Unlike most movies, everytime a newspaper article appears, it contains a complete depiction of the events in the headline, all written by writer/director Wes Anderson.

Tilda Swinton spent five hours in the make-up chair to play eighty-four-year-old dowager Madame D. "We're not usually working with a vast, Bruckheimer-type budget on my films, so often we're trying a work-around", said Wes Anderson. "But for the old-age make-up, I just said, 'let's get the most expensive people we can'."

According to writer/director Wes Anderson, the cast stayed in the same hotel, the Hotel Börse in Görlitz, Germany during principal photography. He insisted all make-up and costume fittings happen in the hotel lobby to speed up filming. The owner of the hotel appears in the film as an extra working the front desk of the Grand Budapest Hotel. After filming would end for the day, the crew would often return to find him the front desk of their own hotel.

In an interview, Saoirse Ronan said making the hotel's signature confection, the Courtisane au Chocolat, wasn't easy. Unlike most films, the food plays an integral part, and required the actual making of a pastry

The highest-grossing independent film of 2014, and the highest-grossing limited-release film of 2014.

The name of the fictional Republic of Zubrówka comes from the Polish vodka Zubrówka. It's the brand of rye vodka, seasoned with bison grass, and renowned in Europe.

The scene in which Ludwig (Harvey Keitel) says "Good luck, kid!" before slapping Zero (Tony Revolori) across the face was shot forty-two times until Bill Murray was satisfied. Keitel actually slapped Revolori each time.

According to "Variety", Fox Searchlight Pictures sent its specification for the film's "proper projection" to theaters before its release. Although this film was shot in three different aspect ratios (1.37, 1.85, and 2.35:1) to inform viewers where they are in the time line, which alternates between 1985, 1968, and the 1930s, instructions state in large, bold red font that the film is meant to be projected in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio (the standard). Aside from the projector setting, the directions include information on framing the picture, image brightness, audio configuration, and fader setting.

As an example of how important attention to detail is in movies, graphic designer Annie Atkins stated in interviews that they had created a prop notebook for M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) to use. However, Fiennes immediately noticed that the notebook had no lines in it. After arguing that an organized and meticulous man as his character, M. Gustave, would always prefer lines to write on, the design department got him a notebook with lines. Atkins later stopped using this example when she learned that journalists had completely missed her point, and wrote about Fiennes' alleged diva behavior on the set.

The cast includes 4-Oscar winners: Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Fisher Stevens, and F. Murray Abraham; and 12 Oscar nominees: Bill Murray, Jude Law, Jeff Goldblum, Edward Norton, Owen Wilson, Harvey Keitel, Bob Balaban, Tom Wilkinson, Willem Dafoe, Saoirse Ronan, Ralph Fiennes, and Lucas Hedges.

The erotic painting hung in place of "Boy with Apple" mimics the style of the early 20th century Austrian painter, Egon Schiele. It was created by illustrator Rich Pellegrino, a regular contributor to San Francisco's annual "Bad Dads" exhibit of artwork inspired by the movies of writer/director Wes Anderson. The painting's official title is "Two Lesbians Masturbating".

The appearance and style of F. Murray Abraham's Mr. Moustafa is based on prolific American writer and professor Harold Jaffe. Wes Anderson is an admirer of his work.

L'Air de Panache (The Air of Plume) was produced by a Parisian fragrance boutique for Wes Anderson to give to his actors and actresses.

Wes Anderson's seventh collaboration with Bill Murray.

The highest-grossing film to date of writer/director Wes Anderson's career..

The soundtrack features a rare instrument; the balalaika, a 3-stringed, triangular-shaped Russian folk instrument that was carefully chosen by Wes Anderson. Balalaikas come in various sizes, much like the violin, from prima to contrabass. Several dozen players from France and Russia gathered in Paris to record the soundtrack in Anderson's presence. The instrument is heard throughout the movie, but is most prominent in the second part of the official trailer (down the ski slopes) with the balalaika's most popular theme, "The Moon Shines" (svetit mesyats).

Despite the movie's title, Wes Anderson confessed in an National Public Radio interview that Prague was his main source of inspiration.

Ludwig's (Harvey Keitel's) tattoos are a direct copy of the character of Pere Jules in L'Atalante (1934). The "MAV" tattooed on his left arm is the abbreviation of the French saying "mort aux vaches", which translates to "death to cows", "vaches" being street slang for "cops" ie policemen.

Jeff Goldblum plays Vilmos Kovács, a tribute to Cinematographers Vilmos Zsigmond and László Kovács.

The "Boy with Apple" painting appeared in various locations throughout the hotel and is hanging behind the front desk during the young writer's (Jude Law) stay. It can also be seen on the back of the menu, when Zero (F. Murray Abraham) begins to tell his story.

M. Ivan (Bill Murray) can be read in Hungarian as "Mi van?", which means: "What's going on?"

In the wedding scene, the snowy rock formation in the background is the Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) in the region of Saxony, Germany.

Alexandre Desplat's Oscar for original musical score marks the first time a comedy has won the award since Isimylejęs Šekspyras (1998), though in that year, the Academy had 2 categories for score (dramatic and comedy) and the first comedy score to win without two categories ever since One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937).

Angela Lansbury was originally cast as Madame D. She had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with the stage production of "Driving Miss Daisy".

In addition to this film, Edward Norton appeared in Žmogus-paukštis (2014). Both films led the 2015 Oscar nominations with nine each.

The film contains several references to Agatha Christie's mysteries, including naming a character Agatha. Specifically referenced is "4:50 from Paddington", a Miss Marple mystery, wherein the word "tontine" is used as a clue. A body is found in a sarcophagus, and a family lawyer deals with the will of an elderly person who has died, and the family wants the money divided up.

In an interview with Stefan Zweig's biographer, Wes Anderson singles out two of Zweig's books, "Beware of Pity" and "The Post Office Girl" as ones from which this film has elements 'that were sort of storm's.

The Art Museum in which Kovács (Jeff Goldblum) hides is the Zwinger in Dresden, Germany. It was built as an orangery, garden, and festival area.

The prison, which is shown twice for two short moments, is Kriebstein Castle, close to Chemnitz, Germany.

The fictional painter Johannes van Hoytl the Younger (1613-1669) was based on a combination of Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543) and Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553).

Ralph Fiennes partly based his character's vocal traits on English comic actor Leonard Rossiter.

The traditional Twentieth Century Fox fanfare is not heard in the film's opening titles.

Of the many crudities and tragedies in the film, most were not explicitly shown on-screen. All the scenes are off-screen, either suggested. Despite most of these scenes being off-screen, the movie was rated R, due to foul language, rather than the depiction of violence.

Zero was named after Zero Mostel.

During the film, the concierges always address others and themselves with the title Monsieur. The only time this is not followed is during the "Secret Society of the Crossed Keys" sequence, where all the concierges are referred to by their first names.

The 1968 sequences involving Jude Law and F. Murray Abraham were filmed first, due to the production team first accessed the vacant old Görlitz department used for the hotel lobby, and later the shuttered concert hall Stadhalle, it was originally discovered in an ideal envisioned state, shabby, crumbling, but somehow enchanting in the ruins. The art team redressed the entire area to simulate the hotel in the 1930s. The drop ceiling was removed to reveal the original 3-floor area, but was CG-augmented to 6 floors.

The main character - M. Gustave, (played by Ralph Fiennes), is modelled significantly on Stefan Zweig.

There were rumors that George Clooney made a cameo appearance during the shoot-out scene in the hotel.

The main auditorium in Stadhalle was used and appeared several times throughout the movie, but with different identities: Schloss Lutz trophy room (the reading of Madame D.'s will). The dining hall between the Writer and Moustafa in 1968. The hall of armor suits where Jopling pursues Kovács. The train façade. The inner rooms of the monastery in which Serge X. was hiding.

the character played by Jude Law is a fictionalised version of Stefan Zweig.

When Jopling (Willem Dafoe) is examining Agatha's (Saoirse Ronan's) picture on his deck, the insignia of the Zig-Zag division next to the photo is of similar design of the one belonging to the Nazi S.S.

This is the first time Wes Anderson has used the 1.37:1 aspect ratio since Bottle Rocket (1994).

The 'author' character, played by Tom Wilkinson Is a partially fictionalised version of Stefan Zweig.

The motorcycle J.G. Jopling (Willem Dafoe) rides is an early 1930s BMW R12.

In Rabbinical lore, the "Lutz" is a bone that houses the soul after death in preparation for the next life.

When Dmitri (Adrien Brody) checks into the Grand Budapest Hotel at the start of the war, M. Chuck (Owen Wilson) puts him in the "Ferdinand Suite". World War I started because of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

The fictional town of Nebelsbad (home of the Grand Hotel Budapest) is based upon the spa town of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) in the Czech Republic. 3 minutes into the film, people can be seen using an elevator to reach the statue of a deer (or stag) on a rocky outcrop. This is almost an exact copy of the deer at Jeleni skok (Deer Jump), a famous landmark overlooking Karlovy Vary. In the film, Nebelsbad is in the Alpine Sudetenwaltz and Karlovy Vary lies in what was, prior to WW2, the Sudetenland. Karlovy Vary has its own 'Grand Hotel'; the Grandhotel Pupp, which has appeared in many films, including Casino Royale and Last Holiday. Although the hotel is not connected to a funicular, there is one in Karlovy Vary which allows people to visit the statue at Deer Jump.

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes)'s prisoner number is 112, which is the emergency response number throughout most of Europe.

Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton, and Harvey Keitel appeared in Raudonasis drakonas (2002).

Jean Dujardin and Vincent Cassel were considered for the part of Serge X.

Ralph Fiennes and Willem Dafoe appeared in Anglas ligonis (1996).

When M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes)says "thank you" to Wolf (Karl Markovics) before being told of the escape plan, Wolf is sitting next to Ludwig (Harvey Keitel). Keitel played Winston "The Wolf" Wolf in Bulvarinis skaitalas (1994).

Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Waris Ahluwalia, and Jeff Goldblum appeared in Gyvenimas po vandeniu (2004).

The film has three actors who appeared in James Bond films opposite Daniel Craig. Ralph Fiennes (Operacija Skyfall (2012)), Mathieu Amalric (Paguodos kvantas (2008)), and Léa Seydoux (Spektras (2015)).

Jeff Goldblum played Deputy Kovacs. Goldblum played comedian Ernie Kovacs in Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter (1984).

The only best picture Oscar nominee that year to also be nominated for best make-up and hairstyling; and best costume design.

Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes appeared in Didesni purslai (2015) and Šlove Cezariui! (2016).

Harvey Keitel appeared in Negarbingi šunsnukiai (2009) (though only in a voice cameo) which was also shot in the small town of Görlitz, Germany.

Bill Murray and Saoirse Ronan appeared in Zarijos miestas (2008).

M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) does not appear until nearly ten minutes into the film.

Second film with Tom Wilkinson involving the stealing of a painting. The other being Rokenrola (2008).

Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton appeared in Maiklo Kleitono sukurta tiesa (2007).

Jude Law and Jason Schwartzman appeared in Aš myliu Huckabees (2004).

Owen Wilson, Lea Seydoux and Adrien Brody also starred in Midnight in Paris

Jean Dujardin: A German gunman in the hotel shoot-out scene.

Zero (Tony Revolori) leaves Agatha (Saoirse Ronan) a note revealing the hiding place of "Boy With Apple", and he advises her it is "in code". The note actually contains straightforward directions to the hiding place, with some letters flipped backward,

Body count: 12

In addition to being one of the rare films to have actuall stories which are connected with the newspaper headline seen on-screen, the newspapers shown on-screen near the start of the film reveal much of the film's plot (and ending), as well.

J.G. Jopling (Willem Dafoe) has a concealed Browning Model 1910 pistol strapped to his jacket, and a Colt M1911 pistol lying on his desk, but never uses either in the movie.

When Jopling (Willem Dafoe) cuts off four fingers from Kovacs' (Jeff Goldblum's) hand, it calls to mind the scene in Anglas ligonis (1996), where Dafoe's character had his thumbs cut off.