The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Steve Zissou, a celebrated oceanographer, sets out to hunt the elusive shark that killed a crew member. He sails with a tight crew including Klaus Daimler, his estranged wife Eleanor Zissou, and Jane Winslett-Richardson, a journalist pregnant by a married man. A young man named Ned Plimpton joins the voyage, offering loyalty and curiosity. Their voyage crosses treacherous seas and tense encounters with pirates and past ghosts. The mission begins as a professional hunt but gradually tests loyalties, ego, and the imperfect bonds binding the crew.

Directed by Wes Anderson and released in 2004, the film is built from an original premise with screenplay by Anderson and Noah Baumbach. It stars Bill Murray as Steve Zissou, joined by Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston and Willem Dafoe. The film showcases a quirky, meticulously designed world.

The film carves out a quirky cultural footprint with its meticulous production design, pastel color scheme, and the captain's red beanie that became a signature look. On the ship, Seu Jorge sings Portuguese renditions that thread music and voyage into a living stage, influencing later indie comedies. Its deadpan humor and dry wit define a style many later indie films emulated.

Critics often praised the movie for its dry humor and offbeat charm while noting a melancholy undercurrent that colors the jokes. It questions fame and legacy through Steve Zissou's abrasive ambition, the uneasy bond with Ned, and the fragile ties of a makeshift family at sea. The film blends comedy with introspection in a way that invites reflection and nuance.

Box office: The Life Aquatic grossed about 34,808,403 dollars worldwide, against a production budget of 50 million. The release attracted a cult following, with strong performances and distinctive style earning appreciation from fans of offbeat cinema, making it a lasting fixture in Wes Anderson's filmography.