By John Corrado

Please note that this is a review of the Blu-ray release of Asteroid City. For my full thoughts on the film itself, you can read my original review right here.

The latest feature from writer-director Wes Anderson – and one of the best movies of the year, so far – Asteroid City is arriving on Blu-ray this week following its run in theatres earlier this summer.

The film is set in 1955 in a sparsely populated desert town, where a collection of characters have gathered for a Junior Stargazing Convention, with Anderson blending elements of quirky comedy, character drama, and science fiction.

Anderson stages a collection of delightful and bittersweet moments throughout this ingeniously layered narrative, employing his distinctive style to tell a poignant story that touches on grief and the passage of time.

It’s led by one of Anderson’s most star-studded ensemble casts, including wonderful work from Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson, with Tom Hanks joining his stock company for the first time. For my money, this is the filmmaker’s best film since The Grand Budapest Hotel in 2014, and one of his richest, most existential narratives overall. It’s a movie that rewards subsequent viewings, making the disc an easy sell for fans.

Film Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)

Bonus Features (Blu-ray):

The Blu-ray includes a small selection of “behind the scenes” footage, though the majority of bonus material is probably being saved for an inevitable Criterion release sometime down the line. A regular DVD is also included in the package, which ships with a slipcover.

• The Making of “Asteroid City” (Play All – 7 minutes, 20 seconds): Wes Anderson narrates this brief behind the scenes look, touching on the production design and filming on location in Spain. It’s basically a selection of B-roll from the production, broken up into four short chapters.

• Desert Town (Pop. 87) (2 minutes, 39 seconds)

• Doomsday Carnival (1 minute, 25 seconds)

• Montana and the Ranch Hands (1 minute, 14 seconds)

• The Players (2 minutes, 2 seconds)

Asteroid City is a Universal Pictures Home Entertainment release. It’s 105 minutes and rated PG.

Street Date: September 5th, 2023