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The Help

PG-13 Released Aug 10, 2011 2h 26m Drama List
76% Tomatometer 235 Reviews 89% Audience Score 100,000+ Ratings
In 1960s Mississippi, Southern society girl Skeeter (Emma Stone) returns from college with dreams of being a writer. She turns her small town on its ear by choosing to interview the Black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent white families. Only Aibileen (Viola Davis), the housekeeper of Skeeter's best friend, will talk at first. But as the pair continue the collaboration, more women decide to come forward, and as it turns out, they have quite a lot to say. Read More Read Less
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The Help

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Critics Consensus

Though it fails to fully engage with its racial themes, The Help rises on the strength of its cast -- particularly Viola Davis, whose performance is powerful enough to carry the film on its own.

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Critics Reviews

View All (235) Critics Reviews
Shubhra Gupta The Indian Express Yes it has drawn some criticism for not being authentic enough in depicting the painful disparity, but in putting rarely heard voices on screen and telling it in a story as regonisable as this, The Help deserves only praise. Rated: 4/5 Mar 29, 2019 Full Review Anna Smith metro.co.uk The Help is a somewhat light-hearted take on the relations between black maids and their bosses in 1960s Mississippi, giving a simplified yet well-intended story of Kathryn Stockett’s novel for the big screen. Rated: 4/5 Aug 24, 2018 Full Review Roxane Gay New York Daily News At one point, Minny rhapsodizes about fried chicken and the solace of its preparation... I was convinced the movie was satirical. May 24, 2018 Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight As a piece of entertainment, it works. As a historical document, its contents are too sanitized in an effort to avoid inflaming old tensions and that mutes its impact. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 10, 2023 Full Review Nadia Dalimonte Next Best Picture While the narrative includes Black characters’ perspectives, the writing holds them at a distance, not providing more in-depth character development overall. Rated: 7/10 Apr 6, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review This is a film that will expose you to horrible truths about a not-too-distant past and, in the end, makes you laugh and feel like there’s a happy ending, except there isn’t one. Not really. Rated: 2/4 Mar 9, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Margot H Comparing to the beauty of the novel, the film is just nothing special. So much was left out of the film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/30/24 Full Review Gertrude F Definitely worth a watch, but it wasn't spectacular. For such heavy themes, the film felt far too light-hearted. Not to mention the pacing was odd at certain times, and I can't help feel as if I'm forgetting it already. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/24/24 Full Review cincau C As a non American, it's definitely an eye opener for me to understand the history of this country. The actors are so fit in these characters and you can really feel their emotions throughout this 2 hours movie. The part which Minny interacts with Celia really warms our heart, and how Aibileen walks on the street in the last scene really shows her determination to change her faith. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/16/24 Full Review Scott C I took a date to see this movie (her choice), she liked it. I didn't. I found it to be very boring and the pie part was just sick. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/13/24 Full Review First name L A stellar ensemble cast fills out a simple story, a delicious take on a dark chapter in American history. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/01/24 Full Review Audience Member i love this movie truly, however i feel like it missed many important points of the novel. regardless, a must-watch!! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Help

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1960s Mississippi, Southern society girl Skeeter (Emma Stone) returns from college with dreams of being a writer. She turns her small town on its ear by choosing to interview the Black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent white families. Only Aibileen (Viola Davis), the housekeeper of Skeeter's best friend, will talk at first. But as the pair continue the collaboration, more women decide to come forward, and as it turns out, they have quite a lot to say.
Director
Tate Taylor
Producer
Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan
Screenwriter
Tate Taylor
Distributor
Walt Disney
Production Co
1492 Pictures, Harbinger Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Material)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 10, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$169.7M
Runtime
2h 26m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital
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