The Royal Tenenbaums is a 2001 dramedy film directed by Wes Anderson about three gifted siblings who experience great success in youth, and even greater disappointment and failure after their eccentric father leaves them in their adolescent years. An off-beat, ironic, absurdist sense of humor pervades the entire film.

Gene Hackman won a Golden Globe for his performance and Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson's screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award. Stylus Magazine ranked it number 3 on their list of the Top Films of the Millennium.www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/movie_review/stylus-magazines-top-films-of-the-millennium.htm

Plot

Royal Tenenbaum is explaining to his three children Chas, Margot, and Richie that he and his wife, Etheline, will soon separate. The scene then evolves into a short explanation of each of the Tenenbaums' lives; each experiences great success at a very young age. Chas is a math and business genius who, in his teens, begins selling specially mutated "dalmatian" mice to dealers in Little Tokyo. He also has money stolen from his personal safe deposit box by Royal. Margot is the only adopted child of Etheline and Royal and Royal always mentions this when introducing her. Margot was awarded a $50,000 Braverman grant for a play that she wrote in the ninth grade. Richie is a tennis prodigy and artist. He expresses his love for adopted sister Margot through many paintings. Royal takes him on regular outings, which neither of the other children are invited to. Richie also has a hawk named Mordecai. Eli Cash is the Tenenbaums' neighbor, and Richie's best friend.