The Phoenician Scheme: Wes Anderson’s Underrated Gem on Streaming

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Although Wes Anderson’s newest film, The Phoenician Scheme, didn’t perform strongly in cinemas, it’s gaining popularity on streaming services. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, the film earned just over $40.5 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, making it one of his lowest-grossing movies to date.

Despite not doing well in theaters, Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme is gaining popularity with viewers. It’s currently the sixth most-watched movie on HBO Max internationally, according to Flix Patrol. While it’s not available on HBO Max in the U.S., you can still watch it on Prime Video. Fans of Anderson shouldn’t miss it!

What Is The Phoenician Scheme About?

Benicio del Toro stars in Wes Anderson’s new film, The Phoenician Scheme, a 1950s story about Anatole “Zsa Zsa” Korda, a very rich arms dealer. Zsa Zsa takes on his biggest challenge yet: helping the made-up country of Phoenicia become industrialized. Along the way, he faces dangers like assassination attempts and tries to reconnect with his daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton), who has become a nun.

As with many of his movies, The Phoenician Scheme features a fantastic cast, including stars like Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Riz Ahmed, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Rupert Friend, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Bill Murray, a frequent collaborator of the director. But many viewers believe Michael Cera, making his first appearance in an Anderson film, is the standout as Bjorn, a somewhat awkward bug expert hiding a surprising secret.

As a Wes Anderson fan, I went in expecting his usual beautiful visuals, quirky style, and stories about families that are… well, complicated. The Phoenician Scheme definitely delivers on all that. But what really struck me was the incredible connection between del Toro and Threapleton. Their dynamic is, honestly, the most layered and emotionally resonant parent-child relationship I’ve seen in any of Anderson’s films – and that’s saying something!

The Phoenician Scheme Continued Wes Anderson’s Incredible Streak

While The Phoenician Scheme didn’t receive the same level of praise as Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel or Fantastic Mr. Fox, it still garnered a solid 77% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. This continues Anderson’s impressive run of well-received films, marking nine consecutive “Fresh” movies. His streak would be perfect if The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou hadn’t received a lower score of 57%.

Reviewers enjoyed The Phoenician Scheme, calling it a clever and engaging story, but noted it felt very familiar for director Wes Anderson. While it probably won’t become as beloved as his films like Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, or The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, it’s still a worthwhile watch, and many HBO Max subscribers agree.

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2026-01-20 21:50