The Royal Tenenbaums

R

Released Dec 14, 2001

1 hr. 48 min.

Comedy

Drama

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List

81%

217 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Royal Tenenbaum and his wife Etheline had three children and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary --- all geniuses. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father's fault. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is the story of the family's sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter.

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Critics Consensus

The Royal Tenenbaums is a delightful adult comedy with many quirks and a sense of poignancy. Many critics especially praised Hackman's performance.

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Tee H

This is the only Wes Anderson movie I didn't love. It was clearly a genre-defining moment for his directorial style but lacks the heart and charm of his other offerings.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

Full Review

Alec C

Families have never been more dysfunctional then the Tenenbaums! The three siblings of the Tenenbaum clan are dealing with their own personal baggage, while their irresponsible father tries to reconnect with his children, with mixed results. Wes Anderson places the "D" in dysfunctional while still making the characters likable and charming, proving his skills as a filmmaker!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Dave C

Not sure I can really write a review since I officially didn't make it through the whole thing. Maybe it gets better but I doubt it. I started watching it because of the box art and thought the cast was spectacular, HAH! Turns out a movie needs more than star power, it needs the characters to actually show emotion and make the plot happen. It's smart and stylish but forgets the humor in the process. Though I lied when I said I wouldn't watch it again, I probably will when I need to fall asleep.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Johnathon W

Delightful if overly eccentric film that is buoyed by Gene Hackman's brilliant lead performance. The cast is superb, as with most Wes Anderson movies, with Hackman delivering one of his best lead performances as Royal, a despicable father who inadvertently learns he actually loves his family. Whether it is by teaching his grandchildren to shoplift or splitting flowers at gravesites, his Royal somehow remains charming even when doing some very bad things. Behind the camera, Anderson crafts another eccentric film, with some gorgeous shots and set pieces though it goes a bit too overboard at times (the romance between adopted siblings is a bit much). Overall, a fun watch, especially for one of Hackman's best performances.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

David C

Fantastic movie!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/10/23

Full Review

Jens B

I don't think that my family is weird after watching this.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

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Wes Anderson

Director

Gene Hackman

Royal Tenenbaum

Anjelica Huston

Etheline Tenenbaum

Ben Stiller

Chas Tenenbaum

Gwyneth Paltrow

Margot Tenenbaum

Luke Wilson

Richie Tenenbaum

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The Royal Tenenbaums: Trailer 1

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Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

If it sounds bittersweet, it is, but like the best family albums, Tenenbaums is split wide with open-heartedness, and equally generous with its triumphs and failures.

Mar 16, 2020

Full Review

Jack Mathews

New York Daily News

This comedy-drama about a dysfunctional family of eccentric geniuses is exactly the kind of movie America could use. It's funny, poignant, laced with irresistibly flawed characters and focuses on the power of love in a family.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 1, 2014

Full Review

Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

The film manages to be both sarcastic and sentimental. As odd as the Tenenbaums are, the family remains bound by love.

Oct 1, 2014

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

The Royal Tenenbaums isn't just Wes Anderson's best film, it's one of the best films of all-time.

Rated: A+

Oct 25, 2023

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

For the Win (USA Today)

The film that saw Wes Anderson absolutely perfect his style and his command over an ensemble, The Royal Tenenbaums is a major work.

Jun 28, 2023

Full Review

Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

A family who seemingly has it all, a large collection of parents, siblings, children all under the same roof, and yet every single one of them, even Royal, still feels like an outsider.

Rated: 8/10

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Royal Tenenbaum and his wife Etheline had three children and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary --- all geniuses. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father's fault. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is the story of the family's sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter.

Director: Wes Anderson
Executive Producer: Rudd Simmons, Owen Wilson
Screenwriter: Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, Mordecai Films, American Empirical Pictures
Rating: R (Nudity|Drug Content|Sexuality|Some Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 23, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $52.4M
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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