The Phoenician Scheme

2025

PG-13

1h 42m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

291

YOUR RATING

Rate

POPULARITY

Play trailer

15 Videos

99+ Images

Adventure

Comedy

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.

Directors

Wes Anderson

Writers

Wes Anderson(story by)

Roman Coppola(story by)

Wes Anderson(screenplay by)

Stars

Benicio del Toro

Mia Threapleton

Michael Cera

See production, box office & company info

Videos15

Photos137

Top cast

Zsa-zsa Korda

Sister Liesl

Bjorn Lund

Prince Farouk

Leland

Reagan

Marseille Bob

Sergio

Marty

Cousin Hilda

Uncle Nubar

Excalibur

Mother Superior

God

Knave

Broadcloth

1st Wife

Prophet

Directors

Wes Anderson

Writers

Wes Anderson(story by)

Roman Coppola(story by)

Wes Anderson(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews4

Review

Featured review

7/10

Unlike a few of the more recent Wes Anderson films, I thought this had more of a substantial story to underpin the antics as it follow the quite literally death-defying activities of entrepreneur “Korda” (Benicio del Toro). Now he’s made his squillions somewhat disreputably and has frequently been the target of assassins, so after this latest attempt sees him face down in the desert, he decides it’s time to make his will. He has loads of sons but just one daughter. She’s a nun, sworn to holy orders and is called “Liesl” (Mia Threapleton). Now she’s not the sort of “Liesl” we saw with Julie Andrews, this one is ruthlessly savvy and switched on as her father embarks on his most ambitious, secretive and toxic scheme yet - and that’s only going to further irk “Excalibur” (Rupert Friend) whom we know is running the “SPECTRE” style organisation determined to thwart his plans and see him six feet under. I suppose the snag with this film is that it isn’t so radically different, stylistically, from any of his recent stuff nor does the presence of his usual slew of Willem Dafoe, Scarlett Johansson and Tom Hanks et al really offer us much by way of different or substantial characterisations for us to really get our teeth into, and that predictability also impacts a bit on the frankly “Monty Python” style of the humour, but del Toro owns the film well from start to finish and along the way it takes a pop at the vested interest, industrial exploitation and the abusive power of self interest as it moves along entertainingly and in a more logical manner. It hits the ground running and rarely pauses for breath as it reminded me more of “Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014) than “Asteroid City” (2023). For my money, it’s still not as good as Anderson’s earlier more creatively innovative work, but it is still a fun ensemble effort that benefits from some gorgeous production design and a never ending supply of band-aids.

Geronimo196729 May, 2025