10 Best Movies Like The French Dispatch

Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch serves as a love letter to journalism. Many films also follow a journalistic premise and are just as good.

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Wes Anderson has a unique style of filmmaking that translates into his newest film, The French Dispatch. The anthology film follows a newspaper that brings forth four stories showcased in their final publication. The storytelling and visuals met fans’ expectations as they had the typical Anderson whimsy and eccentricity.

The distinct storytelling of The French Dispatch is that it serves as a love letter to journalism, and in particular, The New Yorker. Many other films share the themes of storytelling, journalism, and writing. Some movies even influenced the content of each anecdote.

10 The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs (2018) – Available On Netflix

The Coen brothers’ anthology film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs presents six short stories in the Old West.

Like The French Dispatch, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is an anthology filled with dark comedy. Each short story is captivating, ranging from tragedy to the absurd. Also, this Western film is packed with an enormous star-studded cast, who all give top-notch performances in each account. Of course, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is one of the Coen brothers’ best films per Metacritic.

9 Broadcast News (1987) – Available On HBO Max

Although The French Dispatch is about a newspaper, journalism is shown in many forms, including news broadcasting. Such is the case with the 1987 film Broadcast News.

This romantic comedy-drama dives into the lives of two reporters and a producer in which things grow complicated with their friendship and working relationship. Of course, like The French Dispatch, Broadcast News is one of the finest movies that pay tribute to TV journalism while also highlighting the pressures of the job in their personal lives.

8 Network (1976) – Available To Rent On AppleTV, Redbox, & Google Play

In 1976’s Network, Howard Beale is forced to retire as an anchorman. His angry rant on national news grabs the attention of young producer Diana Christensen, who realizes that outrageous programming brings mass viewership.

Like The French Dispatch, Network takes a spin on journalism and news broadcasting with satire and black comedy. In many ways, it speaks more to the climate of today’s news reporting than the time it was released. The film received critical acclaim for its intelligent story and powerful performances from the star-studded cast.

7 The Front Page (1974) – Not Available For Streaming

Drama ensues in the 1974 film The Front Page when journalist Hildy Johnson plans to retire. However, the editor, Walter Burns, wants to keep his best writer, and an exclusive story about a criminal prepares Hildy to write his final reporting with a bang.

Like The French Dispatch, The Front Page is a tribute to journalism. It does not take the reporting too seriously, which makes it an entertaining and hilarious comedy film. Of course, The Front Page showcases the incredible dynamics between an editor and his star writer as they report on their final story together, much like the characters in The French Dispatch. Also, it is one of the best movies about the newspaper industry.

6 Midnight In Paris (2011) – Available On IMDbTV

Midnight in Paris follows a screenwriter and novelist, Gil Pender, who vacations in Paris with his fiancée. Soon, the unexpected happens when Gil somehow travels back in time to the 1920s, and he encounters history’s greatest artists and writers.

Although Midnight in Paris is not reminiscent of the storytelling in The French Dispatch, it does highlight the beauty of the French city and even pays homage to influential artists. Rather than showing fictionalized characters, the film brings forth real-life figures like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Of course, Midnight in Paris features some of Anderson’s collaborators — Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Léa Seydoux.

5 The Paper (1994) – Available To Rent On AppleTV, Amazon, & Google Play

In The Paper, editor Henry Hackett is on the verge of finding a new job due to family pressure. However, he starts to reconsider when he encounters a juicy story, but his differences in the coverage cause conflict with his new boss.

Ron Howard’s comedy-drama also pays homage to journalism, showcasing the ins and outs of daily life in the field. It is incredibly fast-paced and hilarious, making it one of the best films about investigative journalism, like The French Dispatch. Of course, the performances of the cast, especially Michael Keaton, are superb.

4 Philomena (2013) – Available On Netflix

The French Dispatch published stories from the writer’s point of view, which speaks to the importance of real-life accounts. Philomena follows a similar journey of a former BBC journalist, Martin Sixsmith, who closely follows a woman named Philomena as she searches for her son. The movie is based on a true story.

This British comedy-drama will have viewers rooting for the titular character who has ventured on this 50-year search. Despite the serious subject matter, Philomena is full of charm and humor. Of course, the dynamic between Judi Dench and Steve Coogan is phenomenal and worth the watch alone.

3 The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) – Available To Rent On AppleTV, Amazon, & Google Play

The Man Who Knew Too Much follows a family vacationing in Morocco when it all goes wrong after Dr. Ben McKenna learns about an assassination attempt from a stranger. To keep their plot a secret, these strangers kidnap the doctor’s son, but now, he must save him.

Although Alfred Hitchcock’s underrated thriller does not center on journalism like The French Dispatch, the plot resembles the account of the film’s last story, “The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner.” Per IndieWire, Anderson listed The Man Who Knew Too Much as one of the inspirations for his film, particularly influencing the final story of the fictionalized newspaper. Therefore, Hitchcock’s earliest thriller is worth the watch, as it has a different tone and ambiance.

2 His Girl Friday (1940) – Available On Prime Video & Paramount+

His Girl Friday showcases a complicated relationship between editor Walter Burns and his reporter Hildy Johnson, who were once married. Considering Hildy’s intention to remarry, Walter brought forth an intriguing story about a convicted murderer, in which Hildy slowly uncovers the truth.

This screwball comedy is another film that Anderson listed as one of the inspirations for The French Dispatch. His Girl Friday also focuses on journalism as part of its plot, and the added comedy makes it even more fun. Also, the chemistry between Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell is unwavering.

1 The Square (2017) – Available On HBO Max & Hoopla

In The Square, an established curator wants to promote his Swedish museum, but he is also experiencing an existential crisis. His latest exhibition pushes boundaries, which might be a risky move.

The Square is one of the few films that does not have the prospect of journalism as its core story, but the plot does reminisce the ambiance of The French Dispatch’s second story, “The Concrete Masterpiece.” Like The French Dispatch narrating one of the core accounts, The Square showcases the artistic freedom and extreme measures in creating the latest masterpieces for public viewing. It also showcases the message of going outside the box to create unique pieces. Of course, this Swedish satire takes things to the next level in its presentation of contemporary art, which is ambitious and clever.

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