The Phoenician Scheme (2025)

IMDb plot summary: Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, 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.

Directed by Wes Anderson. Stars Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, and Michael Cera.

The Phoenician Scheme is Wes Anderson's newest movie, starring Benicio del Toro as a scheming businessman who decides to appoint his nun daughter heir to his fortune, played by Mia Threapleton. His fortune however is in crisis, so he takes his daughter around with him to attempt to stabilize his wealth. After being disappointed with Android City, I began to wonder if maybe I was just Wes Anderson'ed out and wouldn't enjoy his stuff anymore. I had a good time with this one though. There's a little bit more variety to the characters than the sad stoicism that populates most Anderson movies, and I think the more linear, less episodic nature of the plot works in its favor. For the first time since Moonrise Kingdom, I felt some affection towards some of these characters and was invested in what would happen to them. Anderson's distinct and colorful visuals are certainly on display here, as is his talent for connecting a wide range of interesting guest stars playing tiny parts. My personal favorite was Richard Ayoade as a militant revolutionary. This one still doesn't quite rise above the level of "generally enjoyable" to be something that I'm really struck by, and I still can't tell you if I'm going to remember this any longer than I did Asteroid City or French Dispatch, or whatever he did before that that I've already forgotten... but I had a better time with this than I expected. 

How it entered my Flickchart:

🎥 The Phoenician Scheme (2025)

📊 Ranked #2030/4026 on my Flickchart

🎯 Flickscore™: 50

lost to Badlands (#2000 → #1980)

beat Footloose (#3014 → #3019)

beat War of the Buttons (#2515 → #3038)

beat JFK (#2262 → #2263)

beat The Man Who Came to Dinner (#2138 → #2621)

beat Bonnie and Clyde (#2076 → #2098)

lost to 7 Plus Seven (#2043 → #1626)

beat The Chalk Garden (#2032 → #2062)

beat I Am Legend (#2050 → #2056)

lost to Malignant (#2046 → #2043)

beat Bridesmaids (#2039 → #2053)

beat Mrs Brown (#2048 → #2059)