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

Mar 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

Oct 1, 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

Oct 1, 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, 2026

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, 2025

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, 2025

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

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Robert P

@Superbad 2 days ago

The Royal Tenenbaums = a *4* star Movie!

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Joe E

@jescanuelas May 19, 2026

I couldn't help but appreciate the camera work but I found the film to be pretentious.

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Malka M

@tealbri40 May 19, 2026

The whole movie had this strange but beautiful feeling to it. I really enjoyed how awkward and emotionally distant the characters were because it made everything feel more honest. The colors and visuals were also extremely nice to look at. Roma

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Hayle F

@RT73632069 May 19, 2026

The movies ups and downs and back to back issues made it really fun to keep up with. Families issues and conflicts all to end in a divorce and heart attack made the film suspenseful and enticing to see

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Juliet M.

@RT04829866 May 18, 2026

The movie blends comedy and sadness through music, editing, and narration. Slow-motion scenes combined with emotional songs create powerful emotional moments. Looking at Movies explains that style can influence audience emotion, and Anderson’s visual storytelling becomes part of the narrative itself.

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Francisco R.

@RT07747816 May 18, 2026

The Royal Tenenbaums uses symmetrical framing and colorful production design to create a unique visual identity. Director Wes Anderson carefully controls every detail in the frame, demonstrating the importance of mise-en-scène discussed in Looking at Movies.

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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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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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