One of the greatest Saturday Night Live stars, an undeniably iconic comic actor, and one of Wes Anderson’s most prolific collaborators, Bill Murray is in a league of his own in pretty much every category. With those signature expressions, the wise-cracking sarcasm, and a certain way with words, Murray has long provided audiences with one hilarious line after another.

Murray’s various characters from over the years have also hit people with vicious comebacks so harsh, so biting, so hot, you better call the fire department to put out the flames. Here are 32 times one of his characters came at someone with a vicious comeback.

“This Is One Time Where Television Really Fails To Capture The True Excitement Of A Large Squirrel Predicting The Weather. I, For One, Am Very Grateful To Have Been Here.” (Groundhog Day)

There’s a case to be made for Phil Connors being Bill Murray’s grouchiest, most nihilistic, and most sarcastic character to date, and it gets even easier when you examine his breakdown of the titular holiday in Groundhog Day. The sass, the disdain, the subtle viciousness of his words could cut through bone.

"Weird Name, Good Luck With That" (Ghostbusters: Afterlife)

Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) and other O.G. Ghostbusters returning in Ghostbusters: Afterlife made for one of the most nostalgic moments of 2020s cinema, but it wasn’t all sweetness coming from the wisecracking character. Upon meeting the family of the fallen Egon Spengler, Peter hits them with a hilarious “Weird name” moment that’s just so good.

"Honey, How Many Fingers Does Mrs. Santa Claus Have Here?" (Scrooged)

Scrooged, a movie about the good, the bad, and the ugly of ‘80s yuppie culture (as well as a great spin on A Christmas Carol), sees Bill Murray play Frank Cross, a downright terrible TV executive, brother, boyfriend, boss, and human being. Though he’s undeniably a bad person, Frank does hand out some incredible putdowns, like this one when he’s given a drawing of Santa by a young kid. Brutal!

"Janine, Someone With Your Qualifications Would Have No Trouble Finding A Top-Flight Job In Either The Food Service Or Housekeeping Industries." (Ghostbusters)

The dynamic shared by Janine (Annie Potts) and Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters is one of the movie’s low-key best parts. The verbal sparring between these two is incredible, as is this line the Ghostbuster throws at his secretary (and unsung hero of the movie) when business starts picking up.

"Was I Talking Out Loud? Was I? Sorry. Good Luck." (Kingpin)

Kingpin is one of the best sports movies where the main character actually loses as well as one that features one of Bill Murray’s most unhinged characters in Ernie McCracken. The two-timing, lying, scheming, and opportunistic villain of this great ‘90s sports comedy has no shortage of clever lines, like this one early in the film before turning on Woody Harrelson’s Roy Munson.

"Have You Tried Staples?" (Scrooged)

The scene in Scrooged where Bill Murray’s Frank Cross asks a member of the production crew if he tried using staples to keep a pair of antlers to stay on a mouse’s head is straight-up insane. However, let’s not forget the fact that the guy was trying to glue the props to the rodent’s head before Frank came into the scene.

"Back Off, Man. I'm A Scientist" (Ghostbusters)

Peter Venkman has one outrageous line after another in Ghostbusters, and one of the best can be heard in the early goings of the 1984 comedy. After asking a series of highly inappropriate questions, Venkman tells a librarian to back off in the best possible way. Or is it the worst possible way? You decide.

"You're Not Gonna Get A Green Card With That Attitude, Pal" (Ghostbusters II)

Peter Venkman going back and forth with Peter MacNicol’s Dr. Janosz Poha in Ghostbusters II never gets old. This is especially true when the two are going at it in front of the haunted portrait of Vigo the Carpathian, and Venkman utters the “green card” line. Vicious.

"Never In My Wildest Imagination Did I Ever Dream I'd Have Sons Like These" (Rushmore)

When it comes to despicable characters in Wes Anderson movies, none come close to the vindictive and repulsive Herman Blume. Bill Murray’s industrialist and reluctant father character has so many classic moments in the movie, and more times than not, they involve Blume’s sons.

"People Like Blood Sausage, Too. People Are Morons" (Groundhog Day)

Phil Connors calling people “morons” in the best possible way in Groundhog Day takes an already great movie and turns it into the stuff legends are made of. It’s biting comments like this that make Bill Murray’s weatherman such an unforgettable character.

"It's Gonna Be Cold, It's Gonna Be Gray, And It's Gonna Last The Rest Of Your Life" (Groundhog Day)

Phil Connors isn’t one to mince words, and that honestly makes him a decent guy (if you overlook the grouchiness and disdain for most things in life). When giving an outlook on life, er the forecast, he lets out this iconic line in Groundhog Day.

"Do Me A Favor, Will You? Would You Mind Washing Off That Perfume Before You Come Back To Our Table?" (Kingpin)

Ernie McCracken is one of the biggest jerks the sports comedy genre has ever seen (he makes Shooter McGavin look nice by comparison), and that's best seen in Kingpin's diner scene where he absolutely tears into a waitress. Was he wrong? But did he go about the wrong way of calling out the woman's perfume choice? You bet!

"Because I Hate Fathers, And I Never Wanted To Be One" (Life Aquatic)

Steve Zissou pretty much saying that having kids was a mistake in The Life Aquatic is one of those examples of "When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong." It's okay to feel that way, but to tell someone that having them was a mistake was quite a choice.

"Mike, I Really Appreciate You're Doing This, But It Is Just For The Money, Isn't It? It's Not Just So You Can Wear These Little Outfits?" (Tootsie)

Bill Murray’s Jeff Slater, the playwright roommate of Dustin Hoffman’s Michael Dorsey in Tootsie, is one of the most grounded characters in this 1982 classic, but even he says it like it is. The scene where he questions Michael’s obsession with becoming Dorothy Michaels is one of the best examples of that.

"Why Haven't You Learned How To Button A Coat?" (Scrooged)

Claire Phillips (Karen Allen) is on the receiving end of a lot of verbal abuse from Frank Cross in Scrooged. One of the most ridiculous and hilarious, examples of this comes when Bill Murray’s main character gets sarcastic about outerwear.

"Ned [Punches Ned In The Face]?" (Groundhog Day)

The recurring “Phil, Phil. Connors” run-ins with Ned Ryerson (Stephen Tobolowsky) are some of the best scenes in Groundhog Day, but there’s one that stands out above the rest. In the midst of his downward spiral, Phil lashes out and punches the obnoxious character right in the face.

"’It Is What It Is'? Everyone's Saying That Now. You Know What It Means? You're Screwed, And You Shall Remain Screwed.” (St. Vincent)

When it comes to old curmudgeons, few of Bill Murray’s characters come close to the titular grump in St. Vincent. His response to hearing the common phrase “It is what it is” is admittedly on point, but I’m not the one on the receiving end.

"Try To Make It Sound Like You Wrote It That Way On Purpose." (The French Dispatch)

One of Wes Anderson’s best movies, The French Dispatch, is a series of short films filling out what is to be the final edition of the titular news magazine. In between those longer segments are various scenes with editor Arthur Howitzer Jr. (Bill Murray). One of the funniest moments comes when Howitzer gives one of his writers a harsh yet honest critique, telling them to make their mistakes seem like they were meant to be there.

"Would You Please... For The Love Of God And Your Own Body... Stop The Hammering?" (Scrooged)

Frank Cross yelling at people in Scrooged isn’t rare, but the time he yelled about hammering on set is something wild. It’s the subtle pauses, the facial expressions, and that exaggerated tone in his voice. It’s perfect.

"There Are Two Types Of People In This World: Those Who Like Neil Diamond, And Those Who Don't." (What About Bob?)

What About Bob? is one of those movies that’s impossible to watch without being on edge, and that’s part of its charm. The other part? Well, Bill Murray’s portrayal of the neurotic, obsessive, and unhinged Bob Wiley. The scene where he shares his classic “Neil Diamond” line is one of those. Talk about a way to put down an ex and the “Sweet Caroline” singer.

"Oh, Creepy! I'm Sorry. You Know, For The First Couple Years, I Felt Responsible. How You Been Otherwise?" (Kingpin)

Ernie McCracken reacting to Roy Munson’s fake hand (he pretty much led to the mangling of his bowling hand) in Kingpin is so hilarious, so genuine, and so over-the-top. While he does admit to his role in the matter, Ernie stops himself short of taking full responsibility.

"She Doesn't Have Any Friends." (Moonrise Kingdom)

Walt Bishop (Bill Murray) putting down his missing daughter (played by Kara Hayward) when the 12-year-old runs away in Moonrise Kingdom is so unnecessary, but we’ll allow it. He’s not wrong in his description of his daughter’s social life, but wow!

"Just Remember, They Can Buy Anything But They Can't Buy Backbone. Don't Let Them Forget It." (Rushmore)

Frank Cross doesn’t miss an opportunity to attack rich kids in Rushmore, including an intense speech where the self-made man says that the wealthy elite can buy anything they want, save for a backbone. Though he is filthy rich in the movie, Frank has a point.

"Don't Cry In My Office." (The French Dispatch)

Arthur Howitzer telling his staff not to cry in his office after it’s learned he’s dying of cancer is honestly one of the most genuine parts of this 2021 Wes Anderson film. Again, the character is being somewhat mean about it all, but he’s not wrong.

"You're Short, Your Bellybutton Sticks Out Too Far, And You're A Terrible Burden On Your Poor Mother." (Ghostbusters II)

Baby Oscar in Ghostbusters II goes through a lot by the time the credits roll. However, being abducted by a ghost so that Vigo the Carpathian can use his body to carry out his evil plans doesn’t compare to being shamed by Peter Venkman. Like, how do you come back from that?

"Yeah, You Get To Treat 'Em Bad On The Way Back Down Too. It's Great, You Get Two Chances To Rough 'Em Up." (Scrooged)

Frank Cross has no time for his family’s critiques of the way he lives in Scrooged. The scene where Frank responds to his brother, basically telling him not to be mean to people, is just so perfect. It’s undeniably mean, but so much fun to watch.

"You Went In There To Get A Date And Came Out With A Dog. That's Bad Even For You." (Garfield: The Movie)

Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer) is on the receiving end of some outrageous put-downs by Bill Murray’s titular cat in Garfield: The Movie, but does anything compare to the time the lasagna-loving feline makes fun of his owner for bringing home a dog? Woof!

"I'm Sorry. You Know I Thought You Were Richard Pryor!" (Scrooged)

This Frank Cross line isn’t the meanest thing the character says in Scrooged, but it was just too good to pass up. When Bill Murray’s character thinks the waiter is on fire, he pours a bucket of water on the man before referencing an incident where Richard Pryor caught himself on fire while taking part in an extracurricular activity.

"But I Don't See Any Reason Why I Should Just Sit Here Pretending I'm Not Home, Just Because You're Not That Kind Of Girl. Now, That's Weird." (Tootsie)

Michael Dorsey wears many hats in Tootsie, so many that it starts to make life difficult for his roommate, Jeff. At one point, Jeff comments on all the times he didn’t comment on his best friend’s method acting, eventually saying enough is enough now that he can’t answer a phone because “Dorothy Michaels” shouldn’t have a male roommate.

"What A Lovely Singing Voice You Must Have." (Ghostbusters)

When confronting a possessed Dana (Sigourney Weaver) in Ghostbusters, Peter Venkman attempts to make light of the situation by commenting on Zuul’s demonic voice. It’s not the meanest thing he says in the movie, but it’s so on-brand.

"You Know I'm Not Big On Apologizing. So I'll Just Skip It If It's All The Same To You." (Life Aquatic)

The Life Aquatic has some great characters, and each has some wonderful moments. But let’s be real… Steve Zissou is at the top of that list, especially when he tells Eleanor (Anjelica Huston) that he’s not big on apologies. Sure, he comes around, but this line (and live delivery) is perfect.

"Do You Have Any Regrets?" -"Garfield, Maybe." (Zombieland)

One of the best zombie apocalypse movies (and certainly one of the funniest), Zombieland has one of the best cameos of all time when Bill Murray briefly shows up as himself. There’s one key moment when he’s asked if he has any regrets on his deathbed, and he honestly comes up with the best answer…

Summer is in full swing and that means one thing for many kids across the country, summer camp! Some of our favorite memories of childhood happened when weren’t getting poison ivy at camp. If you're yearning for that kind of nostalgia, here are the best summer camp movies. 

Meatballs (1979)

You have to start any list of the best summer camp movies with the Bill Murray classic, Meatballs. It not only launched Murray’s career as a film star, but also marked the first time the SNL star teamed up with director Ivan Reitman. Murray and Reitman’s partnership proved to be one of the funniest in movie history, adding Stripes and Ghostbusters over the next five years after this comedy.

The world of comedy in the 1980s would have looked very different if Meatballs never happened. Despite being about kids, it does carry an R-rating because it’s, well, classic Murray and Reitman. Plus, it’s just a classic underdog tale about the slightly shabby camp taking on the rich-kid camp across the lake. 

The Parent Trap (1961 And 1998)

It’s pretty rare that a remake be as beloved as the original, but that is the case with 1961’s The Parent Trap starring Hayley Mills and the Lindsay Lohan-led remake from 1998. Neither movie takes place exclusively at camp, but when two twins separated at birth meet at summer camp and realize they are sisters, the hijinks begin, so it definitely counts here. This is a pair of movies that work great as a double feature for the whole family to enjoy. 

If we’re getting down to it, the original is still the best. It’s not nearly as dated as you would think, either. In fact, the ‘90s one feels a little more dated somehow, but both are still really fun movies that everyone walks out of happy, even if not everything makes sense. 

Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

Another stone-cold summer camp classic is the rauchy teen comedy Wet Hot American Summer, which owes a lot to Meatballs. The movie is mostly about the counselors (and the amount of partying and sex they have). It was written by and stars Michael Showalter, who wrote it as a spoof of classic ‘80s comedies, but despite being very similar to those movies in tone, Wet Hot American Summer is rated R, unlike many of its ‘80s counterparts. 

It also has a now-legendary cast including including Janeane Garofalo, the fantastic Paul Rudd, David Hyde Pierce, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Christopher Meloni, and Elizabeth Banks, not to mention Bradley Cooper in his first film role. The movie has become such a huge cult classic that it launched its own mini franchise with two 8-episode series on Netflix a few years ago.  

Friday The 13th (1980)

Friday the 13th is the slasher film that redefined the genre in the ‘80s. This one is like the anti-Parent Trap and certainly not suitable for all ages. What more can really be said about the summer camp horror flick that hasn’t been already? Ghost stories have always been a key component of a great camp experience and the tale of Jason Voorhees (and his mother) is still haunting campers today, more than 40 years later. It doesn’t hurt that the franchise, like Jason, keeps coming back from the dead. 

The movie holds up remarkably well; it's full of jump scares and, of course, the legendary plot twist at the end is inspired by Alfred Hitchcock himself. While it is still rated R, it’s not nearly as gory as slasher films would get in the ensuing decades, and the violence, while not…campy…isn’t quite Saw-level either. 

Heavyweights (1995)

One trope that would be expected on this list would be “kids v. adults” set in a camp. Filling that role here is Heavyweights, starring Ben Stiller as a psychopathic fitness instructor who buys a “fat camp” and turns what was once a fun and rewarding place into the camp from hell. Stiller’s character is kind of like a cross between his psycho orderly in Happy Gilmore and Derek Zoolander. 

It’s good clean family fun, and really fun to watch a young Kenan Thompson as one of the campers. It’s not the best movie on this list, but it’s great for kids, and Stiller’s performance is fantastic. His father, Jerry Stiller, also makes an appearance as the the former owner of the camp that everyone loved, so Seinfeld fans have something to celebrate, too. 

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Wes Anderson movies can be polarizing, but it’s impossible not to love Moonrise Kingdom. In true Wes Anderson style, the movie is about two awkward kids who find love at Camp Ivanhoe. Rated PG-13, it’s exactly what anyone would want out of a summer camp movie and it stars a who’s who of Anderson collaborators, including Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, and Tilda Swinton, plus Bruce Willis in a memorable role. 

Anderson fans tend to be completists, so on the off chance you haven’t seen this one, you’re missing out. It’s actually one of his sweeter stories, but it has all the quirkiness and oddball characters that he’s become known for. 

Poison Ivy (1985)

No, no, this isn’t the weird almost-soft-core-porn-movie starring Drew Barrymore from the 1990s that’s not about summer camp at all. This Poison Ivy is a much more innocent made-for-TV family flick starring an about-to-be-even-more-famous Michael J. Fox. The movie first aired on NBC in February of 1985. For some context, Back to the Future came out just six months later, launching Fox’s career into the stratosphere. 

It’s also great for fans of ‘80s TV, as it sees him trying to get Facts of Life star Nancy McKeon, a fellow counselor, to fall in love with him. It’s like one of those crossover episodes that got popular in the ‘80s and '90s. They might not be playing Alex and Jo, but it’s fun to pretend they would fall in love, right?

Ernest Goes To Camp (1987)

You might be saying to yourself, “Why?" Why did we include Ernest Goes To Camp on this list of the best? The truth is, it’s actually pretty funny if you’re in the right mood. Yeah, it’s cheaply made, and over the years, Jim Varney’s character, Ernest P. Worrell, became very cliche, but this was the movie that started it all.

This was the first full feature for ol’ Ernest, and the physical comedy from Varney really is something to behold. If you're a fan of movies like Home Alone, this really should be right up your alley. It’s also worth to just to see the birth of one of the strangest franchises in film history. 

It Takes Two (1995)

To read the description, you’d think It Takes Two is some sort of off-brand Parent Trap, and, let’s be real here, it kind of is. It stars the Olsen Twins, Ashley and Mary Kate, as girls from different sides of the track who meet at summer camp and hatch a plan to switch places. Sound familiar? The twist is that they aren’t actually twins in the movie. They aren’t related at all. 

Getting more real: it’s not high art, but it is a lot of fun and it’s a movie kids are sure to enjoy. It’s innocent and playful; it doesn’t challenge viewers, but it doesn’t insult them, either. This is a great movie to watch as a family, or, honestly, a great one to have on in the background as you do stuff around the house on a Sunday afternoon. 

Indian Summer (1993)

I think most people who went to summer camp get nostalgic about wanting to return as an adult. Indian Summer is just that movie. In it, we can all see ourselves and what we might do when confronted with the good, the bad, and the ugly of our adolescence at camp. The mistakes we made as kids, the exes we never quite got over, and what could happen if we follow our dreams. 

The film has an all-star cast, including the late Alan Arkin, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Pollack, and Bill Paxton, who blend the joy of summer camp as a kid, with the harsh realities of adulthood magically and it’ll make anyone tear up with a little nostalgia of those summers in the woods. 

Bonus: Addams Family Values (1993)

Addams Family Values isn’t about summer camp, per se, but it does have one of the best summer camp subplots on film. Camp Chippewa for Privileged Children is about as trope-y as a camp can get, which of course means Wednesday (Christina Ricci) is pretty much completely disgusted. While the camp coordinators, played brilliantly by Peter MacNicol and Christine Baranski, attempt to get her acclimated by forcing her to watch wholesome movies in the “Harmony Hut,” Wednesday is just too smart for them. 

As might be predictable, she, along with the help of her brother Pugsly, captures the saccharine directors and lights the camp on fire, stealing a van in the process, which is probably what earned the movie its PG-13 rating. There is one bright spot for the dark Wednesday, as she finds love at camp with another nerdy outcast named Joel. Even the weirdest among us have their first kiss at camp. 

Unlike Indian Summer, most of us can’t go back to camp, but we can relive those glory days through the eyes of others. If you can’t make it back, and if you’ve binged all these, there are plenty of other family-friendly movies still coming out this summer that you can check out.  

When it comes to movies, I’ve watched a lot of films from some of the best. I’ve seen a good amount of Christopher Nolan movies (even though I just watched Interstellar for the first time), I’ve seen all of Martin Scorsese’s films, and have watched every single M. Night Shyamalan horror/thriller that he has put out, for better or worse. But, one director I hadn't seen every single film for was Wes Anderson. 

Granted, I had seen plenty of them before. Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Grand Budapest Hotel were some of my favorite films back when I was a teenager and they still stand out as awesome picks. Because I’ve been trying to rejuvenate my life with some amazing movies, though, I decided to watch every single Anderson movie so far – and I had some thoughts. 

In celebration of Asteroid City releasing, here is what I thought of every Wes Anderson movie – starting from the very beginning. 

To Be Honest, Bottle Rocket And Rushmore Were Forgettable In Comparison To Anderson’s Later Films

Yeah, these two didn’t stand out to me as much, if we’re being honest. 

Bottle Rocket was based on a short that Anderson did two years prior, and while the introduction of the Wilson brothers was great for Hollywood, I genuinely, for the life of me, don’t understand why this was the feature that made Wes Anderson famous. 

It’s a very simple movie on the surface level, and for a feature directorial debut, it’s great, but it pales in comparison to many of his other films that he directed later on. 

The same goes for Rushmore. While it was also a great introduction to Jason Schwartzman and the beginning of Bill Murray appearing in many Anderson movies, nothing about it really stood out to me. The performances were great, and the cinematography was always fantastic, but other than that, I won’t be re-watching it. 

But The Royal Tenenbaums Was The First One That Stood Out To Me

I had never seen The Royal Tenenbaums until recently, and I regret it! This movie is a ton of fun and I can understand why many people consider it one of Anderson’s best so far. The story, written by both Anderson and Owen Wilson, is hilarious, and I look at this movie sort of as the beginning of Anderson starting to play with colors and cinematography a lot more than his previous two. 

This film is where we really start to see the “Anderson touch,” as I call it, where you just know it’s directed by him from only a trailer. You don’t even need to be told. And with a cast that features the brilliant talents of actors such as Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Angelica Huston, and more? It’s a recipe for success. 

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou Deserved More Love At The Box Office

To be honest, The Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou is such an underrated gem. Bill Murray stars in this film, alongside a stellar cast of Owen Wilson, Angelica Huston, Jeff Goldblum – even the talented Cate Blanchett. 

I can’t understand why this film didn’t do well at the box office, because it has all the makings of a true original – but at least it has become a cult classic years later. Maybe it's because it was competing with other big films at the time, like Meet the Fockers or Ocean’s Twelve, but this should have gotten so much more love. 

The Brothers Of The Darjeeling Limited Were The Best Part Of The Movie

The Darjeeling Limited was one of my least favorites, and to be honest, that’s mainly because I personally didn’t connect with the story. The cinematography was outstanding, as per Wes Anderon’s shots, as he always seems to have the best ones in the game of filmmaking. But, the story…it was just sort of “meh,” to me. 

However, what I will say is that The Darjeeling Limited did an excellent job with its main three actors, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, and Owen Wilson. These three as the brothers was top-ten casting for all the dramedies out there, because they made it look so natural, as if they really were related. Their chemistry was some of the best I’ve seen in an Anderson film, and I would gladly view all three together in another movie at some point. 

I’ve Seen Fantastic Mr. Fox Before – And It’s Truly The Best Stop-Motion Animated Film Out There

I could go on for hours about how much I love Fantastic Mr. Fox. I’ve already talked about it in my best stop-motion animation list because it’s genuinely one of the most beautiful stop-motion movies ever. 

Man, this movie never gets old. There’s something new that you discover about it every time you watch. The voice-acting was done exceptionally well, and every frame had a purpose and a meeting. Animation isn’t just a genre – it’s art form, and this is a beautiful example of that. Truly, one of the best stop-motion movies. 

Moonrise Kingdom Is Just As Delightful As It Was When I First Watched It

I adore this movie. Moonrise Kingdom is one of those films that you watch when you’re having a bad day and you need something to make you smile. At its core, it’s a sweet love story that incorporates aspects of childhood fantasies, such as running away and looking for a new life. 

What really makes it such a great movie is the two child actors who carry this film – Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. Yes, the cast is full of talented actors and actresses, but these two were the heart of the movie and were the reasons I watched it as a thirteen-year-old – and now, they're the reasons I watched it as a 24 year old. 

The Grand Budapest Hotel Is A Lot Funnier Than I Remember It Being

This movie had no business being this funny. 

I saw The Grand Budapest Hotel in a theater with my dad, and I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’ve grown up since seeing it, or my sense of humor has matured, but this movie was so freaking funny. 

Specifically, the main star of the film, Ralph Fiennes, and Tony Revolori, were two of the best parts. Their scenes in the film made me laugh my butt off and their comedic timing was on point. They really did make it that much more entertaining. 

Isle Of Dogs Isn’t As Great As Mr. Fox – But There’s A Lot To Love About It

Isle of Dogs is Anderson’s second stop-motion film – and I’ll be honest and say I don’t enjoy it nearly as much as I did Fantastic Mr. Fox. I think it’s really because the movie felt as if it was trying to draw inspiration from one of my favorite directors of all time, Hayao Miyazaki, with its themes, but it didn’t quite pin it down story-wise. 

However, there’s still a lot to love about it. The voice cast is outstanding, with actors that I’m sure everyone has heard of and will adore hearing in this movie, like Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray (of course) and way more. The animation is a heck of a lot of fun – maybe not as whimsical and enjoyable as Mr. Fox, but there’s still plenty to enjoy. 

The French Dispatch Almost Fit Too Much Into Its Near Two Hour Time-Frame

I wanted to adore The French Dispatch so badly. Don’t get me wrong, the movie itself has a lot going for it, including the amazing French Dispatch cast, as well as its incredible score, but there's so much in this story that it’s sort of hard to follow. 

It was difficult to keep up with the insane number of names, storylines, and so much more that this movie had to offer. I think it would have been better if the film was just a tad longer, but within this timeframe there was enough space to enjoy everything.

I’m Excited To Finally Get To See Asteroid City

That being said, after this binge of Anderson movies, I can say I’m looking forward to Asteroid City. The movie, again, has a star-studded cast, with a story that is genuinely interesting, so I’m eager to see where it goes. 

What do you love the most about the director? Now all I need to do is get on TikTok and hop on that Wes Anderson trend before it goes out of style. 

More so than with any other living filmmaker, you immediately know when you are watching Wes Anderson movies. The auteur has developed a trademark style, color palette, cinematography, and tone for his various movies over the years. This unique form of visual storytelling has led to some of the most inventive and iconic shots in modern cinema

As part of our partnership with AMC Theatres, which selected Asteroid City as an Artisan film, and where you can now purchase tickets to see the film on the big screen, we’ve decided to go back through his first 10 movies and pick out the shots that best represent the director’s iconic style. Many planning sessions, dance parties, and melodramatic moments went into the making of this list, so please enjoy. 

Bottle Rocket (1996) - Planning The Robbery

Though he had not yet fully developed the style for which he is now known, you can see traces of what was to come in Wes Anderson’s 1996 crime comedy, Bottle Rocket, which he wrote alongside Owen Wilson, one of his most prolific collaborators. This is best illustrated in the scene in which Dignan (Wilson), Anthony Adams (Luke Wilson), and Bob Mapplethorpe (Robert Musgrave) are planning the film’s robbery.

Planning sequences would go on to become a major component of Anderson’s work in the years to come, so it’s fun to see the genesis of this element in his debut film.

Rushmore (1998) - The Revenge Montage

Anderson continued to evolve his style with his 1998 sophomore effort, Rushmore, a movie about an eccentric teenager named Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) who goes to war with his mentor, Herman Blume (Bill Murray), after they both fall in love with the same woman, played by Olivia Williams.

The director has long used non-orchestral songs in some of his biggest scenes, and that’s the case in the “Revenge Montage” in Rushmore, where Max gets back at Herman in their petty feud. The entire sequence, which is set to The Who’s “A Quick One While He’s Away,” is worth a watch, but the shot of the teenager walking in slow motion out of an elevator after carrying out his revenge is classic.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) - Window Scene In Prologue

The Royal Tenenbaums, released in 2001, feels like the beginning of the style we now most associate with Wes Anderson. The distinct color palettes, the multitude of symmetrical shots, and the quirky tone are all on full display in this movie about an estranged father (Gene Hackman) attempting to reconnect with his family.

There’s a moment in which the younger versions of Margot and Chas Tenenbaum look out windows at their father down below. The contrast of red bricks, gray stone, pink walls, and white art on the walls sets a visual tone that is carried throughout the rest of the movie.

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004) - In Awe Of The Jaguar Shark

In The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Anderson takes the visual toolbox he constructed in his three previous films to create a career-defining experience, one that tells the story of an oceanographer (Bill Murray) searching for the “Jaguar Shark” that ate his best friend, but the underwater encounter with the fabled beast is the best.

There’s a moment in which Zissou, who is in the center of the frame, is being embraced by everyone in a cramped submarine as they find the elusive Jaguar Shark. Both triumphant and melancholic, the sequence, thanks in part to Sigur Ros’ beautiful “Staralfur,” creates an unforgettable moment.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007) - The Funeral Scene

His fifth movie, 2007’s The Darjeeling Limited, takes audiences along with three brothers – Peter (Adrien Brody), Francis (Owen Wilson), and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) as they go on a spiritual journey through India.

There’s a shot part way through the movie where the brothers leave a funeral for a young boy in one of the most impressive tracking shots of Anderson’s career. But the moment gets even better when the trio get into a car and the movie immediately cuts to a flashback from their father’s funeral a year earlier. Not only does the cut show how far they’ve come, it also creates a dizzying visual experience.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) - Mr. Fox Meets The Wolf

The filmmaker’s 2009 stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox is a true delight and one of his best achievements. The animated movie, with its warm colors, outstanding cinematography, and tremendous story, gives plenty of reasons to be so well remembered.

The moment that always comes back is the scene in which Mr. Fox (George Clooney) has a near-religious experience when he meets a wolf in the wild. It’s a short scene, but a powerful one nonetheless, and is capped off with a shot of both the wild wolf and not-so-wild fox sharing a moment of solidarity with their paws raised towards the heavens.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) - The Treehouse

Released in 2012, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of a young boy and girl who run away together to an isolated beach in an attempt to escape their guardians and peers. The central coming-of-age story is a grand exploration of young love, rebellion, and freedom, but there are a lot of secondary characters that lead to some signature Wes Anderson moments.

One of the quirkiest of these shots shows a treehouse built by a group of Khaki Scouts at the top of the tallest tree you’ve ever seen. Scout Master Randy Ward (Edward Norton) is not amused or excited about the dangerous shelter several stories in the sky, but for the viewer it creates an unforgettable moment.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - Jail Escape

Some would argue that The Grand Budapest Hotel is the most Wes Anderson movie of his career, and there’s a case to be made for that. The movie, which centers on the famed concierge, Monsieur Gustave H. (Ralph Feinnes), of a mountainside resort, is full of great miniatures, tracking shots, a great deal of symmetry, and a great score.

We could talk about a number of scenes, however, the one that sticks out the most is the jailbreak scene in which Gustave and his fellow prisoners attempt to escape. It’s cartoonish, meticulous, and incredibly charming, which are probably the best ways to describe Anderson’s work.

Isle Of Dogs (2018) - The Sushi Scene

In 2018, Anderson released his second stop-motion animated movie, Isle of Dogs, in which the mayor of a Japanese town banned all dogs and sent them to a remote island. We could go on about all the gorgeous shots and sequences throughout this charming movie, but the sushi scene is the scène du jour.

Though the sequence does end with someone eating a poisoned piece of sushi, the events that precede it are beautifully crafted and animated. The combination of violence and artistry creates this very Wes Anderson experience, one that is so precise and well-crafted.

The French Dispatch (2021) - The Sentence Diagram

Anderson’s 2021 anthology film, The French Dispatch, brings to life three stories from the final issue of the French foreign bureau of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun newspaper. Each of the main segments are full of wonderful moments, but the most Wes Anderson shot of the whole film takes place in one of the portions following the staff of the newspaper.

The moment in question shows Alumna (Elisabeth Moss), the French Dispatch’s copy editor, working on what could be the most impressive sentence diagram the world has ever seen. It’s unnecessarily complicated, but that has sort of become Anderson’s charm in recent years. 

We can’t wait to see what Wes Anderson has in store for us with Asteroid City, whether it’s crafting wonderfully composed shots of characters in symmetrical settings, wonderful musical numbers, or anything else we covered. If you’re just as intrigued and excited, you’ll probably want to go ahead and purchase your tickets before you’re out of time.

Asteroid City opens in theaters on June 23, 2023.  

Unless you are the kind of person who easily gets fed up by high-temperature weather, swarms of pesky insects, and the sound of fireworks displays keeping you up at night, it is a shame that we only get to experience the summer just once a year. Luckily, we have the advantage of vicariously living out the season of barbecues, baseball, and - most importantly - no school, anytime time of the year with the magic of movies.

Of course, not every movie set during the summer is the best option to conjure the season’s best memories (see great summer horror movies). That is why we have compiled our favorite summer comedy movies, along with a tip on where to check them out on streaming or a digital rental or purchase, below - starting with one that is, arguably, the most essential of the bunch. 

The Sandlot (Amazon Prime, Disney+)

A lonely boy (Tom Guiry) discovers the joys of the season after making friends with a of group  baseball fanatics, who soon get themselves into a big “pickle” involving a prized baseball signed by Babe Ruth in the summer of 1962.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: By presenting the story entirely from a child’s perspective, co-writer and director David Mickey Evans' 1993 family favorite captures most essential aspects of the summer with astonishing accuracy and achieves a spot among the best sports movies of all time, with credit due to the young The Sandlot cast’s wonderful performances.

Stream The Sandlot on Amazon Prime.
Stream The Sandlot on Disney+.

The Bad News Bears (Cinemax)

A beer-swilling former major leaguer (Walter Matthau) accepts a job as the coach for a team of young misfits whom he struggles to mold into real athletes to compete against the other extremely competitive teams in their California little league.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Long before The Sandlot, the quintessential movie about youngsters running the bases during the summer (but not so much for the love of the game, that is) was 1976’s The Bad News Bears - director Michael Ritchie and writer Bill Lancaster’s hilarious and even inspiring underdog story that is still remembered as one of the best baseball movies of all time.

Stream The Bad News Bears on Cinemax.
Rent (or buy) The Bad News Bears on Amazon.

Heavyweights (Disney+)

An 11-year-old (Aaron Schwartz) finds himself surprisingly excited to be the new guy at a beloved youth weight-loss camp for the summer, until he and his new friends learn the devastating news that it has been bought out and rebranded by a sadistic fitness guru (Ben Stiller) and his loyal crew of barbaric trainers.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Speaking of hilarious and even inspiring underdog stories, the charming and sometimes a bit dark 1995 family comedy, Heavyweights, is a story about being happy with who you are, but also learning how to improve yourself, that was co-written and produced by Judd Apatow and features a talented young cast (including future SNL cast member Kenan Thompson) alongside other future comedy superstars Stiller and Paul Feig.

Stream Heavyweights on Disney+.
Rent (or buy) Heavyweights on Amazon.

Wet Hot American Summer (Amazon Rental)

A lovestruck camp director (Janeane Garofalo) struggles to keep her crew of rowdy, hormonal counselors in order while taking care of unfinished business during their final day at Camp Firewood for the summer of 1981.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Speaking of summer camp movies featuring a cast of future comedy superstars, perhaps the definitive summer camp movie (but for adults) would have to be 2001’s Wet Hot American Summer - a hilariously raunchy cult favorite that inspired two Netflix original series - one a prequel and the other a sequel - from director David Wain, who also co-wrote with star Michael Showalter.

Rent (or buy) Wet Hot American Summer on Amazon.

Meatballs (Amazon Prime, Tubi)

As the annual, coveted Camp Olympics are approaching, the fun-loving head counselor (Bill Murray) decides to set aside his irresponsible, womanizing ways and try to whip his rowdy, hormonal, young campers into shape to break their longtime losing streak.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Long before Wet Hot American Summer, the definitive adult-oriented summer camp movie had to be 1979’s Meatballs - one of the late Ivan Reitman’s best movies (and his first collaboration with his friend, Murray) which went on to spawn three sequels.

Stream Meatballs on Amazon Prime.
Stream Meatballs on Tubi.

The Great Outdoors (Amazon Rental)

A Chicago man (John Candy) sees his leisurely summer getaway in Wisconsin  interrupted by the unexpected arrival of his snobbish brother-in-law (Dan Aykroyd) and his own family, whose struggle to share the fun of this vacation is only worsened by a series of ridiculous incidents. 

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Another fun movie about camping during the summer and starring a pair of Ivan Reitman movie veterans is 1998’s The Great Outdoors - a classic of the family vacation disaster comedy subgenre from writer John Hughes.

Rent (or buy) The Great Outdoors on Amazon.

National Lampoon’s Vacation (HBO Max)

A Chicago food additives and preservatives expert (Chevy Chase) sees his cross-country road trip to a beloved amusement park with his wife (Beverly D’Angelo), son (Anthony Michael Hall), and daughter (Dana Barron) quickly devolve into a desperate plea for fun, stability, and sanity when they fall prey to a series of maddening circumstances.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Of course, the crown jewel of the family vacation disaster comedy subgenre has to be the first (and, arguably, best) of the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies from 1983 - a timelessly relatable and boldly uproarious laugh riot from director Harold Ramis that was also written by John Hughes and is based on his own short story.

Stream National Lampoon’s Vacation on HBO Max.
Rent (or buy) National Lampoon’s Vacation on Amazon.

The Way Way Back (HBO Max)

A shy teen (Liam James) spends the summer with his mother (Toni Collette) and her domineering boyfriend (Steve Carell) at the boyfriend’s beach house in Cape Cod, where he receives a job and some much-needed mentorship from the affable manager of a nearby water park (Sam Rockwell).

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: A more recent and more grounded instant classic of the summer vacation comedy subgenre (and one of the dysfunctional family variety as well) is 2013’s The Way Way Back - an inspiring and romantic coming-of-age story written and directed by the Academy Award-winning duo of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.

Stream The Way Way Back on HBO Max.
Rent (or buy) The Way Way Back on Amazon.

Moonrise Kingdom (HBO Max)

A police captain (Bruce Willis), the local scoutmaster (Edward Norton), and other citizens of a small island community desperately search for an orphaned 12-year-old boy (Jared Gilman) and a girl of the same age (Kaya Hayward) who have run away together after becoming smitten with each other in early 1960s New England.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Probably the greatest romantic coming-of-age comedy I have ever seen and my personal favorite Wes Anderson movie is 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom - a visually dazzling and uniquely hilarious celebration of youth that earned Anderson and Roman Coppola an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Stream Moonrise Kingdom on HBO Max.
Rent (or buy) Moonrise Kingdom on Amazon.

Dazed And Confused (Peacock Premium)

On the last day of school, a group high school students on the cusp of their senior year and others who just became freshman celebrate their freedom with a night of debauchery in 1976 Austin, Texas.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Taking place at the very beginning of the summer season is one of writer and director Richard Linklater’s most acclaimed experiments with time, 1993’s Dazed and Confused - a brilliant party movie with and a wicked cast of future A-listers (such as Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey) that boasts an invigorating soundtrack of classic hits from the 1970s.

Stream Dazed And Confused on Peacock Premium.
Rent (or buy) Dazed And Confused on Amazon.

American Graffiti (Amazon Rental)

On their last night before going off to college, a group of teenagers enjoy one last night of freedom and debauchery cruising the streets of Northern California in 1962.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Taking place at the very end of the summer season is one of the best George Lucas movies outside of the Star Wars franchise, 1973’s American Graffiti - a beautiful love letter to a lost generation featuring a stunning cast of future A-listers (such as Ron Howard and Harrison Ford) and a heart-swelling collection of needle drops from the ‘50s and ’60s.

Rent (or buy) American Graffiti on Amazon.

Summer School (Showtime)

A lazy, fun-loving gym teacher (future NCIS star Mark Harmon) is forced to abandon his vacation plans when he is selected to instruct remedial English for his school’s summer program.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: The only movie on our list of summer movies in which the majority of the story actually takes place during school is the aptly title Summer School - an underrated 1987 comedy directed by the legendary Carl Reiner.

Stream Summer School on Showtime.
Rent (or buy) Summer School on Amazon.

One Crazy Summer (1986)

While on a Nantucket retreat with his friends before going off to art school, an aspiring cartoonist (John Cusack) crosses paths with an aspiring singer (Demi Moore) who's on the run from a biker gang and ends up helping her save her grandfather's estate from greedy developers.

Why it is one of the best summer comedy movies: Also starring the uproarious Bobcat Goldthwait, writer and director Savage Steve Holland's One Crazy Summer is one of the most uproarious comedies of the 1980s and one of the best John Cusack movies for simply keeping the promise its title makes from beginning to end.

Stream One Crazy Summer on Starz.
Rent (or buy) One Crazy Summer on Amazon.

No matter what happens, your summer can always can be one of fun and laughter with any of these hilarious classics.

Movie fans around the world were in for a shock in March 2022 when it was announced that Bruce Willis is retiring from acting due a health condition, bringing and untimely end to one of the most iconic careers in the history of Hollywood. Since then, there have been numerous tributes from fellow actors and an outpouring of support from cinephiles honoring Willis’ legacy.

To honor the career of the man who could effortlessly jump from comedy to horror and action to drama, we have put together a list of Bruce Willis’ best movies and just about every possible way to watch them, either for the millionth time or the first spin. 

Die Hard (1988)

John McClane (Bruce Willis), a New York City police officer, leaves the Big Apple and heads to Los Angeles to attend a Christmas party with his estranged wife at her Los Angeles high-rise. But the reunion is cut short when a group of terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) takes over the tower and holds the guests ransom.

People will always go back and forth on whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie, but there is no debate when it comes to how Bruce Willis helped redefine the action star in an era mostly made up of muscle-bound men armed to the teeth.

Stream Die Hard on Amazon.
Rent/Buy Die Hard on Amazon.
Buy Die Hard on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Quentin Tarantino’s classic Pulp Fiction centers on the stories a handful of characters all connected one way or another, whether they be two hitmen prone to engage in theological discussions, a former actress who’s now married to a ruthless gangster, or a boxer who doesn’t want to take a fall in a fixed fight.

It is hard to say which of the main stories in Pulp Fiction is at the top of the list, but the tale of Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) going on the run after not throwing a fight only to save the man who wants him dead is a strong contender. There’s so much depth to the story and a lot of that has to do with Willis’ ability to bring a level of contention and uneasiness to the role.

Rent/Buy Pulp Fiction on Amazon.
Buy Pulp Fiction on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Following a series of hauntings, a young boy named Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) is visited by child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) who attempts to understand his client’s abilities only to come to terms with a secret of his own.

M. Night Shyamalan could have never made another movie after The Sixth Sense and he would have still been considered one of the most visionary filmmakers of his generation. Everything about this movie just works — the script, the pacing, and incredible chemistry shared by Willis and Osment are all out of this world. And then there’s the brilliant twist that makes a rewatch an absolute must.

Stream The Sixth Sense on Amazon.
Rent/Buy The Sixth Sense on Amazon.
Buy The Sixth Sense on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Looper (2012)

After he fails to kill an older version of himself sent back in time, Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) finds himself in a situation where his own actions and those of his future self (Bruce Willis) could potentially change the outcome of their lives but also countless others.

One of the things that makes Rian Johnson’s modern-day sci-fi classic such a gem, besides its take on time travel, is the relationship shared by the younger and older versions of Joe, who aren’t necessarily partners while also not being the prototypical enemies as well. They both feel, act, and look (thanks to some prosthetics) like the same person, which is a testament to the actors’ skill and chemistry.

Stream Looper on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Looper on Amazon.
Buy Looper on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Armageddon (1998)

With an asteroid set on a collision course with Earth, NASA doesn’t turn to a team of highly-trained astronauts to prevent the rock from killing the planet but instead a ragtag group of oil drillers led by Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) who are sent to space to drop a nuke into its core and split it in two.

Sure, Armageddon isn’t scientifically accurate, but it’s hard to find a big-budget disaster movie about a planet-killing asteroid more fun this Michael Bay thrill ride. It’s big, it’s dumb, and sees Willis take on the role of an overprotective father with serious trust issues but also the ability to bring a team of outcasts together to save the day.

Stream Armageddon on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Armageddon on Amazon.
Buy Armageddon on Blu-ray on Amazon.

12 Monkeys (1995)

Nearly 40 years after a deadly virus is released and wipes out all but a small portion of the human race, James Cole (Bruce Willis), a prisoner living in 2035 Philadelphia, is sent back to the 1990s to prevent the deadly pathogen from being released. But when he is sent back to the wrong year, his mission becomes all the more complicated.

It feels like Willis was born to play roles like that of the time-traveling inmate in Terry Gilliam’s 1995 mind-bending thriller 12 Monkeys, because his performance is simply incredible. The way in which he is able to pull off a character who is so ambiguous only makes the performance, and movie, better.

Stream 12 Monkeys on Peacock.
Rent/Buy 12 Monkeys on Amazon.
Buy 12 Monkeys on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Fifth Element (1997)

After a strange woman named Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) crashes down onto his cab, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) finds himself in a race against time to save her and prevent a mysterious force from descending upon 23rd-century New York City and destroying the universe in the process.

Luc Besson’s eye-popping and stylish sci-fi action flick The Fifth Element puts the pedal to the metal and doesn’t let off until the credits roll. Everyone in this quintessential ‘90s movie is at the top of their game, including Chris Tucker and Gary Oldman, who appear in major roles. But at the center of the story is Willis’ character, who helps ground the movie and prevent it from going off the rails.

Stream The Fifth Element on AMC+ (Amazon Add-On)
Rent/Buy The Fifth Element on Amazon.
Buy The Fifth Element on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Death Becomes Her (1992)

The bitter rivalry of two frenemies — Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep) and Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn) — plays out over the course of decades after they each discover a potion that will grant them immortality, though with some drawbacks and routine maintenance. Caught between the two is Dr. Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis), a one-time successful plastic surgeon, who will do anything to escape the two.

Robert Zemeckis' 1992 horror comedy Death Becomes Her is mostly remembered for the outlandish performances by Streep and Hawn (and rightfully so), but the person who really anchors the movie is Willis, who is constantly being torn between the two loves of his life. Badgered, manipulated, and used time and time again, his character’s quest to remove the two women from his life (even if it means losing a chance at immortality) is one of the actor’s best turns.

Stream Death Becomes Her on Starz.
Rent/Buy Death Becomes Her on Amazon.
Buy Death Becomes Her on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Unbreakable (2000)

Upon surviving a train crash in which everyone else died, David Dunn (Bruce Willis) discovers that he has superhuman strength and is impervious to injury. If this wasn’t difficult enough, David soon catches the attention of a mysterious man named Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) who is his opposite in every imaginable way in Unbreakable.

Though not as groundbreaking as The Sixth Sense, the second collaboration between Willis and filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan is just as powerful and does a superb job of flipping the superhero motif on its head. The idea of a reluctant hero being forced to face off against an over-eager villain-in-the-making also provides for some great discussions on the nature of good and evil.

Stream Unbreakable on Amazon.
Rent/Buy Unbreakable on Amazon.
Buy Unbreakable on DVD on Amazon.

Sin City (2005)

Based on Frank Miller’s landmark graphic novel series of the same name, Sin City tells four stories of crime and punishment on the deadly streets and back alleyways of the corrupt metropolis. 

The Sin City cast is full of characters on both sides of the spectrum (as well as the gray area in between those absolutes), including Bruce Willis’ down-on-his-luck cop John Hartigan, who fights an army of thugs, officials, and his own failing body to save a young girl from a sadistic killer with ties to the city’s morally bankrupt elite.

Stream Sin City on Showtime.
Rent/Buy Sin City on Amazon.
Buy Sin City on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

In the summer of 1965, two 12-year-olds living on an island off the New England coast run away from their small town and embark upon a romantic journey in the wilderness where they hide out from other residents and make a new life together in peace.

There are a ton of great characters in Moonrise Kingdom, arguably the best Wes Anderson movie, but few (outside of the two leads, anyway) compare to Bruce Willis’ portrayal of New Penzance Police Captain Duffy Sharp, who seems to be the only adult who cares for the missing children. This daring and caring authority figure rises to the occasion time and time again, especially in the film’s final minutes.

Stream Moonrise Kingdom on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Moonrise Kingdom on Amazon.
Buy Moonrise Kingdom on DVD on Amazon.

Look Who’s Talking (1989)

What starts out as a ride to the hospital turns into an unlikely romance when James Ubriacco (John Travolta) gives Mollie Jensen (Kirstie Alley) a ride to the hospital so she can give birth to her son. With no father figure, or at least one willing to step up, James starts caring for the young Mikey (voiced by Bruce Willis) and becomes the most constant person, besides his mother, in his life.

Look Who’s Talking was a massive box office hit upon release in 1989. And while a lot of that can be attributed to the undeniable chemistry shared by Travolta and Alley, there’s no question Willis’ voice-over work contributed to that that success. He brings so much life to the role and takes the movie from being a fun romantic comedy into one of the most recognizable movies of the era.

Stream Look Who’s Talking on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Look Who’s Talking on Amazon.
Buy Look Who’s Talking on DVD on Amazon.

Bruce Willis has consistently been one of the most dynamic figures in Hollywood and has delivered a number of memorable performances throughout his career. And while we don’t know what the future holds for the veteran actor, we’re all better off having had him in our lives all these years.

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I think few would disagree that Frances McDormand is one of our greatest living actors. I also am inclined to believe that that same few have likely never seen a movie starring the acclaimed 63-year-old (who is also married to Joel Coen) and had no interest in seeing Nomadland until after it won Best Picture at the 2021 Oscars. Well, that being said, now seems like as good a time as any to bear witness to the best Frances McDormand movies on streaming or available to watch elsewhere, starting with the latest film to earn her praise from the Academy.

Nomadland (2020)

After suffering a devastating financial collapse, Fern (Frances McDormand) joins an emerging subculture of middle-aged people living on the road and searching for work at every stop.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Based on the non-fiction book by journalist Jessica Bruder, Nomadland is a visually and emotionally striking, stunningly authentic, and a refreshingly human story which earned Oscars for director Chloé Zhao and lead actress Frances McDormand - both of whom also took home the Best Picture awards as producers.

Stream Nomadland on Hulu.

Rent Nomadland on Amazon.

Buy Nomadland DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Fargo (1996)

The pregnant sheriff (Frances McDormand) of a small town in Minnesota investigates a murder linked to a struggling used car salesman’s (William H. Macy) botched scheme to have his wife kidnapped for the ransom.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Widely considered to be one of the greatest dark comedy movies ever made and one of the best movies on Amazon Prime at the moment is Fargo, which earned directors Joel and Ethan Coen their first Academy Awards for their inventive screenplay and Frances McDormand the first of her three Oscars for acting.

Stream Fargo on Amazon Prime.

Rent Fargo on Amazon.

Buy Fargo on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

A divorced mother (Frances McDormand) rents out three unused billboards outside of her small town to send a stirring message to the local sheriff (Woody Harrelson), after they fail to solve the case of her teenage daughter’s rape and murder.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: The second film to earn Frances McDormand a Best Actress Oscar was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which is also a masterfully thought-provoking, rural crime thriller of darkly comic proportions from the engrossingly twisted mind of writer and director Martin McDonough.

Rent Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri on Amazon.

Buy Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Blood Simple (1984)

A Texas bar owner (Dan Hedaya) hires a private investigator (M. Emmett Walsh) to find evidence that his wife (Frances McDormand) and employee (John Getz) are having an affair, and then hires him again, after learning the truth, to kill them.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: The grim Neo-noir thriller Blood Simple is not only the feature-length debut of writers and directors Joel and Ethan Coen, but the brotherly duo’s first collaboration with Frances McDormand, who also makes her acting debut in the stunning romantic tragedy.

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Buy Blood Simple on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Raising Arizona (1987)

Desperate to have a child of their own, an ex-con (Nicolas Cage) and his ex-cop wife (Holly Hunter) kidnap the newborn son of a wealthy furniture salesman, which quickly puts their lives in tailspin.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Frances McDormand’s second collaboration with her husband and brother-in-law was Raising Arizona, yet another rural crime thriller that is much, much funnier than Blood Simple (and one of the best Nicolas Cage movies), in which she plays Dot, the nosy wife of Cage’s boss, Glen (Sam McMurray).

Stream Raising Arizona on Cinemax.

Rent Raising Arizona on Amazon.

Buy Raising Arizona DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

An emotionally lethargic, chain-smoking barber (Billy Bob Thornton) suspects his wife (Frances McDormand) is having an affair with her boss (James Gandolfini), which he sees as an opportunity to blackmail his way into the laundry business, until things take a turn for the worse in 1940s Sacramento.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Co-writer and co-director Joel Coen once again casts his wife as an unfaithful spouse involved in a deadly scheme in the old school film noir throwback, The Man Who Wasn’t There - one of the more somber, but still quite cheekily bizarre, Coen Brothers movies starring Frances McDormand.

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Buy The Man Who Wasn’t There DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Burn After Reading (2008)

A disc belonging to a recently retired CIA agent (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of dim gym employee (Frances McDormand) and her even dumber co-worker (Brad Pitt), setting off a series of odd misunderstandings with unexpectedly grave consequences.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: There is nothing somber, but everything cheekily bizarre, about Burn After Reading - yet another shockingly dark but screamingly funny crime thriller from Joel and Ethan Coen in which Frances McDormand’s character becomes involved in a blackmail scheme which goes horribly wrong.

Stream Burn After Reading on IMDb TV.

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Buy Burn After Reading DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Darkman (1990)

A brilliant scientist (Liam Neeson) uses a special synthetic skin of his creation as temporary disguises in an effort exact revenge on the criminals who tried to kill him, leaving him badly burned and disfigured.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Not many know that one of Joel Coen’s first jobs was as an assistant film editor on 1981’s The Evil Dead by Sam Raimi, who would later cast Coen’s wife, Frances McDormand, as Liam Neeson’s spouse in Darkman - the absurdist horror director’s inventive take on the superhero movie genre before making his Spider-Man trilogy and the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel.

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Buy Darkman DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Mississippi Burning (1988)

A veteran FBI agent (Gene Hackman) and his younger partner (Willem Dafoe) come at odds with one other, while in a Southern county at odds with itself, while investigating the murder of three civil rights activists in 1964 Mississippi.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Loosely based on the real-life murder of civil rights activists James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, late director Alan Parker’s Mississippi Burning is a powerful tale that attempts to shed light the true roots of bigotry, which is analyzed in Frances McDormand’s heartbreaking performance as the wife of a racist deputy sheriff.

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Buy Mississippi Burning DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Almost Famous (2000)

A teenage aspiring writer (Patrick Fugit) gets the chance to tour with an up-and-coming rock band called Stillwater for a Rolling Stone cover story in the early 1970s.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Loosely based on the real-life experiences of writer and director Cameron Crowe before he became a filmmaker, Almost Famous is a winning tribute to a lost era of music and an inspiring coming-of-age story, especially in how main character William Miller defies his mother’s (Frances McDormand) objections to rock music and learns to let his passions be his guide.

Stream Almost Famous on Hulu.

Stream Almost Famous on Amazon Prime.

Rent Almost Famous on Amazon.

Buy Almost Famous on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

The citizens of a small island off the coast of New England are thrown into a frenzy when an orphaned boy (Jared Gilman) and a young girl (Kaya Hayward) run away from home together after falling in love.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Frances McDormand once again plays the overbearing mother to a child following her passions (Hayward as Suzy Bishop) in Moonrise Kindgom - an irresistibly quirky and visually inventive tale of young love and my personal favorite of all the Wes Anderson movies I have seen.

Stream Moonrise Kingdom on Amazon Prime.

Rent Moonrise Kingdom on Amazon.

Buy Moonrise Kingdom on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Isle Of Dogs (2018)

After a flu suspected of being linked to dogs spreads throughout Japan, all dogs in the country are banished to an island of garbage where one boy ventures out to find his beloved pet.

Why it is one of the best Frances McDormand movies: Another great Wes Anderson movie featuring Frances McDormand is the darkly funny but heartwarming stop motion animation tale Isle of Dogs, in which the actress voices a Japanese-to-English interpreter named Nelson.

Stream Isle of Dogs on Disney+.

Rent Isle of Dogs on Amazon.

Buy Isle of Dogs DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Frances McDormand’s third collaboration with Wes Anderson, The French Dispatch, was meant to come out in 2020 before the pandemic caused a delay to its debut. Yet, it is now one of the most anticipated 2021 new movie releases, if we are looking on the bright side. Hopefully, we can expect to add this next quirky period piece to our list of the best Frances McDormand movies once our binge of the favorites above is complete.

Bill Murray began his acting and comedy career in the 1970s. He took that start over 40 years ago, and rode it all the way to becoming a popular actor and highly respected performer. Murray has built such an enduring career because he constantly evolves and adapts to new projects. He’s best known for his comedic flair but he has been praised and awarded for his more dramatic roles. Bill Murray can really do it all.

For fans of Bill Murray, there is a large selection of film and TV projects available to watch. Whether you’re in the mood for funny Murray or dark funny Murray or just dramatic Murray, the world of streaming services will provide. If it’s a Bill Murray kind of day, here are some of the movies and TV shows available to stream.

Groundhog Day (Netflix)

Most people’s worst nightmare comes true in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day. In the film, Murray plays a grumpy weatherman who is forced to live the same day over and over again. Like any good movie with the time loop concept, he can’t break the loop until he does things right. Andie MacDowell stars alongside Bill Murray.

Why It’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: Groundhog Day is one of Murray’s most well known and beloved movies. It’s a hilarious film that highlights his signature style of comedy, and the ability to make funny and heartfelt characters. Groundhog Day is a comedy classic that many people gladly watch over and over again.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Rushmore (IMDBTV)

Rushmore is the first Wes Anderson and Bill Murray film collaboration. Rushmore follows Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman), a teen with a passion for extracurricular activities. He befriends billionaire Herman Blume (Murray), but their friendship is tested when they fall for the same woman, Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams).

Why It’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: This is probably Bill Murray’s best Wes Anderson character. Herman is ruthless, sly but also endearing and likable. The extreme levels that Herman and Max’s battles reach leads to some very funny moments.

Stream it on IMDBTV here.

Broken Flowers (Peacock)

Jim Jarmusch wrote, directed, and produced Broken Flowers, a movie about a man tracking down several of his ex-girlfriends to see if he fathered a child with one of them. The Broken Flowers cast includes Jeffrey Wright, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, Tilda Swinton, and Julie Delpy.

Why It’s a Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: Broken Flowers is another one of Murray’s more dark comedy roles. This 2003 film has an all-star cast and really helps showcase the layers and nuances of Murray’s acting. He’s an actor that gets better with every new acting challenge.

Stream it on Peacock here.

The Bill Murray Stories (Netflix)

The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned for a Mythical Man is a 2018 documentary about random encounters people had with Murray. It’s a way to explore and investigate some myths surrounding the comedian and share some of the things that make him great.

Why It’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: The Bill Murray Stories is a whimsical documentary that shines some light on the wonder that is Murray. It showcases his unusual style of living and highlights why he seems like such a likable celebrity. For Bill Murray fans, this documentary gives you a slight look into Murray’s mind and presents fun stories from encounters with him.

Stream it on Netflix here.

Space Jam (HBO Max)

Space Jam is a 1996 live-action and animated sports comedy. The Looney Tunes have been abducted from earth by Mr. Swackhammer. The Looney Tunes challenge Mr. Swackhammer’s men, the Nerdlucks, to a basketball game. The Nerdlucks kidnap NBC stars such as Charles Barkley and Larry Johnson to help with the game. The Looney Tunes enlist Michael Jordan.

Why It’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: Bill Murray has an unexpected cameo in Space Jam. He ends up helping the Looney Tunes and Michael Jordan team. Space Jam is a silly movie, so Murray just adds to the comedy of the movie. He provides great memorable quotes and really steals scenes all throughout Space Jam.

Stream it on HBO Max here.

Lost In Translation (Peacock)

In 2003, Bill Murray took on a more serious role in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. The film is based on Coppola’s time in Tokyo. It follows Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a recent college graduate who travels to Japan with her husband, but she ends up mainly exploring Tokyo alone until she becomes friends with Bob Harris (Bill Murray), a former movie star.

Why It’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: Lost in Translation received a lot of critical praise and gained several Academy Award nominations, including a Best Actor nomination for Murray. The film also received attention for the ending that left viewers with a major question. Lost in Translation is one of Murray’s best performances and offers a different look at the actor known for his big and bold characters. It’s a more subdued, but just as compelling, performance.

Stream it on Peacock here.

Stripes (Showtime)

Stripes is one of the many Ivan Reitman, Bill Murray, and Harold Ramis collaborations. It’s a comedy about a man in his 30s who, after a series of unfortunate events, decides to join the Army and he drags his best friend along with him. Stripes is about these two men and their misfit platoon mates.

Why It’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: Stripes helped launch Bill Murray to leading man status. The film has Murray at his comedic best: funny, mischievous, rowdy, and memorable. It’s one of the quintessential 80s comedies and Murray films. Stripes is one of Bill Murray’s best performances.

Stream it on Showtime here.

A Very Murray Christmas (Netflix)

Bill Murray does a Christmas special in his own unique way in A Very Murray Christmas. This 2015 made for Netflix film follows a fictionalized version of Murray on Christmas Eve at the Carlyle Hotel. It includes many cameos from actors and musicians, such as George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, and Chris Rock. Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Jenny Lewis, and Jason Schwartzman also appear as various characters.

Why It’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: A Very Murray Christmas isn’t the traditional Christmas movie, but it still gives you all the warm feelings and spirit of the holidays. It includes music numbers, commentary on love, and a Christmas-y message

Stream it on Netflix here.

Mad Dog And Glory (Peacock)

Uma Thurman, Robert De Niro, and Bill Murray star in Mad Dog and Glory, a crime comedy about a Chicago Police cop, Wayne Dobie (Robert De Niro), who saves mob boss Frank Milo (Bill Murray). Milo gives him a week with Glory (Uma Thurman) as a present.

Why It’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: Bill Murray is not known for his tough-guy roles, and Robert De Niro is not known for softer roles, so this was clever casting in 1993 to put these respected actors in roles against their norms. De Niro, Uma Thurman, and Murray aren’t a combo that viewers see often nor expect to see, so it's fun to see them all together in Mad Dog and Glory.

Stream it on Peacock here.

Kingpin (Showtime)

Kingpin is a 1996 comedy from the Farrelly brothers, which stars Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, and Bill Murray. Kingpin is a raunchy comedy about a once successful professional bowler who loses it all, but 17 years later, he tries to regain his past glory with a protege.

Why it’s A Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: In the DVD commentary for Kingpin, the Farrelly brothers mentioned how Murray read their script and then improvised many of his lines. Bill Murray’s character Big Ern is brass, vulgar, and a jerk, but he’s such an entertaining character to root against. Woody Harrelson and Murray have great onscreen chemistry, so it’s interesting watching him be the antagonist to Harrelson's protagonist in Kingpin.

Stream it on Showtime here.

Moonrise Kingdom (Peacock)

Moonrise Kingdom is one of Wes Anderson and Bill Murray’s many collaborations. It’s also just one of Anderson’s best movies. Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two young kids who run off together, while the adults try to locate them. The cast of the film includes some of Anderson’s long-standing collaborators like Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, and Jason Schwartzman.

Why It’s A Good option for Bill Murray Fans: Bill Murray’s Walt Bishop isn’t one of Anderson’s best Murray characters, but he’s an interesting guy, full of Anderson-isms. Moonrise Kingdom is a film about young love and how it can make us feel invincible. It’s just an enjoyable movie that continues to showcase Murray’s range of quirky Wes Anderson characters.

Stream it on Peacock here.

Saturday Night Live Bill Murray Sketches (NBC.com)

NBC has over 80 sketches on-demand featuring Bill Murray from his time on Saturday Night Live as a regular cast member (1976-1980).

Why It’s a Good Option for Bill Murray Fans: Saturday Night Live is really what kicked off Bill Murray’s comedy career. These clips showcase Murray’s talent and bring nostalgia to those who watched them when they originally aired. If they weren’t alive or too young to remember them, these skits could also be an introduction to Murray’s time on SNL.

Stream it on NBC here.

For those who just enjoy Murray’s voice, he has a few voice-over features also available to stream, including Garfield The Movie on Starz, The Jungle Book on Disney+, and Osmosis Jones on HBO Max. Murray’s next big feature films will be the new Ghostbusters movie, Ghostbusters Afterlife, and another collaboration with Wes Anderson, The French Dispatch.

Wes Anderson spent decades developing a signature style. It’s easy to recognize his movies by their color schemes, costumes, and tone. His collection of movies are all artistically astounding and narratively fascinating, and the best Anderson movies have just as much substance as style, while a lot of them also have a whimsical nature, especially when it comes to the purity of love and the joy and heartbreak of life. 

These films touch the heart and excite the eyes and mind. They’re truly artistic in a way so synonymous with the filmmaker, because everyone connects with his films in a different way. His best movies are subjective, but I ranked these based on their style, story, and general ability to incite delight. 

Let’s look at the best Wes Anderson movies. 

11. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Jason Schwartzman, Owen Wilson, and Adrien Brody play estranged brothers who reunite on The Darjeeling Limited train. Their father died about a year ago but his baggage and belongings remain with them. Secretly, Francis (Owen Wilson) plots to force a reunion between them and their mother (Anjelica Huston).

The Darjeeling Limited deals with a grieving family who can’t let the past go. The movie contains most of Anderson’s trademark themes, cinematography, and cast. It’s entertaining, imaginative, and beautifully designed, as expected from a Wes Anderson movie, but it just doesn’t have the same inventive, dreamlike quality as some of his other films. 

Rent or buy The Darjeeling Limited on Amazon. 

10. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

Bill Murray plays Steve Zissou in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. The film gives tribute to French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau while also respectfully parodying him. It features an all-star cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Owen Wilson, and Jeff Goldblum, and Anderson co-wrote this one with Noah Baumbach. Steve Zissou plans to document his hunt for a jaguar shark that ate his friend, and the crew along for Zissou’s journey includes a man claiming to be his son, Ned (Owen Wilson), and a pregnant reporter, Jane (Cate Blanchett).

Often, the director blurs the line between fable and reality, and this movie fits right into that fantastic realm. It’s outlandish, fun, and bizarre—which is kind of expected with a movie about an oceanographer and his crew. The only issue I have with it is that it doesn’t pack a big emotional punch like some of Anderson’s other films. 

Rent or buy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou on Amazon. 

9. Isle Of Dogs (2018)

Isle of Dogs is a stop motion animated film featuring an amazing cast that includes the voices of Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Bob Balaban, and Greta Gerwig, with Courtney B. Vance acting as the narrator. In a futuristic Japan, Mayor Kobayashi (Kunichi Nomura) and his followers have had a long hatred for dogs. Therefore, when a canine disease infects the animals, he jumps at the opportunity to isolate them on a trash-filled island. 

The first one sent there is Spot (Liev Schreiber), the dog of Kobayashi’s ward and nephew Atari (Koyu Rankin). Six months later, Atari hijacks a plane and goes to this trash island, now called Isle of Dogs, to find Spot. He’s joined on his search by Chief (Bryan Cranston), Rex (Edward Norton), and their crew.

This is Anderson’s second animated production; his first was Fantastic Mr. Fox. He and his crew create an insanely inventive world, both through visuals and storytelling, and this even comes across beautifully in the trailer. Cranston’s ability to add an edge with his voice made him the perfect choice for a tough, stray dog. Isle of Dog is wonderful, and it might have ranked higher on the list if it had a more exciting resolution. Everything got resolved a little too quickly, without much build up or explanation. 

Rent or buy Isle of Dog on Amazon. 

8. Bottle Rocket (1996)

Bottle Rocket is Anderson’s first feature film, based on his short film of the same name, which started his long partnership with Owen and Luke Wilson. Anthony (Luke Wilson) has just checked himself out of a voluntary mental hospital, and his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson) wants them to go on a crime spree. However, they don’t know much about being real criminals.

This is his first film, so of course it’s far from perfect. However, it highlights his film evolution, especially in terms of his visual and writing style. Bottle Rocket very much has some signature Anderson elements, but in a different package from his current aesthetic, and without a Bill Murray cameo. 

Rent or buy Bottle Rocket on Amazon. 

7. The French Dispatch (2021)

The French Dispatch is a collection of short articles that appear in the magazine of the same name. The film has another fantastic cast, which includes Timothée Chalamet, Bill Murray, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Benicio Del Toro, and Jeffrey Wright. 

Each of the magazine’s stories discuss some topic important to the issue’s subject, but they also reveal the writers’ hearts and souls. This film says a lot about its subject matter and some of it’s very profound, such as a story's ability to transform not only the readers but the writers. Whereas many of Anderson’s movies have a universal appeal, The French Dispatch feels very specific to a certain type of film audience. This isn’t necessarily a fault of the film, but it may cause a disconnect between a general audience and the movie. 

6. Asteroid City (2023)

Asteroid City tells two stories: the one within the play shown in the film, and one about the making of the play. It’s another Anderson film distinct to his aesthetic, and features some of his films’ common themes, such as loss, first love, loneliness, creation, and young geniuses. The movie includes many of his regular collaborators--Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, and Willem Dafoe. The film also has new actresses and actors to his movies, including Scarlett Johansson, Maya Hawke, and Tom Hanks.

This is a playful film that’s not afraid of some fun, but outlandish, twists. It’s unique and features some of the best acting in one of his movies. Schwartzman may be at his best here. The costumes and cinematography are beautiful with this clear style.  There’s a lot to admire,  but it’s just not as emotionally riveting and entertaining as some of his other films. 

Rent or buy Asteroid City on Amazon.

5. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

In The Royal Tenenbaums, Richie (Luke Wilson), Chas (Ben Stiller), and Margot (Gwyneth Patrow) are genius siblings raised by equally extraordinary parents, Royal (Gene Hackman) and Etheline (Anjelica Huston). Royal has created disdain and distance between him, his children, and his ex-wife through being a generally bad father and husband. After Royal learns that Etheline plans to remarry her accountant, Henry (Danny Glover), he hatches a plan to get back in her and the children’s lives.

This tale includes Anderson’s usual collaborators: Anjelica Huston, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Billy Murray, and more, but with the added star power of Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, and Gene Hackman. The new blood takes his usual dysfunctional family, whimsicalness, cinematography, and colorful costumes to the next level. It’s a superbly written and acted movie. 

Rent or buy The Royal Tenenbaum on Amazon. 

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

The Grand Budapest Hotel involves the adventures of concierge M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes), bellhop Zero (Tony Revolori), Zero’s girlfriend Agatha (Saoirse Ronan), and an inherited painting. Throughout their adventures, the three try to escape one of M. Gustavo’s dead former lover’s family, controlled by Dmitri (Adrien Brody) and hired assassin Jopling (Willem Dafoe).

Fiennes is the perfect choice for the quick witted, charming, and bit of an opportunist M. Gustavo. Revolori is equally delightful as his sidekick and protégé, and Saoirse Ronan adds her natural talent for playing brave and resourceful women. Wes Anderson and team clearly had a lot of fun making The Grand Budapest Hotel, and it comes across in the humor and tone of this film. It’s also one of his most successful movies.

Rent or buy The Grand Budapest Hotel on Amazon Prime.

3. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Fantastic Mr. Fox is a stop-motion animation movie with voice work by George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Willem Dafoe. Mr. Fox ( Clooney) makes a vow to his wife ( Streep) that, to ensure a safe life for them and their child, he will stop stealing from humans. Twelve fox years later, he has been living a reformed life but he’s unhappy. The temptations of going back to his wild fox ways are too much to deny.

Clooney’s smooth voice adds the perfect slyness to Mr. Fox. Anderson and crew excel in giving their own spin to Roald Dahl’s classic, and the film feels authentic to the director, but with the unique addition of stop-motion animation. The animated details are fascinating to watch; made only better by the enjoyable adventures of Mr. Fox, his family and friends. 

Rent or buy Fantastic Mr. Fox on Amazon. 

2. Rushmore (1998)

Jason Schwartzman made his film debut in Rushmore. Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson co-wrote this film, and it marked the first collaboration between Anderson and Bill Murray. In it, Max (Schwartzman) is an eccentric teen who participates in many extracurricular activities, instead of actually working on his grades, and forms a tight bond and friendship with multimillionaire Herman Blume (Murray). Eventually, both of them fall for elementary school teacher Rosemary (Olivia Williams). Herman begins secretly dating her, and when Max finds out, the two engage in petty revenge battles.

Rushmore is by far Anderson’s funniest film. It is hilarious to watch Max and Herman go head-to-head in very extreme, very funny ways. The whole dynamic between them is comical, but also endearing, because it’s clear why these two have bonded and value their relationship. This is Anderson’s second film, and it does a great job of introducing the world to his distinct voice, which gets stronger with each movie. 

Rent or buy Rushmore on Amazon.

1. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Moonrise Kingdom follows children Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) as they run away together. Meanwhile, the adults are in hot pursuit as they deal with their own love stories that are falling apart. The cast includes Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, and Frances McDormand.

All the filmmaker’s films have a whimsical quality to them, and there isn’t anything much more whimsical than running away with the person you love. Gilman and Hayward bring a maturity to Sam and Suzy that makes their romance and love story feel just as compelling as any on-screen romance. Moonrise Kingdom is Wes Anderson at his best: a bit wacky, surreal, bold, witty, and aesthetically pleasing. 

Rent or buy Moonrise Kingdom on Amazon. 

It’s not easy picking one Wes Anderson movie that you believe is the best, because they’re all unique and represent a different strength of the filmmaker. However, each one of the top five films on this list showcases his distinct style, masterful storytelling, and a sense of wonder, even through melancholy. They all encompass many of Anderson’s best qualities as a filmmaker. 

Bill Murray first started working with Wes Anderson on the filmmaker's second directorial effort, 1998's Rushmore, and they have been inseparable ever since. Their long-time collaboration includes eight features -- including the upcoming Isle of Dogs -- and in that span Murray has had the opportunity to really watch Anderson evolve as a filmmaker. Reflecting on that idea, the actor recently explained what it was like working with back at the start and how it's different now:

Last month I flew out to Berlin, Germany for a special Isle of Dogs press event for the film's world premiere, and it was while participating in roundtable interview with co-star Bob Balaban that Bill Murray took a look back at his earliest days collaborating with Wes Anderson. Recognizing the 20 year history between the two men, I asked Murray how Anderson is a different filmmaker than he was back in 1998, and he told me the story.

In the way that Bill Murray told the story, you could tell that the experience making both Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums resulted in him gaining a lot of respect for Wes Anderson -- which goes a long way in explaining why he's always game to reunite with him on any project that he's doing. Continuing, Murray not only expressed admiration, but also deep appreciation for the fact that Anderson eventually teamed up with Steve Rales -- a producer who has been a part of all of the writer/director's films since 2007's The Darjeeling Limited. Said Murray,

That reach is plainly evident in Wes Anderson's latest, Isle of Dogs. Stop-motion animated films are incredibly rare nowadays, and yet he found a way to make it just as rich and incredible an experience as all of his other films. As I express in my review, it's so much of what you love about him as a director, and also introduces plenty of new and fresh ideas.

You'll be able to catch Isle of Dogs in theaters for yourself very soon, as the movie will be arriving in theaters this Friday.

Wes Anderson continues to put out quirky and colorful award-winning films every couple years, but for Whoopi Goldberg, there’s a certain aspect of color that is blatantly missing from his films. The Oscar-winning actress hosted regular Wes Anderson film star Jason Schwartzman on her talk show The View, and kindly asked the actor to pass along her resume to Anderson after noticing that his films do not have "a lot of folks of colour".

This certainly is not the first time Anderson has been criticized for his lack of diversity in films. He is known for using the same actors over and over again, and even as Goldberg pointed out, Jason Schwartzman has been a primary figure in almost all of his films from Grand Budapest Hotel to Moonrise Kingdom to Rushmore. As the interview on The View started, Goldberg jumped right to her point, explaining that she loves all the Wes Anderson movies, but she does see one gleaming problem. She said:

While Goldberg didn’t act angry or upset, she certainly meant what she said. And really wants to be in an Anderson film. We can see it. And from her resume, she is certainly more than qualified. The 59-year-old not only holds an Oscar, but is one over very few to hold the big four— an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. And she wants the part so badly that she even went as far as to joke that full-frontal nudity is an option, if that’s what it takes. Here you can take a look at the entire interaction between The View crew and guests Jason Schwartzman and Adam Scott.

Schwartzman and Scott were both a bit flabbergasted. Schwartzman went on to share his own praise for the actress, and thank her for her contributions to the industry. Scott was just surprised at the entire situation asking, "Can’t you just hold your Oscar up and get anything you want?" To which Goldberg responded, "I wish that were the case!"

Goldberg has every right to call out Anderson. When I think back at his films, the only black actor I can recall is Danny Glover in The Royal Tenenbaums, and that was back in the early 2000s. Anderson is now at 8 feature length films since Bottle Rocket came out in 1996. That’s not a ton, but it’s enough that we should be seeing a bit more diversity in them. Not to say I don’t enjoy the recurrence of Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and more, but the addition of more talented actors/actresses, no matter the diversity, is certainly welcomed in our book.

We are now just a few hours away from 2013, but we’re not entirely done celebrating the great year in cinematic history that was 2012 just yet.

For the last two weeks we have been applauding the best work of the year, from our individual critical top 10s to lists of our favorite action scenes, on-screen couples, facial hair statements, lines of dialogue, breakthrough performances and much more. And now it’s time to celebrate those very special moments of 2012 when cinema and music fell into perfect harmony.

Just as I’ve done for the last three years, I have traced back through all of the films that I’ve seen this year and brought together the Top 10 Best Movie Music Moments of 2012. Last year’s big winners include amazing titles like Drive, The Muppets, Moneyball and X-Men: First Class, but what will make the cut this year? Find out below!

WARNING: the very, very last page of this feature includes spoilers for two separate movies, so count as you go and tread carefully as you get towards the end!

Skyfall

Song: “Skyfall” by Adele

A big reason why director Sam Mendes’ Skyfall works so well is because of how it pays loving tribute to the legacy of the James Bond character (while deconstructing it at the same time). In the movie we see 007 get his Walther PPK, ride around it in super spy-ready silver Aston Martin, visit exotic locales, sleep with strange women…really, this list could go on. But a truly great Bond film is nothing out with a truly great title theme, and Adele helped deliver just that.

After two straight films with more modern themes (Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” for Casino Royale and Jack White & Alicia Keys’ “Another Way To Die” for Quantum of Solace), Mendes wanted to make his audiences remember the great work that Dame Shirley Bassey did for the franchise and Adele’s track fits the bill in every way. Beyond its stirring sound, filled with beautiful strings, horns and a wonderful lone piano, the song becomes more amazing once the secret behind the film’s coded title is revealed, with theme’s relating to the relationship between Bond (Daniel Craig) and M (Dame Judi Dench) and the battle with Silva (Javier Bardem), as well as a premonition about the third act. Without question one of the best Bond themes of all time.

Silver Linings Playbook

Song: “What Is And What Should Never Be” by Led Zeppelin

In Silver Linings Playbook the lead character is Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) is psychiatrist-diagnosed with bipolar disorder and throughout the film is subjects to moments of what paranoid delusions brought on by stress and manic episodes in between times of normality and peacefulness. With that in mind writer/director David O. Russell couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate song to use in the scene where Pat frantically searching for his wedding tape at three o’clock in the morning.

The magic in Led Zeppelin’s “What Is And What Should Never Be” is in its constantly changing tones. As Pat gets more and more panicked, scaring his parents, waking up all of his neighbors and getting the attention of the police, Robert Plant’s vocals and Jimmy Page’s guitar alternately speed up and slow down as the song goes between verse and chorus, brilliantly mapping out the protagonist’s fractured state of mind. The track’s psychedelic nature puts the audience right inside Pat’s head adds to the chaos in breathtaking fashion. Music can be used to say words that can’t be phrased, and that’s exactly what Russell did with this Zeppelin track in Silver Linings Playbook.

Moonrise Kingdom

Song: “The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34: Themes A.-F.” by Benjamin Britten and the New York Philharmonic

Every time we start to watch a movie we a transported to a different universe. It doesn’t matter if it’s a massive sci-fi epic or a tough, gritty drama based on a true story – with each new film the audience is brought into a new world with new characters, new tales to be told, and new things to be seen. In his latest film, Moonrise Kingdom, writer/director Wes Anderson took that idea to a very literal place and opened the story with the instructional track “The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra” by Benjamin Britten and the New York Philharmonic.

With an almost completely dialogue-less opening sequence, Anderson utilizes the track to immediately establish the mood and then uses that mood to give us all the information we need, both for the plot and aesthetically. The music introduces Moonrise Kingdom’s theme as well as the director’s trademark tracking cinematography, while also opening us up to the story, with the troubled Suzy (Kara Hayward) shown looking through her binoculars at the end of almost every shot, before she finally goes to the mailbox and receives a private letter from Sam (Jared Gilman). It’s an ingenious opening that sets up everything for one of the finest films of the year.

Ted

Song: “Thunder Song” by Seth MacFarlane and Mark Wahlberg

Seth MacFarlane knew exactly what he had when he wrote the “Thunder Song” for his directorial feature debut – how else do you explain how it was the first scene in the film’s first trailer? For starters, any song that has the lyrics “Fuck you, thunder! You can suck my dick” and ends with a fart sound is gold off the bat, but it’s even better just because of how well the song fits the characters and their relationships.

While I don’t mean to offend anyone reading this, being afraid of thunder is a phobia almost exclusively found in children (mostly because adults know it just as the sound lightning makes). So what fear is perfect for an irresponsible 40-year-old named John (Wahlberg) who does nothing but smoke pot and chill with his anthropomorphic stuffed bear, Ted (MacFarlane)? And when else do you have the fear make itself known other than when John is in bed with his beautiful girlfriend (Mila Kunis) who wants nothing more than for him to grow up? The “Thunder Song” is featured on this list because it was one of the funniest scenes in Ted - which is a hysterical comedy all around anyway – but it’s good to find the intelligence behind it as well.

Argo

Song: “When The Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin

The scene is set in the period political drama after CIA extraction agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) learns that his mission to help the Iranian hostages has been aborted. Still believing it’s their last night in country before making their escape, the “Canadian film crew” begins to drink and an album is put on the record player: playing the most perfect song you could possibly imagine.

Unlike Silver Linings Playbook, where it’s Zeppelin’s sound that’s being used to mold tone and emotion, it’s the lyrics of “When The Levee Breaks” that makes its use in Argo a seamless fit. Though the hostages don’t know it, with the government withdrawing support they suddenly find themselves behind a levee that’s ready to break. Hell, the song even includes the lyric “Don't it make you feel bad/When you're tryin' to find your way home/You don't know which way to go?” Even better, the song selection adds to the film’s realistic feel, having only been released a few years before the true events depicted. Led Zeppelin has become the first band to ever have two separate in one of my annual Best Movie Music Moments lists, but both are wholeheartedly deserved.

Les Miserables

Song: “I Dreamed A Dream” performed by Anne Hathaway

It would be pretty hard for me to avoid putting the biggest musical movie event of the year, Les Miserables, on my list of the Top 10 Movie Music Moments of 2012, and fortunately Anne Hathaway makes it practically impossible to do so. While the Oscar-nominated actress was only in Tom Hooper’s film for a few short scenes is mostly featured at the very start of the long runtime, it’s her performance of the tragic “I Dreamed A Dream” that audiences are still thinking about as they leave the theater.

In a quick series of scenes, Fantine (Hathaway) finds herself fired from her job at the factory for sending money to her young daughter, and unable to keep her head above water in Post-Revolution France, she is forced to start selling teeth and hair before finally turning to prostitution. The song is sung after the character has reached her lowest point, and while “I Dreamed A Dream” is pre-established as one of the highlights of Claude-Michel Schönberg’s original musical, Hathaway’s performance really does blow the doors off the theater. Performed live on set, the song is filled with every ounce of anguish and desperation that the actress could provide and it’s a stunning thing to see.

The Avengers

Song: “Shoot To Thrill” by AC/DC

Iron Man is unquestionably the A-list star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and I’m not just talking about the fictional masses that worship Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). Of all Marvel Studios films leading up to The Avengers Iron Man’s were easily the most successful. But watching Joss Whedon’s film it’s strange how long it takes to see the metal man in action. Fortunately, when he does finally enter the fray and get involved with his first battle it’s to an awesome musical cue.

The scene is set in Stuttgart, Germany where Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is doing battle with Captain America (Chris Evans) on the ground. After a quick fight it looks like the Asgardian has the upper hand over the super soldier… but that’s when we hear it. Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), who is flying above the fray in a quinjet, sees her P.A. system get an override as AC/DC’s “Shoot To Thrill,” Iron Man’s own little theme (set up in Iron Man 2), begins to play and the celebrity superhero comes in to blast Loki off his feet. It may not be the character’s first appearance in the film, but it’s a damn fine introduction.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Song: “Over The Misty Mountains Cold” performed by Richard Armitage And The Company of Dwarves

It’s impressive how religious Peter Jackson is, and is allowed to be, when it comes to adapting the work of J.R.R. Tolkien for the big screen. In his bringing the story to the big screen he and his fellow screenwriters dug through not only the book, but also the author’s appendices, which helped not only add even more depth to the story, but tie the tale to Jackson’s previous Lord of the Rings trilogy. But in adding things like Azog The Defiler and expanding the story of The Necromancer the director didn’t ignore key elements that draw fans to the book – for example, the singing.

While the song admittedly comes during the film’s slow opening, when audiences are just waiting for the group to hit the road and start their adventure, that shouldn’t distract from how hauntingly beautiful the movie’s rendition of “Over The Misty Mountains Cold” is. Not only is it a beautiful song, telling the backstory and motive for their journey, it’s also a true gift for the fans, as it seemed from the outside like an element that the writers would just throw away because of Hollywood conventions. We’re lucky they didn’t, and what we have instead is one of the best movie music moments of year. COURTESY SPOILER WARNING REMINDER!!

The Cabin In The Woods

Song: “Roll With The Changes” by REO Speedwagon

I love a good contrasting soundtrack. While most of the music moments on this list are highlighted for using songs in scenes and matching tones and moods, movies that take the complete opposite approach on purpose are sometimes even better than the straightforward method. Take, for example, the use of REO Speedwagon’s “Roll With The Changes” in Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in The Woods. The happy, upbeat track begins to play as the technicians in the control room begin to celebrate another successful mission, all while poor, innocent Dana (Kristen Connolly) is getting the hell beaten from her by Judah Buckner on the big screen.

This song wouldn’t have made the list if it were just a funny track to play during the scene, but fortunately one can always rely on the cleverness of the Goddard-Joss Whedon team. Looking at the song’s lyrics one could interpret it as being about a man trying to get a woman to trust him after she has had a series of poor relationships, but the theme could easily be applied to the film’s final scene, where Dana and fellow victim Marty (Fran Kranz) decide that it’s time for the world to end and “to give someone else a chance.” Sometimes you just have to roll with the changes.

Django Unchained

Song: “Who Did That To You” by John Legend

Quentin Tarantino’s latest film opens with the track “Django,” the song written by Franco Migliacci and performed by Ricky Roberts for the 1966 Franco Nero movie of the same name, but the truth is that the escaped slave protagonist of Django Unchained doesn’t earn his theme until the third act, but does so in spectacular fashion. After being forced back into slavery and seeing his partner murdered, Django (Jamie Foxx) uses his wits to outfox the crew of Aussie slave traders (Tarantino, John Jarratt, Michael Parks) who are taking him to his next owners and just as he walks out of a cloud of dynamite smoke we hear “Who Did That To You” by John Legend blasting from the speakers.

This film actually marks the first time that Tarantino has used original music written directly for the movie, and in the way Legend’s song is used it’s clear that the writer/director had a very specific plan. As the track plays and Django reemerges on to the screen, he is no longer just the escaped slave turned bounty hunter: he is a mythical figure, like Siegfried from Dr. King Schultz’s (Christoph Waltz) fairytale. And every great mythical figure needs a theme, especially one with lyrics like “If he’s not ready to die, he best prepare for it/My judgment’s divine, I tell you who you can call.”

With a ton of prizes to hand out and a splashy ceremony just before the Oscars in February, the Independent Spirit Awards are the biggest night of the year for independent film, and the best chance for many small-scale films to get into the spotlight, But the word "independent" has been fuzzy in these awards for years now, and the trend continued this year, with the Weinstein Company's $23-million Silver Linings Playbook snagging many of the top nominations, including Best Feature and Best Male and Female Lead.

It joins similarly pricey Moonrise Kingdom in the Best Feature category, along with Beasts of the Southern Wild, Bernie and Keep the Lights On, all of which were more traditional independent productions. Moonrise Kingdom and Beasts were both big winners at last night's Gotham Awards and both scored several additional nominations, including for Best Director, Best Cinematography, and respective nods for Beasts's Quvenzhane Wallis as Best Female Lead and Moonrise's Bruce Willis as Best Supporting Male.

You can see the full list of nominees below. I'm especially happy to see Matthew McConaughey scoring two different nominations, for lead actor in Killer Joe and supporting actor in Magic Mike (which, yes, was an independent production financed entirely by Steven Soderbergh and Channing Tatum before Warner Bros. picked it up and made it a huge hit). And three cheers for Bernie, Richard Linklater's criminally overlooked film that features a freer-best performance from Jack Black, who is nominated against co-star McConaughey (what a year for that guy!) as Best Male Lead.

Best Feature

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Bernie

Keep the Lights On

Moonrise Kingdom

Silver Linings Playbook

Best First Feature

Fill the Void

Gimme the Loot

Safety Not Guaranteed

Sound of My Voice

The Perks of Being A Wallflower

Best Director

Wes Anderson, Moonrise Kingdom

Julia Loktev, The Loneliest Planet

David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook

Ira Sachs, Keep the Lights On

Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Female Lead

Linda Cardellini, Return

Emayatsy Corinealdi, Middle of Nowhere

Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Smashed

Best Male Lead

Jack Black, Bernie

Bradley Cooper, Silver LInings Playbook

John Hawkes, The Sessions

Thure Lindhardt, Keep the Lights On

Matthew McConaughey, Killer Joe

Wendell Pierce, Four

Best Supporting Male

Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike

David Oyelowo, Middle of Nowhere

Michael Pena, End of Watch

Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths

Bruce Willis, Moonrise Kingdom

Best Supporting Female

Rosemarie Dewitt, Your Sister's Sister

Ann Dowd, Compliance

Helen Hunt, The Sessions

Brit Marling, Sound of My Voice

Lorraine Toussaint, Middle of Nowhere

Best International Film

Amour

Once Upon A Time In Anatolia

Rust & Bone

Sister

War Witch

Best Documentary

How To Survive A Plague

Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present

The Central Park Five

The Invisible War

The Waiting Room

Best Cinematography

Yoni Brook, Valley of Saints

Ben Richardson, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Roman Vasyanov, End of Watch

Robert D. Yeoman, Moonrise Kingdom

Best Screenplay

David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook

Zoe Kazan, Ruby Sparks

Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola, Moonrise Kingdom

Ira Sachs, Keep the Lights On

Martin McDonagh, Seven Psychopaths

Best First Screenplay

Rama Burshtein, Fill the Void

Derek Connolly, Safety Not Guaranteed

Christopher D. Ford, Robot & Frank

Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, Celeste & Jesse Forever

Jonathan Lisecki, Gayby

John Cassavetes Award

Breakfast with Curtis

Middle of Nowhere

Mosquita y Mari

Starlet

The Color Wheel

Truer Than Fiction Award

Jasonyyee Tippet and Elizabeth Mimms, Only The Young

Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel, Leviathan

Peter Nicks, The Waiting Room

Someone To Watch Award

Adam Leon, Gimme the Loot

Rebecca Thomas, Electrick Children

Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom is an amusing tale of twelve-year-old love, written not for makeup-caked tween girls or surprisingly confident boys but for the adults who can totally appreciate the film’s subtleties. Moonrise Kingdom is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on October 16 and, to celebrate the release, Universal Home Entertainment has brought us an excusive—and super cute clip—to share with fans.

Called “Letter of Resignation,” the clip follows police officer Captain Sharp as he gets some pretty bad news: a young khaki scout has escaped his camp with an sufficient amount of supplies and a determined attitude. I wish we could actually meet the oddball character that is Sam Shakusky in the clip, but the voiceover note explaining his resignation from camp kind of explains the kind of kid the film is dealing with.

Moonrise Kingdom is about runaways, relationships, and one hell of a squall. If you missed the film in theaters, it stars Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, and Edward Murray, as well as the two kids key to the plot of the film, played by Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. The set won’t be too chock full of bonus features, but it will come with a “Welcome to the Island of Penzance” featurette, which should feature the best narrator ever, aka Bob Balaban. Additionally, a set tour with Bill Murray and a “Look inside Moonrise Kingdom.” You can check out the cover art, below.

Technically, June 15 (or thereabout) would mark the mid-point of 2012. So if we were grading the film’s released in the first half of the year, we’d have to draw a line in the sand at that moment. But that would mean ignoring too many instant classics that rolled out over the second half of the summer season this year.

We’re gearing up for the fall film season, when studios stockpile most of their possible awards contenders. The last few months of 2012 should be crowded with valuable viewing opportunities, so we wanted to take a moment and reflect on the best films we’ve seen so far this year. Hopefully, we’ll spotlight a film you haven’t seen yet, and, if so, inspire you to go hunt it down as soon as you can. And because most of us on staff singled out one particular film as we discussed which movies we’d write about, we’re kicking off the feature with:

The Cabin in the Woods by Kristy Puchko

As an unrepentant fan of horror films, I often have to explain my love of the genre to those who just don't get it. But when a horror movie comes along that's as ferocious, frightening and fun as Cabin in the Woods, my devotion is easily validated. Co-creators Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon spurred new appreciation for this oft-maligned genre by not only offering plenty of ghastly gore and powerful scares, but also drawing attention to the mechanization behind typical terrifying scenarios, and how these reflect our modern zeitgeist.

From the blood-drenched fight for survival that befell some carefully selected college co-eds to the sardonic humor of the control room, Cabin in the Woods delivered on levels of terror and laughs, while offering its viewers something meatier in which to tear. Sure, you can enjoy this horror-comedy for its thrills and wit alone. But the film also raises questions about the “whys” of contemporary horror. Why is an extroverted woman reduced to her sexuality, and so deemed worthy of gruesome death? Why are bravery and intelligence similarly reason enough for execution? Why is a female virgin always given a chance at salvation? And ultimately, why play into a world with such twisted rules?

Moonrise Kingdom by Jesse Carp

It’s not hard to imagine that a Wes Anderson film would fall into my No. 1 slot in a look back on the year’s best from the middle of August (or anytime), but few figured it would be the frontrunner on the majority of these lists. Anderson’s movies are generally well received by critics -- more admired than loved -- yet Moonrise Kingdom hasn’t just captured those hardest of hearts and minds but also the money, uh, hearts of mainstream audiences. It’s not only a critical hit, it’s also a blockbuster! Jiminy Cricket!

Moonrise contains all of Anderson’s usual storytelling affectations, not to mention his immaculately composed moving tableaux, but for some reason this tale has found a larger following than even his Academy Award nominee (The Royal Tenenbaums). The compositions are intricate and colorful, with the small (and fictitious) New England island serving as the perfect 1960s setting for his attention to detail and the charming yet significant story of Suzy and Sam’s forbidden love. Moonrise Kingdom may be full of magic and whimsy in the stunning cinematography, wonderful score and many great performances. But Wes’ artifice also allows for the most emotionally satisfying experiences I’ve had at the cinema in some time.

Take This Waltz by Katey Rich

After making her directorial debut with the heartbreaking drama Away From Her a few years back, Sarah Polley established herself as one of the more surprising and interesting new voices behind the camera, and before she had even turned 30 told one of the more raw and relatable stories of romance between two people near the end of their lives. But it's in Take This Waltz, with Polley turning her camera toward characters of her own age, that she really makes her voice known.

Take This Waltz is a wild, colorful burst of romance and sadness and longing, letting the intense emotions of a would-be affair bleed over into the filmmaking itself, boldly blurring the line between a not necessarily likable heroine (Michelle Williams, incredible as always) and the audience who must go along with her anyway. As a story that for a while is about unspoken passion between a woman and her hunky neighbor (newcomer Luke Kirby), Take This Waltz dares to say everything out loud -- it may be the first movie that looks how an exciting new love feels. That kind of grab-you-by-the-throat bravura for telling such a small story isn't for everyone, but if it works, as it did for me, you won't be able to forget it.

Magic Mike by Mack Rawden

Magic Mike is a filthy movie. Like a good strip club, it’s an obnoxious, kinda skuzzy, talk-about-it-with-your-friends experience. It features drugs, fighting, dancing, the good kind of three-way, and just about every other debaucherous practice you can fathom. Altogether, it’s enough to ensure the film a lifetime of impulse rentals next to the National Lampoon straight-to-DVD films. Luckily, thanks to careful direction, good acting performances and actually giving a shit about its characters, Magic Mike is so much more.

It’s all about balance. If you’re going to make a movie about dudes stripping, you need to show dudes stripping. Magic Mike does that. It’s never ashamed of what it fundamentally is, but it also doesn’t use that premise as an excuse not to develop its characters or give them interesting side plots. By the end, you really care about the decisions “Magic” Mike and his buddies make, and in a way, that makes their exploits a hell of a lot more fun.

Goon by Kelly West

Directed by Michael Dowse, with a screenplay written by Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg, Goon tells the story of the rise of minor league hockey player Doug Glatt. On the surface, he appears to be little more than a dim-witted bar bouncer and hockey enforcer who knows how to throw down the gloves and fight. But beneath the meathead exterior is a man with a giant heart and the determination to serve his team as best he can. In addition to having some great hockey moments, Goon is funny and sweet, and - thanks in part to the charm and humor of Alison Pill and her chemistry with Scott - there's also an incredibly adorable little love story worked into the plot.

Just as Doug Glatt is a man who understands where he fits into the game and in a way, the world, Goon is a movie that understands its purpose, and it never tries to be anything more than exactly what it is. It's not trying to inspire anyone or send some message about team spirit, and yet it manages to do that, while also delivering plenty of laughs. Not only is Goon one of my favorite movies this year, but it also belongs on the list of must-see hockey movies.

Safety Not Guaranteed by Sean O’Connell

My favorite film from South By Southwest 2012 remains the best movie I’ve screened to date this year. Colin Trevorrow’s endearing Safety Not Guaranteed seems to wrap itself in two distinctly protective coatings: A faux-edgy shield of snarky Gen-Y attitude, and the cool aloofness of dime-store science fiction. Yet with each passing minute, the layers shed to reveal a weird, gentle, open-hearted and embraceable core that’s pulses with warmth, comfort and, yes, a necessary dose of Duplass observational humor.

Mark Duplass (the Gene Hackman of 2012) plays Kenneth, a paranoid loner who places a classified ad seeking a partner for a time-travel mission. Aubrey Plaza plays Darious, the skeptical journalist ordered by her editor (Jake M. Johnson, in a breakout role) to investigate Kenneth’s oddball claims. But Safety becomes less about the act of time travel, and more about why we’d want to ever travel through time in the first place. It carries us on a wave of sarcastic energy and plausible hope to those personal moments before life stopped cooperating. And it builds towards an impossibly adorable ending that prompted the audience in my theater (myself included) to stand up and cheer like wahoos. An uplifting, spiritual time at the movies? It’s all but Guaranteed.

The Avengers by Eric Eisenberg

While so many films have failed and/or disappointed this year, Joss Whedon’s The Avengers cannot be included on that list. In fact, if anything, it’s the year’s greatest surprise. When it was first announced in 2008 that Marvel Studios would be working to create a cinematic universe that would lead to the likes of heroes like Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Hulk meeting together on the big screen for the first time, the project seemed far too ambitious to be real … and too much of a challenge to be done well. Well, this summer the studio -- and Whedon -- proved everyone wrong, and what we got was one of the best films of the year so far and one of the greatest comic book movies of all time.

And the reason the movie was so successful is because he had everything we were hoping for. It was laugh-out-loud funny, featured some of the best superhero action we’ve ever seen, was packed to the gills with amazing performances, featured some deep, emotional moments and, most importantly, it was all brought together by a filmmaker who truly understood the characters and why they are so essential to us. The Avengers was better than anyone could have hoped for or should have expected, and we should all be thankful.

Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, the seventh feature from the American auteur, has been the best reviewed film of the summer and in its limited first weekend release broke the record for non-animated per screen averages. As the film's been expanding to more venues, the ticket sales have not slowed and the quirky and idiosyncratic comedy about a couple of runaway, star-crossed tweens seems poised to follow the Midnight in Paris route all the way to the Oscars. Okay, wishful thinking but there is no reasons to think that Anderson, already a two time Academy Award nominee, couldn't sneak his beloved little gem into the big race just like Woody Allen did last year.

Of course, Allen never used "Funny or Die" as a platform to market his Original Screenplay winning film. Well, not intentionally anyway. Wes Anderson, however, has turned to the popular online comedy portal for a nice tie-in advertisement for Moonrise Kingdom. Written and directed by the filmmaker himself, the short features Jason Schwartzman reprising his role as Scoutmaster Cousin Ben as he holds a private screening for his troop of, you guess it, Moonrise Kingdom. So meta and yet, no spoilers. Enjoy! Admission is only 50 cents (or a bus token, but you'll have to sit in the back). And no late entries! Fine, get in there.

The spot does an amazing job showcasing the film's tone, color palette and signature Anderson dialogue without giving away any of the actual plot events. I also love the joke about the meaning behind the film's title. I wish more marketing material followed this formula where the writer and director (or in this case, writer-director) create something separate and special for the previews without using any material from the finished film. That would be a nice change of pace, especially with most trailers giving away the entire movie these days. Moonrise Kingdom is now in theaters in limited release. For more on the film, check out our Blend Film Database.

Wes Anderson is a very special filmmaker. Every year Hollywood produces hundreds of projects that all look exactly the same, but Anderson has always worn his style on his sleeve, never afraid to be different and creating some incredible films in the process. But what inspires him to make movies the way he does? What is his inspiration? How does he build his ensemble casts and get them to keep coming back?

With Moonrise Kingdom out in theaters following its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, I recently had the chance to talk with the filmmaker one-on-one via online video chat from London and had the chance to ask him all of those questions and more. Check out the interview below in which Anderson discusses the directors that have motivated his work, his experience working with different co-writers, and how he gets Bill Murray to come back time and time again.

If you don’t mind the compliment, you’re one of the great auteur filmmakers working today, and I’m curious about who inspires you to shoot the way you do.

Well thank you very much! I’m a big movie buff, so my approach really comes from so many different filmmakers and other things too, I guess, that it’s hard for me to really pin it down. I do know that some of the people I think of often when it comes to staging a scene or thinking of how to shoot a scene very often I think of [Roman] Polanski, and I think of John Huston. And [Steven] Spielberg is wonderful with the way he stages actors in relation to the camera, especially in many of his earlier films, and also in Munich, for instance. He doesn’t always, and we work in the same way, but there’s a certain style to some of his movies that I think is a very good model. That’s a few!

On a more specific level, when you watch one of your films, they are immediately recognizable, just from the way you shoot faces to your tracking shots. It’s a difficult question to word, but how much of the way you make films comes from your instinct and how much comes from wanting to including a bit of artistic style?

Well, I think that it’s more my own reference, that’s really the photography that I like. And it’s not even the photography I like, it’s the photography I like to make. Lately I’ve been thinking about the best analogy for it. To me it’s sort of like handwriting. I’ve sort of developed my own handwriting and with each movie I want to make a different setting or world for the story, but, at the same time, as much as I feel like I’m doing something completely different in terms of the world, I don’t want to force myself to change my handwriting.

To talk a bit about the actual writing process, this is the second time that you’ve co-written a film with Roman Coppola, but throughout your career you’ve worked with a number of different co-writers. Is the experience on your end typically the same or, talking specifically about Moonrise Kingdom, was working with Roman different on this film than it was last time?

Each person I’ve worked with, I’ve always worked with friends, first of all, and where these relationships kind of existed before we were working together. In general I’ve usually been working with collaborators on something that I initiated and that I sort of have in mind. Owen [Wilson] and I, particularly Bottle Rocket, it’s a bit different, because those things really started from scratch together. But most of the other movies and things I had something that I was trying to find and somebody helping me find them and then bringing their own voice into it too.

So do you always start projects solo and then find yourself working with co-writers? Do you see yourself with the only writing credit on the project or is it part of your process now?

Sometimes I’ll work alone for certain parts of movies. There are definitely movies I’ve made where big portions of it I wrote on my own. But in the case of this movie, this movie for instance, Moonrise Kingdom, I spent a year working on this script on my own and I really didn’t come up with a script. I had a lot of ideas and fragments of scenes and various things that ended up in the movie eventually, but I certainly wasn’t succeeding in making it into a real story or a script. And I asked Roman to come in and help me because I needed help! And, really, in a month we had a script. He immediately began asking questions that seemed obvious when he asked them, but I was not thinking of them.

Do you just really need that sounding board, something you can work against and with at the same time?

Certainly working with Roman he was a lot more than a sounding board. Once we got into it we made it up together. He could answer this, but in some way I think his approach with this was to figure out how to help me get across what I had in mind and how to get that out of me and then expand on it. And he definitely brought his own point of view and personality into it, but I think he was probably coming from the angle of helping me.

Obviously you have a tendency to bring a lot of the same actors with you from film to film. At what point do you start deciding, “Okay, this is Bill Murray, this is Jason Schwartzman…” And where do you decide to mix in some new names with the regulars?

I want to have a certain number of new. I want to bring in some new faces because there’s always the risk of the movie… I already have various things about my approach that people recognize from movie to movie, and I want to make each movie as much of a fresh experience as I can. At the same time I have all of these actors who I love to work with, but I try to bring some new faces in to the equation as much as I can. And the other thing is that I have many actors who I have always wanted to work with, and in this movie there are several I got my chance.

Who specifically among this cast?

Well, Ed Norton and I had corresponded for quite some time over the years. We first met each other a number of years ago about trying to find something to do together. And Tilda [Swinton] also I had had a little communication with. I’ve wanted to do something with Tilda for a long time. Bruce [Willis], I have always… and the other thing is, I forget about this, Harvey Keitel, I met Harvey Keitel 16 years ago and I’ve been wanting to work with him since then. I’ve also been friendly with Francis McDormand for many years and have been a fan since before that.

And to talk a bit specifically about Bill Murray, he’s an actor who doesn’t read a lot of scripts and doesn’t do a ton of movies, but whenever you have a movie moving into production he is right there with you. What is your working relationship like and what brings the two of you together?

I met him as his fan and that was the way we started working together. I don’t really know how I ended up getting him in my first movie. He read the script, and I think it was an unusual thing that he even read it! And he liked it, and he didn’t see the movie I did before that, he didn’t see the first movie I made, Bottle Rocket. He’s still never seen it. But we did really click when we did Rushmore together and we both had a very good experience. And then when I did The Royal Tenenbaums we were already friends, really. When I think back on the experience of doing Royal Tenenbaums I felt close to him. I don’t remember when… when we did Rushmore I met him once before he arrived to do the movie. I wouldn’t have gotten to know him that well during the movie, but I really enjoyed him. But somewhere in between Rushmore and Royal Tenenbaums I guess we must have kept in touch along the way. I can’t even really remember! [laughs] And I will say, even when we were doing The Royal Tenenbaums I was telling him about this oceanographer project [The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou] that was coming up. So I was definitely aware of that. I remember when we were shooting Tenenbaums he knew that the other thing was coming after it. I guess I kind of booked him up for some years by then!

Do you have a grasp on what you think you will be doing next? I know you are producing a movie with Peter Bogdanovich, but are you working on for you personally next?

The next thing for myself is a script that I just finished writing a couple weeks ago, which is a movie set in Europe. I’m just beginning this.

Did you work with a co-writer on it as well?

Yeah, I have a friend who I worked with on it who has not been involved with the movie business before. But yeah, we finished it!

Can you talk about it at all?

No, other than that it’s set in Europe I’m kind of reluctant to go into any detail because, for one thing, any of it could change and it’s so early. I feel like I should keep it a little more secret.

As follow-up to his critically praised dark comedy Young Adult, writer-director Jason Reitman has chosen to adapt Joyce Maynard's 2009 coming-of-age novel Labor Day. Reitman has already secured Gattlin Griffith, who recently worked opposite Angelina Jolie in 2008's The Changeling, to star as Henry, a 13-year-old boy raised by an agoraphobic mother who fatefully crosses paths with a wounded man, who turns out to be a wanted killer. Bringing major star power and likely Oscar appeal is Kate Winslet as fretful single mom Adele, and Josh Brolin as Frank Chambers, the convict who unexpectedly changes their lives for the better.

THR reports casting for the production has finally concluded with Alexie Gilmore, Lucas Hedges, and Micah Fowler joining the ensemble that also includes James Van Der Beek and Clark Gregg. Newcomer Fowler will play a boy named Barry, whose mother Evelyn is friends with Adele. Gilmore, who can be seen in Bobcat Goldthwait's God Bless America, will play Henry's step-mother Marjorie, while Hedges will play her son. If Hedges most recent role—as the mean little khaki scout with an axe to grind, Redford—in Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom is anything to go by, we can assume he and Griffith will have a contentious onscreen relationship at best.

While I'm unfamiliar with this novel, Reitman has an impeccable taste for adaptations, and the cast he has garnered proves Labor Day is something special. Even in his short career, he has shown a remarkable ability to find poignant moments within comedies, and infuse dramas with a lithe humor, as he did with the six-time Oscar nominated Up in the Air. So, while Labor Day is currently being categorized as a drama, I expect Reitman—in league with his promising cast—will ultimately offer something more layered and complex than this simple description can detail.

Labor Day is now shooting in Massachusetts.

Wes Anderson's latest, the love story Moonrise Kingdom, is set in the whimsical world of New Penzance, where khaki scouts led by a dedicated math teacher/scout leader, a local sheriff, and a pair of apoplectic parents set out to find two adolescent lovers who have run away on a romantic adventure in the island's thick forests. In the mix of a heady ensemble that boasts Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton, it is heralded character actor Bob Balaban who serves as the story's quirky narrator, playing the New Penzance's local historian/weather authority.

His role has expanded into the film's web-based marketing, where he's guided fans through behind-the-scenes featurettes as well as the movie's lovely website. Now in the latest viral offering from Anderson—which he teased last week—we learn Balaban's character is also the local librarian, and so is the perfect person to introduce the film's supplementary animated short, which explores the pilfered library books that young Suzy Bishop brings along on her exploits.

Inspired by the covers of the books—created specifically for the film—and their accompanying captions, this short offers not only an expansion on the world of Moonrise Kingdom but also an added insight into the enigmatic Suzy, who is far more guarded than most movie tweens. Through these fantastical tales of young girls with thirsts for adventure and deep-seated powers, it is far easier to unfold what makes the oft-scowling Suzy tick. And surely it will serve as another tantalizing teaser for those still waiting for Moonrise Kingdom to reach theaters near them.

Moonrise Kingdom is now in theaters in limited release. For more on the film, check out our Blend Film Database.

Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom has been scoring plenty of praise, not only from critics who have cheered his tender tale of two romance-fueled adolescent runaways, but also from the business end of the filmmaking industry as this limited release has recently broken the record for non-animated per screen averages. (Making $130,752 when playing in only four theaters, it broke the record previously held by the much anticipated musical Dreamgirls.) And as the limited release continues to expand to new cities, Focus Features is unveiling more and more online content to lure in moviegoers.

First came a clip featuring newcomers to Anderson's aesthetic, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, and Edward Norton. Next four featurettes revealing Moonrise Kingdom's enchanting setting, the whimsical world of New Penzance, narrated by Bob Balaban were revealed. And then came a tour of the set with recurring Anderson collaborator Bill Murray. Now ComingSoon has word on Anderson's next incentive, an animated short inspired by some of the film's most intriguing props.

One of the quirks of the romance's heroine Suzy is that she is a devoted bookworm who takes a suitcase stuffed with YA novels to accompany her on her exploits with her bespectacled paramour, Sam. Anderson reveals these are the source of the upcoming cartoon, saying:

Much like his short Hotel Chevalier, which was unveiled online to correspond to The Darjeeling Limited's theatrical release, these animated snippets won't be required viewing, but rather an additional insight into the diegesis, intended for those who just can't get enough of Anderson's latest winsome adventure. For more on Moonrise Kingdom check out our Blend Film Database.

Moonrise Kingdom doesn't open in theaters until May 25, but it's preparing for its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this week, which means it's a perfect time to introduce some new featurettes about the movie. And because it wouldn't be a Wes Anderson movie if everything, including the marketing, didn't feel meticulously planned, the featurettes are far from your generic pieces with sit-down interviews featuring the cast and general behind the scenes footage. Each featurette is narrated by Bob Balaban, who plays the narrator in the actual film itself, and he's standing in front of a map of the fictional New Penzance Island like a fifth-grade geography teacher. As you might expect, they're pretty great.

In the first one, Balaban explains how they use 300 kid extras to play the fictional Khaki Scouts, and how Anderson-- with what are apparently some killer rock-skipping skills-- bonded with the kids, while also directing all of their scenes in his trademark khaki suits. Maybe that helped them feel part of the same team?

There's more rock-skipping in the second clip, which focuses on Edward Norton, who plays the leader of Khaki Scout Troop 55. He also would play with his hat when things got tense on set, and at one point, held an iPhone. You may be learning by now that Balaban's narration is about as quirky as you usually expect from an Anderson movie.

In the next one, we're focusing on Bruce Willis, who takes a spritz bottle to the face at the very beginning, and as you might expect, doesn't seem so happy about it. He plays the only policeman on the island, investigating the case of the two missing kids who run off together and set the plot in motion.

And finally, here's a featurette focusing on Bill Murray, whom Wes Anderson says frightened him the first time he met him. Murray plays golf behind the scenes, does some falling down stunts, walks through a shot shirtless, and does about as many weird things as you'd expect from Bill Murray on a Wes Anderson set.

We won't be at Cannes, but we are seeing it this week, so expect thoughts on how Moonrise Kingdom fits in with Anderson's other work very, very soon.

Though I wouldn't trade his The Fantastic Mr. Fox for anything, it's been far too long since Wes Anderson made a live-action film, which makes his new effort Moonrise Kingdom even more hotly anticipated than it might be otherwise. Starring a lot of his regular cohort, including Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, it also adds the likes of Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis and Frances McDormand to the list, giving us a chance to see even more talent adapt to the cock-eyed world that Anderson creates in his films. And from the looks of the first trailer, which debuted today at Apple, there's plenty for us to look forward to from all of them. Watch it there in HD or embedded below to see exactly what I mean.

From the golden colors to the dead-center framing in the camera to the slightly anachronistic clothing, everything about this feels purely Wes Anderson-- and man, does it feel good to have him back. There's definitely an element of magical realism going on up here, with a house perched precariously high in a tree, something called Khaki Scouts dispatched to hunt down one of their own who went missing, and the entire fantastical notion of two kids who run away together and apparently get to just hang out on a gorgeous beach the whole time. If you saw this trailer from just about anybody else you might wonder if they could pull it off, but Wes Anderson has done a lot to earn our trust over the years, especially with the cheerful and wonderfully ambitious Mr. Fox. This movie looks more like a live-action version of that film than anything else Anderson has made in the past, but if it nails a sweet tone with genuine comedy the way that film did, we can be 100% fine with that.

Moonrise Kingdom is set for release on May 25, which is amazingly soon given the usual autumn releases you expect from high-profile directors like Anderson. Think of it this way: it opes opposite Men In Black III, and a weekend after Battleship. Don't you know which one of those choices you really want to see?

I find it hard to imagine that any real film fan isn't over-the-moon excited for Wes Anderson's next project. The story of a young, in-love couple that runs away and causes everyone in their hometown to panic, the movie's helmer alone is more than enough to raise interest, but the cast also happens to be the filmmaker's most notable cast since The Royal Tenenbaums, including Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Harvey Keitel and Jason Schwartzman. Still don't think you're at the proper excitement level? Maybe this will help.

An IMDb Message Board user (via The Film Stage) has posted the first photos from the set and in addition to showcasing some of the set, the photographer was also able to capture a moment with Norton (who is apparently playing a Scout Leader) and Murray (who doesn't appear to be in costume). You can check out three of the photos below but be sure to head over to IMDb to see the rest!

If it were up to me, studios wouldn't hesitate in picking up a movie by Wes Anderson. Even the man's worst film is better than 90% of movies released in thousands of cinemas nationwide every weekend. However, not including Bottle Rocket (which was never released in more than 50 theaters), his movies only average a little over $25 million domestically. Luckily there are studios like Focus Features.

THR reports that Anderson's newest, Monnrise Kingdom, has been picked up for distribution by the aforementioned studio. The timing coincides with the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, where Focus plans on trying to sell the film to foreign markets. With an all-star cast that includes Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton, the film is about a young couple who decide to run off together and their small town is left in a panic, thinking that they are in trouble.

The film has what could probably be seen as the most marketable lineup since The Royal Tennenbaums, which remains Anderson's highest grossing film and the only one to make more than $50 million. Perhaps someday the world will finally take notice of the excellence that is Wes Anderson. Hopefully Moonrise Kingdom will be the perfect movie to spread that message.