2001 Comedy Classic, Filled With Cult-Favorite Rock Tracks, Ranked Among 'Best Rock Movies'
In the long list of some of Wes Anderson's on-screen hits was a 2001 comedy-drama co-written by him and actor Owen Wilson. The film was a box office success, leading to Golden Globe wins, Oscar nominations, and high praise for a soundtrack that is the epitome of the rock era.
UltimateClassicRock ranked The Royal Tenenbaums on their list of the Best Rock Movies to ever be released. It's tagged as a follow-up to Anderson's other hit work, Rushmore, which also made the list. Alongside Wilson, the film starred an ensemble cast of well-known actors like Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, and Luke Wilson.
The Royal Tenenbaums focuses on three children who were incredibly gifted and successful at a young age. Their father, Royal Tenenbaum (Hackman), breaks the news that he and their mother are separating and leaves the children during their adolescence. Years later, he returns under the guise of having a terminal illness and works to reconcile with his family and adult children.
The comedy film is said to have been influenced by Louis Malle's 1963 film The Fire Within and Orson Welles's 1942 film The Magnificent Ambersons, as well as writings by J.D. Salinger. It made $74.4 million at the box office against its $21 million budget, and earned a Golden Globe for Hackman for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Anderson and Wilson were also nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
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'The Royal Tenenbaums' released two soundtracks
Beyond the film's screenplay and acting, it got high recognition from critics for its soundtrack that Anderson called "the most complex, ambitious musical piece I've ever worked on". Along with a score by Mark Mothersbaugh, it includes rock anthems and hits from the 1960s into the 1990s.
The soundtrack had recognizable hits like Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", Van Morrison's "Everyone", John Lennon's "Look at Me", Nick Drake's "Fly", the Mutato Muzika Orchestra version of the Beatles' "Hey Jude", "These Days" by Nico, and two tracks by the Rolling Stones.
The Royal Tenenbaums did run into a few hiccups when using the track "I'm Looking through You" by the Beatles. It was used during the cemetery scene in the film with the song as the backdrop. Due to George Harrison's death, they decided not to pursue licensing for the track, and instead Elliott Smith recorded a cover of "Hey Judy."
Smith was unhappy with the recording and scrapped it, with his version having never been released. Instead, the early movie screening was screened with "Sloop John B" by the Beach Boys, with the official track for theaters and physical release being Morrison's "Everyone."
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 5:23 PM.