Asteroid City (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Asteroid City is a 2023 romantic comedy directed by Wes Anderson, starring Edward Norton as Conrad Earp, Scarlett Johansson and Sophia Lillis. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $53.9 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Production Design at the Critics' Choice 2024. Critics gave it 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Wes Anderson
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Focus Features
- Budget
- $25M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Asteroid City About?
The premise of Asteroid City without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
In the 1950s, a Junior Stargazer convention brings together students and parents in the desert town of Asteroid City. Their gathering is disrupted by unexpected and world-altering events, forcing them to confront a strange new reality. As they grapple with the unfolding crisis, the attendees search for connection, humor, and a sense of normalcy amidst the extraordinary circumstances.
Asteroid City Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- desert
- 1950s
- arizona desert
- astronomy
- asteroid
- stargazer
- small town
- military
- alien
- love
- mechanic
- alien encounter
+38 more Show fewer
- diner
- nuclear test
- photographer
- play
- desert town
- actress
- brief female nudity
- female nudity
- year 1955
- car breakdown
- nuclear explosion
- jet pack
- unidentified flying object
- precocious child
- crater
- telephone booth
- taking a photograph
- gas station
- quirky comedy
- ensemble cast
- quarantine
- female full frontal nudity
- written by director
- some scenes in black and white
- full frontal nudity
- female topless nudity
- photograph
- science fair
- father son relationship
- fictional play
- train
- little girl
- mushroom cloud
- tupperware
- male female relationship
- pay phone
- surreal comedy
- showbiz comedy
Asteroid City Cast & Characters
Edward Norton leads the cast as Conrad Earp, with Scarlett Johansson as Midge Campbell and Sophia Lillis as Shelly. Directed by Wes Anderson; 17 actors are credited in all.
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Director Wes Anderson
-
Edward Norton as Conrad Earp -
Scarlett Johansson as Midge Campbell -
Sophia Lillis as Shelly -
Maya Hawke as June
Also Starring in Asteroid City
· 13 more- Rupert Friend Montana
- Tom Hanks Stanley Zak
- Willem Dafoe
- Bryan Cranston Host
- Jeff Goldblum
- Tilda Swinton
- Adrien Brody
- Steve Carell
- Hope Davis Sandy Borden
- Fisher Stevens
- Margot Robbie
- Hong Chau
- Anthony Quinonez
More from Wes Anderson
More films directed by Wes Anderson, best-rated first: Isle of Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Rushmore and Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Asteroid City Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Asteroid City 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 74/100, strongest in sensory experience (90) and weakest in story & flow (55).
Asteroid City Echo Score Breakdown
Asteroid City delivers a visually striking experience while its narrative proves uneven. Critics and many viewers commend Wes Anderson’s meticulous production design, color palette, and cinematography, noting the film as a sensory showcase. However, both critics and users point to a fragmented plot, opaque storytelling, and moments of self‑indulgent pacing that hinder engagement. Character depth receives mixed feedback, with some praising performances and others describing flatness. Consequently, the film offers strong artistic merits but limited rewatch appeal, yielding a moderately positive overall assessment.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 88
Regarding direction and visual craftsmanship, Asteroid City excels through precise framing, an exuberant color palette, and detailed set design that evoke Anderson’s signature aesthetic. Critics consistently highlight the dazzling production design and meticulous cinematography, while a minority note occasional over‑saturation. Overall, the artistic execution is regarded as a standout strength, reinforcing the film’s visual identity.
- Character & Emotion 66
In terms of acting and character depth, the ensemble cast receives both praise and criticism. Some reviewers commend nuanced performances and chemistry that amplify emotional moments, while others describe characters as flat and artificial. The mixed feedback reflects a divide between appreciation for cast talent and perceived lack of substantive development, resulting in an average perception of character work.
- Story & Flow 55
Evaluating plot coherence and pacing, reviewers note a whimsical premise hampered by confusing structure. Positive comments cite inventive story beats and engaging meta‑layers, yet many critics and users label the narrative as disjointed, lackluster, and self‑indulgent. This polarity leads to a middling assessment of the story, recognizing creative ambition but highlighting significant execution flaws.
- Sensory Experience 90
The film’s auditory and visual texture garners consistent acclaim; the soundtrack, sound design, and striking color schemes are described as immersive and cohesive. Critics and users alike praise the sumptuous compositions and distinctive sonic palette that enhance the cinematic experience. Minor remarks mention occasional over‑indulgence, yet the sensory dimension remains a dominant positive element.
- Rewatch Factor 70
Rewatch potential is viewed as moderate; some critics anticipate a return to the film for its visual richness and layered narrative, while several users describe it as tedious and lacking lasting appeal. The combination of striking aesthetics and a polarizing story results in a divided audience, leading to a modest yet uneven desire for subsequent viewings.
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IMDb 6.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 76% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 62%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 76 Metascore
User score 6.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
1138228 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Asteroid City Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Asteroid City from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In a retro-futuristic rendition of the 1950s, a television host presents a documentary that delves into the creation and production of Asteroid City, a captivating play by the renowned playwright Conrad Earp. The events of the play are portrayed in vibrant widescreen color, while the accompanying television special is depicted in a classic black-and-white Academy ratio.
Full summary
The whole story of Asteroid City, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Asteroid City Box Office & Budget
Asteroid City grossed $53.9 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, 2.2 times what it cost. $28.2 million came from the US and Canada and $25.7 million (48%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$53.9M
2.2× its budget
- US & Canada
- $28.2M
- International
- $25.7M
- Budget
- $25M
Asteroid City Awards & Nominations
Asteroid City earned 2 award nominations, including Best Production Design at the Critics' Choice 2024. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.
2 nominations2 ceremonies
-
Critics' Choice 2024 1 nomination- Nominated Best Production Design
-
Artios Awards 2024 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Big Budget – Comedy
Asteroid City Trailers & Videos
23 videos: 1 trailer, 2 teasers, 9 clips, 8 featurettes and 3 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Teaser Watch at Home NOW
- Teaser Yours to Own Promo
- Clip "You Were Very Good" Official Clip
- Clip "You Didn't Ask Permission" Official Clip
How Well Do You Know Asteroid City?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the character Auggie Steenbeck in Asteroid City?
Asteroid City Also Known As
21 alternative titles, including “Thành Phố Sao Chổi” and “Asteroidų miestas”.
- Also known as
-
- Thành Phố Sao Chổi
- Asteroidų miestas
- 星城Online
- 小行星都市
- آستروید سیتی
- Cidade do Asteroide
- Asteroid Şəhəri
- Երկնաքարի քաղաքը
- 애스터로이드 시티
- Астероїд-Сіті
- Город астероидов
- Thành Phố Thiên Thạch
+9 more Show fewer
- مدينة الكويكب
- 小行星城
- Asteroit Şehir
- אסטרואיד סיטי
- แอสเทอรอยด์ ซิตี้
- Астероид Сити
- アステロイド・シティ
- شهر سیارکی
- Asteroīdu pilsēta, ასტეროიდების ქალაქი
Seen Asteroid City?
Movies Like Asteroid City
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Asteroid, Asteroid and Asteroid-a-Geddon.
Asteroid City FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Asteroid City, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Asteroid City?
Asteroid City runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Asteroid City released?
Asteroid City was released on June 16, 2023.
Who directed Asteroid City?
Asteroid City was directed by Wes Anderson.
More films by Wes Anderson Who is in the cast of Asteroid City?
Asteroid City stars Edward Norton as Conrad Earp, Scarlett Johansson as Midge Campbell and Sophia Lillis as Shelly, among 17 credited actors.
How much did Asteroid City make at the box office?
Asteroid City grossed $53.9 million worldwide ($28.2 million domestic, $25.7 million international) on a budget of $25 million.
How is Asteroid City rated?
Asteroid City has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 76% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Was Asteroid City nominated for any awards?
Asteroid City received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does Asteroid City have a post-credit scene?
No. Asteroid City has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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