Overview

• The Phoenician Scheme, Wes Anderson’s 13th feature, debuted at Cannes 2025, receiving a six-minute ovation but eliciting mixed critical reactions.
• Anchored by Benicio del Toro as eccentric magnate Zsa Zsa Korda, the film explores themes of inheritance, survival, and corporate greed in a 1950s espionage setting.
• Critics praised the film’s meticulous production design, pastel palettes, and Anderson’s signature whimsical style, but some found the narrative emotionally distant and overly stylized.
• The ensemble cast features Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Benedict Cumberbatch, and cameo appearances by Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Scarlett Johansson, and others.
• The film critiques billionaire exploitation of resources and environmental harm, though some reviewers felt this message was overshadowed by its visual excess.