Wes Anderson’s Reluctance to Embrace Disney+: A Family Dilemma

Wes Anderson, celebrated for his unmistakable cinematic style, has long been recognised as a director whose work stands apart from the mainstream. His films, both features and shorts, are shaped by a host of classic influences, and now, as a father to young Freya, he’s keen to share his passion for the golden age of cinema with her.

In a recent conversation with Letterboxd, Anderson described his approach to introducing Freya to film. He prefers the tactile experience of a Blu-Ray, and takes particular satisfaction in her fondness for the Judy Garland classic, Meet Me in St Louis. It’s a point of pride for him that his daughter’s tastes lean towards a 1940s musical, though he admits it’s not always easy to keep her interests away from more popular fare.

Old Favourites Versus Modern Blockbusters

Anderson reflected on the challenge, saying,

I like that she likes Meet Me in St Louis, but when I was her age, the most important movie of all time was Star Wars. It’s the least-hidden movie of all time, but it’s relevant to my life right now.

The enduring appeal of George Lucas’s space saga is hardly a new topic of debate. Since its debut in 1977, Star Wars has inspired countless aspiring filmmakers, but it’s also been blamed for shifting the industry away from the more adult-oriented films of the 1970s towards the era of the blockbuster.

With Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, the franchise’s reach has only grown. The galaxy far, far away now permeates not just cinema, but theme parks, merchandise, and, crucially, streaming platforms. For parents like Anderson, keeping children from the gravitational pull of such a cultural juggernaut is a tall order.

Setting Boundaries in the Streaming Age

Anderson has tried to set limits at home, particularly when it comes to Disney+. He shared,

My daughter is seven, and she’d heard about Star Wars and kept asking me about it. So I said, ‘Well, we have Disney+, and we don’t use it’, but it’s there.

The streaming service, with its vast library of family-friendly content, is a fixture in many households, even if it’s not actively used.

The irony isn’t lost on Anderson. Two of his own animated works, Fantastic Mr Fox and Isle of Dogs, are available on Disney+, and he’s collaborated with actors who’ve appeared in the Star Wars universe, such as Natalie Portman, Jude Law, and Benicio del Toro. Yet, he remains determined to guide his daughter’s viewing habits towards the classics he values.

The Ubiquity of Star Wars

Completely shielding a child from the influence of Star Wars may be a futile exercise, given its omnipresence in modern culture. Anderson, who was eight when the original film was released, seems to accept that some exposure is inevitable. For now, though, he’s content to nurture Freya’s appreciation for the films he holds dear, hoping her tastes will remain closer to his own for a little while longer.