Rushmore and The Life Aquatic director Wes Anderson's first feature illustrated his lovingly detailed, slightly surreal cinematic vision in this witty and warm portrait of three young middle-class misfits. Fresh out of a mental hospital, gentle Anthony (Luke Wilson) finds himself once again embroiled in the machinations of his best friend, elaborate schemer Dignan (Owen Wilson). With the aid of getaway driver Bob (Robert Musgrave), they develop a needlessly complex, mildly successful plan to rob a small bookstore—then go "on the lam." Also featuring Lumi Cavazos as Inez, the South American housekeeper Anthony falls in love with, and James Caan as local thief extraordinaire Mr. Henry, Bottle Rocket is a charming, hilarious, affectionate look at the folly of dreamers. Shot against radiant southwestern backdrops, it's the film that put Anderson and the Wilson brothers on the map.

Wes Anderson has had an almost unique relationship with the people at Criterion, with three of his features picked up for a Criterion release – Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou – almost as soon as the video rights became available. Now Criterion and Anderson have gone back to where it all began and restored the director's first feature and loaded it with extras for a simultaneous US 2-disc DVD and single-disc blu-ray release on 25th November 2008 at the SRP of $39.95 each. With a new, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director Wes Anderson and director of photography Robert Yeoman and a 5.1 surround soundtrack, the 2-disc set will have the following special features:

• Commentary by director/co-writer Anderson and co-writer/actor Owen Wilson;
• The Making of Bottle Rocket: an original documentary by filmmaker Barry Braverman featuring Anderson, James L. Brooks, James Caan, Temple Nash Jr., Kumar Pallana, Polly Platt, Mark Mothersbaugh, Robert Musgrave, Richard Sakai, David and Sandy Wasco, Andrew and Luke and Owen Wilson, and Robert Yeoman;
• The original thirteen-minute black-and-white Bottle Rocket short film from 1992;
• Eleven deleted scenes;
• Anamorphic screen test, storyboards, location photos, and behind-the-scenes photographs by Laura Wilson;
• Murita Cycles, a 1978 short film by Braverman;
• The Shafrazi Lectures, no. 1: Bottle Rocket;
• A booklet featuring an essay by executive producer James L. Brooks, an appreciation by Martin Scorsese;
• Original artwork by Ian Dingman.

Non-US viewers should note that the DVD will be coded region 1 and the blu-ray will be coded region A.