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The Help

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for The Help PG-13 Released Aug 10, 2011 2h 26m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 231 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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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 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 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 As a historical document, its contents are too sanitized in an effort to avoid inflaming old tensions and that mutes its impact.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 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Oaklee D A film that pulled on my heartstrings and refused to let go. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/31/25 Full Review Lewis S What story telling should be. The most amazing story about the most amazing characters. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/25/25 Full Review Ed . Enjoyable though cartoonish stereotypes abound. Lots of talented actors make this watchable, despite most of them occupying one dimensional characters. While absolute power corrupts absolutely, rarely in life is it all or nothing. Bryce Dallas Howard has also mentioned that she would not agree to star in the film today, acknowledging that it was "told through the perspective of a white character and was created by predominantly white storytellers". In my opinion, the problem isn't any of that; the problem is with lazy writing. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/22/25 Full Review Charles P A YT short got me to watch this one, and I must say; I didn't regret a single bit. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/31/25 Full Review judy b Watching it again for the third time…. Maybe fourth. It’s heartbreaking and funny all at the same time. Also painfully true about that period of time Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/02/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 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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