These Are the Films Wes Anderson Is Watching During Isolation

During this period of self-isolation and social distancing, recommendations for what to do with much more time spent inside abound – from books to read to how to be kind to yourself in quarantine. There’s plenty more time to watch films, too – and who better to take movie guidance from than arthouse auteur Wes Anderson? The Criterion Collection is dedicated to restoring classic and contemporary films and making them available as a DVD or BluRay or to stream on the Criterion Channel, and boasts an extraordinary library of movies to browse and buy online. Anderson is a fan of the Criterion catalogue.

“Director Wes Anderson writes us occasional letters to let us know what he’s been enjoying,” reads a recent Criterion newsletter, which goes on to share the filmmaker’s most recent note. So, what has Anderson been watching? “Dear Criterion friends,” he writes, “I’ve been streaming and Blu-raying Criterion movies every day and I just wanted to mention …

“Raymond Bernard! Anne-Marie written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry? I’d never heard of it … And Les misérables is a masterpiece. I love this Harry Bauer. Also: Wooden Crosses.”

“I had never watched Arthur Hiller’s The Out-of-Towners before, either. It is a great time machine, that one.”

“Revisiting Louis Malle documentaries, too. Especially … And the Pursuit of Happiness.”

“How many times will I rewatch An Angel at My Table?”

As Anderson writes: “How fortunate we are to have this Louvre of movies at our fingertips!”

Head to the Criterion Collection and the Criterion Channel for more films to buy and stream. 

Wes Anderson’s new film, The French Dispatch, is due to be released on July 24, 2020 – watch the trailer here.