Moonrise Kingdom
Movie, 2012, The 2010s, Set in New Penzance, 1965
Moonrise Kingdom is #7 of 13 in release order and #7 of 13 in chronological order in the Wes Anderson.
The story
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.
Moonrise Kingdom recap
Moonrise Kingdom (2012) follows two 12-year-olds who run away together on a New England island in 1965, setting off a search by scouts and adults. Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman), an orphan at a Khaki Scout camp, and Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward), a troubled girl living with her lawyer parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), met at a church play a year earlier and planned the escape by letter. They hike to a cove they name Moonrise Kingdom. Scout Master Randy Ward (Edward Norton) and island police captain Duffy Sharp (Bruce Willis) lead the hunt, and they learn Sam's foster parents no longer want him, leaving him facing an orphanage and a Social Services officer (Tilda Swinton). The other scouts change sides and help the pair flee to a bigger scout camp across the water, as a hurricane closes in. Wes Anderson directs from a script with Roman Coppola. His seventh feature, it follows Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Moonrise Kingdom ending explained
Moonrise Kingdom ends with Captain Sharp becoming Sam's legal guardian. During the storm, Sharp catches up with the children on the steeple of the church where they met and holds on to them as lightning destroys it. Seeing what Sam faces, he agrees to take the boy in, which keeps him out of the orphanage. Later Sam paints the lost cove, wiped off the map by the storm, at Suzy's house, then climbs out the window to ride along on Sharp's patrol, promising to see her tomorrow.
Post-credits scenes
No. Moonrise Kingdom has no post-credits scene; the credits play over a child's guide to the score.
Where to watch Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Fantastic Mr. Fox, before The Grand Budapest Hotel.
- Chronological order: after Fantastic Mr. Fox, before The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Cast
- Jared Gilman as Sam Shakusky
- Kara Hayward as Suzy Bishop
- Bruce Willis as Captain Sharp
- Edward Norton as Scout Master Ward
- Bill Murray as Mr. Bishop
- Frances McDormand as Mrs. Bishop
- Tilda Swinton as Social Services
- Jason Schwartzman as Cousin Ben
- Bob Balaban as The Narrator
- Lucas Hedges as Redford
- Charlie Kilgore as Lazy Eye
- Harvey Keitel as Commander Pierce
Directed by Wes Anderson.