Anderson's signature aesthetic, combined with his frequent use of ensemble casts and quirky narratives, has led critics to classify him as an auteur – a director whose creative vision strongly shapes his work, making his films instantly recognizable and stylistically consistent.

Anderson's career began by earning critical acclaim for Bottle Rocket and Rushmore in the late 1990s, but it was The Royal Tenenbaums in 2001 that earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. His subsequent films like The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited, and Fantastic Mr. Fox furthered his acclaim, the last of which earned a Best Animated Feature nomination. His later successes include Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, The French Dispatch, Asteroid City, and his Oscar-winning short The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.

The Phoenician Scheme Debuts With A Solid Rotten Tomatoes Score

It Premiered At The Cannes Film Festival

The Phoenician Scheme debuts with a solid Rotten Tomatoes score. Written and directed by Wes Anderson, who conceived the story with his frequent collaborator Roman Coppola, the film follows the wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro), who names his only daughter, a nun, as his sole heir, sparking a wave of attacks from ruthless tycoons, terrorists, and assassins as he launches a new venture. The ensemble cast includes several other Wes Anderson regulars, such as Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, and Hope Davis.

Now, following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, The Phoenician Scheme has debuted with a solid 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film has 44 reviews at the time of writing, so the score could fluctuate as more are published. It doesn't yet have an audience score, though it should begin to take shape once the movie releases in theaters. See where The Phoenician Scheme ranks among Wes Anderson's greatest hits below:

What The Phoenician Scheme's Rotten Tomatoes Score Means For The Movie

What Are The Reviews Saying?

The Phoenician Scheme's Rotten Tomatoes score means that its reviews are mostly positive, though they are slightly mixed. For instance, in ScreenRant's Phoenician Scheme review, Graeme Guttmann writes, "Wes Anderson's thriller falls flat despite a captivating lead performance from Mia Threapleton... The Phoenician Scheme is a zany but hollow thriller with a breakout performance from its central star."

Ultimately, The Phoenician Scheme is seen as a bold and stylish entry in Wes Anderson's filmography...

Otherwise, the reviews are mostly positive, praising the film's visual flair, humor, and Benicio del Toro's standout performance. However, some critics are divided on its emotional depth and narrative coherence, with some calling it charmingly ambitious and others labeling it self-indulgent or hollow. Ultimately, The Phoenician Scheme is seen as a bold and stylish entry in Wes Anderson's filmography, though not without its detractors who feel his signature style has become too formulaic.

The Phoenician Scheme releases in theaters on May 30.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes