Lee Daniels' The Butler

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Lee Daniels' The Butler

PG-13

2013

2h 12m

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

199 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After leaving the South as a young man and finding employment at an elite hotel in Washington, D.C., Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is hired as a butler at the White House. Over the course of three decades, Cecil has a front-row seat to history and the inner workings of the Oval Office. However, his commitment to his "First Family" leads to tension at home, alienating his wife (Oprah Winfrey) and causing conflict with his anti-establishment son.

Critics Consensus

Gut-wrenching and emotionally affecting, Lee Daniels' The Butler overcomes an uneven narrative thanks to strong performances from an all-star cast.

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Nijla Mu'min

Bitch Media

I appreciate The Butler for the editing (by Joe Clotz), the juxtaposition, and its black-centric lens.

Jan 20, 2021

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

It's a pedestrian script, with tons of exposition, tons of signalling, and jarring vernacular oddities... The Butler does not serve its own subject matter well.

Sep 5, 2018

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

While the film fictionalizes many aspects of Allen's true story (even changing his name to Cecil Gaines) for dramatic effect, it stays true its sentiment.

Rated: B+

Sep 6, 2017

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Beyond a few large leaps of over-convenient fictional story weaving, the film is a remarkable and powerful experience that everyone should see.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 20, 2025

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Even with the film’s ambition and deeply moving moments, “The Butler” still comes across as a big Hollywood piece.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 23, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

As a history, it’s lacking facts; as a biography, it’s missing personality and truth.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 22, 2022

Full Review

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Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 12 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Language, Disturbing Images, Thematic Elements, Sexual Material, Smoking and Some Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $116,600,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

Laura D

Gives an often overlooked perspective into the Civil Rights movement.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Absolutely soul stirring!! Forest Whitaker was absolutely amazing as always. Very emotional from beginning to end!! Definitely Oscar worthy.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/25

Full Review

Alec B

Whitaker is quite good, but some of the random choices to play the presidents end up giving downright embarrassing performances. Also, the melodrama is unintentionally funny on occasion.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/10/23

Full Review

R B

Some historical accuracies in this fillm.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wasn't expecting this movie to be so good but it is a great great movie, keeps you interested and emotionally invested.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/24

Full Review

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Lee Daniels

Director

Forest Whitaker

Cecil Gaines

Oprah Winfrey

Gloria Gaines

John Cusack

Richard Nixon

Jane Fonda

Nancy Reagan

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Carter Wilson

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Synopsis

After leaving the South as a young man and finding employment at an elite hotel in Washington, D.C., Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he is hired as a butler at the White House. Over the course of three decades, Cecil has a front-row seat to history and the inner workings of the Oval Office. However, his commitment to his "First Family" leads to tension at home, alienating his wife (Oprah Winfrey) and causing conflict with his anti-establishment son.

Director: Lee Daniels
Producer: Pamela Oas Williams, Laura Ziskin, Lee Daniels, Buddy Patrick, Cassian Elwes
Screenwriter: Danny Strong
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Laura Ziskin Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Disturbing Images|Thematic Elements|Sexual Material|Smoking|Some Violence)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 16, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 16, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $116.6M
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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