The Help

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The Help

PG-13

Released Aug 10, 2011

2h 26m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

233 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

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.

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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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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

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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 Stockettâ€™s novel for the big screen.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 24, 2018

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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

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

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.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 17, 2024

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 As a historical document, its contents are too sanitized in an effort to avoid inflaming old tensions and that mutes its impact.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

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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

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Monic Kenya M

Absolutely must see. Great script and amazing acting by Violet Davies, Octavia Spencer, Emma stone oa.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

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Anderson A

Filme extremamente impactante mas ao mesmo tempo lindo e divertido, atuações absurdas de todas envolvidas, o odio que você sente pela antagonista é quase real, apesar que o principal antagonista está a luta dos negros por direitos civis 9,5

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

Full Review

Aylin C

It's a need to watch this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

Full Review

Audience Member

An incredible movie, moving and genuinely dedicated to showing the message it presents, very good and enjoyable to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

Full Review

Em M

Enjoyed it thoroughly, laughed, cried, angry and annoyed all throughout the movie. It was like watching The Color of Purple all over again which I watched before watching The Help, excellent movies recommended by a friend, though The Color of Purple is a very old movie but equally great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Sérgio N

A great film, in every sense, about an illness that is unfortunately eternal in humanity. In fact, it should be a real illness and exterminate all those who have it, considering it is something completely optional for that abominable creature that does not want to be cured. Exceptional performances by Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas, Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer (who deservedly earned her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress), among others. Tate Taylor managed to bring these wonderful women together in a direction that is as light/comic as possible but at the same time extremely serious. Based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett. Truly a must-see. I highly recommend it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/28/25

Full Review

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Tate Taylor

Director

Viola Davis

Aibileen

Emma Stone

Skeeter

Bryce Dallas Howard

Hilly

Octavia Spencer

Minny

Jessica Chastain

Celia Foote

Stepmom

44%

75%

Stepmom

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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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