Wes Anderson’s A-List Black Comedy Is an Instant Streaming Hit in America

With a new film featuring a star-studded ensemble led by an Oscar-winner, Wes Anderson did wonders with his most recent pic, which is now a streaming hit in the U.S. The Phoenician Scheme, starring Benicio del Toro, hit theaters nationwide on May 30, and less than two months later, on July 25, it landed on Peacock, where it has maintained a very well-deserved dominating spot.

Per FlixPatrol, The Phoenician Scheme is #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 thriller Drop now takes up that position, with Robert De Niro’s 2023 comedy, About My Father, as #3. Rounding out the top five are the 2008 animation Horton Hears a Who! and Hotel Transylvania 2.

In The 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 stars Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis, and Benedict Cumberbatch. It was produced, written and directed by Anderson from a story he devised with Roman 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 Scheme was an instant favorite among critics after its release, but only grossed $20 million domestically and over $38 million globally against a budget of $30 million. It is the brilliant director’s third movie with Focus Features after 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom and 2023's Asteroid City.

Anderson’s 2025 espionage comedy is streaming on Peacock. Stay tuned to Collider for future streaming news.