Visionary auteur Wes Anderson’s directorial style is unmistakable. His keen eye for framing and color palettes, coupled with his straightforward dialogue and whimsical tone give his films a signature feel that is not easily replicated. In a career spanning nearly three decades, Anderson has directed ten feature films to go along with a handful of shorts. With his latest offering The French Dispatch finally hitting theaters, we felt it appropriate to rank his features from worst to best.
10. Rushmore (1998)
What better place to start than with an unpopular opinion? Though it’s his second feature, Rushmore is stylistically considered the first true Wes Anderson film. He established many of the tropes that define his signature style, including centered shots, deadpan deliveries, and coordinated color palettes. Jason Schwartzman stars as Max Fischer, a precocious 15 year-old who develops a toxic crush on his teacher Mrs. Cross. This quickly turns into a chaotic love-triangle with Mr. Blume, played excellently by Bill Murray. Fischer is a repulsive narcissist, self-centered and creepy in his pursuit of Mrs. Cross. Rushmore feels like you’re watching a coming-of-age story for the worst person you knew in high school, only to find out that they never actually come of age whatsoever.
9. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Anderson makes a couple of bold deviations here from his usual steady, centered form. Darjeeling Limited feels very improvised and off-kilter, a constantly moving tale of three estranged brothers bonding on a train ride across India. More often than not, these stylistic choices work to perfection. However, the brothers’ relationship lacks enough depth and structure to keep it interesting for the entire runtime. The best part of this film is actually the prologue Hotel Chevalier, a short film that is well worth tracking down before you watch the feature.
8. Bottle Rocket (1996)
Anderson’s first film is the only one that doesn’t have that signature look and feel to it. Though the pacing is a bit jittery, it’s the quintessential unpolished first film containing all the traces of blossoming genius. Brothers Luke and Owen Wilson give what were career-defining performances at the time, with both cementing themselves as essential players in the Anderson Cinematic Universe. Owen’s character Dignan is inept yet confident, with grandiose ambition to be a brilliant robber without any of the necessary skills. Operating with a shoestring budget, the quirky heist flick has become a cult classic since its debut 25 years ago.
7. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
This might be Anderson’s most polarizing venture. Life Aquatic has some of the most beautiful cinematography of any Wes Anderson film. Had this ranking been based on that alone, this film easily would’ve cracked the top three. Exquisite framing and lively color palettes try their best to redeem a storyline that oftentimes doesn’t know where exactly it wants to go. The story jumps rapidly between genres and tones, creating a viewing experience as chaotic as working with oceanographer Steve Zissou.
Zissou is a jaded mesh of the vengeful Captain Ahab and the ambitious French explorer Jacques Costeau. Life Aquatic moves from a film festival to a sea voyage to an action spectacle battling pirates, all while confronting midlife crises and familial reconciliation. It’s a disconcerting mess at times. On top of all that, it never feels like Zissou himself ever genuinely cares about any of these things. With Life Aquatic, much like its titular character, you either love it or you hate it.
6. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Anderson’s first venture into stop-motion animation seemed like a very strange choice at the time. Why would a director whose biggest strength is his camerawork make the jump into the more confining world of stop-motion? Further, Dahl’s jagged, often perverse humor seems like an odd accompaniment for the gentle wittiness of the Anderson Cinematic Universe. Fear not, as one look at the opening sequence will relinquish all worries. Dahl’s tone is quite tricky to capture, though Anderson hits on a buoyant compromise. The tactile quality of stop-motion loosens Anderson’s obsessive-compulsive style to create an entertaining medium. Anderson’s love for Dahl’s story comes across beautifully as he adds the perfect splashes to bring the story to life. George Clooney’s impeccable vocal performance as Mr. Fox is the cherry on top.
5. The French Dispatch (2021)
Naturally, Wes Anderson’s love letter to journalism holds a special place in my heart. French Dispatch is shot as an anthology detailing the final issue of an American-expat newspaper following the death of its editor-in-chief. With Anderson’s most impressive cast to date, performances from Benicio del Toro, Timothee Chalamet, and Jeffrey Wright are the highlights of the feature. Anderson expertly balances black and white scenes with his usual colorful frames to show the distinction between the written word and the full story. There’s also an astonishing 2D animated car chase sequence that makes you wish Anderson would create a feature in that medium. The only downside to this one is that the immersive stories often make you lose sight of the true subject of this penultimate issue, editor-in-chief Arthur Howitzer Jr.
4. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
The Royal Tenenbaums is a masterclass in writing characters. Gene Hackman stars as the patriarch of a large family of fallen geniuses. At the core of all Wes Anderson films is a deep sense of melancholy haunting the whimsical worlds and the characters that inhabit such. Royal Tenenbaums isn’t perfect, decidedly so. There’s a real beating heart inside this film highlighting humanity’s own imperfections. Hackman’s character tries desperately to connect with his children, though he doesn’t know how to go about it or whether he even deserves it. Anderson’s dysfunctional family saga usually finds itself atop rankings like this, and we can’t be mad at that.
3. Isle of Dogs (2018)
Anderson’s second stop-motion feature builds on his first in every possible way. The story is bigger and the stakes are higher. Set in Japan, the story follows a young boy named Atari as he searches for his missing dog that was exiled to Trash Island. The troupe of dogs accompanying Atari feels like a real family, each with their own skills and nuances to assist along the journey. Isle of Dogs is rife with political subtext on immigration and otherism. The film traverses a fine line between appreciation and appropriation that has understandably garnered its share of critics. On a technical level, the film is magnificently crafted, somehow capturing such authentic human emotions and experiences through canine eyes.
2. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Anderson’s tale of young love is reminiscent of the original live-action Disney movies from the 50’s and 60’s – just significantly better. The coastal setting is a match made in heaven for Anderson’s keen vision. Moreover, the kids at the center of the film are fantastic. Anderson wore his heart on his sleeve while crafting this adorable story of two loners escaping into the wild to find solace in each other. Most importantly, the film never loses sight of the beautiful melancholy that encapsulates one’s first love. The amazing performances from the supporting cast of Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, and Tilda Swinton push this film over the top. Norton and Willis are perfect additions to Anderson’s rotating cast of characters.
1. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
You may or may not be surprised to see Anderson’s magnum opus take home our number one spot. Led by an extraordinary performance by Ralph Fiennes, this was Anderson’s first film to garner major Oscar love. This 1930s-era European crime dramedy shows Anderson in full command of all his gifts. From set and costume design to character dialogue to cinematography, the film is eye-popping yet deeply ruminative. Grand Budapest Hotel showcases an exceptional balance between tones whether gloomy, bitter, cleverly droll, or effortlessly hilarious. Unsurprisingly, this film contains some of the most remarkable stills and performances in the entire Anderson Cinematic Universe.
We hope you enjoyed our ranking of Wes Anderson’s ten feature films. Let us know what you would change in the comments section below! Lastly, for more editorials from WavyPack, Three Reasons Why We Love Wu-Tang: An American Saga.
