes Anderson spent decades developing a signature style. It’s easy to recognize his movies by their color schemes, costumes, and tone. His collection of movies are all artistically astounding and narratively fascinating, and the best Anderson movies have just as much substance as style, while a lot of them also have a whimsical nature, especially when it comes to the purity of love and the joy and heartbreak of life.
These films touch the heart and excite the eyes and mind. They’re truly artistic in a way so synonymous with the filmmaker, because everyone connects with his films in a different way. His best movies are subjective, but I ranked these based on their style, story, and general ability to incite delight.
Let’s look at the best Wes Anderson movies.
11. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, and Adrien Brody play estranged brothers who reunite on The Darjeeling Limited train. Their father died about a year ago but his baggage and belongings remain with them. Secretly, Francis (Owen Wilson) plots to force a reunion between them and their mother (Anjelica Huston).
The Darjeeling Limited deals with a grieving family who can’t let the past go. The movie contains most of Anderson’s trademark themes, cinematography, and cast. It’s entertaining, imaginative, and beautifully designed, as expected from a Wes Anderson movie, but it just doesn’t have the same inventive, dreamlike quality as some of his other films.
Rent or buy The Darjeeling Limited on Amazon.
10. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)
Bill Murray plays Steve Zissou in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. The film gives tribute to French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau while also respectfully parodying him. It features an all-star cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Owen Wilson, and Jeff Goldblum, and Anderson co-wrote this one with Noah Baumbach. Steve Zissou plans to document his hunt for a jaguar shark that ate his friend, and the crew along for Zissou’s journey includes a man claiming to be his son, Ned (Owen Wilson), and a pregnant reporter, Jane (Cate Blanchett).
Often, the director blurs the line between fable and reality, and this movie fits right into that fantastic realm. It’s outlandish, fun, and bizarre—which is kind of expected with a movie about an oceanographer and his crew. The only issue I have with it is that it doesn’t pack a big emotional punch like some of Anderson’s other films.
Rent or buy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou on Amazon.
9. Isle Of Dogs (2018)
Isle of Dogs is a stop motion animated film featuring an amazing cast that includes the voices of Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Bob Balaban, and Greta Gerwig, with Courtney B. Vance acting as the narrator. In a futuristic Japan, Mayor Kobayashi (Kunichi Nomura) and his followers have had a long hatred for dogs. Therefore, when a canine disease infects the animals, he jumps at the opportunity to isolate them on a trash-filled island.
The first one sent there is Spot (Liev Schreiber), the dog of Kobayashi’s ward and nephew Atari (Koyu Rankin). Six months later, Atari hijacks a plane and goes to this trash island, now called Isle of Dogs, to find Spot. He’s joined on his search by Chief (Bryan Cranston), Rex (Edward Norton), and their crew.
This is Anderson’s second animated production; his first was Fantastic Mr. Fox. He and his crew create an insanely inventive world, both through visuals and storytelling, and this even comes across beautifully in the trailer. Cranston’s ability to add an edge with his voice made him the perfect choice for a tough, stray dog. Isle of Dog is wonderful, and it might have ranked higher on the list if it had a more exciting resolution. Everything got resolved a little too quickly, without much build up or explanation.
Rent or buy Isle of Dog on Amazon.
8. Bottle Rocket (1996)
Bottle Rocket is Anderson’s first feature film, based on his short film of the same name, which started his long partnership with Owen and Luke Wilson. Anthony (Luke Wilson) has just checked himself out of a voluntary mental hospital, and his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson) wants them to go on a crime spree. However, they don’t know much about being real criminals.
This is his first film, so of course it’s far from perfect. However, it highlights his film evolution, especially in terms of his visual and writing style. Bottle Rocket very much has some signature Anderson elements, but in a different package from his current aesthetic, and without a Bill Murray cameo.
Rent or buy Bottle Rocket on Amazon.
7. The French Dispatch (2021)
The French Dispatch is a collection of short articles that appear in the magazine of the same name. The film has another fantastic cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Bill Murray, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Benicio Del Toro, and Jeffrey Wright.
Each of the magazine’s stories discuss some topic important to the issue’s subject, but they also reveal the writers’ hearts and souls. This film says a lot about its subject matter and some of it’s very profound, such as a story's ability to transform not only the readers but the writers. Whereas many of Anderson’s movies have a universal appeal, The French Dispatch feels very specific to a certain type of film audience. This isn’t necessarily a fault of the film, but it may cause a disconnect between a general audience and the movie.
6. Asteroid City (2023)
Asteroid City tells two stories: the one within the play shown in the film, and one about the making of the play. It’s another Anderson film distinct to his aesthetic, and features some of his films’ common themes, such as loss, first love, loneliness, creation, and young geniuses. The movie includes many of his regular collaborators--Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, and Willem Dafoe. The film also has new actresses and actors to his movies, including Scarlett Johansson, Maya Hawke, and Tom Hanks.
This is a playful film that’s not afraid of some fun, but outlandish, twists. It’s unique and features some of the best acting in one of his movies. Schwartzman may be at his best here. The costumes and cinematography are beautiful with this clear style. There’s a lot to admire, but it’s just not as emotionally riveting and entertaining as some of his other films.
Rent or buy Asteroid City on Amazon.
5. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
In The Royal Tenenbaums, Richie (Luke Wilson), Chas (Ben Stiller), and Margot (Gwyneth Patrow) are genius siblings raised by equally extraordinary parents, Royal (Gene Hackman) and Etheline (Anjelica Huston). Royal has created disdain and distance between him, his children, and his ex-wife through being a generally bad father and husband. After Royal learns that Etheline plans to remarry her accountant, Henry (Danny Glover), he hatches a plan to get back in her and the children’s lives.
This tale includes Anderson’s usual collaborators: Anjelica Huston, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Billy Murray, and more, but with the added star power of Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, and Gene Hackman. The new blood takes his usual dysfunctional family, whimsicalness, cinematography, and colorful costumes to the next level. It’s a superbly written and acted movie.
Rent or buy The Royal Tenenbaum on Amazon.
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
The Grand Budapest Hotel involves the adventures of concierge M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes), bellhop Zero (Tony Revolori), Zero’s girlfriend Agatha (Saoirse Ronan), and an inherited painting. Throughout their adventures, the three try to escape one of M. Gustavo’s dead former lover’s family, controlled by Dmitri (Adrien Brody) and hired assassin Jopling (Willem Dafoe).
Fiennes is the perfect choice for the quick witted, charming, and bit of an opportunist M. Gustavo. Revolori is equally delightful as his sidekick and protégé, and Saoirse Ronan adds her natural talent for playing brave and resourceful women. Wes Anderson and team clearly had a lot of fun making The Grand Budapest Hotel, and it comes across in the humor and tone of this film. It’s also one of his most successful movies.
Rent or buy The Grand Budapest Hotel on Amazon Prime.
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Fantastic Mr. Fox is a stop-motion animation movie with voice work by George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Willem Dafoe. Mr. Fox ( Clooney) makes a vow to his wife ( Streep) that, to ensure a safe life for them and their child, he will stop stealing from humans. Twelve fox years later, he has been living a reformed life but he’s unhappy. The temptations of going back to his wild fox ways are too much to deny.
Clooney’s smooth voice adds the perfect slyness to Mr. Fox. Anderson and crew excel in giving their own spin to Roald Dahl’s classic, and the film feels authentic to the director, but with the unique addition of stop-motion animation. The animated details are fascinating to watch; made only better by the enjoyable adventures of Mr. Fox, his family and friends.
Rent or buy Fantastic Mr. Fox on Amazon.
2. Rushmore (1998)
Jason Schwartzman made his film debut in Rushmore. Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson co-wrote this film, and it marked the first collaboration between Anderson and Bill Murray. In it, Max (Schwartzman) is an eccentric teen who participates in many extracurricular activities, instead of actually working on his grades, and forms a tight bond and friendship with multimillionaire Herman Blume (Murray). Eventually, both of them fall for elementary school teacher Rosemary (Olivia Williams). Herman begins secretly dating her, and when Max finds out, the two engage in petty revenge battles.
Rushmore is by far Anderson’s funniest film. It is hilarious to watch Max and Herman go head-to-head in very extreme, very funny ways. The whole dynamic between them is comical, but also endearing, because it’s clear why these two have bonded and value their relationship. This is Anderson’s second film, and it does a great job of introducing the world to his distinct voice, which gets stronger with each movie.
Rent or buy Rushmore on Amazon.
1. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Moonrise Kingdom follows children Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) as they run away together. Meanwhile, the adults are in hot pursuit as they deal with their own love stories that are falling apart. The cast includes Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, and Frances McDormand.
All the filmmaker’s films have a whimsical quality to them, and there isn’t anything much more whimsical than running away with the person you love. Gilman and Hayward bring a maturity to Sam and Suzy that makes their romance and love story feel just as compelling as any on-screen romance. Moonrise Kingdom is Wes Anderson at his best: a bit wacky, surreal, bold, witty, and aesthetically pleasing.
Rent or buy Moonrise Kingdom on Amazon.
It’s not easy picking one Wes Anderson movie that you believe is the best, because they’re all unique and represent a different strength of the filmmaker. However, each one of the top five films on this list showcases his distinct style, masterful storytelling, and a sense of wonder, even through melancholy. They all encompass many of Anderson’s best qualities as a filmmaker.
