Wes Anderson’s Favorite Movies: 40 Films the Director Wants You to See

[Editor’s note: This list was originally published in January 2017. It has since been updated with new entries].
Few filmmakers working today have an aesthetic that’s as instantly recognizable as Wes Anderson’s. His filmography has taken viewers from roadside motels in Texas to lavish European resorts and on the occasional detour to animated worlds where dogs and foxes can talk. But no matter where Anderson sets a movie, you can always tell you’re watching one of his films from the attention to detail, twee color palettes, and impeccable interior design: an effect so inviting it’s been mimicked by countless professional copycats and emulated by fans in a surprisingly sweet TikTok trend.
Anderson’s indie film superstardom has prompted critics and audiences to inquire about his influences for years. And while Anderson isn’t as outspoken about his cinephilia as some of his fellow auteurs, he has been known to occasionally opine about his favorite movies when asked — and tends to surprise when he does.
Few filmmakers working today have an aesthetic that’s as instantly recognizable as Wes Anderson’s. His filmography has taken viewers from roadside motels in Texas to lavish European resorts and on the occasional detour to animated worlds where dogs and foxes can talk. But no matter where Anderson sets a movie, you can always tell you’re watching one of his films from the attention to detail, twee color palettes, and impeccable interior design: an effect so inviting it’s been mimicked by countless professional copycats and emulated by fans in a surprisingly sweet TikTok trend.
Anderson’s indie film superstardom has prompted critics and audiences to inquire about his influences for years. And while Anderson isn’t as outspoken about his cinephilia as some of his fellow auteurs, he has been known to occasionally opine about his favorite movies when asked — and tends to surprise when he does.
- 4/30/2025
- by Christian Zilko and Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
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