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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Ryan J

@TheTabooHood 6d

Brilliant funeral scene adeptly consumated with song chosen for it's closing.

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Keven L

@KLoVet Jan 17

Hackman was his usual self, with good delivery, including a generous helping of his signature chuckles. But Paltrow and Wilson were directed to give simply awful performances. What real acting is required to deliver monotone lines under a state of perpetual depression? Overall, uninteresting characters engaged in lame interplay. Production values were quite good, however. I suffered through the movie, which I thought I would like more. Released in 2001, it has not stood the test of time.

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Chris B

@Chris77445 Jan 15

Some Hollywood snoots think dark, odd, and off-putting are better elements to a movie than warm, relatable, and engaging. Those snoots are responsible for this piece of garbage, with recognizable actors but no recognizable plot. We had to end it after 30 minutes. We kept waiting for it to be either funny or engaging. It was neither. Skip this.

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Janet D

@DrJanet Oct 23

So artsy and pretentious and slow that it was impossible to like. Which was a shame because it was actually a pretty good story.

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Jace E

@thefilmguy Oct 22

Wes Anderson is one of a kind. I honestly cannot think of another director with as unique and recognizable style as him. Every character is unique, the events that unfold are unexpected and I was genuinely interested the entire time. There were a few times that the scenes seemed almost out of order, but that almost added to the charm of it. Best Character: Royal Best Quote: "He saved my life, you know. Thirty years ago. I was knifed at a bazaar in Calcutta, and he carried me to the hospital on his back" - Royal Best Scene: Royal's day with his grandsons Best Piece of Score: "I Always Wanted to Be a Tenenbaum" Watch filtered on VidAngel

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JoParkerBear P

@JoParkerBear Sep 28

If you despise Wes Anderson, I can’t help you. It is my favorite of his films.

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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)

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