Wes Anderson Strikes Box Office Gold: His Hilarious New Comedy Smashes Records
Wes Anderson's latest comedy, Asteroid City, smashes box office records with its wide release, reigniting Oscar buzz for the acclaimed filmmaker
Asteroid City, directed by Wes Anderson, achieved a significant victory at the box office today. Initially released in only six theaters on June 16, the movie expanded its reach to 1,675 screens over the weekend. Set in a small desert town, the film portrays the town's experiences when it is visited by aliens and placed under military quarantine. The stellar cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Hong Chau, and Jeff Goldblum.
According to Variety, Wes Anderson's Asteroid City is expected to earn $8.4 million at the domestic box office this weekend in the United States. Although this figure falls short compared to other blockbuster releases such as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Elemental, Asteroid City secures the fifth position overall. Notably, it accomplishes the highest weekend performance for an Anderson film in nearly a decade, surpassing The Grand Budapest Hotel's $8.5 million domestic weekend earnings in March 2014.
Could Asteroid City Be Wes Anderson's Ticket Back to the Oscars?
The Grand Budapest Hotel remains Wes Anderson's most successful film to date, proving that his commercial success has not waned over the years. The impressive weekend performance of Asteroid City suggests that it may also have a strong chance at next year's Academy Awards.
It's worth noting that The Grand Budapest Hotel was the last Anderson film to win an Oscar, securing two prestigious awards. Although his stop-motion film Isle of Dogs received two nominations, it failed to secure a win. Unfortunately, Anderson's latest film, The French Dispatch, was completely overlooked at the Oscars in 2021.
While a movie's box office success may not necessarily guarantee awards, it is often observed that original and independent films that strike a chord with audiences tend to fare well at the Oscars. Although Asteroid City may have a lower Rotten Tomatoes score compared to The Grand Budapest Hotel, its impressive box office earnings could potentially enhance its overall standing.
