This week the latest film from Wes Anderson, The Phoenician Scheme, opens in theaters. In order to celebrate, this week’s binge turns the focus to my five favorite films from Anderson. Films appear in ascending order!

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
About: This film is a short. It’s one of a series of shorts based on Roald Dahl books. It was a fascinating undertaking from Anderson, and all of them got a Netflix release. This film actually won an Oscar and was well deserved. I liked all the shorts, but this one really stood out.

Asteroid City (2023)
About: This was Anderson’s last feature film. It released in the summer of 2023, and it was charming, wonderfully creative, and captivating. I loved the setting and the cast here. Scarlett Johansson and Jason Schwartzman really stood out, but I loved the look and feel of this film as well. This was an under-appreciated gem from Anderson.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
About: Before this film came out, I knew of Anderson and had seen his films. I enjoyed a few of them and thought they were quirky fun. This was the first one that really spoke to me. It’s a simple story but it’s beautifully told. It has a great look, a fun story, and an emotional core that’s always been charming to me. I think this might be his most overlooked film.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
About: This is probably one of the first movies that come to mind when people think about Wes Anderson. That’s for good reason. The story, the sprawling cast, and the aesthetic certainly capture his unique perspective and style. This was a lauded film, earning a Best Picture nomination. It’s one of his best and one of the ones I most enjoyed.

The French Dispatch (2021)
About: For me, this is the best of Anderson’s films. It’s an anthology story, telling a series of different stories that relate to articles in the fictional paper The French Dispatch. The stories are strange and wonderful. The cast is diverse and incredible. And each of the stories has its own unique cast and style, which really makes it stand out to me. I love the film. I love the twists. I love the quirk. This is my favorite of Anderson’s films.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.