EVERY Wes Anderson Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

In “The Darjeeling Limited,” we follow a trio of American brothers who make an extended train journey through India following the death of their father. Each of the brothers is dealing with grief and loss in their own ways. The relationship between them is the heart of the film. Throughout the movie, the director takes full advantage of the travel set up to move the story and the characters forward. Some critics of “The Darjeeling Limited” cite that the story occasionally goes on detours that don’t go anywhere. Others feel like the setting wasn’t really needed to sell the story. Despite the criticisms, the brief romance and dysfunctional family still resonated with enough audience members to make it a hidden gem among fans.

“The French Dispatch” tells several stories set in a fictional European town via articles written in a newspaper from American expatriates. One main vignette centers around a prisoner artist, his muse, and art dealers who try to profit from him. We also get a story about a journalist who becomes involved with the leader of a student protest. There’s also a narrative about the local police chief’s son. Throughout the movie, these plot points and more introduce us to funny bits and memorable characters. However, the anthology nature of the film makes it a bit uneven. Overall, “The French Dispatch” is among the most visually varied of Anderson’s films. It’s up to the viewer to decide if its various parts work as a complete experience.

The second of Wes Anderson’s stop-motion animated films, “Isle of Dogs” is set in futuristic Japan where dogs have caught a disease and have been exiled to an island. This story follows a group of dogs as they try to reunite a young boy with his pooch. Along the way, they unravel a conspiracy. The animation style and setting help make “Isle of Dogs” one of Anderson’s most beautiful films. Additionally, the journey of the dog characters, particularly Chief, is quite heartwarming. Anderson’s choice of setting and the way in which language and translation are used or not used have been major points of contention that have divided his fans. But whether it’s “man’s best friend” or not, “Isle of Dogs” remains thoroughly entertaining.

One of Anderson’s more underrated films, “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” follows the eponymous oceanographer on an ill-advised expedition to find the shark that killed his friend. “The Life Aquatic” definitely has a lot going on. Zissou connects with a man who may or may not be his son, there’s a romantic subplot and there are several conflicts with pirates. It’s also a parody/tribute to Jacques Cousteau. But really, it’s about the characters and their attempts to find meaning and happiness in each other - not always successfully. It’s a colorful, beautiful mess of a movie, but that’s its charm. And plus, where else are you going to see a bunch of David Bowie songs sung in Portuguese?

As Anderson’s first theatrical film, “Bottle Rocket” feels the least like his other films. But that also helps it stand out from the rest. The film follows a group of friends and aspiring criminals as they perform several jobs. Naturally, one of which goes hilariously wrong. “Bottle Rocket” has a relaxed and naturalistic feel to it, with rambling, funny conversations, and great relationships. As different as it feels from Anderson’s later work, the movie does have the genesis of some of his hallmarks. Both the classic rock soundtrack and the heists feel very familiar to his fanbase. “Bottle Rocket,” like the firework it's named for, may not reach the highest heights, but it still soars.

“Asteroid City” may just feature the most star-studded cast of any of his movies. Considering the competition, that’s really saying something! Set in the titular fictional town, “Asteroid City,” the narrative has several framing devices layered atop it. But it doesn't matter whether it’s truly about the events following the residents and visitors or the people portraying them. Either way, the film remains a brightly colorful and entertaining ride that hits on the anxieties of both the present day and the 1950s. It’s safe to say that “Asteroid will leave a huge impact on Anderson’s filmography.

In Wes Anderson’s sophomore outing, “Rushmore”, a pretentious and multi-talented student named Max Fischer forms a friendship with a man named Herman Blume. Their relationship is tested when a rivalry develops between them over Rosemary Cross, a teacher. The film marks the first of many collaborations the director has done with Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. It also sees the inception of Anderson’s frequent use of musical montages. Although “Rushmore” sees its characters' lives fall apart, their sadness doesn’t dominate the film. There are still quirky interpersonal relationships and hilariously over-the-top plays that Max puts on. The mix of comedic and dramatic elements have led to “Rushmore” becoming a beloved place to revisit.

Anderson’s first stop-motion feature, “Fantastic Mr. Fox'' follows a clever thief turned family…animal. His attempt to recapture his true nature as a wild creature endangers his family and entire community. Although the plot is a familiar one, there are a few things that sets the film apart from others of its kind. The presentation is absurdly gorgeous. Additionally, it doesn’t present Mr. Fox’s longing to be his wilder self as entirely wrong or invalid. It’s about finding the right balance. But besides its central themes, “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is full of childish wonder, hysterical humor, genuinely scary moments, and all the usual Wes Anderson charm. It’s just so cussing good!

Suzy and Sam are two outcast kids. After forming a romance through letters, they run away together on a set of New England islands, just before a storm. Suzy’s parents, Sam’s scout troop, and a local policeman organize to find them. “Moonrise Kingdom” is one of the better fusions of Wes Anderson’s style and a great story. Every Kodak photograph-like frame feels like a window into youth and nostalgia. The events are at once down-to-earth and larger-than-life, all of which perfectly fits the pre-teen romance and 1960s setting. “Moonrise Kingdom” delivers a tale of young love and anxiety in a way only he can. It’s sweet but not saccharine and oh-so deliberate.

The story of Royal Tenenbaum trying to reconnect with his estranged and highly dysfunctional family is endlessly rewatchable and has spawned plenty of imitators. Of Anderson’s many sprawling ensemble casts, this one feels the most well-balanced. Each character gets their own story arc and chance to shine. Speaking of shining, Anderson’s hallmarks are all spectacular here, with the musical montages, picturesque frames, and even narration all being top-notch. While his style remains distinct today and he continues to evolve, we’d still argue that “The Royal Tenenbaums” is the most “Wes Anderson” Wes Anderson movie.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” just might be Wes Anderson’s masterpiece. The story follows Monsieur Gustave H., the dandy concierge of the Grand Budapest, and his friendship with his new lobby boy, Zero Moustafa. Their adventure sees them run into trouble with criminals and their fictional country’s fascist regime over a painting. Ralph Fiennes is hilariously entertaining as Monsieur Gustave. The rest of the cast is marvelous too. Not only are the scenes picturesque, but Anderson makes numerous homages to other filmmakers. Like a cake from Mendl’s hiding prison escape tools, the film has darker elements lurking beneath the surface. And yet, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a work of art that remains positively delicious.