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The Help

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for The Help PG-13 2011 2h 26m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
75% Tomatometer 230 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
In the 1960s Mississippi, Southern society girl Skeeter 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, 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.
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The Help

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

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Shubhra Gupta The Indian Express 03/29/2019
4/5
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. Go to Full Review Anna Smith metro.co.uk 08/24/2018
4/5
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. Go to Full Review Roxane Gay New York Daily News 05/24/2018
At one point, Minny rhapsodizes about fried chicken and the solace of its preparation... I was convinced the movie was satirical. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 10/17/2024
4/5
The Help balances the three lead voices wonderfully and molds a book-within-a-book plot that delivers as many tears as it does laughs. Go to Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight 10/10/2023
3.5/4
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 As a historical document, its contents are too sanitized in an effort to avoid inflaming old tensions and that mutes its impact. Go to Full Review Nadia Dalimonte Next Best Picture 04/06/2023
7/10
While the narrative includes Black characters’ perspectives, the writing holds them at a distance, not providing more in-depth character development overall. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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B P @Bradster69 4d Definitely Recommend It See more Seven E @RT94213452 6d Well-acted, but suffers the same problem as Pixar's Brave and Temple Grandin: The characters who are the ones with discrimination are turned into cartoon characters, thereby the seriousness of the conflict's subject matter is played down. It's obvious they're going for the crowd-pleaser, and don't want to upset anyone by making conservatives the villain. But if you're going to make a political stance, commit with strength or not at all, otherwise you undermine your hero's triumph and the overall message. See more Umutoni G @RT01569678 Aug 26 The Help is a powerful and emotional movie about racism,courage ,and friendship. the story feels honest and shows how ordinary people can stand up against unfair treatment. Great acting and a story that stays with you. See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Aug 16 The Help is an extremely powerful film, and I was genuinely impressed by how well every part of it came together. The casting is incredible, with each performer bringing something meaningful to the story. Viola Davis is breathtaking. She brings such depth, emotion, and humanity to her character that even the quiet moments carry enormous weight. Octavia Spencer is equally phenomenal, delivering humor and emotion while making her character unforgettable. And yes, the infamous shit pie scene will forever be part of cinema history. Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard are also fantastic. Stone brings determination and heart, while Howard completely commits to playing a character you’re meant to dislike. The screenplay is what truly makes the movie work. It balances multiple storylines while giving each character room to develop. The humor, drama, and emotional moments flow naturally, and the story never loses sight of its larger message. See more Stewen G @RT68973607 Aug 14 Emotionally gripping. Despite initially jumping at seeing the 2+ hour runtime, it had my attention at all times with the story and the incredible work from the actors. Viola (Aibileen) and Octavia's (Minny) chemistry can be felt from miles away. See more Alex C @RT43842586 Aug 7 A movie I will watch forever, over and over again. See more Read all reviews
The Help

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Cast & Crew

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Tate Taylor

Director

Viola Davis

Aibileen

Emma Stone

Skeeter

Bryce Dallas Howard

Hilly

Octavia Spencer

Minny

Jessica Chastain

Celia Foote

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The Help

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The Help

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1960s Mississippi, Southern society girl Skeeter 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, 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
History, 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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