RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / The Royal Tenenbaums
The Royal Tenenbaums

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
79 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:169

Fresh:134

Rotten:35

Average Rating:7.2/10

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

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Comedies

US Box Office: $52,307,676

Synopsis: In their youth, the Tenenbaums--an eccentric New York family--were extraordinary. They were all geniuses. Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) was a successful litigator. His wife Etheline (Angelica... In their youth, the Tenenbaums--an eccentric New York family--were extraordinary. They were all geniuses. Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) was a successful litigator. His wife Etheline (Angelica Huston) raised their children to be ambitious, entrepreneurial, and creative--then published an acclaimed book about her child-rearing techniques. Adopted daughter Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a gifted playwright. Son Chas (Ben Stiller) was a masterful businessman with a taste for real estate. And the other son, Richie (Luke Wilson), was a natural tennis champ. However, when Royal packed up his life and left his wife and his family in a cloud of betrayal, everything fell apart. Twenty years later, the Tenenbaums are a dejected and alienated bunch, each having found that their early successes did not carry over into adulthood. When washed-up Royal learns that his distant wife Etheline, who has become an archaeologist, may remarry, he feigns illness as an excuse to reunite with his estranged family. From Wes Anderson, director of RUSHMORE, this film is full of quirky comedy that will have audiences reeling and reflecting simultaneously. The brilliant script is impeccable with choppy, intentionally awkward language delivered with dry wit by the well-appointed (almost too good to be true) cast. Dramatic sets are emphasized by the film's masterful orchestration of scene changes and chapter separations. The photography beautifully captures a faded, vintage 1980s New York. And the eclectic soundtrack features much-loved tunes by Nico, The Velvet Underground, The Clash, and the Vince Guaraldi Trio. [More]

Starring: Gene Hackman, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston

Starring: Gene Hackman, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, Luke Wilson, Danny Glover, Owen Wilson, Bill Murray

Director: Wes Anderson

Director: Wes Anderson
Screenwriter: Owen Wilson, Wes Anderson
Producer: Barry Mendel, Scott Rudin, Wes Anderson
Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh
Studio: Touchstone Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • The Royal Tenembaums - Clip
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Royal Tenenbaums

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
01/16/03
Luke Buckmaster
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A winning hand indeed.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
08/17/02
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
06/13/02
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite countless unique and amazing moments, the movie doesn't quite come together--which may not, in fact, go against the director's master plan.

Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | comment Comment
08/27/09
Rob Nelson
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

As with Anderson's Rushmore, there's a certain annoying preciousness to this film -- it's not so consistently wise or amusing as he thinks it is -- but it has its moments.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
08/14/08
Richard Schickel
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine

Wes Anderson has made his masterpiece. It's going to be hard for him to match it.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
08/14/08
Channel 4 Film

A wacky story that bumps up against one's heart as often as it does one's funny bone...

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review

As richly conceived as the novel it pretends to be...

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
07/22/08
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Whatever my qualms, it's still one of the funniest comedies around.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
05/27/08
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

To call it merely peculiar is a gross understatement.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment 5 Comments
10/13/07
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Forget Max Fischer - this is Wes Anderson's opus.

Full Review Source: Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) | comment Comment
10/04/07
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)

Anderson's film continues his exporation of dysfunctional families, this time a round done as novelistic film, with title cards for each chapter.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
08/28/07
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Mr. Anderson and Mr. Wilson are gifted artists, and I look forward to seeing them produce something that strives for more than just sustaining their own hype.

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

A comedy of unrequited love, melancholy and disappointment. One to savour.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

It's one of the year's very best films.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Very funny and painfully relevant two hours of entertainment.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Ron Wells
Ron Wells
Film Threat

Wes Anderson simply has a unique way of looking at the world, and through him the ridiculous is made sublime. He has a hell of a distinctive style for someone his age. It would appear he might even be some kind of goddamn genius himself.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Tim Merrill
Tim Merrill
Film Threat

Surpasses expectations.

Full Review Source: Zertinet Movies | comment Comment
10/05/05
Steven Snyder
Steven Snyder
Zertinet Movies

A strong imagination is at work in every part of the picture.

Full Review Source: Nation | comment Comment
03/03/05
Stuart Klawans
Stuart Klawans
Nation

You can tell Anderson loves this family, as screwed-up as they are. Because he does, we come to love them too. ... If there's hope for the Tenenbaums, there's hope for all.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
01/15/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Royal Tenenbaums

October 10, 2007: Total Recall: We Own The Night and Other Sibling Showdowns
This week, We Own the Night hits theaters, telling the story of two brothers (played by Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg) on opposite sides of the law. The sibling rivalry is... More...

September 06, 2007: Wes Anderson Giving Fans a Glimpse of Natalie's Portmans?
The Venice Film Festival is in full swing, and Time Out London is there to report on Wes Anderson's latest, The Darjeeling Limited -- not to mention the short "prequel"... More...

September 05, 2007: RTIndie: Early Fest Reviews For Into the Wild, The Darjeeling Limited, and Margot at the Wedding
This week at RTIndie, we check out the early buzz from Telluride and Venice, where some of the fall's most anticipated indies have premiered. And our DVD Pick of the Week is a... More...

July 24, 2007: Trailer Bulletin: Wes Anderson's Darjeeling Limited
Anyone who's a fan of Wes Anderson's perfectly quirky films (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic) should rejoice at the news that the trailer for his... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

56% 56% 9 09/12
66% 66% Away We Go 10/12
16% 16% Planet 51 03/12
70% 70% Religulous 03/12

What’s Hot On RT

Ban Them All!

Ban Them All!

10 Most Controversial Movies

Zombieland

Zombieland

Director Ruben Fleischer's favourites

New Avatar action

New Avatar action

Watch an exclusive chase clip from the film

Wild Things!

Wild Things!

Win tickets to the wild rumpus of 2009

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tobey Maguire Talks Brothers, Spider-Man 4 Source: Boston Globe
6
  • Nimród Antal Talks Predators Source: ComingSoon.net
2
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
78
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
24
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
48
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
128
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
95
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
93
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
88
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
76
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
47
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
26
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
24
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records
12
  • Duncan Jones Reteams With Kevin Spacey
4
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
21
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Royal Tenenbaums at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Royal Tenenbaums at IGN
  • The Royal Tenenbaums at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Dressing Wonderland External Link

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Win Glee DVDs
Win Glee DVDs External Link

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.