The Royal Tenenbaums

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The Royal Tenenbaums

R

2001

1h 48m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

219 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

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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Joshua Rothkopf

In These Times

03/16/2020

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.

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Jack Mathews

New York Daily News

10/01/2014

3.5/4

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.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

10/01/2014

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

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Jan 7

4/4

When does dealing with family dysfunction not feel like a familiar slog? When it’s in the hands of filmmaker Wes Anderson and his unique blend of quirkiness, seldom better exemplified than in The Royal Tenenbaums

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Sarah Ward

Concrete Playground

Oct 16

The most melancholy, poignant and deeply felt of the director's features. And, in its visuals and its performances, it's also oh-so-rich with affecting detail.

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Chris Klimek

Washington City Paper

Sep 15

In this third feature, Anderson’s much-parodied signature style of framing and performance became fully formed.

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Allison A

@RT35810172 14h

I thought this movie was pretty good and it reminded me of something my mom would watch. This movie talks about how badly kids grew up when they became adults and was lowkey funny

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Emeka R

@RT69448386 1d

This is a review for The Royal Tenenbaums: I actually really liked this movie more than I expected. The poster made it seem like it's a simple family comedy, but it’s really more emotional and deeper than that. It follows a dysfunctional family dealing with failure and past issues, and it balances humor with serious moments pretty well. Overall, it's a good movie and definitely one of the better movies we've had to watch in this class, no offense. Also, I really like Ben Stiller as an actor, so that boosted my opinion on this movie

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Erik B

@Atma-X 2d

A complete masterpiece. This is a highly relatable story, even if the situations are outlandish and the characters eccentric. Brilliantly acted, written and directed, this is one of my all-time favorite films. AEB says: an exquisite depiction of a wealthy broken home.

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Khalid F

@RT38823470 Apr 15

A actual entertaining watch, It was definitely a great movie to watch with the acting and the plot.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 Apr 3

A bittersweet portrait of one of the worst fathers in cinema history, and his efforts to find redemption. True to Wes Anderson’s signature style, the film boasts a diverse cast, notably Gene Hackman – may he rest in peace – and Ben Stiller, without his usual mannerisms.

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Levi J

@Lev77 Apr 2

One of my favorite Wes Anderson films, and one of the best dysfunctional family movies, along with "Little Miss Sunshine"! An outstanding cast with a great performance from Gene Hackman and a amazing screenplay. This movie blends sadness and happiness with comedic elements perfectly!

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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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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
Producer: Barry Mendel, Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin
Screenwriter: Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, American Empirical Pictures, Mordecai Films
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
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)