The French Dispatch (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The French Dispatch is a 2021 comedy drama starring Bill Murray as Arthur Howitzer, Jr., Owen Wilson and Tilda Swinton. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and earned $46.3 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. It earned 7 award nominations, including Best Costume Design at the BAFTA 2022. Critics gave it 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 47m (107 min)
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Searchlight Pictures
- Budget
- $25M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The French Dispatch About?
The premise of The French Dispatch without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Set in the fictional French city of Liberty, Kansas, this film presents a collection of stories published in the final edition of an American magazine. Each piece showcases the eccentric journalists and their connections to the city's vibrant culture. Through these tales, the film explores themes of love, loss, and the beauty of human connection, all while celebrating art, literature, and the unique spirit of a beloved publication coming to an end.
The French Dispatch Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- journalist
- painter
- bicycle
- magazine
- police
- animated sequence
- voice over narration
- chef
- kansas
- woman poses nude for a painting
- actor shares last name with character
- magazine writer
+38 more Show fewer
- kidnapping a boy
- teenage boy
- talking to the camera
- multiple narrators
- prostitute
- manifesto
- teenage boy wears underwear
- mental illness
- chase
- absurdism
- anthology
- chess the game
- narrated by character
- female full frontal nudity
- female nudity
- male nudity
- female frontal nudity
- girls' dormitory
- older woman teenage boy relationship
- teenage boy with a mustache
- teenage boy in a bathtub
- love
- job application
- magazine editor
- subtitled scene
- father son relationship
- boy
- morse code
- gun
- play within a film
- magazine cover
- typewriter
- eating
- episodic structure
- chicken coop
- text on screen
- mother son relationship
- fictional tv interview show
The French Dispatch Cast & Characters
Bill Murray leads the cast as Arthur Howitzer, Jr., with Owen Wilson as Herbsaint Sazerac and Tilda Swinton as J.K.L. Berensen.
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Bill Murray as Arthur Howitzer, Jr. -
Owen Wilson as Herbsaint Sazerac -
Tilda Swinton as J.K.L. Berensen -
Benicio Del Toro as Moses Rosenthaler
Also Starring in The French Dispatch
· 20 more- Léa Seydoux Simone
- Adrien Brody Julian Cadazio
- Frances McDormand Lucinda Krementz
- Timothée Chalamet Zeffirelli
- Jeffrey Wright Roebuck Wright
- Steve Park Nescaffier
- Mathieu Amalric The Commissaire
- Bob Balaban Uncle Nick
- Liev Schreiber
- Anjelica Huston
- Kate Winslet
- Christoph Waltz
- Lyna Khoudri Juliette
- Edward Norton
- Elisabeth Moss
- Cécile De France
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Fisher Stevens
- Rupert Friend
- Saoirse Ronan
- Morgane Polanski Girlfriend
The French Dispatch Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The French Dispatch 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 71/100, strongest in art & craft (82) and weakest in story & flow (58).
The French Dispatch Echo Score Breakdown
The French Dispatch delivers a visually distinctive experience that resonates with many viewers, though its narrative coherence and character depth divide opinion. Critics commend its inventive production design and occasional emotional punch, while some audiences find the episodic structure uneven and the pacing exhausting. The film's artistic ambition is evident, yet its ability to sustain engagement varies across viewers. Overall, the movie is positively received for its style, but its storytelling and emotional resonance generate mixed reactions.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 82
In terms of art and craft, the film excels with meticulously composed sets, vibrant color palettes, and precise framing. Critics note the unconventional structure and lavish visual motifs, and many users praise the cinematography and production design as breathtaking. Some reviewers describe the style as tiring, yet the prevailing sentiment highlights the film’s strong aesthetic execution.
- Character & Emotion 70
When assessing character and emotion, performances receive generally favorable mentions, with several users calling the acting enjoyable and the cast stellar. Critics, however, point to an emotional void and occasional caricatured portrayals. The balance of praise for nuanced moments against criticism of shallow depth yields a moderately positive character score.
- Story & Flow 58
The story and flow elicit divergent reactions; many critics describe the narrative as unconventional and at times exhausting, while several users find the episodic segments confusing or overly chaotic. Praise for individual stories exists, yet overall consensus flags pacing issues and a lack of cohesive plot, resulting in a below‑average story rating.
- Sensory Experience 75
Sensory experience is highlighted by vivid visual style and effective sound design, earning commendation from both critics and viewers. The film’s soundtrack and auditory details complement its distinctive look, though a minority note a fatigue with the recurring stylistic choices. The sensory elements largely succeed in reinforcing the film’s atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 70
Rewatch factor reflects a generally positive appetite for revisiting the film; several users rate it highly and cite personal favorite stories, while critics acknowledge enduring enjoyment despite imperfections. Contrastingly, some reviewers find the novelty wears thin quickly. The mixed yet leaning‑positive sentiment supports a solid rewatch potential rating.
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IMDb 7.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 75% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 76%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 75 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.7 /5
5.9K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
The French Dispatch Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The French Dispatch 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
The film opens with a poignant narrated obituary of Arthur Howitzer Jr., the editor of The French Dispatch, who unexpectedly passes away from a heart attack. In accordance with his last wishes, the magazine’s publication is immediately halted. We then see Howitzer and his team discussing the upcoming release of four notable magazine stories.
The Cycling Reporter follows Herbsaint Sazerac as he guides viewers on a cycling tour through Ennui-sur-Blasé. He highlights various significant locations like the arcade, Le Sans Blague café, and a notorious pick-pocket’s alley, contrasting the changes in the townscape while exploring how much has remained the same.
Full summary
The whole story of The French Dispatch, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The French Dispatch Box Office & Budget
The French Dispatch grossed $46.3 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, 1.9 times what it cost. $16.1 million came from the US and Canada and $30.2 million (65%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$46.3M
1.9× its budget
- US & Canada
- $16.1M
- International
- $30.2M
- Budget
- $25M
The French Dispatch Awards & Nominations
The French Dispatch earned 7 award nominations, including Best Costume Design at the BAFTA 2022. The 7 nominations come from 4 ceremonies, the most at the BAFTA 2022.
7 nominations4 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 2022 3 nominations- Nominated Best Costume Design
- Nominated Best Original Score
- Nominated Best Production Design
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Critics' Choice 2022 2 nominations- Nominated Best Comedy
- Nominated Best Production Design
-
Artios Awards 2022 1 nomination- Nominated Big Budget – Comedy
-
Golden Globes 2022 1 nomination- Nominated Best Original Score – Alexandre Desplat
The French Dispatch Trailers & Videos
27 videos: 2 trailers, 10 teasers, 3 clips and 12 featurettes.
- Trailer New Trailer
- Teaser The Cycling Reporter by Herbsaint SAZERAC
- Teaser The Concrete Masterpiece by J.K.L. BERENSEN
- Teaser The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner by Roebuck WRIGHT
How Well Do You Know The French Dispatch?
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 is the founder of The French Dispatch?
Cars in The French Dispatch
18 cars on screen, including the Motobécane Mobylette AV 89 and the Citroën DS.
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Motobécane Mobylette AV 89 Main role -
Citroën DS Important role -
Renault 8 Important role -
Berliet unknown Minor role
The French Dispatch Also Known As
36 alternative titles, including “The French Dispatch of the Liberty” and “Kansas Evening Sun”.
- Also known as
-
- The French Dispatch of the Liberty
- Kansas Evening Sun
- La crónica francesa del Liberty
- ก๊วนข่าวหัวเห็ด
- A Crônica Francesa
- Fransız Postası
- 法蘭西特派週報：堪薩斯州自由城太陽晚报
- 프렌치 디스패치
- フレンチ・ディスパッチ ザ・リバティ、カンザス・イヴニング・サン別冊
- Prantsuse lähetus
- Ֆրանսիական դիսպետչերը
- Френският бюлетин
+24 more Show fewer
- La crónica francesa
- Французский вестник. Приложение к газете «Либерти. Канзас ивнинг сан»
- Francouzská depeše Liberty
- «Французький вісник» від «Ліберті
- Канзас Івнінґ Сан»
- 法兰西特派
- הכרוניקה הצרפתית של הליברטי
- קנזס איבנינג סאן
- Francuska depeša
- Francijas Vēstnesis, pielikums avīzei “Liberty
- Kansas Evening Sun”
- A Francia Kiadás
- 法蘭西特派週報
- 法蘭西諸事週報
- Η Γαλλική Αποστολή
- Kurier Francuski z Liberty
- گزارش فرانسوی
- Phóng Sự Pháp Quốc
- Француска депеша
- Crónicas de França do Liberty
- Prancūzijos kronikos iš Liberčio
- Kanzaso vakaro saulės, ფრანგული მაცნე
- الرسالة الفرنسية
- Francúzska depeša Liberty
Seen The French Dispatch?
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The French Dispatch FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The French Dispatch, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The French Dispatch?
The French Dispatch runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).
When was The French Dispatch released?
The French Dispatch was released on October 22, 2021.
Who is in the cast of The French Dispatch?
The French Dispatch stars Bill Murray as Arthur Howitzer, Jr., Owen Wilson as Herbsaint Sazerac and Tilda Swinton as J.K.L. Berensen, among 24 credited actors.
How much did The French Dispatch make at the box office?
The French Dispatch grossed $46.3 million worldwide ($16.1 million domestic, $30.2 million international) on a budget of $25 million.
How is The French Dispatch rated?
The French Dispatch has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.
Was The French Dispatch nominated for any awards?
The French Dispatch received 7 nominations across 4 ceremonies.
Does The French Dispatch have a post-credit scene?
No. The French Dispatch has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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