Top 10 Greatest Wes Anderson Characters
Vibrantly colorful both visually and metaphorically, these characters could only accurately be described as Wes Andersonian! Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the top 10 greatest Wes Anderson characters. For this list, we're only looking at big screen characters originally created by Wes Anderson.
Special thanks to our users mattwatchmojo, Nicholas Zarach and olsteen59 for submitting the idea using our Interactive Suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Script written by Ryan Hechler
##10: Francis Whitman
“The Darjeeling Limited” (2007)
Francis is protective of his two recently estranged younger brothers Jack and Peter, both of whom he convinces into embarking on a spiritual quest through India. However, the real reason behind the journey, which is initially unbeknownst to the younger siblings, is that they are actually going to find their long absent mother. Francis is physically memorable for having his face covered in bandages throughout the film as a result of injuries he sustained in a suicide attempt. But he’s also memorable and iconic for his personality: notoriously micromanaging, right down to his brothers’ schedules and choice of food, Francis goes to extreme lengths to keep his family together, which also makes him disconcertingly delightful.
##9: Margot Tenenbaum
“The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001)
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Margot is the only female of the Tenenbaum children. She became the family’s black sheep during childhood thanks to her father Royal’s constant reminders that she was adopted. Because of such isolation, Margot has led a wildly mysterious life; her most long-standing secret being she is a closet smoker. She’s unhappily married, maintains an off-and-on eccentric affair with childhood friend Eli Cash, and eventually falls in love with her non-blood related brother Richie. Margot is a complex character that doesn’t try to live by typical social norms, while her seeming indifference makes her all the more amazing and fit for our list.
##8: Suzy Bishop
“Moonrise Kingdom” (2012)
This comedy drama follows 12 year-old Suzy, who is the oldest child of the Bishop family and her penpal love interest Sam Shakusky. Unhappy with her quarrelsome parents, Suzy runs away from home with Sam, who is an orphan fleeing his Khaki Scout troop and uncaring foster home. Suzy comes from a sheltered home; she longs to escape reality, as reflected in her obsession with reading – she steals books from her local library. Not one to let obstacles hinder her, Suzy even stabs a Khaki Scout with scissors to ensure she and Sam can escape. Suzy’s sheer determination is certainly commendable and greatly contributes to making her such an unforgettable Wes Anderson creation as well.
##7: Zero Moustafa
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014)
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In the early 1930s, young Zero was the lobby boy of the Grand Budapest Hotel. Due to his admiration for the hotel, the concierge Gustave H. takes him under his wing and drags him along while fleeing authorities due to a false murder accusation. Zero is passionately dedicated to his job; however, even with a Migratory Visa with Stage III Worker Status, Zero still gets harassed by authorities. As the hotel’s eventual owner, Zero only occupies his old worker quarters, even when visiting well into his old age. He’s Wes Anderson’s most humble character.
##6: Herman Blume
“Rushmore” (1998)
Herman Blume is an industrialist businessman who falls in love with first-grade teacher Rosemary Cross, whom he met awkwardly through his friendship with 15 year-old Rushmore Academy student Max Fischer. Because of his competition with Max to win Rosemary’s affection, Herman loses his unfaithful wife and jerk jock twin sons. While Herman is not afraid to let his unsatisfactory world burn to the ground, he’s bizarrely charming throughout his psychotic race to the bottom with Max. This role re-launched Bill Murray’s career and, no wonder - who else could have pulled Herman off better?
##5: Richie Tenenbaum
“The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001)
Brother of Chas and adopted sister Margot, Richie is the most reserved of the Tenenbaum siblings. A world-class tennis player, Richie has long been in love with Margot, as can be seen in the plethora of paintings he’s made since their childhood. He even suffers a televised emotional meltdown during an international tennis competition, which then causes him to leave the sport. While Richie’s obsessive dedication to his “sister” is creepy, in the end he got the girl...and a spot in our top 5!
##4: Monsieur Gustave H.
“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014)
Gustave is the proud concierge of the Grand Budapest Hotel who always maintains high standards of excellence during his time there. He has had affairs with elderly female visitors, one of which, unbeknownst to him, is the hotel’s owner. Even when on the run after being falsely accused of murder, Gustave obsesses over self-image - right down to his need for cologne. He maintains such high expectations even when facing danger that his disciple Zero posthumously describes him as one of the “faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity”. While hopelessly vain, Gustave is as classy as he is likeable.
##3: Royal Tenenbaum
“The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001)
Once Royal learns his wife Etheline has been asked for her hand in marriage by her accountant Henry, Royal goes to great lengths to win back his estranged family – notably, by lying about having stomach cancer. Through deception, Royal gets closer to his family… that is, until he’s found out. While Royal eventually makes things right, it still seems fitting that his gravestone falsely proclaims he died saving his family from a sinking battleship. Overzealous and conniving, it takes Royal’s entire life to do good by his family, but maybe that’s exactly why we can’t forget him.
##2: Steve Zissou
“The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2004)
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This past middle-aged deep-sea explorer has quite the hubris and barely holds on to personal relationships outside of those beyond the crew on his boat the Belafonte, Team Zissou. Steve’s mission is simple: to kill a jaguar shark that ate his best friend. While Steve may be a deadbeat potential father and isn’t exactly loyal to his wife, he means well and tries to do right when necessary. While loosely based on Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Zissou is more eccentric, even making his crew wear matching suits right down to their Adidas-sponsored shoes, and undoubtedly a character we won’t soon forget.
Before we get to our number one greatest Wes Anderson character, let’s review some honorable mentions:
- Dignan
“Bottle Rocket” (1996)
- Klaus Daimler
“The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2004)
- Scout Master Randy Ward
“Moonrise Kingdom” (2012)
- Edward ‘Ned’ Plimpton / Kingsley Zissou
“The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2004)
#1: Max Fischer
“Rushmore” (1998)
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Max is an exuberant student who excels at extracurricular activities, but flounders in coursework. He strives to hide the fact that he’s from a poor family from others and attends the elite private academy Rushmore on scholarship, where he gets bad grades and develops an inappropriate obsession with first-grade teacher Rosemary Cross. While seemingly sociopathic, especially in his rivalry for Rosemary’s affection with older industrialist Herman Blume, Max redeems himself with those he hurt through a play he wrote. Not only is Max one of Wes Anderson’s most quirky characters, he’s also one of the writer and director’s most endearing, which is why he tops this list.
Do you agree with our list? Who are your favorite Wes Anderson characters? For more excellent Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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