Asteroid City reactions say Wes Anderson’s latest is a cosmic delight with an unusual story and tone

The 2023 Cannes Film Festival is well into this year’s presentation after several days of stars setting the red carpet on fire, world premieres of the hottest films, and surprises from the crowd. Today, Cannes welcomes Wes Anderson and the cast of his latest film, Asteroid City, to the fest. Anderson’s films are always an event, as the filmmaker’s unique style and humor often wow audiences and dazzles critics. Speaking of critics, reviews for Asteroid City are crashing down onto the internet, with many saying Anderson’s latest is a darkly-funny, cosmic delight with more to offer as you mine beneath the surface. There are a few outliers in the bunch. However, most folks have loved Anderson’s latest excursion into his weird world or bizarre characters and gorgeous set design. You can read several of today’s Asteroid City reactions below!

ASTEROID CITY – "You can't wake up if you don't fall asleep" – Even for fans of Anderson this will be a swallow, but this tonally wild mix of theatre, sci-fi and sardonic romance is another visually rich treat that trades whimsy for quirky. Minor, but still magical #Cannes2023 pic.twitter.com/DPAN7RmSIl

— Jason Gorber (@filmfest_ca) May 23, 2023

ASTEROID CITY is my current favorite of the the festival. This feels like a real highlight for Anderson and everyone is having a blast in this. Loved so much of what it was exploring and can’t wait to revisit! #Cannes2023 pic.twitter.com/2zs1p0fxGj

— Amanda the Jedi (@AmandaTheJedi) May 23, 2023

ASTEROID CITY is surprisingly weak. It has some laughs and stunning set design but it’s weirdly convoluted. Especially with the annoying meta-narrative. What little dramatic weight it has just withers away by the end. A misfire. pic.twitter.com/cRBasV9pwE

— The #Cannes23 Expert (@expert_oscar) May 23, 2023

haven't written on asteroid city yet – HINT HINT – but i love it. grief, creativity, strained parent-child relationships, aliens that move like nervous cats…this movie truly has everything

— hannah strong (@thethirdhan) May 23, 2023

asteroid city: the terrifying unknowns of grief and outer space meet in the open desert. about as wonderful as any wes but also one of his saddest, great stuff

— iana murray (@ianamurray) May 23, 2023

#AsteroidCity is standard Wes Anderson fare. Not as emotionally impactful as his other hits, but not without its charm and silliness. The unconventional narrative style adds a new bit of panache but it is a flawed format, leaving the story feeling somewhat incomplete. #Cannes2023 pic.twitter.com/sS4rKOFkzu

— therese lacson • 宋蕾蕾 @ cannes (@bamfpire) May 23, 2023

As expected, the world of “Asteroid City” is meticulously arranged with clockwork precision, and — as expected — that world is then populated with memorable characters who try to assert the same degree of control over their own lives.

Our review: https://t.co/poXGtYlkWt pic.twitter.com/O8056TxM8f

— IndieWire (@IndieWire) May 23, 2023

Asteroid City sits at a 73% Fresh rate on Rotten Tomatoes with 11 reviews. Based on a story by Anderson and Roman Coppola, Asteroid City is a poetic meditation on the meaning of life. It tells the story of a fictional American desert town circa 1955 and the Junior Stargazer convention. It brings together students and parents nationwide for scholarly competition, rest/recreation, comedy, drama, romance, and more.

Asteroid City stars Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Ed Norton, Adrien Brody, Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stephen Park, Rupert Friend, Maya Hawke, Steve Carell, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margot Robbie, Tony Revolori, Jake Ryan, Grace Edwards, Aristou Meehan, Sophia Lillis, Ethan Lee, Jeff Goldblum, Rita Wilson and many more.

Asteroid City is Anderson’s 11th feature project to join a long line of quality films, including The Royal Tenenbaums, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Isle of Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Darjeeling Limited, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and The French Dispatch.

Anderson’s next endeavor is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar, which also has an impressive cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade, and more. That film is making its way to Netflix this fall.

What do you think about the Asteroid City reactions and reviews? Are you excited to see the prolific director’s newest peculiar project packed with more stars than a night sky on a clear night? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.