TV and Movies

Here Are 38 Things You Might Not Know About Wes Anderson’s Movies

BRB, riding off into the friscalating dusklight.

Posted on May 13, 2022

by Jess GoodwinBuzzFeed Contributor

Jess Goodwin is not good at writing bios.

If you're a Wes Anderson fan, you know that there's a lot going on in his films — both on and offscreen.

Wes Anderson attends the "The French Dispatch" Italian preview photocall

Here are some things you might not know about his movies:

1. As of early 2022, Anderson has directed 10 feature films.

Buena Vista Pictures / Via giphy.com

They are:

Bottle Rocket (1996)

Rushmore (1998)

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Isle of Dogs (2018)

The French Dispatch (2021)

2. Of those 10 films, seven include his signature slow-motion scenes.

The only ones that don't are Bottle Rocket and his two stop-motion movies, Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs. — Buena Vista Pictures / Via youtube.com

The only ones that don't are *Bottle Rocket* and his two stop-motion movies, *Fantastic Mr. Fox* and *Isle of Dogs*.

Buena Vista Pictures / Via youtube.com

The only ones that don't are *Bottle Rocket* and his two stop-motion movies, *Fantastic Mr. Fox* and *Isle of Dogs*.

3. Three of Anderson's movies have narrators.

20th Century Fox

Alec Baldwin narrated The Royal Tenenbaums, Bob Balaban narrated Moonrise Kingdom, and Anjelica Huston narrated The French Dispatch.

4. Anderson tends to work with the same people again and again.

Buena Vista Pictures / Via giphy.com

Many of the stars of his films have appeared in more than half of them.

5. The same goes for costume designers.

Buena Vista Pictures / Via giphy.com

Karen Flack served as costume designer on his first three movies, and Milena Canonero worked on the rest of his live-action movies, minus Moonrise Kingdom.

6. There's also a reason so many of Anderson's films have a signature sound.

20th Century Fox / Via giphy.com

Alexandre Desplat has scored each of them since Fantastic Mr. Fox, and he's scoring Anderson's next movie, Asteroid City, as well.

7. And all but four of Anderson's movies share a casting director too.

Fox Searchlight Pictures / Via giphy.com

Douglas Aibel did casting for each movie except Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Darjeeling Limited, and Fantastic Mr. Fox.

8. Anderson's films have received 15 Academy Award nominations and 4 wins over the past 20 years.

Fox Searchlight Pictures / Via giphy.com

The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Isle of Dogs were all nominated, and The Grand Budapest Hotel took home Oscars for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.

9. Wes Anderson and his frequent collaborator, Owen Wilson, met in 1989 at the University of Texas.

They released a short called Bottle Rocket together in 1994. — Wes Anderson / Via youtube.com

They released a short called *Bottle Rocket* together in 1994.

Wes Anderson / Via youtube.com

They released a short called *Bottle Rocket* together in 1994.

10. In 1996, they released the full-length version of that short, also called Bottle Rocket.

Sony Pictures

It was the first of Anderson's feature films.

11. All three Wilson brothers — Owen, Luke, and Andrew — were involved in the first three of Anderson's movies.

Luke Wilson, Andrew Wilson, and Owen Wilson

12. In Rushmore, Rosemary is romantically linked to two of the Wilson brothers.

Olivia Williams, Luke Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman in Rushmore

13. According to the Rushmore DVD commentary, Wes Anderson originally envisioned someone like Noah Taylor — "a young Mick Jagger [with] that slightly uncooked look" — for the role of Max Fischer.

Noah Taylor and Bill Murray in Life Aquatic

14. Jason Schwartzman auditioned for Rushmore wearing a prep school blazer emblazoned with a DIY Rushmore Academy patch.

Buena Vista Pictures / Via youtube.com

Max Fischer ended up being his first-ever role.

Buena Vista Pictures / Via youtube.com

Max Fischer ended up being his first-ever role.

15. Other than being a teenager, Jason actually had a few things in common with Max.

In an appearance on Overheard With Evan Smith, Schwartzman revealed that, like Max, while he was in high school he wrote a play and was in love with an older woman. — Overheard With Evan Smith / Via youtube.com

In an appearance on *Overheard With Evan Smith*, Schwartzman revealed that, like Max, while he was in high school he wrote a play and was in love with an older woman.

Overheard With Evan Smith / Via youtube.com

In an appearance on *Overheard With Evan Smith*, Schwartzman revealed that, like Max, while he was in high school he wrote a play and was in love with an older woman.

16. Rushmore was also technically Gilmore Girls star Alexis Bledel's first role too.

17. Though not nominated, Rushmore was included in the 1999 MTV Movie Awards.

In a series of promos leading up to the awards show, the Max Fischer Players recreated Out of Sight, The Truman Show, and Armageddon. — MTV / Via youtube.com

In a series of promos leading up to the awards show, the Max Fischer Players recreated *Out of Sight*, *The Truman Show*, and *Armageddon*.

MTV / Via youtube.com

In a series of promos leading up to the awards show, the Max Fischer Players recreated *Out of Sight*, *The Truman Show*, and *Armageddon*.

18. In The Royal Tenenbaums, the hand you see with a BB lodged in it is actually Andrew Wilson's.

Buena Vista Pictures / Via giphy.com

His brother, Owen, shot him when they were kids.

19. The glasses Anjelica Huston wears in The Royal Tenenbaums belonged to Anderson's mother.

Anjelica Huston as Etheline in Royal Tenenbaums

20. The cigarettes Margot smokes in The Royal Tenenbaums are Sweet Aftons, an Irish brand that was discontinued about 10 years ago.

Adult Margot Tenenbaum smoking cigarettes

Young Margot Tenenbaums buying cigarettes

21. Cate Blanchett was really pregnant during The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

A pregnant Cate Blanchett in Life Aquatic

22. Henry Selick, director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, animated the stop-motion sea creatures in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

Buena Vista Pictures

23. David Bowie was a fan of the covers Seu Jorge did of his music for The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

Buena Vista Pictures / Seu Jorge / Via youtube.com

"Had Seu Jorge not recorded my songs in Portuguese, I would never have heard this new level of beauty which he has imbued them with," Bowie commented in the movie soundtrack's liner notes.

Buena Vista Pictures / Seu Jorge / Via youtube.com

"Had Seu Jorge not recorded my songs in Portuguese, I would never have heard this new level of beauty which he has imbued them with," Bowie commented in the movie soundtrack's liner notes.

24. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou was heavily inspired by the life of Jacques Cousteau, one of Anderson's childhood heroes.

Phillippe and Jacques Cousteau standing on the deck of a boat in red caps

Bill Murray and Owen Wilson pointing like Jacques Cousteau

25. Natalie Portman went to India to spend 30 minutes shooting what ended up being a 10-second cameo in The Darjeeling Limited.

It was technically a reprisal of her role as Rhett from Hotel Chevalier, a 13-minute short that served as a prologue to the feature film. — Fox Searchlight Pictures / Via youtube.com

It was technically a reprisal of her role as Rhett from *Hotel Chevalier*, a 13-minute short that served as a prologue to the feature film.

Fox Searchlight Pictures / Via youtube.com

It was technically a reprisal of her role as Rhett from *Hotel Chevalier*, a 13-minute short that served as a prologue to the feature film.

26. Kara Hayward was a fan of Anderson's prior to starring in Moonrise Kingdom.

Kara Hayward dressed as a bird in Moonrise Kingdom

27. She did her own hair and makeup to play Suzy.

Focus Features / Via giphy.com

28. None of the books Suzy can be seen reading in the movie are real.

Book covers for "Disappearance of the 6th Grade," "The Girl from Jupiter," and "The Francine Odysseys"

29. Hayward and Jared Gilman, who played Sam in Moonrise Kingdom, got to keep souvenirs from the set.

Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman in Moonrise Kingdom

30. In Fantastic Mr. Fox, the hair used for the human puppets is actual human hair.

A bunch of the humans in Fantastic Mr. Fox with guns

31. The dialogue for Fantastic Mr. Fox was recorded outdoors.

The foxes and other creatures in Fantastic Mr. Fox

32. The hotel staff in The Grand Budapest Hotel is played mostly by actual local hospitality workers.

Fox Searchlight Pictures / Via giphy.com

The owner of the Hotel Börse in Görlitz, where much of the filming took place (and where the cast and crew stayed), appeared as an extra working at the front desk.

33. The fur used for the puppets in Isle of Dogs was made from alpaca and merino wool.

Dogs traveling through Scottish hills in Isle of Dogs

34. At an hour and 41 minutes, Isle of Dogs is one of the longest stop-motion films of all time.

Fox Searchlight Pictures / Via giphy.com

It also took the longest to make — while the rest of Anderson's films came out within 2–3 years of each other, Isle of Dogs wasn't released until a full four years after his previous film.

35. The role of Zeffirelli in The French Dispatch was written specifically for Timothée Chalamet.

Timothee Chalamet in a bathtub in The French Dispatch

36. The French Dispatch is Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan's third film together in less than four years.

Timothee Chalamet in The French Dispatch

37. Wes Anderson alums Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum, and Jeffrey Wright will all appear in his next film, Asteroid City.

Jason Schwartzman, Wes Anderson, and Bill Murray

38. Meanwhile, the movie will mark the debuts of Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Hope Davis, and Matt Dillon in the Wes Anderson Cinematic Universe.

20th Century Fox / Via giphy.com

Correction: An earlier version of this post stated two of Anderson's films have narrators, not three.

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Comments

Top Comment
Sondheimgeek
4 years ago
May 13, 20228:52 am
Scarlett Johansson was in aisle of Dogs, so this won’t be her Wes Anderson debut.

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If you're a Wes Anderson fan, you know that there's a lot going on in his films — both on and offscreen.

Here are some things you might not know about his movies:

1. As of early 2022, Anderson has directed 10 feature films.

2. Of those 10 films, seven include his signature slow-motion scenes.

View this video on YouTube

3. Three of Anderson's movies have narrators.

4. Anderson tends to work with the same people again and again.

5. The same goes for costume designers.

6. There's also a reason so many of Anderson's films have a signature sound.

7. And all but four of Anderson's movies share a casting director too.

8. Anderson's films have received 15 Academy Award nominations and 4 wins over the past 20 years.

9. Wes Anderson and his frequent collaborator, Owen Wilson, met in 1989 at the University of Texas.

View this video on YouTube

10. In 1996, they released the full-length version of that short, also called Bottle Rocket.

11. All three Wilson brothers — Owen, Luke, and Andrew — were involved in the first three of Anderson's movies.

12. In Rushmore, Rosemary is romantically linked to two of the Wilson brothers.

13. According to the Rushmore DVD commentary, Wes Anderson originally envisioned someone like Noah Taylor — "a young Mick Jagger [with] that slightly uncooked look" — for the role of Max Fischer.

14. Jason Schwartzman auditioned for Rushmore wearing a prep school blazer emblazoned with a DIY Rushmore Academy patch.

View this video on YouTube

15. Other than being a teenager, Jason actually had a few things in common with Max.

View this video on YouTube

16. Rushmore was also technically Gilmore Girls star Alexis Bledel's first role too.

17. Though not nominated, Rushmore was included in the 1999 MTV Movie Awards.

View this video on YouTube

18. In The Royal Tenenbaums, the hand you see with a BB lodged in it is actually Andrew Wilson's.

19. The glasses Anjelica Huston wears in The Royal Tenenbaums belonged to Anderson's mother.

20. The cigarettes Margot smokes in The Royal Tenenbaums are Sweet Aftons, an Irish brand that was discontinued about 10 years ago.

21. Cate Blanchett was really pregnant during The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

22. Henry Selick, director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, animated the stop-motion sea creatures in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

23. David Bowie was a fan of the covers Seu Jorge did of his music for The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

View this video on YouTube

24. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou was heavily inspired by the life of Jacques Cousteau, one of Anderson's childhood heroes.

25. Natalie Portman went to India to spend 30 minutes shooting what ended up being a 10-second cameo in The Darjeeling Limited.

View this video on YouTube

26. Kara Hayward was a fan of Anderson's prior to starring in Moonrise Kingdom.

27. She did her own hair and makeup to play Suzy.

28. None of the books Suzy can be seen reading in the movie are real.

29. Hayward and Jared Gilman, who played Sam in Moonrise Kingdom, got to keep souvenirs from the set.

30. In Fantastic Mr. Fox, the hair used for the human puppets is actual human hair.

31. The dialogue for Fantastic Mr. Fox was recorded outdoors.

32. The hotel staff in The Grand Budapest Hotel is played mostly by actual local hospitality workers.

33. The fur used for the puppets in Isle of Dogs was made from alpaca and merino wool.

34. At an hour and 41 minutes, Isle of Dogs is one of the longest stop-motion films of all time.

35. The role of Zeffirelli in The French Dispatch was written specifically for Timothée Chalamet.

36. The French Dispatch is Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan's third film together in less than four years.

37. Wes Anderson alums Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum, and Jeffrey Wright will all appear in his next film, Asteroid City.

38. Meanwhile, the movie will mark the debuts of Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Hope Davis, and Matt Dillon in the Wes Anderson Cinematic Universe.

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