Cannes just wouldn’t be Cannes without a dose of Wes Anderson magic—and this year, the quirky maestro didn’t disappoint. The Phoenician Scheme, Anderson’s latest delightfully stylized adventure, premiered Sunday night and had the Cannes crowd on their feet, clapping for a whopping seven and a half minutes.
Among those visibly moved? First-time Anderson collaborator Mia Threapleton, who couldn’t hold back tears during the thunderous ovation, as per Deadline and seen in videos uploaded of the event on social media.
Talk about a debut to remember.
Following the screening, Anderson stepped up to the mic with his signature offbeat charm.
“The only thing really I can think to say — I think of 12 words to say that would stand for everything in this movie,” he told the audience.
True to form, instead of launching into a grand speech, he simply pointed out and name-dropped members of his star-studded cast, along with his longtime writing and producing partner Roman Coppola.
Anderson’s Cannes track record is nothing short of impressive—his 2023 desert-set absurdist comedy earned six minutes of applause, while The French Dispatch drew nine minutes in 2021.
Moonrise Kingdom held its own in 2012 with five. Basically, Cannes loves a Wes Anderson standing ovation almost as much as it loves a sweeping overhead shot.
The Phoenician Scheme shines with a great cast, including Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, Richard Ayoade, Willem Dafoe, and F. Murray Abraham.
If that cast list doesn’t make you curious, you might want to check your pulse.
One thing’s for sure—Anderson knows how to turn a film premiere into an emotional, clapping-filled celebration. And if Mia Threapleton’s tearful moment is any indication, this scheme is one that clearly hit it.
