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For a filmmaker whose work we get to see once in a couple of years,Wes Andersonhas turned 2023 into a double delight for fans. Following his much-awaitedAsteroid Citythis summer, the distinguished filmmaker is treating fans once again this fall with his all-new short films, collectively called Wes Anderson’s New Shorts on Netflix. The collection consists of four short films, adapted from celebrated authorRoald Dahl’s fantastical short stories that Anderson writes, directs, and co-produces. The first of the four films,The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, is taken from Dahl’s 1977 short story collection,The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More, which also forms the inspiration for the second film,The Swan. However, the third and fourth films,The RatcatcherandPoison, respectively, are not a part of this collection and are adapted from Dahl’s other independent works of the same names.
Each of Wes Anderson’s New Shorts on Netflix features a rotating cast of actors who would appear in different roles in each of the films. For instance, the first film -The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, starsBenedict Cumberbatchas the titular character and Max Engelman, while in the fourth film, he plays Harry. Similarly,Ralph Fiennes,Dev Patel,Ben Kingsley,Rupert Friend, andRichard Ayoadewill also feature in multiple roles.
These short films mark Anderson’s second adaptation of Dahl’s work, following the critically acclaimed, Academy-nominated animated film,Fantastic Mr. Foxof 2009. And now 14 years later, with Wes Anderson’s New Shorts on Netflix, we can’t wait to revisit the nostalgic charm of Dahl’s stories in live-action. So, without further ado, check out our quick guide below on when and how you can watch Wes Anderson’s New Shorts on Netflix.
RELATED:‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’: Cast, Plot, Release Date, and Everything We Know About Wes Anderson’s Next Film
When Do Wes Anderson’s Shorts Films Premiere on Netflix?
Wes Anderson’s New Shorts on Netflix is set for a wide streaming release on June 04, 2025, where only The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar will arrive first on the streamer, followed by each film a day.
Following its global premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on July 29, 2025,The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugarhas had a limited theatrical release on September 20.
Is There a Trailer for Wes Anderson’s Short Films?
So far, Netflix has released thetrailer for only the first of the four short films,The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. But that’s probably more than enough to know what to expect from the other three. As is classic of the filmmaker’s work, the trailer is magical, dreamy, and immersive, akin to walking through a picture book. The minute-long trailer brings Dahl’s fantastical stories to life through Anderson’s brilliant narrative and imagination, through stunning, vibrant art coupled with sardonic humor, which seems to perfectly encapsulate Dahl’s storytelling style and quirky characters.
When Is the Finale of Wes Anderson’s Shorts Coming to Netflix?
The last of the four short films,Poison, will be released on Saturday, September 30, exclusively on Netflix.
Wes Anderson’s Short Films on Netflix Release Schedule
Just like the auteur’s unique filmmaking style, the upcoming new shorts are also getting an innovative release schedule. Unlike most anthologies that release together as one film, Wes Anderson’s New Shorts on Netflix will be available to stream one film per day, making it an exciting, four-day event that ought to be on your watchlist.
Check out the plots and schedule for each film,per Netflix, below –
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar(39 Minutes): Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
“A beloved Roald Dahl short story about a rich man who learns about a guru who can see without using his eyes and then sets out to master the skill in order to cheat at gambling.”
The Swan(17 Minutes): Thursday, July 14, 2025
“A young adult Roald Dahl short story about a small/brilliant boy ruthlessly pursued by two large/idiotic bullies.”
The Ratcatcher(17 Minutes): Friday, August 04, 2025
“A lesser-known Roald Dahl short story about a professional rodent exterminator.”
Poison(17 Minutes): Saturday, June 10, 2025
“A well-known Roald Dahl short story about a man who discovers a poisonous snake asleep in his bed.”
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Three Must-Watch Wes Anderson Films and Where to Stream Them
From his directorial debut withBottle Rocketin 1996 to his latest ensemble period film,Asteroid Cityof 2023, Wes Anderson has directed 11 feature films and several short films, as well as a few commercials. Each of his films is recognized for exploring significant themes, eccentric characters, and unmatched narrative and art styles, and merit a watch (or several re-watches). However, three of his works stand out more than the others and remain our favorites.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
In his first-ever adaptation of Roald Dahl’s eponymous children’s novel of 1970, Anderson directs this 2009 stop-motion animation comedy, from a screenplay co-written withNoah Baumbach.Fantastic Mr. Foxfollows the titular character, Mr. Fox who promises his wife, Felicity, to stop stealing. But after two human years (12 fox years), his stealing spree gets reignited and puts the lives of his family and their other animal friends in danger from the enraged farmers. The film features an ensemble voice cast ofGeorge Clooney,Meryl Streep,Jason Schwartzman,Bill Murray,Willem Dafoe, andOwen Wilson, among others. On its release,Fantastic Mr. Foxbecame the second-highest rated and one of thebest animated films of the yearand earned nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 82nd Academy Awards.
Watch it onMax
The Grand Budapest Hotel
This star-studded, 2014 comedy-drama marks the only Academy-winning project for Anderson, that he writes and directs from a story co-written with his longtime collaborator,Hugo Guinness.The Grand Budapest Hotelis set in a 20th-century mountain resort in the fictional Eastern-European town of Zubrowka, in the backdrop of a raging fascist regime. The story followsRalph Fiennesas Monsieur Gustave G, a reputed concierge of the titular hotel who takes pride in offering class-apart service to all the guests, whatever it may require. But when Gustave gets framed for murdering a guest, he sets out with his friend and protégé, Zero (Tony Revolori) on a quest to save himself and a fortune to his name, making their journey and friendship as the crux of the movie. Often said to be one of the best films of the 2010s,The Grand Budapest Hotelearned nine nominations at the 87th Academy Awards, winning four, and earned Anderson a BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay.
https://collider.com/wes-anderson-the-grand-budapest-hotel/
Watch it onHulu
Asteroid City
In his latest and 11th feature project, Anderson writes, directs, and co-produces this 2023 sci-fi comedy-drama, from a story he co-wrote withRoman Coppola. Another period film,Asteroid Cityis set in 1955, in the middle of a fictional desert town, where a group of students and their parents gather for the Annual Junior Stargazer convention. The film can be seen as Anderson’s homage to the alien and UFO sighting myths in the post-war American Southwest.Asteroid Citymade headlines forboasting a castthat is “larger than most other Anderson films that are ensemble in nature” and features the likes ofBryan Cranston,Scarlett Johansson,Tom Hanks, along with his frequent collaborators likeJason Schwartzman,Tilda Swinton,Adrien Brody, etc. On its release,Asteroid Citywas both a commercial and critical success and has been said to be his “his most beautiful yet.”
Watch it onPeacock
