Over the course of his career,Adrien Brodyhas had starring roles in five of Wes Anderson’s movies. Anderson’s recent Oscar win forThe Brutalistwhich comes after a period defined by his collaborations with the renowned director.Brody broke a record with his acceptance speechat the Oscars in the wake of defeating four other major stars, includingA Complete Unknown’s lead star, Timothée Chalamet. Without doubt, Brody is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood, with an extensive range of performances across his career. Most notable areBrody’s particularly strong performancesin his five movies with Wes Anderson.
A hallmark of the director’s style is thefrequent cast of actors in Anderson’s movies, and Brody’s continued collaboration with him dates back to his lead performance inThe Darjeeling Limited.Brody’s number of appearances in Anderson films is only surpassed by three other actors— two of whom starred alongside him inThe Darjeeling Limited. Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray feature in seven and nine of Anderson’s films, respectively. While all Brody’s performances in the director’s repertoire are engaging,The Darjeeling Limitedis his most noteworthy performance, and is assuredly his most high-profile Anderson role to date.
5The French Dispatch (2021)
RT Critic 75%, RT Audience 76%, IMDb 7.1/10
By no means isThe French Dispatchthe lowest-rated film in Anderson’s extensive collection, but it is generally the most poorly received entry in comparison to Brody’s opposing Anderson movies.The reception toThe French Dispatchwas somewhat tepid, which is perhaps because it fell on the heels of Anderson’s back-to-back success withThe Grand Budapest HotelandIsle of Dogs. The most intriguing aspect ofThe French Dispatchis theinspiration it drew fromThe New Yorkermagazine, but this was unfortunately not enough to create any meaningful connections in its collection of short stories across the one-hour and 48-minute runtime.
The French Dispatch
Cast
The French Dispatch is an anthology comedy from director Wes Anderson. The story takes place in 1975 France when The French Dispatch magazine’s editor dies of a sudden heart attack. His last wish is for a final issue to be published, which includes four articles, “The Cycling Reporter,” “The Concrete Masterpiece,” “Revisions to a Manifesto,” and “The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner.” Like most Wes Anderson movies, The French Dispatch has a substantial cast, including Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, and Léa Seydoux, to name a few.
Unfortunately, this means thatThe French Dispatchis often regarded as one of Anderson’s worst projects — though in no way does this make the 2021 motion picture a ‘bad’ film. It is important to note thatThe French Dispatchdid win some awards in minor ceremonies, which were mostly presented for Anderson’s original screenplay. It’s an impressive feat in Anderson’s filmmaking, and is certainly one of his more experimental projects, butThe French Dispatchsimply falls short of expectations in its narrative structure. The film was originally set to premiere at Cannes, but faced significant delays because of the pandemic.
The French Dispatchmay have attained a higher critical rating thanAsteroid Cityon Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a higher IMDb score; it ranks lower than its counterpart as it did not perform as well at the box office. On an equal budget of $25 million,The French Dispatchgrossed $46 million worldwide — coming in at $8 million less thanAsteroid City.
4Asteroid City (2023)
RT Critic 76%, Audience 62%, IMDb 6.5/10
Asteroid Cityis Wes Anderson’s most recent movie, but it remains to be a somewhat inconspicuous entry in the director’s assortment of projects. The science-fiction comedy drama was co-written by Roman Coppola, who has previous credits on other Anderson films, such asThe Darjeeling Limited,Moonrise Kingdom, andIsle of Dogs. Regrettably,Asteroid Cityhas been tremendously overlooked since its limited theatrical releasein 2023. In fact, it was ranked as one of the “worst movies of 2023” byVariety— a profoundly polarizing decision that caused significant backlash. In actuality,Asteroid City’s ratings do not match the criticismsit fell victim of.
Asteroid City
Asteroid City is a comedy/romance film by director Wes Anderson and follows several parents and children brought together across the country for a Junior Stargazer convention. When strange and cosmic events occur, the world as they know it will change, all while trying to carry on with their event.
Asteroid Cityhas arguably the most star-studded cast of any Anderson movie.Asteroid Cityfeatures regular appearances from the likes of Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton, but it also introduces a new roster of A-list talent to Anderson’s universe. Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson were excellent additions to the cast, andAsteroid Cityprovides some of the most breathtaking visuals in Anderson’s entire career. The narrative moves marginally away from the conventional themes of Anderson’s work, to provide an enticing narrative set in the 1950s retro-futuristic America — where groups gather in the desert for a Junior Stargazer convention.
3The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
RT Critic 69%, RT Audience 78%, IMDb 7.2/10
To his credit,The Darjeeling Limited is Anderson’s most underrated movie. That being said, the project has become something of a cult classic in recent years.The Darjeeling Limitedhas mostly been rediscovered in the lst decade, and audience appeal has drastically increased since the movie’s debut. Similar toThe French Dispatch, Anderson’s 2007 release won some awards, which included Best Film and the Little Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.The Darjeeling Limitedcenters on three brothers' journey through India after their late father’s death, and the film decisively focuses more on their internal struggles than any outward conflict.
The Darjeeling Limited
The Darjeeling Limited (2007), directed by Wes Anderson, follows three estranged brothers who embark on a journey across India by train to reconnect with one another. Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman, the film blends drama and comedy as the siblings navigate personal grief and family tensions in the backdrop of India’s vibrant landscape.
Peter (Brody), Jack (Schwartzman), and Francis (Wilson) are all lying about their motivations on the trip, with Brody’s character being increasingly insecure in his marriage.What makesThe Darjeeling Limitedone of Anderson’s most courageous projects is its great performancesand how accurately it depicts the different stages of grief. The film is anchored by the communication between the brothers, which feels authentic and raw. There is one particular moment during the mid-point of the film that is one ofthe saddest deaths in Anderson’s movies, where Peter fails to save a young boy from drowning. This has a profound impact on their character’s spiritual journey.
The story flawlessly encapsulates all of Anderson’s signature themes.
AlthoughThe Darjeeling Limitedis the lowest-rated movie among Brody’s collaborations with Anderson, it is by no account reflected by the audience score and reception. Admittedly,The Darjeeling Limiteddoes have a significant advantage in that it benefits from repeated viewings, but the story flawlessly encapsulates all of Anderson’s signature themes.
2Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
RT Critic 93%, RT Audience 85%, IMDb 7.9/10
Wes Anderson’s first animated film has become one of the most celebrated movies in stop-motion. In addition to this,Fantastic Mr. Foxwas extremely experimental for the time and marked the first of only two animated films in Anderson’s expansive repertoire. Based on the Roald Dahl book, the movie tells the story of Mr. Fox and his struggle to balance his duties as a husband and father with his personal desires.Fantastic Mr. Foxis the director’s highest-rated feature-length film, alongsideMoonrise Kingdom, with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s the film’s undeniable charm that elevates it to the ranks of Anderson’s finest.
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Based on the Roald Dahl children’s book, Fantastic Mr. Fox tells the story of the titular fox, his thieving spree, and the three farmers who seek revenge on him for the thefts.
Despite the fact thatFantastic Mr. Foxcaters to a more mature audience, it is not unsuitable for children. There is plenty going on within the film’s quirky style and Dahl’s foundations to entertain a younger audience.Anderson’s animated feature was nominated for two Academy Awards in 2010, inclusive of Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.Fantastic Mr. Foxhas since become one of thebest Oscar-nominated animated movies according to IMDb, despite losing in its primary category to Pixar’sUp. This defeat was mirrored once again in equal categories during the BAFTAs ceremony in 2010.
1The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
RT Critic 92%, RT Audience 87%, IMDb 8.1/10
Needless to say,The Grand Budapest Hotelis Wes Anderson’s most famous film.Adrien Brody’s fellow 2025 nominee, Ralph Fiennes, leads the cast inThe Grand Budapest Hoteland delivers a truly captivating performance. This marks Fiennes' first collaboration with the director, and his role quickly became one of the most memorable in his career because he is cast remarkably off-type. Typically, Fiennes is known for the villainous roles in projects such asSchindler’s ListorIn Bruges, but M. Gustave is an eccentric individual who is a stark contrast to these sinister portrayals.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
From director Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel stars Ralph Fiennes as Gustave H., the renowned concierge of the film’s titular hotel. Fiennes is joined by Tony Revolori as Zero, a newly hired bellhop who serves as Gustave’s partner-in-crime throughout the film. An older Zero, played by F. Murray Abraham, serves as the narrator for the story, which chronicles the adventures of Gustave and Zero after Gustave is framed for the murder of the wealthy Madame D., his patron and lover.
To a similar degree, Brody plays against type inThe Grand Budapest Hotel, as well. Although his role is minimal, it unquestionably remains one ofBrody’s best performances. He portrays the character whose death is the catalyst for the events of the film, Dmitri Desgoffe-und-Taxis.Adrien Brodyfinds himself appearing only briefly in a number of scenes, but regardless of limited screen time, his presence is impactful — andThe Grand Budapest Hotel’s overall entertainment value is enough to compensate for his brief appearances. In fact,Brody has namedThe Grand Budapest Hotelhis favorite Anderson filmof all time.
Not to mention,The Grand Budapest Hotelis definitely Wes Anderson’s most decorated film. With accolades across a number of ceremonies for different categories,The Grand Budapest Hotelwon a Critics' Choice, a Golden Globe, three BAFTAs, andan outstanding four Academy Awards at the 87th ceremony in 2015for Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Hair and Makeup.
