Every Wes Anderson Film Ranked

Wes Anderson has built a reputation for himself as one of the most comforting and unique filmmakers currently working crafting an extremely certain aesthetic and style over his 9-film filmography (with #10 coming later this year). With all the current events and stresses in the world it felt like a perfect time to fall into the worlds Wes Anderson has created and watch all 9 of his films to see which are the best and which are the worst.

If there are any future rankings I should make let me know on twitter @BP_MovieReviews and enjoy as I rank all 9 of Wes Anderson's films starting at the bottom and working up to the top!

(Spoiler Warning)

#9-The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

The only Wes Anderson that should be entertained as even being possibly bad is The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Following a marine scientist trying to make a documentary of hunting the jaguar shark that ate his best friend, the film simply just boring. It tries to build an interesting marine adventure while also having the complex character relationships, neither of which feels super engaging or successful. The movie feels like it continually is waiting to get to the meat of the plot but sadly never gets there. The performances from those like Bill Murray and Owen Wilson are predictably strong and there are some fun visuals throughout, but overall this is easily the dullest and most forgettable film Anderson has made to date.

#8-Moonrise Kingdom

Being his first Live-Action feature after Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anderson was clearly inspired by the control he was able to have on his world in an animated space and focused on replicating the visual experience in Moonrise Kingdom. From a technical perspective this works quite well giving a visually dynamic film that is memorable and enjoyable. Sadly the film feels more concerned with its style than creating real substance. The beginning of the film is disorienting trying to create humor from a world and characters the audience doesn't know anything about. The film eventually finds its footing with its two main characters Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward) but every side character feels shallow and forgettable. The film marks a turning point in the career of Wes Anderson with future projects creating not just interesting camera shots but fantastical worlds to explore. Sadly Moonrise Kingdom didn't have the polish future Anderson films would and suffers for it.

#7-The Darjeeling Limited

The Darjeeling Limited feels similar to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou in the sense that it clearly has good intentions but fails to fully realize its characters and purpose. The characters of the three dysfunctional brothers always feel like they are on the verge of some great emotional catharsis but never finds it. Their actors all have good chemistry but the film feels too bogged down with humor and trying to play around in it's setting to truly combat the conflicts the characters are facing on an emotional level. The film's portrayal of India also has drawn quite a bit of criticism in the past and is a bit uncomfortable to watch at times. Where at first there is a purpose to this being the location of the film it quickly falls into an excuse for comedy and fails to deliver in a respectable matter. It is definitely a watchable film and accomplishes more than the previous two films mentioned, but also fails to leave much of an impact especially in the context of Anderson's filmography.

#6-Rushmore

For many it seems like Rushmore is top tier Wes Anderson but for some reason the film never has connected with me in the same way. There clearly is a huge jump in quality between this and The Darjeeling Limited with this being where Anderson's filmography becomes nearly must-watch. The dialouge is so engaging and the acting especially from Jason Schwartzman is quite impressive. Sadly there is something about the character of Max that makes it impossible to truly connect with. Not only is he unlikeable but it never feels like the film truly explores what is going on in his head, Rushmore is a film that dances around saying what it truly wants to say which makes the film feel a step down from what is to come on the list. Where the film is undoubtedly entertaining and has more and more meaning on every rewatch, it never has stood out as being super impactful and comes in at the bottom of Anderson's truly impressive films.

#5-Bottle Rocket

Many dismiss Bottle Rocket on a first viewing as being one of Wes Anderson's lesser films but every-time I watch the film I find myself enjoying it more and more. Where the film undeniably lacks in deeper messages and relationships when compared to Anderson's other films, there is still is enough to where the film doesn't feel empty and it remains one of Anderson's funniest movies. Not only does every actor have amazing chemistry with each-other but the screenplay especially in dialogue is laugh out loud funny. Bottle Rocket is pure enjoyment and is my vote for the most underrated Wes Anderson film.

#4-Isle of Dogs

Isle of Dogs is one of the most genuinely sweet and heartwarming films Wes Anderson has ever made which says a lot considering the film also features dogs literally tearing each-others ears off for trash. There is something about this stop-motion world and immediately sucks me in every-time I watch the movie and makes me fall in love with the film every viewing. The film successfully balances being an innocent look at the love we have for dogs and being a call to action against corrupt governments somehow putting these two sides together into a single film that never feels lost in its own identity. The soundtrack, visuals, and performances are easily some of the best and most memorable in Anderson's entire filmography and Isle of Dogs continues to hold a special place in my heart.

#3-Fantastic Mr. Fox

Not only being the first animated film Anderson had made at the time but also his first adaptation, it is easy to assume that Fantastic Mr. Fox would put the director out of his element but instead it is a surprisingly natural and effective feeling film. Not only does the animated space give Anderson room to play with aesthetics and his specific style more than ever before but the story of the film also feels extremely Wes Anderson like. With themes of belonging and proving your worth, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a layered movie with a lot it is trying to say all of which is accomplished through incredibly well written dialogue. The movie is also simply just tons of fun, the world is super memorable and it easy to become engaged with the more bizarre elements of the film specifically with how the animals all interact with each-other. Fantastic Mr. Fox is an extremely successful mixture of childish fun, engaging dialogue, and layered looks at the human experience and absolutely stands out as one of the best and most enjoyable films from Anderson's filmography.

#2-The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel feels like the film where Anderson finally was able to put everything together creating a film which was peak Wes Anderson. Coming out of his experiences with Fantastic Mr. Fox and Moonrise Kingdom, Anderson knew how to visually create a fairy tale world but also wasn't so focused on it to where there wouldn't be tons of substance which, as discussed, was the case with Moonrise Kingdom. Not only does the film carry the best visuals from any Wes Anderson project with vibrant colors and memorable locations abundant, but the story has so much heart within it. This is one of the few films where having the narrator be a main character in his later years reflecting on his past works flawlessly and it is this reflection on life, love, friendship, and purpose that causes the film to leave such an impact. The comedy especially through the performances from the A-list cast is also some of the best any Anderson film has seen with specifically Ralph Fiennes giving one of the most charismatic and memorable performances in recent memory.

#1-The Royal Tenenbaums

No other Wes Anderson film carries the same weight and impact as The Royal Tenenbaums. Yes the film has the standard Wes Anderson comedy, quirky characters, and engaging dialogue but more than any other film from the director it carries a real weight. Mostly due to how well realized each character is (which is impressive considering the large cast) and the struggles they face, The Royal Tenenbaums doesn't just carry one message but multiple. It is at the same time a story about a dysfunctional family, the search for happiness coming from a home which failed to provide that, the process of grief after losing a loved one, the story of someone leaving someone they love to make their life better, a love story, and much more. On every rewatch the film reveals more and more to itself becoming Wes Anderson's true masterpiece. It is a film that left its mark on cinema forever and is a film that is sure to leave a mark on whoever views it.