How Wes Anderson's box office flop paved the way for one of the director's biggest hits

Wes Anderson has earned his reputation as a one-of-a-kind filmmaker. His style is unmistakable, dated his breakthrough indie hit “Rushmore” through his Oscar-winning stunning The Grand Budapest Hotel. You can't deny a Wes Anderson movie when you see one. The filmmaker has been working consistently for 30 years, which is no easy feat. There have been some speed bumps along the way, that's for sure, but Anderson always manages to bounce back.

One such speed boost came in 2009 with the release of Anderson's animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox. Although it was received critically, the film was not a winner at the box office, to say the least. Off a reported $40 million budget, the film grossed just over $46 million worldwide in its initial run. However, the relative failure of this film paved the way for one of his greatest successes. Namely, 2012's “Moonrise Kingdom”.

in a 2012 interview with DeadlineAnderson explained that after “Fantastic Mr. Fox” fell at the checkout (something he takes responsibility for)it was more difficult to secure a bigger budget for his next project. As a result, when he decided to pull the trigger on Moonrise Kingdom, he had to do it for a more modest amount. Per Anderson:

“I think after we did Fantastic Mr. Fox” and that movie didn't do too well, we had to make “Moonrise Kingdom” for less money than I think we would have otherwise. a little more, not a lot more, and we still would have made the same movie, but it was a little more awesome than it could have been.”

Although “Fantastic Mr. Fox” was not a huge success in its time, it eventually found its audience. It even got a Criterion Blu-ray release in 2019, which you can pick up on Amazon. Anderson's films tend to have a long shelf life, which not all directors can afford. Also, the director learned a valuable lesson while making this film. “I'd rather make a movie that I want to make than make a hit that he thinks we might make,” Anderson said in the same interview.

Ultimately, Anderson was able to secure a $16 million budget to make his love story about two runaway 12-year-olds on the New England island of New Penzance in the 1960s. Creating an A-list period piece on this budget is no easy feat, but Anderson pulled it off. Even though it should have been on a lower budget, he made Moonrise Kingdom the way he wanted it to be. As he stated, it was definitely more difficult due to financial constraints, but it was also his film without compromise.

Newcomers Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman led the cast as Susie and Sam, respectively, while Anderson also wrangled the likes of Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton. However, the film's total budget isn't much more than what an A-lister might have earned for a blockbuster at the peak of his career. Fortunately, Anderson's reputation as a filmmaker makes actors want to work with him regardless of payday.

“I think I made $4,200 for that movie,” Edward Norton said in a 2019 interview. Entertainment Weekly. “People ask me, 'Why were you in that Prada ad in London? It's because I want to make movies like 'Moonrise Kingdom' and Wes isn't paying…I've definitely lost money on every Wes Anderson movie I've ever done.” Norton has also said he would like to bring Anderson on board as a director.

“Moonrise Kingdom” was a big hit both critically and commercially. It grossed $68.8 million at the worldwide box office, more than four times its production budget. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay that year. The only Anderson films to earn more money were “The Grand Budapest Hotel” ($163 million) and “The Royal Tenenbaums” ($71.4 million).

Since then, Anderson has seen less money but retained creative control. It's a big part of what made “Asteroid City” such a big hitwith A-list actors again working for less just for the chance to be in a Wes Anderson film. If “Fantastic Mr. Fox” was a big hit, who knows? Maybe Anderson's filmography looks a lot different.

Moonrise Kingdom is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.