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Every Wes Anderson Movie, Ranked

Director Wes Anderson on the set of ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

Filmmaker Wes Anderson is one of the most visionary and unique directors of his generation.

Anderson’s comedies are known for their specific direction, fantastic production design, and unique musical choices, as well as his ensemble cast of frequent collaborators that include Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Angelica Huston, Adrien Brody, Tony Revolori, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, Benicio del Toro, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston and many more.

In honor of Anderson’s new movie, ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘, which opens in select theaters on May 30th before opening wide on June 6th, Moviefone is counting down every film of Wes Anderson’s impressive career, including his latest.

Let’s begin!

13. ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More‘ (2024)

Benedict Cumberbatch as Henry Sugar in ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More.’ Photo: Netflix ©2023.

Four tales unfold in Wes Anderson’s anthology of short films adapted from Roald Dahl‘s beloved stories, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”, “The Swan”, “The Rat Catcher”, and “Poison”.
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12. ‘The Darjeeling Limited‘ (2007)

(L to R) Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody and Owen Wilson in ‘The Darjeeling Limited’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Three American brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman) who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other — to become brothers again like they used to be. Their “spiritual quest”, however, veers rapidly off-course (due to events involving over-the-counter pain killers, Indian cough syrup, and pepper spray).
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11. ‘Bottle Rocket‘ (1996)

(L to R) Luke Wilson and Owen Wilson in ‘Bottle Rocket’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Upon his release from a mental hospital following a nervous breakdown, the directionless Anthony (Luke Wilson) joins his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson), who seems far less sane than the former. Dignan has hatched a hair-brained scheme for an as-yet-unspecified crime spree that somehow involves his former boss, the (supposedly) legendary Mr. Henry (James Caan).
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10. ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou‘ (2004)

The cast of ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Renowned oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) has sworn vengeance upon the rare shark that devoured a member of his crew. In addition to his regular team, he is joined on his boat by Ned (Owen Wilson), a man who believes Zissou to be his father, and Jane (Cate Blanchett), a journalist pregnant by a married man. They travel the sea, all too often running into pirates and, perhaps more traumatically, various figures from Zissou’s past, including his estranged wife, Eleanor (Anjelica Huston).
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9. ‘Asteroid City‘ (2023)

(L to R) Jake Ryan, Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks in director Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features.

The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
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8. ‘Isle of Dogs‘ (2018)

A scene from ‘Isle of Dogs’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

In the future, an outbreak of canine flu leads the mayor of a Japanese city to banish all dogs to an island that’s a garbage dump. The outcasts must soon embark on an epic journey when a 12-year-old boy (Koyu Rankin) arrives on the island to find his beloved pet.
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7. ‘Rushmore‘ (1998)

(L to R) Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman in ‘Rushmore’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

When a beautiful first-grade teacher (Olivia Williams) arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of an ambitious teenager named Max (Jason Schwartzman), who quickly falls in love with her. Max turns to the father (Bill Murray) of two of his schoolmates for advice on how to woo the teacher. However, the situation soon gets complicated when Max’s new friend becomes involved with her, setting the two pals against one another in a war for her attention.
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6. ‘Moonrise Kingdom‘ (2012)

(L to R) Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Bruce Willis and Edward Norton in ‘Moonrise Kingdom’. Photo: Focus Features.

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.
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5. ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘ (2025)

Benicio Del Toro stars as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

The story of a family and a family business. Starring Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, and Michael Cera.
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4. ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel‘ (2014)

Ralph Fiennes stars in ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The Grand Budapest Hotel tells of a legendary concierge (Ralph Fiennes) at a famous European hotel between the wars and his friendship with a young employee (Tony Revolori) who becomes his trusted protégé. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting, the battle for an enormous family fortune and the slow and then sudden upheavals that transformed Europe during the first half of the 20th century.
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3. ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox‘ (2009)

George Clooney as Mr. Fox in ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (George Clooney) bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers (Michael Gambon, Robin Hurlstone, and Hugo Guinness). The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.
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2. ‘The French Dispatch‘ (2021)

(L to R) Bencio del Toro and Léa Seydoux in ‘The French Dispatch’. Photo: Searchlight Pictures.

The staff of an American magazine based in France puts out its last issue, with stories featuring an artist sentenced to life imprisonment, student riots, and a kidnapping resolved by a chef.
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1. ‘The Royal Tenenbaums‘ (2001)

The cast of ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and his wife Etheline (Anjelica Huston) had three children (Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Luke Wilson) and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary — all geniuses. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father’s fault. “The Royal Tenenbaums” is the story of the family’s sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter.
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June 8, 2025
‘The Phoenician Scheme’ Interview: Benicio del Toro and Cast
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‘The Phoenician Scheme’, which is the latest film from visionary director Wes Anderson (‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ and ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’), opens in select theaters on May 30th before opening wide on June 6th.

The movie stars returning Anderson collaborators Benicio del Toro (‘The French Dispatch’), Tom Hanks (‘Asteroid City’), Bryan Cranston (‘Isle of Dogs’), Jeffrey Wright (‘The French Dispatch’), Scarlett Johansson (‘Asteroid City’), Benedict Cumberbatch (‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’), Willem Dafoe (‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’), and Bill Murray (‘Rushmore’), as well as first time Anderson actors Mia Threapleton (‘The Buccaneers’), Michael Cera (‘Superbad’), and Riz Ahmed (‘Sound of Metal’).

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’

(L to R) Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton and Michael Cera star in ‘The Phoenician Scheme’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera and Mia Threapleton about their work on ‘The Phoenician Scheme’. Del Toro discussed his experience reuniting with director Wes Anderson and what he enjoys about working with him, while Cera talked about what it was like to join Wes Anderson’s company of actors and explore the unique worlds he creates on screen, and Threapleton discussed her character’s estranged relationship with her father and why she accompanies him on his journey.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

Benicio Del Toro stars as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

Moviefone: To begin with, Benicio, can you talk about reuniting with director Wes Anderson after ‘The French Dispatch’ and what do you enjoy about working with him?

Benicio del Toro: Well, I enjoy everything, especially the final product. But the character for ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ is a much more challenging character, full of contradictions, with a hell of an arc that it required a lot of motivation to say the least. It kept me up at night, put it that way, to make sure that I deliver what needs to be delivered day in, day out. But I think that Wes’s foundation as a filmmaker, aside from the fact of the visionary he is, also, he’s an incredible writer. He really is. We were talking about this. The script reads like a novel. You could publish it and it would read like a novel. Usually, I get many scripts, I’ve done many movies, and in many of them, I create the backstory of my character. Here, I think you get the backstory of all our characters that have arcs. Michael’s, Mia’s and me, we all have arcs, but we also get the backstory, which it reads like a novel would do that. So, I think that’s the thing that makes Wes’s projects for me so powerful, beyond just a comedy or a beautiful story. Something that his movies always have, is that you can touch them, but the foundation is a story and the writing, and I think that’s really one of his strengths.

(L to R) Michael Cera as Bjorn and Mia Threapleton as Liesl in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

MF: Michael, what was it like for you to join Wes Anderson’s company of actors and have an opportunity to explore the unique worlds he creates on screen?

Michael Cera: It’s such a wonderful group to join. Wes just populates his productions with the most amazing people you can think of, and Mia included in that. It’s so much fun to come in. It’s always an exciting thing about jumping into a project that has this caliber of people working on it, and yeah, the worlds are just so much fun. This movie is an anthology in a way where it’s like the three of us are this unit that hop from story to story, and each one of those was brought to life by the various guest players that would come in for that week or two weeks to work on their sequence and inject a whole new energy and atmosphere into the movie. It was just amazing, and it’s great seeing those people show up and bring that character to life in front of your eyes too, and see what they look like suddenly, and sound like.

(L to R) Mia Threapleton as Liesl and Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

MF: Finally, Mia, can you talk about Sister Liesl’s estranged relationship with her father and why she decides to help him on his journey?

Mia Threapleton: I think when we meet her, she has her own reasons for agreeing to meet with him, which are not just because she’s been invited, but she has a lot of unanswered, long time burning questions. Because he’s invited her, I think she realizes, “Okay, he wants something from me. Well, I will acquiesce to this, but I can also get him to give me the answers that I want as well.” So, it’s a little bit like a business negotiation initially, and then by the end of that conversation, I think she realizes, “Okay, actually this is a lot larger than I thought that it was going to be, and maybe he can give me more answers over time. Maybe I’ll find out more information.” I think because of her upbringing within a convent, she literally says it. “I forgive you. We’re taught to.” So, I think there is this forgiving side of her, but I also think that she sees that he is very complex and complicated and wants to understand that more. But perhaps that’s one of the many reasons why she decides to stick it out with this rapscallion, if you will.
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What is the plot of ‘The Phoenician Scheme’?

Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro) appoints his only daughter, a nun (Mia Threapleton), as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Phoenician Scheme?
- Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda
- Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl
- Michael Cera as Bjørn Lund
- Riz Ahmed as Prince Farouk
- Tom Hanks as Leland
- Bryan Cranston as Reagan
- Mathieu Amalric as Marseille Bob
- Richard Ayoade as Sergio
- Jeffrey Wright as Marty
- Scarlett Johansson as Cousin Hilda
- Benedict Cumberbatch as Uncle Nubar
- Rupert Friend as Excaliber
- Hope Davis as Mother Superior
- Bill Murray as God
- Charlotte Gainsbourg as 1st Wife
- Willem Dafoe as Knave
- F. Murray Abraham as Prophet
(L to R) Actor Mathieu Amalric, director Wes Anderson, actors Mia Threapleton and Benicio Del Toro during the production of ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

List of Wes Anderson Movies:
- ‘Bottle Rocket‘ (1996)
- ‘Rushmore‘ (1999)
- ‘The Royal Tenenbaums‘ (2002)
- ‘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)
- ‘Asteroid City‘ (2023)
- ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar‘ (2023)
- ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Wes Anderson Movies on Amazon
May 29, 2025
Movie Review: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’
(L to R) Mia Threapleton as Liesl and Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

‘The Phoenician Scheme’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.

Opening in select theaters on May 30th before opening wide on June 6th is the latest film from visionary director Wes Anderson (‘The Royal Tenenbaums’) entitled ‘The Phoenician Scheme’.

The movie stars returning Anderson collaborators Benicio del Toro (‘The French Dispatch’), Tom Hanks (‘Asteroid City’), Bryan Cranston (‘Isle of Dogs’), Jeffrey Wright (‘The French Dispatch’), Scarlett Johansson (‘Asteroid City’), Benedict Cumberbatch (‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’), Willem Dafoe (‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’), and Bill Murray (‘Rushmore’), as well as first time Anderson actors Mia Threapleton (‘The Buccaneers’), Michael Cera (‘Superbad’), and Riz Ahmed (‘Sound of Metal’).

Related Article: 10 Things We Learned at the ’Asteroid City’ Virtual Press Conference

Initial Thoughts

Benicio Del Toro stars as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

After being disappointed by his last outing, ‘Asteroid City’, I’m happy to report that director Wes Anderson has returned to form with ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, which is awkwardly funny and gives off ‘Royal Tenenbaums’ vibes. The movie takes full advantage of Anderson’s unique and quirky humor and is beautiful to look at. Each frame is meticulously designed, and is so breathtaking, it’s like watching at a moving painting.

Benicio del Toro gives a commanding performance as notorious businessman and family patriarch Zsa-zsa Korda, while Mia Threapleton is wonderful in her role as Sister Liesl, Korda’s only daughter and heir to his empire. But its actor Michael Cera that gives one of the best performances of his career as the mysterious Bjørn Lund. Cera is perfectly cast in the role and seems born to be in a Wes Anderson film as his own quirky persona fits the filmmaker’s aesthetic like a glove.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Actor Mathieu Amalric, director Wes Anderson, actors Mia Threapleton and Benicio Del Toro during the production of ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

The film begins by introducing us to Zsa-zsa Korda (del Toro), a notorious businessman who has survived several assassination attempts. Fearing that his enemies will eventually be successful, Korda summons his only daughter Liesl (Threapleton) who has recently joined a convent and suspects him of killing her mother. Despite having nine young sons, Korda has chosen Liesl to be his heir and take over his empire. Korda believes that his risky new enterprise, will provide for his family for generations to come.

Korda and Sister Liesl embark on a journey to secure the rest of the funds they’ll need for their venture by visiting acquaintances like Leland (Hanks) and Reagan (Cranston), Marty (Wright), Cousin Hilda (Johansson), and eventually Korda’s brother Uncle Nubar (Cumberbatch), who may be Liesl’s real father. They travel with a mysterious young man named Bjørn Lund (Cera), who becomes Korda’s personal assistant and has feelings for Sister Liesl. Along the way Korda survives several attempted assassinations from an opposing group led by Excalibur (Rupert Friend), each time having a near death experience where he goes to heaven and eventually speaks to God (Murray).

Director Wes Anderson on the set of ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

Wes Anderson’s quirky brand of humor is not for everyone, but it is my favorite type of humor. I love absurdly bizarre situations played dead serious, and no one does that better than Anderson. ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ is my favorite of his films, although I really enjoyed the recent ‘The French Dispatch’, and ‘Phoenician Scheme’ is very similar to ‘Tenenbaums’. Both revolve around an eccentric, arrogant, rich patriarch who struggles with being a father and has delusions of grandeur.

Anderson is a unique and singular director. No one else before him or after has ever made a movie that looks like a Wes Anderson film. Everything you see in a Wes Anderson movie was thought out and meticulously placed. Each frame of his movies is like watching a beautiful moving painting. The gorgeous over the head shot of Korda in a bathtub that runs during the opening credits is a perfect example. Congratulations to Anderson and is production design team for their attention to detail, which makes this film and Anderson’s work in general a visual delight.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Michael Cera as Bjorn, Mia Threapleton as Liesl, Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda, and Mathieu Amalric as Marseille Bob in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

The three leads completely carry the film including del Toro, Threapleton and Cera. Benicio del Toro, who first worked with Anderson on the criminally underrated ‘The French Dispatch’ fits in to Anderson’s world exceedingly well. Here he is commanding, purposely over-the-top at times, but also measured, playing deadpan at the right moments and he has excellent chemistry with Threapleton.

In fact, Mia Threapleton is a revelation in this film, not surprising as her mother is the iconic Kate Winslet, and obviously the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. She adapts to Anderson’s style and pacing impressively well, and brings heart and humor to the ridiculous situations her character finds herself in.

Michael Cera, who’s dry delivery was on display in ‘Arrested Development’, ‘Superbad’ and ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’, perfectly fits Anderson’s aesthetic as if the actor was born to be in one of the director’s films. As Bjørn Lund he creates a character that is as likable and sympathetic as he is completely ridiculous. And without giving away any spoilers, the actor is also believable in the character’s surprise turn in the third act.

(L to R) Scarlett Johansson as Cousin Hilda and Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

The returning cast of “Wes Anderson Players” were all welcomed, even if most of their roles only amounted to glorified cameos. Bryan Cranston and Tom Hanks are quite funny as the basketball playing Reagan and Leland, respectively. Jeffrey Wright is equally funny as Marty, electing to adopt a very strange characterization.

Scarlett Johansson, marking her third outing with Anderson, shines like an old school movie star and is excellent in her limited role. Playing the pivotal character of Uncle Nubar, Benedict Cumberbatch is fine but perhaps not as intimidating as the role calls for. Richard Ayoade is very funny as revolutionist Sergio, and Anderson mainstay Bill Murray gives a very dry but hilarious performance as God, of course.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Michael Cera as Bjorn and Mia Threapleton as Liesl in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

While Wes Anderson’s movies might not be for everyone, ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ is one of his better recent films and is reminiscent of perhaps his greatest movie, ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’. Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, and Mia Threapleton all give excellent performances, surrounded by a marvelous cast of frequent Anderson collaborators. If you like meticulously beautiful and absurdly funny movies, then this one is for you.
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What is the plot of ‘The Phoenician Scheme’?

Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (Benicio del Toro) appoints his only daughter, a nun (Mia Threapleton), as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Phoenician Scheme?
- Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda
- Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl
- Michael Cera as Bjørn Lund
- Riz Ahmed as Prince Farouk
- Tom Hanks as Leland
- Bryan Cranston as Reagan
- Mathieu Amalric as Marseille Bob
- Richard Ayoade as Sergio
- Jeffrey Wright as Marty
- Scarlett Johansson as Cousin Hilda
- Benedict Cumberbatch as Uncle Nubar
- Rupert Friend as Excaliber
- Hope Davis as Mother Superior
- Bill Murray as God
- Charlotte Gainsbourg as 1st Wife
- Willem Dafoe as Knave
- F. Murray Abraham as Prophet
Benicio Del Toro stars as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

List of Wes Anderson Movies:
- ‘Bottle Rocket‘ (1996)
- ‘Rushmore‘ (1999)
- ‘The Royal Tenenbaums‘ (2002)
- ‘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)
- ‘Asteroid City‘ (2023)
- ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar‘ (2023)
- ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Wes Anderson Movies on Amazon
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May 28, 2025
Movie Review: ‘The Friend’
(L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

‘The Friend’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.

Opening in theaters exclusively in New York on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th is ‘The Friend,’ directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, and starring Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Sara Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, and Bing as Apollo.

Related Article: Bill Murray and Naomi Watts Talk ‘The Friend’ and Acting with a Dog

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Bing and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

Based on a 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez, ‘The Friend’ is a relative rarity in today’s Hollywood landscape: an adult comedy-drama about subjects like love, loneliness, relationships, grief, and loss. Reminiscent in some ways of several Woody Allen’s better efforts in this field, this adaptation by writers-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel (‘What Maisie Knew’) is funny, moving, bittersweet, and completely absorbing, with a strong cast headed by an excellent Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.

It’s also a story about the wonder and mystery of the way in which humans and animals can bond, bolstered by a fantastic performance from a Great Dane named Bing. If there was an Oscar for “best performance by an animal,” this majestic animal would win hands down. He steals the show and will steal the viewer’s heart as well, making ‘The Friend’ one of the better movies we’ve seen about a person and their animal companion in a long time.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

After a brief opening scene at a very Allen-esque dinner party presided over by famed novelist Walter (Bill Murray), ‘The Friend’ flashes forward sometime later to Walter’s memorial service. It appears he has taken his own life, leaving behind two ex-wives (and a current one), a daughter he’s only recently reconnected with, several friends and former lovers, and a large Great Dane named Apollo (Bing), who he found while jogging under the Brooklyn Bridge one day and took home. But his third wife, Barbara (Noma Dumezweni), doesn’t want the dog, and as it turns out, Walter has bequeathed the canine – much to her shock and surprise — to his dear friend and former student, Iris (Naomi Watts).

Iris, a writer and teacher herself, lives alone in a tiny, rent-controlled Manhattan apartment, but sheltering a large dog like Apollo is a problem for her in more ways than one: the building doesn’t allow dogs, as the super (Felix Solis) constantly reminds her, and she could be in danger of losing her place if she doesn’t find a home for him. But even as Iris desperately tries to find a new home for Apollo, while also grappling with the aftermath of Walter’s death and the task of co-editing with his daughter (Sarah Pidgeon) a book of his voluminous correspondence, something strange begins to happen: she and Apollo, both heartbroken over losing their friend, start to form a bond – even if he initially wreaks havoc in her apartment, takes over her bed, and refuses to eat his food.

‘The Friend’ is about what it’s like to lose someone you love unexpectedly, and how you reconcile your feelings about that person with the truths you come to know about them. Walter is a difficult man and a serial womanizer, yet everyone in his orbit is in one way or another deeply affected by the gravity of his passing. Iris wrestles with the loss of her deep friendship with Walter, her annoyance with his flaws (in particular, his tendency to sleep with his female students), and the status of her own life, all of which become somehow crystallized in her developing relationship with the somber Apollo.

(Left) ‘The Friend’ co-writer and co-director Scott McGehee. Photo credit: Bleecker Street. (Right) ‘The friend’ co-writer and co-director David Siegel. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

It’s a poignant but also funny tale, set in a community of academics and writers who take the craft of writing and its role in their lives seriously (which feels like a throwback in our current social media-besotted era). The movie is also a love letter to New York City, which McGehee, Siegel, and cinematographer Giles Nuttgens shoot fabulously: the many Manhattan locations are filmed in crisp, bright fashion, while places like Iris’s building and her apartment have a ring of realism that doesn’t always manifest in NYC-set movies. For anyone who has dealt with finding or keeping an apartment in the Big Apple, that aspect of ‘The Friend’ reverberates.

Most importantly, we come to care deeply for Iris, Apollo, and their shared grief and dilemma, while appreciating the presence of the many characters who are part of Iris’s life. The film’s only real stumble is in its final stretch: perhaps in a nod to the book – which is written as an imaginary conversation between the Iris and Walter characters (who are unnamed) – Iris has a sort of fantasy sequence in which her unspoken conflicts and feelings come to the fore. It’s stagey and artificial after the otherwise everyday texture of the rest of the film. And then there’s one final scene that feels shamelessly manipulative.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

Naomi Watts, in some ways underrated these days, delivers a marvelous, stirring performance here as Iris. Pulled in several different directions, she provides a clear-eyed portrait of a woman who is holding things together even as she struggles with conflicting goals and priorities. Her natural warmth and humor shine through, particularly in her interactions with Bill Murray. Although only onscreen for a limited time, Murray is in relatively sober form here, while still infusing Walter with the wit, charisma, and huge personality that makes it easy to appreciate why so many people stay in his orbit.

The rest of the cast is filled out in excellent fashion, with Constance Wu, Noma Dumezweni, and Carla Gugino sharply defined as Walter’s three wives (it’s always nice to see Gugino in something outside a horror or action thriller) and Felix Solis affecting as Hektor, the guilt-ridden yet compassionate super in Iris’s building. But the VIP of the movie – next to Watts and Murray – is undoubtedly Bing, the dog who plays Apollo. With his big body and incredibly expressive eyes, Bing magically tells us everything we need to know about Apollo; and while many things about animals are truly unknowable, his initially painful grief and gradual affection for Iris are palpable and poignant.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Naomi Watts and Bing in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

Except for that wobbly ending, ‘The Friend’ is a profound, compassionate look at how we navigate change and loss in our lives as we get older. Scott McGehee and David Siegel have taken literary material that may not necessarily be easy to adapt and brought it to the screen in captivating fashion. And we dare anyone not to be moved by the relationship between Iris and Apollo, especially with the latter’s emotional life just as involving and complex as the actor starring opposite him. Keep your friends close, the story seems to say, but perhaps keep your animal friends even closer.
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What is the plot of ‘The Friend’?

Iris (Naomi Watts) has had a long, complex friendship with Walter (Bill Murray). Walter is an irresistible charmer, a brilliant author, a lover of many women, and a master at letting down loved ones. When he dies suddenly, Iris is left to deal with all he left behind — three ex-wives (Carla Gugino, Constance Wu and Noma Dumezweni) with unfinished business, his interrupted literary legacy, and his beloved beast Apollo (Bing). It’s not that Iris doesn’t like dogs, but this is Manhattan, and she’ll get kicked out of her building if they find out she’s pretty much trying to house a horse.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Friend’?
- Naomi Watts as Iris
- Bill Murray as Walter
- Sarah Pidgeon as Val
- Constance Wu as Tuesday
- Ann Dowd as Marjorie
- Noma Dumezweni as Barbara
- Felix Solis as Hektor
- Owen Teague as Carter
- Carla Gugino as Elaine
- Gina Costigan as Jocelyn
- Josh Pais as Jerry
‘The Friend’ will exclusively open in New York theaters on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

List of Scott McGehee and David Siegel Movies:
- ‘Suture‘ (1994)
- ‘The Deep End of the Ocean‘ (1999)
- ‘Bee Season‘ (2005)
- ‘Uncertainty‘ (2009)
- ‘What Maisie Knew‘ (2013)
- ‘Montana Story‘ (2022)
- ‘The Friend‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Friend’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Bill Murray Movies on Amazon

Buy Naomi Watts Movies on Amazon
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April 2, 2025
‘The Friend’ Interview: Bill Murray and Naomi Watts
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Opening in theaters in New York on March 28th before opening wide on April 4th is ‘The Friend’, which is based on the book by Sigrid Nunez and was written and directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel (‘Montana Story’).

The movie stars Naomi Watts (‘St. Vincent’), Bill Murray (‘Ghostbusters’), Sarah Pidgeon (‘Tiny Beautiful Things’), Constance Wu (‘Crazy Rich Asians’), Ann Dowd (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’), Carla Gugino (‘Watchmen’), and Bing as Apollo.

Related Article: Naomi Watts Talks New Thriller ‘The Desperate Hour’

(L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts star in ‘The Friend’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Naomi Watts and legendary actor Bill Murray about their work on ‘The Friend’, Murray’s first reaction to the screenplay, the characters, Watts experience acting opposite Bing the dog, and working with directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Murray, Watts, and directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel.

(L to R) Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

Moviefone: To begin with, Bill, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?

Bill Murray: Well, my first reaction was there was a lot that was going to be required that wasn’t written in the script that basically I had to be able to be a real, pretty good actor. But the script was, it gave you an opportunity to really bring as much as you were capable of to the job. I knew that if Naomi was going to be there, that she was going to be able to perform. She far overshot whatever I thought. Her performance in the movie is spectacular. It’s the only word for it. I haven’t seen anyone do anything like it in a long time. It’s an amazing piece of work, and I’m only in so many scenes with Naomi, but what she does in the rest of the movie is incredibly big and incredibly powerful. It’s a big deal. She does an amazing job. So, my job was just to feed her, and she took and smacked out of the park.

(L to R) Naomi Watts and Bing in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

MF: Naomi, can you talk about how Iris’s life changes when she meets Apollo, and what was Bing like to have as a scene partner?

Naomi Watts: Yeah, it’s a terrible time for Apollo to just launch himself into her life, right at the point where she’s trying to grieve and the panic of losing her apartment, as well as the emotional side of things. It was just chaos and the constant reminder and the anger. Walter was her mentor. He was supposed to keep teaching her, and It’s very complicated. But it was wonderful working with this magical creature. Bing is a soulful, beautiful energy to be around constantly. He is highly trained, and they searched the nation far and wide.

(L to R) Bill Murray and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo Credit: Bleecker Street.

MF: Bill, how would you describe the friendship between Iris and Walter, and why does he trust her to take care of Apollo?

BM: It’s bad enough when someone asks you to sort of house-sit their dog for a weekend or something, but she ended up with this giant dog, totally responsible for this thing that took over her home and her life and represented the person that she’d lost in life. It’s a big thing. The constant reminder of that emotion, that pain. You’re angry at the person you’ve lost. Yet, if you show the anger at this giant dog, the dog could eat you. You got to be careful.

(L to R) Bing and Naomi Watts in Bleecker Street’s ‘The Friend’. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

MF: Naomi, Iris and Apollo are both mourning the loss of their friend, does that bring them closer together in a way because they are both grieving?

NW: You think it’s going to be her undoing, but it ends up being the gateway to opening to her grief and connecting with someone. This is a lonely woman who hasn’t had a proper connection with anyone for a while. She hasn’t felt connected to her craft. She hasn’t felt connected to a human, she hasn’t felt connected to her heart and soul, I suppose. He kind of opens that up and then all these other things start becoming more achievable.

(Left) ‘The Friend’ co-writer and co-director Scott McGehee. Photo credit: Bleecker Street. (Right) ‘The friend’ co-writer and co-director David Siegel. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

MF: Finally, Bill, what was your experience like working with filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel on this movie?

BM: Well, there were two. So, there was a good cop and a bad cop. The script they did was great and it’s nice if you’ve got a point and one of them doesn’t understand, you can go beg with the other one and say, “He’s such a jerk.” But they’ve made a bunch of good movies already. So, I think this is an amazing accomplishment because to take a good book, you can mess up a good book. This Sigrid Nunez book is a great book. You can take it and ruin, people do it all the time, but to take it and make it, to be able to bring it to life and to put pictures to it, to tell a story with words and pictures, it is just a different art, and they did it. It’s really a great achievement. It’s a great movie and they’re going to be rich and famous and then they’re going to be even more difficult to deal with. But it’s a great film, ‘The Friend’, and we’ve ended up becoming friends. So here we go. Now where do we go?
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What is the plot of ‘The Friend’?

Iris (Naomi Watts) has had a long, complex friendship with Walter (Bill Murray). Walter is an irresistible charmer, a brilliant author, a lover of many women, and a master at letting down loved ones. When he dies suddenly, Iris is left to deal with all he left behind — three ex-wives (Carla Gugino, Constance Wu and Noma Dumezweni) with unfinished business, his interrupted literary legacy, and his beloved beast Apollo (Bing). It’s not that Iris doesn’t like dogs, but this is Manhattan, and she’ll get kicked out of her building if they find out she’s pretty much trying to house a horse.

Who is in the cast of ‘The Friend’?
- Naomi Watts as Iris
- Bill Murray as Walter
- Sarah Pidgeon as Val
- Constance Wu as Tuesday
- Ann Dowd as Marjorie
- Noma Dumezweni as Barbara
- Felix Solis as Hektor
- Owen Teague as Carter
- Carla Gugino as Elaine
- Gina Costigan as Jocelyn
- Josh Pais as Jerry
‘The Friend’ will exclusively open in New York theaters on March 28th, before opening nationwide on April 4th. Photo credit: Bleecker Street.

List of Scott McGehee and David Siegel Movies:
- ‘Suture‘ (1994)
- ‘The Deep End of the Ocean‘ (1999)
- ‘Bee Season‘ (2005)
- ‘Uncertainty‘ (2009)
- ‘What Maisie Knew‘ (2013)
- ‘Montana Story‘ (2022)
- ‘The Friend‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Friend’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Bill Murray Movies on Amazon

Buy Naomi Watts Movies on Amazon
March 31, 2025
‘Riff Raff’ Exclusive Interview: Jennifer Coolidge
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The new crime comedy ‘Riff Raff’, which was directed by Dito Montiel (‘The Son of No One’) and stars Jennifer Coolidge (‘The White Lotus’), Ed Harris (‘State of Grace’), Lewis Pullman (‘Top Gun: Maverick’), Gabrielle Union (‘Strange World’), Pete Davidson (‘The Suicide Squad’), and Bill Murray (‘Lost in Translation’), opens in theaters nationwide on February 28th.

Related Article: Jennifer Coolidge and Cheech Marin Talk Prime Video’s ‘Shotgun Wedding’

Jennifer Coolidge stars in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Coolidge about her work on ‘Riff Raff’, her first reaction to the screenplay, working with the cast, and how Bill Murray made her laugh.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Coolidge and Gabrielle Union.

Jennifer Coolidge in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project?

Jennifer Coolidge: You know, you get a call and people are like, “I’m sending a script over. I want you in this and you I think you’d be great for this character.” Then you get it, open it up and you read it and you’re like, “I don’t see it.” Occasionally, I’ll have doubts about something and I’m able to overcome the doubts and I’ll go do it. The minute I read it; I knew that John Pollono wrote an incredible script. I have to say, it was such a good script that even if I wasn’t right for Ruth, I might have just taken the job. It was so satisfying when I went to the Toronto Film Festival and got to see it. There was a huge screening of it in this beautiful movie theater I couldn’t have been happier with the results of that. You know, just how they took John Pollono’s writing and then did Ditto’s direction, I felt like it was just an A plus. Everyone did such a good job and especially, Ditto did such a good job of telling that story. I have a feeling John Pollono is going to be employed for the next 50 years straight. He must just be booked solid. I thought that was just a brilliant script.

(L to R) Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

MF: Finally, there is one scene in the movie that features the entire cast together including yourself, Ed Harris, Lewis Pullman, Gabrielle Union, Pete Davidson, and Bill Murray. What was it like shooting that sequence and having the whole cast together in one scene?

JC: Well, it took a long time to shoot that that night and it was freezing out. We were all there and I think there was maybe some technical things they had to overcome so it was an extra-long night. But a weird thing happened. I get some really bad news in that scene and there is something about Bill Murray. I don’t know if he was trying to mess me up, but I could not keep it together. I mean, I’m getting some very serious news and Bill would just do something and I would lose it and it was very unprofessional of me, but I couldn’t help it. I mean, he has that thing that makes you laugh. I could tell that people were losing respect for me. Like why couldn’t I keep it together? But that’s the hardest I’ve ever laughed on a job. It was a serious scene and Bill would just look at me like you know like, “You loser,” and it was even funnier to me. He’s a great bad guy.
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What is the plot of ‘Riff Raff’?

The life of a former criminal (Ed Harris) is thrown into turmoil when his old family (Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman) appear for a long-awaited reckoning.

Who is in the cast of ‘Riff Raff’?
- Jennifer Coolidge as Ruth
- Ed Harris as Vincent
- Gabrielle Union as Sandy
- Lewis Pullman as Rocco
- Pete Davidson as Lonnie
- Bill Murray as Leftie
- Miles J. Harvey as DJ
- Emanuela Postacchini as Marina
- Michael Covino as Jonathan
- P.J. Byrne as Garrison
- Brooke Dillman as Janet
Jennifer Coolidge stars in ‘Riff Raff’.

Jennifer Coolidge Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘A Night at the Roxbury‘ (1998)
- ‘Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me‘ (1999)
- ‘American Pie‘ (1999)
- ‘Best in Show‘ (2000)
- ‘Legally Blonde‘ (2001)
- ‘American Pie 2‘ (2001)
- ‘Zoolander‘ (2001)
- ‘A Mighty Wind‘ (2003)
- ‘Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde‘ (2003)
- ‘American Wedding‘ (2003)
- ‘Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events‘ (2004)
- ‘Click‘ (2006)
- ‘For Your Consideration‘ (2006)
- ‘Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans‘ (2009)
- ‘Gentlemen Broncos‘ (2009)
- ‘2 Broke Girls‘ (2011 – 2017)
- ‘American Reunion‘ (2012)
- ‘Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day‘ (2014)
- ‘The Emoji Movie‘ (2017)
- ‘Promising Young Woman‘ (2020)
- ‘The White Lotus‘ (2021 – 2025)
- ‘Shotgun Wedding‘ (2023)
- ‘We Have a Ghost‘ (2023)
Buy Tickets: ‘Riff Raff’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Jennifer Coolidge Movies on Amazon
February 28, 2025
‘Riff Raff’ Exclusive Interview: Gabrielle Union
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Opening in theaters nationwide on February 28th is the new crime comedy ‘Riff Raff’, which was directed by Dito Montiel (‘The Son of No One’), and stars Ed Harris (‘State of Grace’), Lewis Pullman (‘Top Gun: Maverick’), Gabrielle Union (‘Strange World’), Jennifer Coolidge (‘The White Lotus’), Pete Davidson (‘The Suicide Squad’), and Bill Murray (‘Lost in Translation’).

Related Article: Jake Gyllenhaal and Gabrielle Union Talk Disney’s ‘Strange World’

Gabrielle Union stars in ‘Riff Raff’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Gabrielle Union about her work in ‘Riff Raff’, her first reaction to the script and the character, how the project changed her life, and working with the all-star cast.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Union, and Jennifer Coolidge.

Gabrielle Union in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to this screenplay and how did you approach playing your character?

Gabrielle Union: Well, thankfully I was offered the role of Sandy. They sent the script, and I was like, “Are you kidding me? This is a dream.” They were like, “Jennifer Coolidge is starring in this, she’s executive producing. Ed Harris would be your husband.” I’m like, “Sign me up. I will pay to be in this.” The script was so fantastic, and I knew that this could be a role that change my life and change my career. So, I was excited and very honored to even be considered much less a straight offer. So that was exciting.

MF: To follow up on something you just said, how do you think that this project has changed your life and career?

GU: Not everything made it, but what we shot was some of the toughest material I’d ever worked with, and some of the most meaningful material I’d ever worked with. It forced me to touch places in my life and in my psyche that I’d never really drawn from before. It forced me to be a different kind of vulnerable than I’ve ever played. I loved that challenge, so I was a little disappointed when some of that didn’t make it. But yeah, that’s why I took the role, because I knew that I would be challenged. It scared me a little bit, so if it scares me, I know I should absolutely take it.

(L to R) Miles J. Harvey and Ed Harris in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

MF: Finally, there is a long scene in the film that features the entire cast. How many days did it take to shoot that sequence, and what was it like being on set with legendary performers like Ed Harris, Bill Murray and Jennifer Coolidge?

GU: I mean, because pretty much everything took place in that house, so the set is in that house. There are two tiny holding rooms for the whole cast. So, there’s a group of us that are piled into some small child’s room, and then some are in the bigger bedroom. We had the director and video village also, and there’s not a lot of space. There’s zero privacy, there’s one bathroom. It was tight and everyone prepares in a different way, so we had to be very focused and respectful of everybody’s processes. It was very serious and professional. Everyone was kind of ready to go when it was time. So, everyone had to really be on point, and I think it might’ve been two days. It felt more like one, but yeah, about two days or a day and a half. The whole movie was like three weeks. We didn’t have a ton of time, so you had to be on point. You better be ready for your close-up, because we just didn’t have the time to probably give everyone all the coverage that we would’ve normally had if we had a longer shooting schedule.
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What is the plot of ‘Riff Raff’?

The life of a former criminal (Ed Harris) is thrown into turmoil when his old family (Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman) appear for a long-awaited reckoning.

Who is in the cast of ‘Riff Raff’?
- Jennifer Coolidge as Ruth
- Ed Harris as Vincent
- Gabrielle Union as Sandy
- Lewis Pullman as Rocco
- Pete Davidson as Lonnie
- Bill Murray as Leftie
- Miles J. Harvey as DJ
- Emanuela Postacchini as Marina
- Michael Covino as Jonathan
- P.J. Byrne as Garrison
- Brooke Dillman as Janet
(L to R) Jennifer Coolidge and Lewis Pullman in ‘Riff Raff’. Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

Gabrielle Union Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘She’s All That‘ (1999)
- ‘10 Things I Hate About You‘ (1999)
- ‘Love & Basketball‘ (2000)
- ‘Bring It On‘ (2000)
- ‘Bad Boys II‘ (2003)
- ‘The Honeymooners‘ (2005)
- ‘Night Stalker‘ (2005 – 2006)
- ‘Running with Scissors‘ (2006)
- ‘Life‘ (2007 – 2009)
- ‘Meet Dave‘ (2008)
- ‘Cadillac Records‘ (2008)
- ‘Think Like a Man‘ (2012)
- ‘Think Like a Man Too‘ (2014)
- ‘Top Five‘ (2014)
- ‘The Birth of a Nation‘ (2016)
- ‘Sleepless‘ (2017)
- ‘The Public‘ (2019)
- ‘L.A.’s Finest‘ (2019 – 2020)
- ‘Cheaper by the Dozen‘ (2022)
- ‘Strange World‘ (2022)
- ‘Space Cadet‘ (2024)
Buy Tickets: ‘Riff Raff’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Gabrielle Union Movies on Amazon
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February 26, 2025
Kristen Wiig and Bill Murray Starring in ‘Epiphany’
(Left) Bill Murray in ‘Lost in Translation’. Photo: Focus Features. (Right) Kristen Wiig in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Preview:
- Kristen Wiig and Bill Murray are aboard new comedy ‘Epiphany.’
- ‘Palm Springs’ director Max Barbakow is overseeing the movie.
- Mitch Glazer wrote the script.
Do you see Kristen Wiig and Bill Murray as a couple? While it certain seems unlikely on paper, it’s hardly the first time that Hollywood has tried to put together people of differing ages.

And in the case of new comedy movie ‘Epiphany,’ the unlikeliness of the union is both being leaned into and mined for laughs.
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According to Variety, ‘Saturday Night Live’ veterans (albeit of very different eras) Kristen Wiig and Bill Murray have already worked on the movie, which was directed by Max Barbakow, who rose to prominence with the excellent Andy Samberg/Cristin Milioti time-loop comedy ‘Palm Springs’ and more recently made Josh Brolin/Peter Dinklage sibling comedy ‘Brothers.’

Unlike his previous movies which he at least co-wrote, ‘Epiphany,’ which is now in the post-production stage, comes from a script by Mitch Glazer.

That name should ring bells to anyone with a passing knowledge of Murray’s filmography, since Glazer met the actor years ago during Murray’s ‘SNL’ days, and the two became close friends while working on ‘Scrooged,’ which Glazer wrote with Murray starring.

Since then they’ve worked together off and on –– Glazer produced ‘Lost in Translation’ and wrote 2015 comedy ‘Rock the Kasbah’ for the actor.

Related Article: The 10 Best Kristen Wiig ‘SNL’ Characters, Ranked

What’s the story of ‘Epiphany’?

(L to R) Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

‘Epiphany’ follows Favorite Ives (Wiig), an heiress and fashionista who has blown through her entire fortune and is forced to take up a challenge: marry a rich husband in two weeks or lose everything and end up on the street.

Her desperate search for a big-money mark slams her into eccentric math savant and billionaire Oz Bell (Murray). Favorite needs Oz’s money and Oz craves Favorite’s spirit and spontaneity. Can this unlikely couple find something more?

‘Epiphany’: The Director Speaks

Andy Samberg in ‘Palm Springs’. Photo: Hulu / Neon.

In a statement carried by Variety, Barbakow had this to say about working on the movie:

“It’s a rare, delightful experience when a story takes you on a journey that all at once manages to make you laugh, make you feel, and hold a mirror up to the wonderful absurdities of everyday life. It’s even more delightful when your spirit guides are Bill Murray and Kristen Wiig. But ‘Epiphany’ carries that breadth of tone, depth of wisdom, and such a lush sense of cinematic possibility, all while teeing up iconic roles for two already-iconic, totally original unicorns in Kristen and Billy.”

What else is Kristen Wiig working on?

(L to R) Kristen Wiig and Josh Lucas in ‘Palm Royale,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.

Wiig had a couple of roles last year –– she reprised her voice performance as Lucy in ‘ Despicable Me 4’ and appeared as herself (while writing and performing the theme song) in documentary ‘Will & Harper.’

She also had the lead in Apple TV+ comedy drama ‘Palm Royale,’ about a woman desperately trying to gain admittance and social standing in a snooty Miami club in the late 1960s. A second season of the show is in the works and should be on screens this year. On top of that, she reprised another animated role, that of anthropomorphic hot dog bun Brenda in ‘Sausage Party: Foodtopia’ on Prime Video.

There are also a few projects on her To Do list, including a remake of German comedy drama ‘Toni Erdmann’ and a movie written with her ‘Bridesmaids’ collaborator Annie Mumolo that focuses on Cinderella’s evil stepsisters.

Where else will we see Bill Murray?

(L to R) Winston (Ernie Hudson) and Peter (Bill Murray) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Murray is harder to pin down since he prefers to only work when he feels like it. Though he’s been fairly consistent, despite lingering accusations of inappropriate behavior on set, which got Aziz Ansari’s ‘Being Mortal’ thrown into shutdown limbo.

He works most usually for director Wes Anderson and is once more part of the cast for the director’s next film, ‘The Phoenician Scheme,’ which will be in theaters on June 6th.

Last year, Murray was seen in the likes of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ (once more playing the role of Peter Venkman), ‘The Friend’ opposite Naomi Watts in the story of a woman who adopts a Great Dane that belonged to her late mentor and ‘Riff Raff,’ which sees a former criminal’s life turned upside down when his family shows up for a reunion.

Oh, and he was the focus of a Super Bowl commercial for Yahoo this month, where he encouraged fans to email him.

When will ‘Epiphany’ be in theaters?

So far, the movie doesn’t have a distribution home in the States or overseas –– the rights will be for sale at the European Film Market in Berlin this week –– so any talk of a release date is, at this stage, premature.

With the movie already shot, the appeal of both the leads and Barbakow as director should help drive interest.

(L to R) Cath (Glenn Close), Moke (Josh Brolin), and Jady (Peter Dinklage) in ‘Brothers’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC.

Max Barbakow Movies:
- ‘Palm Springs‘ (2020)
- ‘Brothers‘ (2024)
Buy Kristen Wiig Movies on Amazon

Buy Bill Murray Movies on Amazon
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February 18, 2025
Where To Watch ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’
(L to R) Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard on the set of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By: Jaap Buitendijk. Copyright: © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The follow up to 2021’s ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ sees the Spengler Family fully embracing their new lives as Ghostbusters, roaming all over New York City investigating paranormal activities and trapping ghosts. All of that ghost catching comes with a price when they find out the spirit containment unit is at full capacity. On top of it all, an ancient entity has been unleashed, ready to turn the world into his icy playground.

‘Frozen Empire’ sees the return of Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Logan Kim, and Celest O’Connor. The original ‘Ghostbusters‘ cast members Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts reunites for the film
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Where Can I Watch ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?

Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Did you miss this paranormal adventure on the big screen? Don’t worry, the movie is now available on VOD for rent or purchase, so you can watch it from the comfort of your couch or your personal Ecto-1.

Buy Tickets to ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’

‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ has a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. As of April 30, 2024, the movie was made available to rent for $19.99 or purchase for $24.99 on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu.

Where to Stream: ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’

What’s Next For the Ghostubsters Franchise?

(L to R) Winston (Ernie Hudson) and Peter (Bill Murray) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

With ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ raking in over $198.9 million at the global box office, it has become the fourth biggest movie of 2024 so far. Despite the low critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the fans enjoyed the movie, garnering it an 83% audience score. It’s easy to see why the moviegoers enjoyed this chapter in the Ghostbusters franchise. The nostalgia hits hard when the film reunites the original Ghostbusters cast members as they take up their uniforms and proton packs for another round of ghostbusting.

While there has not been any confirmed plans for the next Ghostbusters movie, it is clear its original cast members loves being a part of the story and legacy.

Speaking with Moviefone, actor Ernie Hudson talks about returning to the role of Winston Zeddmore:

“Well, it’s been over half my life, 40 years of ‘Ghostbusters’. I’ve been Winston Zeddemore to people I meet on the street and everywhere. So, it’s hard to separate me from the role, and the fact that it’s still current, that people still love it, wherever I go in the world ‘Ghostbusters’ fans will show up, and express to me how much the movie has meant to them, and their families. So yes. It’s just very exciting, and I’m just so thankful that it has relevance in these 40 years after the fact. No way could I have imagined that this would be happening. But it is happening, and it’s wonderful. As an actor, I’ve done a lot of movies over the years, and it’s great to have one that people really connect to and hold onto.”

Related Article: Ernie Hudson Talks ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ and the Franchise’s Legacy

When Can I Get ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ On Blu-Ray?

Phoebe Spengler (Mckenna Grace) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K UHD on June 25th. Collectors can also look forward to a 2-film collection set, which will include both ‘Afterlife’ and ‘Frozen Empire.’ The home release will feature bonus content such as:
- Return to the Firehouse: Making of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’
- Busted: Capturing the Ghosts of Frozen Empire
Buy ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Movies On Amazon

Watch the official trailers for ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ is below:

The Spengler family returns to where it all started — the iconic New York City firehouse — to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Who’s In the Cast of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen’
- Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson
- Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler
- Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spenger
- Mckenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler
- Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem Razmaadi
- Patton Oswalt as Dr. Hubert Wartzki
- Logan Kim as Podcast
- Celest O’Connor as Lucky
- Bill Murray as Peter Venkman
- Dan Aykroyd as Ray Santz
- Ernie Hudson as Winstone Zeddemore
- Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz
- William Atherton as Walter Peck
The Ecto-1 races through New York City in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Ghostbusters’ Franchise:
- ‘Ghostbusters‘ (1984)
- ‘The Real Ghostbusters‘ (1986 – 1991)
- ‘Ghostbusters II‘ (1989)
- ‘Ghostbusters‘ (2016)
- ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife‘ (2021)
Please click on the video player below to watch our interviews with the cast of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’:
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June 9, 2024
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Interview: Ernie Hudson
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Available to buy or rent now is the fifth film in the beloved ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise and a direct sequel to ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ entitled ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’

The new movie is co-written and produced by Jason Reitman (‘Juno’) and co-written and directed by Gil Kenan (‘Poltergeist‘) and stars Paul Rudd (‘Ant-Man’), Carrie Coon (‘Avengers: Infinity War’), Mckenna Grace (‘Captain Marvel’), and Finn Wolfhard (‘Stranger Things’), as well as original cast members Bill Murray (‘Lost in Translation’), Dan Aykroyd (‘Trading Places’), Ernie Hudson (‘The Crow’), and Annie Potts (‘Toy Story 4’).

Ernie Hudson talks ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’, which is available to buy or rent now.

Related Article: ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Actor Ernie Hudson Talks New ‘Quantum Leap’

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with original Ghostbuster Ernie Hudson about his work on ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,’ the legacy of the franchise, Winston Zeddemore’s new position on the team, and reuniting with Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Hudson, Mckenna Grace and Emily Alyn Lind.

Ernie Hudson Jr. at the London photocall of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ on March 21, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Columbia Pictures.

Moviefone: To begin with, you made the first ‘Ghostbusters’ over 40 years ago. What has it meant to you personally to be part of this franchise, to see it grow and become beloved, and return for ‘Frozen Empire’?

Ernie Hudson: Well, it’s been over half my life, 40 years of ‘Ghostbusters’. I’ve been Winston Zeddemore to people I meet on the street and everywhere. So, it’s hard to separate me from the role, and the fact that it’s still current, that people still love it, wherever I go in the world ‘Ghostbusters’ fans will show up, and express to me how much the movie has meant to them, and their families. So yes. It’s just very exciting, and I’m just so thankful that it has relevance in these 40 years after the fact. No way could I have imagined that this would be happening. But it is happening, and it’s wonderful. As an actor, I’ve done a lot of movies over the years, and it’s great to have one that people really connect to and hold onto.

(L to R) Winston (Ernie Hudson) and Peter (Bill Murray) in Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’ Photo By Jaap Buitendijk. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MF: Can you talk about Winston’s role in the Ghostbusters research center in ‘Frozen Empire’ and is he now the official leader of the team?

EH: Well, I think he’s stepped into that role. With Winston, it was very important for me, and thankfully Sony and Jason Reitman, heard what I was hoping for. Winston has grown. It’s been 40 years, but he hasn’t stayed in the same place. He’s done very well. He’s a businessman, but he’s always loved the Ghostbusters. He’s always appreciated the fact that these guys gave him a job when he really needed it. But he’s also developed a curiosity in those first two movies of what was going on. What I love about ‘Frozen Empire’ is we get a chance to see Winston not only has done well in life, but he also has built this Ghostbuster research center looking into what’s behind these ghosts. A lot of that comes out of over the years that I’ve done a lot of conventions. I meet a lot of families, and they tell me their stories. Some are scary, but people share a lot of feelings because I’m a Ghostbuster, I must understand what they’re going through. I don’t always, but I love the fact that Winston has created a place to explore, and to investigate those things, also, how those things impact our lives. It’s not just trapping them and putting them away. So yeah. I’m happy that he’s not just a guy still looking for a job, and I think he’s really, I hope, an inspiration of what’s possible, especially to a lot of young kids. The town I grew up in, in June, they’re naming the street I grew up on after me. In life, you hope that you can be an example. I hope in the ‘Ghostbusters’ universe Winston is an example of what is achievable, what is doable, and still holds onto his humanity. I see so many stories of people achieving things, but somehow in the process, they’ve lost their connection with the community, and with who they are, and Winston loves the Ghostbusters. All of that is very important to me.

(L to R) Ernie Hudson and Dan Aykroyd attend the New York World Premiere of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater. Photo: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Sony Pictures.

MF: Finally, you have a very emotional scene in the movie with Dan Aykroyd. What was it like shooting that scene with him and reuniting with Aykroyd and Bill Murray?

EH: Well, of course they’re geniuses. Honestly, I’m an actor, not just an actor, but I love what I do. But Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, they come up with stuff that it just boggles the mind. I love working with them, and Danny especially, who I think doesn’t always get the credit (he deserves). Danny’s a wonderful actor. He is very down to Earth, and he brings a reality too. I love the first movie where we had the scene in the car. A lot of fans still will bring that up, but (I love) anytime I get a chance to work with Danny, because he’s there a hundred percent completely. I think (in that scene) with the idea of retiring, basically Winston is saying (to Ray), “We can’t be running around here now. You’ll fall down and hurt yourself.” I love that scene. I just love working with Danny Aykroyd. I really appreciate him. With Bill Murray, it’s easy for me to say things too. I think he knows how much I really appreciate him, but with Danny, sometimes it’s hard for me to to let him know how much I really appreciate him. But I just think he’s an amazing talent.
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What is the plot of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?

The Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Who is in the cast of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’?
- Paul Rudd as Gary Grooberson
- Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler
- Finn Wolfhard as Trevor Spengler
- Mckenna Grace as Phoebe Spengler
- Kumail Nanjiani as Nadeem Razmaadi
- Patton Oswalt as Dr. Hubert Wartzki
- Celeste O’Connor as Lucky Domingo
- Logan Kim as Podcast
- Emily Alyn Lind as Melody
- James Acaster as Dr. Lars Pinfield
- Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman
- Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz
- Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddemore
- Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz
- William Atherton as Mayor Walter Peck
Ernie Hudson Jr. at the London photocall of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ on March 21, 2024 in London, England. Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Columbia Pictures.

Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Ghostbusters’ Franchise:
- ‘Ghostbusters‘ (1984)
- ‘The Real Ghostbusters‘ (1986 – 1991)
- ‘Ghostbusters II‘ (1989)
- ‘Ghostbusters‘ (2016)
- ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife‘ (2021)
Buy ‘Ghostbusters’ Movies On Amazon
May 10, 2024