After much delay, Wes Anderson's highly anticipated feature The French Dispatch will release this year. While the film's trailer implies the presence of Anderson's usual humor and visual aesthetic, this marks the writer-director's first attempt at an anthology film. The plot involves a magazine preparing for its final issue and recounting three separate stories in this process.
The anthology format is a fascinating one to explore given how directors have interpreted it with different tones and settings. While Jim Jarmusch is an undeniable pioneer in the genre, other directors like the Coen Brothers and Mel Brooks have also made significant contributions.
The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs (2018) - Netflix
The comedies and dramas by the Coens Brothers are renowned for their brand of offbeat and deadpan humor. The duo's Netflix anthology The Ballad of Buster Scruggs similarly presents a satirical picture of a post-Civil War American frontier with stories that revolve around hilariously imperfect characters.
While the opening segment has a standout performance by Tim Blake Nelson along with some poetic songs, the other stories also play around with darker scenarios and twist endings. While most of the segments are originals written by the Coens, two are based on stories by classic writers Jack London and Stewart Edward White.
Coffee And Cigarettes (2003) - Prime Video
Jim Jarmusch has dabbled in anthology filmmaking on more than one occasion, with Coffee and Cigarettes being one of his quintessential works. As the title suggests, each black-and-white vignette involves a conversation over coffee and cigarettes. Boasting an ensemble cast including Cate Blanchett, Iggy Pop, Steve Buscemi, and many more, Jarsmuch's screenplay celebrates the mundane, which makes this anthology all the more relatable.
Be it discussing Elvis Presley conspiracy theories or cigarette addiction itself, the film is filled with entertaining, everyday conversations.
Night On Earth (1991) - HBO Max
One of Jim Jarmusch's best movies, Night On Earth is set on one specific night in five different cities. In each short, the story involves an unexpected bond formed between a taxi driver and their passenger. As is the case with other Jarmusch anthologies, the compilation is an artistic experiment shifting between a focus on realism and drama. The ambient soundtrack is handled by Jarmusch's usual collaborator, Tom Waits.
Night on Earth served as the follow-up to Mystery Train, another notable Jarmusch anthology that has garnered a cult following.
Ghost Stories (2018) - Hulu
Ghost Stories consists of three separate plots that eventually connect to form a larger storyline. At the center of the plot is a paranormal professor who seeks to disprove the titular stories in the film. However, as the three scenarios play out, he starts questioning his own sanity.
The atmospheric tension in the horror anthology is noteworthy, and it's only bolstered by a talented ensemble. Martin Freeman, in particular, is in top form while Andy Nyman stars in the lead role. Nyman also co-directed and wrote the film, which in turn is based on his play of the same name.
Wild Tales (2014) - AMC On Demand
The Oscar-nominated Wild Tales clearly lives up to its name, offering a blend of thrilling shock value and absurdist black humor. From a troubled marriage to a fatal flight, viewers can expect the unexpected with the wildly fresh stories presented in this Argentine film.
When it comes to black comedy thrillers such as this, plot twists or shock endings are a common trope. But the twists in Wild Tales are rarely used for any gimmicky purposes.
Paris, Je T'aime (2006) - VUDU
Paris, much like New York, is a city that's endlessly romanticized in pop culture. Paris, Je T'aime (which literally translates to Paris, I Love You), is a grand cinematic tribute to this "city of love" with vignettes from 22 leading directors.
The Coens, Gurinder Chadha, Wes Craven, and Gus Van Sant are some of the filmmakers who contributed to the film. The multinational cast is equally impressive including the likes of Bob Hoskins, Elijah Wood, and Natalie Portman. The sheer collective talent makes Paris, Je T'aime one of the best movies set in Paris.
History Of The World, Part I (1981) - Google Play Movies
History of the World, Part I is a classic work of Mel Brooks's trademark over-the-top yet smartly written humor. Consisting of several sketches parodying human history, the comedy finds Mel Brooks playing characters such as Moses and Loius XVI. The segments cover the Stone Age, Roman Empire, French Revolution, and so on.
While it might not be Brooks's magnum opus, it's a captivating assortment of short films and is comparable to the pseudo-historical humor of certain Monty Python sketches.
Four Rooms (1995) - DIRECTV
Four Rooms is perhaps known for featuring Quentin Tarantino in one of his few acting roles. Tarantino also serves as a director of one of the shorts, with Robert Rodriguez, Allison Anders, and Alexandre Rockwell joining him. Interestingly, each of the darkly comic segments is based on the writings of Roald Dahl, who is known mainly for his children's fiction.
Each chapter deals with four strange encounters in four different hotel rooms, with Tim Roth's bellhop Ted serving as the main character that links them all. While Four Rooms might not be the best anthology ever made, the humor and thrills in Rodriguez and Tarantino's segments provide solid entertainment.
Tale Of Tales (2015) - AMC Plus
Before animated reworkings, fairy tales were often written as dark stories of fantasy and romance. The three stories in Tale of Tales reference the Italian writer Giambattista Basile, who wrote similar stories, including early versions of Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty.
A notable period anthology, this European production makes good use of its talented cast members, including Salma Hayek and Vincent Cassell. Each of the three segments subverts childish fairy tale adaptations for more mature stories.
O. Henry's Full House (1952) - VUDU
When it comes to American short stories, O. Henry was a titan. In the 1950s, some of the biggest stars of Hollywood joined forces to bring his short fiction to life in an anthology released as Full House. Charles Laughton, Anne Baxter, and Marilyn Monroe lead the star cast while the film also features the acclaimed author John Steinbeck as narrator, marking the only on-screen appearance in his life.
From "The Gift of Magi" to "The Last Leaf," the film is largely faithful to its source material, incorporating O. Henry's balance over wit and emotion.