The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
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A concierge and his protégé embark on a quest for a priceless painting amidst the backdrop of an encroaching fascist regime.
The story
In the fictional country of Zubrowka, Monsieur Gustave H., the famed concierge of the Grand Budapest Hotel, is framed for the murder of a wealthy dowager, Madame D. To clear his name and secure a priceless Renaissance painting, he and his recently befriended protégé, Zero, embark on a quest for fortune. Their journey unfolds against the backdrop of an encroaching fascist regime. The narrative is presented as a fragmented tale, weaving together different timelines and perspectives as the pair navigates the dangers of a changing political landscape to protect the painting and their own survival.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The story is framed as a book written in 1985 about a 1968 visit to the Grand Budapest Hotel. In 1932, Zero Moustafa works as a lobby boy for Gustave H. After the death of Madame D., Gustave and Zero are accused of her murder but flee with her bequest: the painting 'Boy with Apple'. They are pursued by her son, Dmitri, and his hitman, J. G. Jopling. After a series of narrow escapes and a prison break, they reunite and seek help from the Society of the Crossed Keys. They eventually find the painting's second will, which clears Gustave's name. However, in a final twist, while traveling by train, Gustave is shot and killed by soldiers. Zero inherits the fortune and the hotel, eventually marrying Agatha and raising their son in memory of the fallen concierge.
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States; Germany
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Wes Anderson
- Writers
- Wes Anderson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ralph Fiennes · Monsieur Gustave H.; Tony Revolori · Zero Moustafa; F. Murray Abraham · the elderly Zero; Adrien Brody · Dmitri Desgoffe-und-Taxis; Willem Dafoe · J. G. Jopling; Saoirse Ronan · Agatha; Tilda Swinton · Céline Villeneuve Desgoffe-und-Taxis, known as Madame D.; Edward Norton · Albert Henckels
- Genres
- comedy-drama; adventure; crime
- Themes
- fascism; nostalgia; friendship; loyalty
- Tone and mood
- comedy; drama; whimsical
- Premise and plot tags
- period piece; road movie; heist; ensemble cast
- Reception
- The film received widespread critical acclaim, being praised for its craftsmanship, humor, and the performances of the ensemble cast, particularly Ralph Fiennes.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 92% · scale: percentage · review count: 313; Metacritic · score: 88 · scale: out of 100 · review count: 48
- Awards and nominations
- Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy · Golden Globe · win
- Production trivia
- The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2025.; The painting 'Boy with Apple' was a four-month-long creation by artist Michael Taylor.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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