Asteroid City

A 2023 American science fiction comedy-drama directed by Wes Anderson, who co-wrote the screenplay with Roman Coppola. Set in a retrofuturistic version of 1955 in the fictional desert town of Asteroid City, located in the American Southwest near atomic test sites, the film follows a Junior Stargazer convention where young astronomers gather for an awards ceremony. The narrative takes an unexpected turn when a UFO appears, leading to a quarantine and isolation of the attendees. The film employs a metatextual structure: the main story is a play, and its production is depicted within a television documentary. The ensemble cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward 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, and Jeff Goldblum. Filming took place in Chinchón, Spain, from August to October 2021, with cinematography by Robert Yeoman, editing by Barney Pilling, and music composed by Alexandre Desplat. The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2023, competing for the Palme d'Or. With a budget of $25 million, it grossed $54 million worldwide.