'' The Descendants '' is a 2011 American tragicomedy film directed by Alexander Payne . The screenplay by Payne , Nat Faxon and Jim Rash is based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings . The film stars George Clooney , Shailene Woodley , Amara Miller , Beau Bridges , Judy Greer , Matthew Lillard , and Robert Forster , and was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the United States on November 18 , 2011 after being screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival
2011 Toronto International Film Festival
2011 Toronto International Film Festival
The Descendants