Wes Anderson’s first live-action film in six years “The French Dispatch,” was originally slated for release last summer but like just about everything in 2020, the film was delayed, as was the Cannes Film Festival where it officially premiered earlier this month. Now that “The French Dispatch” has an official release date of October 16, there’s no better way to pass the time than by brushing up on Anderson’s filmography. From Anderson’s 1996 debut, “Bottle Rocket,” to his most recent outing, the animated “Isle of Dogs,” there are nine films to revisit before his tenth feature hits screens. Below, find a roundup of Anderson’s films that you can buy on Blu-ray (nearly all of the films listed have been restored by The Criterion Collection, with the exception of “Isle of Dogs.”) IndieWire executive editor Eric Kohn ranked each of the director’s films here, and you can find out where to stream them all below. For more shopping guides, check out decor tips to decorate your space like one of Anderson’s movies.
“Bottle Rocket” Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)
Co-written with frequent collaborator Owen Wilson, who stars in the film alongside brother Luke Wilson and Robert Musgrave, Anderson’s feature-length directorial debut features the same precise aesthetic and tone that the rest of his films will embody. The indie follows three best friends who attempt to rob a bookstore — and are very, very bad at it.
“Rushmore” (Blu-ray)
Also co-written by Owen Wilson, this film marked the first collaboration with Jason Schwartzman, when the actor starred as eccentric teen Max Fischer, who falls in love with the same elementary school teacher (Olivia Williams) as the father of his classmate, the rich businessman Herman Blume (Bill Murray). Owen Wilson co-wrote the script.
“The Royal Tenenbaums” (Blu-ray)
Owen Wilson once again teams up with his college pal Anderson to co-write and appear in this film, about an estranged family of former child prodigies (Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Gwyneth Paltrow) who reunite when their father (Gene Hackman) announces he has a terminal illness after learning about the engagement of his ex-wife (Anjelica Huston) to her accountant (Danny Glover).
“The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (Blu-ray)
Co-written with Noah Baumbach, this film stars Bill Murray as the titular character, an oceanographer who wants revenge upon a rare shark that killed a member of his crew. Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, and Anjelica Huston also star.
“The Darjeeling Limited” (Blu-ray)
Schwartzman and Anderson teamed up once again, along with Roman Coppola, for this film about estranged brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Schwartzman) who reunite for a train trip across India.
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” (Blu-ray)
Anderson and Baumbach collaborated on the script for this stop-motion animated film based on the 1970 Roald Dahl book of the same name. Mr. Fox (George Clooney) breaks a promise to his wife (Meryl Streep) after 12 years and begins raiding his human neighbors’ farms. Schwartzman, Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, and Michael Gambon also voice characters.
“Moonrise Kingdom” (Blu-ray)
When two 12-year-olds living on a remote island off the coast of New England in 1965 fall in love and decide to run away, a group of adults (Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray) must find them before they’re endangered by a storm that hits the island. Anderson and Coppola wrote the script together.
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Blu-ray)
Set in the 1930s, Anderson’s last live-action feature follows the service-obsessed concierge (Ralph Fiennes) of a European resort who becomes the suspect in a murder investigation. Tilda Swinton, Tony Revolori, Brody, Dafoe, Murray, Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, F. Murray Abraham, Saoirse Ronan, Edward Norton, Mathieu Amalric, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Tom Wilkinson, Jude Law, and Léa Seydoux also star.
“Isle of Dogs” (Blu-ray + DVD)
Schwartzman, Coppola, and Kunichi Nomura wrote the story with Anderson for his second stop-motion animation film, set in a near-future dystopian Japan where dogs are sent to live on Trash Island. Voice stars include Bryan Cranston, Norton, Murray, Abraham, Swinton, Goldblum, Bob Balaban, Scarlett Johansson, Kunichi Nomura, Ken Watanabe, Akira Ito, Greta Gerwig, Akira Takayama, Frances McDormand, Courtney B. Vance, Yojiro Noda, Fisher Stevens, Mari Natsuki, Nijiro Murakami, Yoko Ono, Harvey Keitel, and Frank Wood. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
