With a new film featuring a star-studded ensemble led by an Oscar-winner,Wes Andersondid wonders with his most recent pic, which is now a streaming hit in the U.S.The Phoenician Scheme, starringBenicio del Toro, hit theaters nationwide on May 30, and less than two months later, on July 25, itlanded on Peacock, where it has maintained a very well-deserved dominating spot.
PerFlixPatrol,The Phoenician Schemeis #1 on Peacock in the U.S., a spot it has held on to since arriving on the streamer, except on July 29, when it climbed down to second place.Meghann Fahy’s thrillerDropnow takes up that position, withRobert De Niro’s 2023 comedy,About My Father, as #3. Rounding out the top five are the 2008 animationHorton Hears a Who!andHotel Transylvania 2.
InThe Phoenician Scheme,Del Toro portrays a wealthy businessman, Zsa-zsa Korda, who is on the run and wanted by countless governments; he is the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins. Amid the chaos, he appoints his estranged and only daughter, nun Sister Liesl (Mia Threapleton), to be the sole heir of his estate while she also gets pulled into his globe-trotting.
Who Stars in ‘The Phoenician Scheme’?
In addition to del Toro and Threapleton, the 77% Certified Fresh movie starsMichael Cera,Tom Hanks,Bryan Cranston,Riz Ahmed,Mathieu Amalric,Jeffrey Wright,Scarlett Johansson,Richard Ayoade,Rupert Friend,Hope Davis,andBenedictCumberbatch. It was produced, written and directed by Anderson from a story he devised withRoman Coppola. Upon the black comedy’s debut at Cannes in May, it received a 7.5-minute standing ovation with Anderson getting a Palme d’Or nomination. Furthermore,The Phoenician Schemewas an instant favorite among critics after its release, butonly grossed $20 million domesticallyand over $38 million globally against a budget of $30 million. It is the brilliant director’s third movie with Focus Features after 2012’sMoonrise Kingdomand 2023’sAsteroid City.
Anderson’s 2025 espionage comedy is streaming on Peacock. Stay tuned to Collider for future streaming news.
The Phoenician Scheme
