[Review] The Phoenician Scheme (2025)

[Review] The Phoenician Scheme (2025) | Wes Anderson | Benicio del Toro

The Phoenician Scheme 2025 Wes Anderson Film Poster

The Phoenician Scheme (2025) is an espionage black-comedy film written & directed by Wes Anderson, with screenplay co-written by Roman Coppola. Produced by Anderson, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson & John Peet, with cinematography Bruno Delbonnel, edited by Barney Pilling, & music by Alexandre Desplat, the film was released in May 2025.

Like all Wes Anderson films, this too has an ensemble cast with Benicio del Toro as Anatole “Zsa-Zsa” Korda, Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl, Michael Cera as Bjørn Lund / Bjørn Carlson, Riz Ahmed as Prince Farouk, Tom Hanks as Leland, Bryan Cranston as Reagan, Mathieu Amalric as Marseille Bob, Richard Ayoade as Sergio, Jeffrey Wright as Marty, Scarlett Johansson as Cousin Hilda Sussman-Korda, Benedict Cumberbatch as Uncle Nubar Korda, Rupert Friend as Excalibur, Hope Davis as Mother Superior, Bill Murray as God, Charlotte Gainsbourg as Korda’s first wife, Willem Dafoe as Knave, F. Murray Abraham as a prophet who speaks at Korda’s heavenly funeral, Stephen Park as Korda’s pilot, Alex Jennings as Broadcloth, Korda’s butler, & Jason Watkins as the Notary, Korda’s attorney.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

The Phoenician Scheme (2025) Synopsis:

If something gets in your way: flatten it.

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.

The Phoenician Scheme (2025) Review:

I’m going to be honest and say this: I did not really enjoy The French Dispatch or Asteroid City. They were endearing in their own ways, but they didn’t feel as moving as his earlier films. Because of that, I wasn’t sure whether I would like The Phoenician Scheme (2025).

However, I’m happy to report that not only did I love The Phoenician Scheme, I think this was a return to form for this brilliant visionary director!

Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl, Alex Jennings as the Butler, Benicio del Toro as Anatole Zsa-Zsa Korda, and Michael Cera as Bjørn Lund

The Charm of Yesteryear, The Thrill of Corporate Espionage

There are certain staples you expect out of a Wes Anderson movie, and the Phoenician Scheme has all of them. Insanely beautiful, often symmetric sets, unique colour palettes, parental issues that make for an important chunk of the emotional journey of our protagonists, and much more. All his films are set in a bygone era, evoking a sense of nostalgia beautifully reflected by his picturesque art.

The Phoenician Scheme uses all those elements to tell a thrilling story of corporate espionage set in the early 1900s. Zsa-Zsa (Benicio del Toro) is a business tycoon who’s one of the richest people in the world. He’s currently staked all his fortune on a massive project called The Phoenician Scheme. He plans to overtake all infrastructural projects of Phoenicia and complete them at much cheaper costs, owing to slave labour. Zsa-Zsa’s unethical business practices bring the ire of many corporate enemies, particularly Excalibur (Rupert Friend). He’s a government agent tasked with taking down Zsa-Zsa by all means.

When Excalibur tampers with the stock market, Zsa-Zsa is forced to renegotiate terms with his investors to maintain profits. He embarks on a series of negotiations, all the while trying to convince his daughter, Liesl (Mia Threapleton) to accept being his sole heir. As a catholic nun, she refuses at first. But, she is forced to leave her convent and accept her role on a trial basis.

As beautiful as the film looks, it also feels very thrilling. Despite the whimsy, the inclusion of assassination attempts, guerrilla revolutionaries, and the constant flashes into the ‘afterlife’, hold some very grim undertones. I found this to be the most thrilling of Wes Anderson’s films, and really loved how he incorporated those elements into his whimsical aesthetic.

Convoluted Plot, Simplistic Denouement

Benicio del Toro as Anatole Zsa-Zsa Korda, Tom Hanks as Leland, Bryan Cranston as Raegan, and, Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl

Honestly, I found the plot to be quite busy. But, that’s kinda true about all Wes Anderson films, no? Well, this time around, I did feel like the complex negotiations and intertwining of Zsa-Zsa’s external and internal conflicts sort of muddled everything for me. I’ll admit, I’m not a fan of corporate anything, so it that could be one reason why I felt uninterested. Because frankly, I loved the whole father-daughter dynamic. I even loved the black-and-white sequences where Zsa-Zsa—after every near-death experience—visits heaven.

All these complexities, and the resolution was quite the opposite. The themes of a disturbed childhood reflecting upon an adult’s dysfunction and how it could strain their personal relationships do echo the best of Anderson’s older films. Glimpses into Zsa-Zsa’s childhood sheds light on his personal philosophy, as well as reflects upon his own strained relationship with his daughter. Despite the turmoil of his childhood, like many of the previous generation’s patriarchs, Zsa-Zsa subscribes to age-old philosophies that the new generation (Liesl) rejects. In fact, Liesl’s adoption of Catholicism is more a rebellion against her father’s overt atheism than it is a genuine belief in a religion.

By the end of the film, Zsa-Zsa sheds his beliefs and accepts religion and kindness into his heart, while Liesl abandons her religion now that her father is finally being who she needs him to be. Yes, the plot can feel convoluted, but the underlying message is quite simple. A little too simplistic, you could argue, but heartfelt nonetheless.

The Phoenician Scheme (2025) Ending Explained (SPOILERS)

Mathieu Amalric as Marseille Bob, Michael Cera as Bjørn Lund, Benicio del Toro as Anatole Zsa-Zsa Korda, Mia Threapleton as Sister Liesl, and Jeffrey Wright as Marty

Zsa-Zsa & Nubar (Benedict Cumberbatch) face off in the end, where Nubar—who has constantly hired assassins to kill Zsa-Zsa—decides to take matters into his own hands. After a ridiculous battle, Zsa-Zsa manages to outsmarts and defeats Nubar, resulting in him dying in a grenade explosion.

Now that there’s no enemy that Zsa-Zsa is facing, he finds his material wealth unnecessary. He converts to Catholicism, and spends all his fortune into completing ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, and pays his workers fairly. Despite bankruptcy, the fruition of an important scheme like that gives Zsa-Zsa’s life meaning, and he decides to retire peacefully. Seeing his change, Liesl accepts him as her father, and the two open a restaurant where Zsa-Zsa cooks and cleans the dishes—reflective of the happier parts of his childhood.

Bjørn proposes to Liesl, which she accepts on a trial basis. The film ends with Zsa-Zsa & Liesl playing cards like a small, happy family.

While the whole film takes excruciating steps into making the scheme work, the film ends with Zsa-Zsa bankrupt monetarily, but rich in emotional and familial contentment. In a way, it highlights how true happiness lies not in material wealth, but in the smaller things that really make life worth living.

Is The Phoenician Scheme (2025) worth watching?

Depends.

If you’re a Wes Anderson fan, then hell yes! It has all the charm and quirks of a typical Wes Anderson film, and then some. In fact, I genuinely enjoyed this film, and found it to be one of his darkest, and most thrilling.

However, you’re someone who doesn’t really like Wes Anderson’s movies, this one might not do anything to change your opinion.

In Conclusion:

The Phoenician Scheme (2025) is a thrilling yet charming Wes Anderson film. One of his darkest, as well as his most emotional, this is a must-watch for all fans.

Log on letterboxd

IMDB watchlist

Also check out:

What did you think of The Phoenician Scheme (2025)? Let me know in the comments below.

Sign up to my newsletter & get a free copy of Abandoned by the Gods. Is there any movie, show, or book you’d like me to review? Drop your recommendations in the comments below.

Until next time!

ronitjauthor

November 4, 2025