Wes Anderson’s 2025 film, The Phoenician Scheme, debuted at Cannes as well as in a limited U.S. release on May 30th, 2025. The film will hit theaters globally on June 6th. co-written with Roman Coppola, who often works with Anderson, the film follows Zsa-zsa Korda, an extravagant mogul portrayed by Benicio del Toro, who is facing all kinds of threats such as assassination attempts and bombs. As Korda seeks redemption, he reconnects with his estranged daughter Liesl, played by Mia Threapleton, who has become a nun. Along for the ride is their soft-spoken tutor Bjorn, played by Michael Cera. On the adventure, they navigate a series of obstacles, suspicious behavior, and spiritual reckonings, including unearthly visits to a surprising version of heaven.

The film features Anderson’s signature visual style, with unique sets crafted at Studio Babelsberg in Germany. Starring alongside Del Toro is a star-studded ensemble including Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Richard Ayoade. In a particularly memorable turn, Bill Murray appears as God. The film’s soundtrack is composed by Anderson’s longtime friend and collaborator, Alexandre Desplat. The Phoenician Scheme marks their seventh project together. Desplat is also known for scoring Little Women, The Danish Girl and Unbroken.

Premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, The Phoenician Scheme received a seven-minute standing ovation. The film received overall positive reviews, with critics praising its emotional depth and visual inventiveness. Some viewers described the film as “boring” or “confusing,” but the BBC summed it up as “daft but fun.” Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter called it “a Wes Anderson for those who’ve been feeling alienated by Wes Anderson.”

Anderson’s  latest film feels like a more introspective take on his usual style—a softer, more reflective film anchored in themes of forgiveness and familial love, but still laced with his signature eccentricities.