Wes Anderson has become a master of showcasing character-driven stories in the most unlikely of settings, so it’s always exciting to see where he’ll take us next. Fortunately, we no longer have to wait as his eleventh film, Asteroid City, is now here. Set in 1955, the film focuses on a group of students and parents attending a stargazing convention in the titular setting, before discovering they are stuck there after witnessing an unbelievable event.
In typical Anderson fashion, Asteroid City boasts an impressive all-star ensemble cast featuring the likes of Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Tilda Swinton, and so many more. The list goes on! Keep reading below to find out when, where, and how you can watch Asteroid City.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on December 16.
Asteroid City
Following a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.
- Release Date
- June 23, 2023
- Rating
- R
- Main Genre
- Drama
Is ‘Asteroid City’ Available on VOD?
Asteroid City is available to purchase and to rent on-demand. You can use the links below to find the film on the platform of your choice.
What Streaming Service is ‘Asteroid City’ On?
While Asteroid City was previously available to stream on Peacock (as it was distributed by the Universal subsidiary Focus Features), it is no longer available to stream on the service. Instead, Asteroid City is now available to stream on Prime Video, which is where Universal films stream after their exclusive window on Peacock ends. Asteroid City joins other recent Focus Features movies streaming on Prime Video, including Polite Society, Champions, and Book Club: The Next Chapter. You can click the link below to stream the film now.
Stream on Prime Video
When Is ‘Asteroid City’ Releasing on DVD and Blu-ray?
Asteroid City was released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 15, 2023. The physical edition of the movie comes with several exclusive bonus features, which are listed below:
-The Making of Asteroid City – With Wes Anderson as your guide, take a personal tour behind the scenes of “Asteroid City” and get insider’s access into set creation, performer preparation, music rehearsals and more.
– Desert Town – Wes Anderson pulls back the curtain on the creation of Asteroid City with an intimate look at what goes into building a town in the middle of a desert and bringing its quirks to life.
– Doomsday Carnival (Digital, Blu-ray™, DVD Exclusive) – Go even further inside Asteroid City as period costumes, classic cars, and camera tricks combine to create a bustling midway of carnival rides and lookie-loos anticipating an alien arrival.
– Montana and Ranch Hands – Witness a quiet prayer evolve into a hand-clapping country hoedown as the film’s fictional band inspires a sudden dance number through their banjo, bass, and washboard.
– The Players (Digital, Blu-ray™, DVD Exclusive) – Go behind-the-scenes with the stars of Asteroid City.
You can choose from the links below to purchase the film at the retailer of your choice.
When Did ‘Asteroid City’ Come Out?
Asteroid City had its world debut at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival, which ran from mid-to-late May 2023. After this, the film rolled out exclusively in theaters, starting with a limited release on June 16, 2023. It then expanded to theaters nationwide the following week, on June 23.
Is Asteroid City Still in Theaters?
No, Asteroid City is no longer playing in theaters. So the only way you can watch Wes Anderson’s latest film is either through physical media, video-on-demand, or streaming on Prime Video.
Watch the ‘Asteroid City’ Trailer
Focus Features released the first official trailer for Asteroid City on their YouTube channel on March 30, 2023. In the trailer, we get our first looks at the titular town and its isolated location in the American desert. Despite its bare-bones appearance, the city hosts an annual stargazing convention to celebrate the day that an asteroid impacted the area thousands of years prior. Because of the asteroid, many scientific facilities have been built in town to monitor any further space activity, which little do they know is about to occur.
When an alien spaceship suddenly arrives in town, the convention hosts and attendees are shocked by their otherworldly encounter. This mind-blowing event led to Asteroid City being placed under lockdown by the US government, meaning that no one can leave until further notice. With this remote town now populated by total strangers, Anderson has created a very fun set-up where his quirky collection of characters can interact with one another. The trailer also highlights his unique blend of genres, with the story looking to include sci-fi, comedy, drama, and possibly some satirical elements.
More Wes Anderson Movies That You Can Watch Right Now
Since the mid-1990s, Wes Anderson has crafted a stellar filmography filled with many eccentric characters and unconventional stories that are worth your time and attention to check out! So, before his latest film Asteroid City hits the big screen, keep reading below to hear about a few of his previous films that you can stream right now:
Bottle Rocket – In 1996, Anderson made his film directorial debut with Bottle Rocket, a comedic crime caper that he wrote with long-time friends and collaborators, brothers Owen and Luke Wilson. The story follows a group of young Texans, who attempt to pull off a flawless robbery, only for their plans to go off the rails very quickly. What follows is a series of unexpected events that sees them all consider going on the run.
Rent on Amazon
Fantastic Mr. Fox – Based on the popular children’s book of the same name by Roald Dahl, Fantastic Mr. Fox was Anderson’s first foray into animation, specifically stop-motion. The film follows the titular Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) who has given up his life as a thief to settle down and raise a family. However, years later, he misses the thrills of his criminal life and decides to steal from three local farmers. This ultimately puts his family and the rest of the community in danger as the farmers try to hunt him down, forcing Mr. Fox to try and protect them all.
Rent on AmazonThe Grand Budapest Hotel – Anderson’s multi-award-winning film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, focuses on Monsieur Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes), a famous hotel concierge who gets framed for murder. With the help of his new protégé Zero (Tony Revolori), the two form an unlikely friendship as they seek to clear Gustave’s name while avoiding capture. At the same time, they attempt to locate a priceless painting that may be the key to discovering the true killer’s identity.
Rent on Amazon
