Wes Anderson has been making films for almost three decades and he has barely experienced a lull in either success or popularity. Still, with his new film Asteroid City premiering at Cannes, which critics are calling his best since Grand Budapest Hotel, and his work being copied all over TikTok, it’s safe to say Wes Anderson has never been more in demand.
Despite being a relatively private person, this is far from the first time Anderson has taken over social media trends. As an early Gen Zer, I still remember when Anderson was the darling director of Tumblr, and everyone wanted to be Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward in Moonrise Kingdom.
The colorful and carefully crafted aesthetics of his films, as well as the clean-cut eccentricity of his characters, have made Anderson the perfect director for a medium that prioritizes the visual above all else. Although that has resulted, as some have pointed out, in the director’s work being reduced to superficial fanciful symmetrical shots adorned with exaggeratedly whimsical titles, there’s a lot of value in Anderson’s ability to conquer the zeitgeist through the years without actually trying or caring to.
Besides, what’s so bad about a harmless TikTok trend? As far as those go, the “Pretend you’re in a Wes Anderson film” one is really one of the best to come out of an app that’s managed to simultaneously ruin a whole generation’s attention span and sense of reality. So, as Oprah once said, let’s celebrate that. Here are our favorite examples of the Wes Anderson TikTok trend.
The OG
According to an April 2023 article published by Rolling Stone, TikTok user Ava Williams is the mastermind behind the idea of turning a moment as banal as a train ride into a romanticized Wes Anderson-esque dream. Completed with callbacks to Anderson hits like The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, and The French Dispatch, this TikTok video is one of the simpler examples you’ll find in this list, but all the better for it.
The one in Spain
Even the most skeptical will admit Danclemt’s Wes Anderson-inspired TikTok involves some inspired frame composition and an actual homage to the director’s carefully crafted production and art design. My personal favorite is the shot of ice cream melting to the background of the creator’s bright red sweater.
The one in Vienna
Find a beautiful European city to set your Wes Anderson TikTok in and that’s half the job done. From Spain to Austria, travel logs – a format that’s basically synonymous with TikTok and Instagram – gain new life with this trend, challenging videomakers to intentionally choose their framing composition, outfits, and editing. Irina’s profile has a few of these and they’re all great.
“Love of My Life”
I’m sorry, are you guys seeing this? This TikTok by gagaulala is absolutely precious, and definitely my personal favorite on this list. What’s great about this adorable couple’s take on the Wes Anderson trend is that they don’t stick with the static, pastel-drenched shots, instead creating something with a little more personality. Not only are the colors and locations in this TikTok a lot more subdued and interesting than most other examples, but there’s also an actual story element to it where the romantic leads get to read, dance, and dine together. Fabulous.
“A random day in the hood – Streetball edition”
I had a hard time picking between kalebdmitchell’s two Wes Anderson TikToks because they’re as great as the other, so I strongly encourage you to go check out the one that wasn’t included. Like the entry before this one, the creators who follow this trend but remember that Wes Anderson is, indeed, a filmmaker and writer, and not just someone who prettily photographs his subjects, win. This duo’s stories are some of the best – in a few short seconds, they deliver the set-up, the development, and a dramatic conclusion worthy of the best Anderson films.
“Lunch At Honest Burger With My Wife”
Keith Afadi’s take on the Wes Anderson trend is one of the most popular, with almost ten million views and counting. Simple, and to the point, this creator told Rolling Stone his followers had already compared his short TikTok videos to Anderson’s filmography, so the jump was an easy one to make. Afadi is particularly interested in the director’s sense of humor.
“A Serene Afternoon in Brooklyn”
Like most of his TikTok content, Dave Ahdoot created one of the funniest Wes Anderson TikToks on the platform. From the sarcastic title to the little quips he managed to weave into his video, this example successfully highlights all the Anderson-esque film techniques people have been trying to emulate while poking fun at those who have jumped on the trend without ever watching a single film by the director.
“The Grand Amalfi Hotel”
Mike Quyen’s TikToks are absolute fire. The creator is a genius editor and videomaker, so applying those techniques to the Wes Anderson trend had pretty amazing results. This entry is equal parts TikTok and Anderson as if the two had a baby. It takes from Anderson’s minimalistic aesthetic and mixes it with the modernistic, fancy editing style of short-form social media video-making.
“Scream, Directed by Wes Anderson”
As a horror enthusiast, AJ had the brilliant idea to imagine what a Scream movie would look like if it was directed by Wes Anderson. The closest Anderson has come to horror is The Darjeeling Limited, but this TikTok has me hoping he’ll make a proper thriller once. The details are great, but it’s the ending that really makes this a great attempt. Part 2 is also amazing.
“The Life Amniotic”
If you manage to overlook the fact that this family turned the birth of their baby into a TikTok trend, and appreciate the absolute patience and dedication that it took to make this seconds-long video, you’ll love this entry. TikTok creator Luke Jackson took The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and turned it into The Life Amniotic with Dr. Baby Sylvie and, with the permission of his wife, made the most adorable example of the Wes Anderson trend yet.
