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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 Mar 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 Aug 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 May 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 Oct 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 Oct 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 As a historical document, its contents are too sanitized in an effort to avoid inflaming old tensions and that mutes its impact.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 Apr 6, 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
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Audience Reviews

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MassiaMV T @GNahiad_6 Oct 29, 2026 Muchas emociones See more
Junek K @junek Oct 29, 2026 Wow. This movie brought me to tears. The acting, the script, just everything kept me glued to the screen. So inspiring and heart-wrenching. Must see. See more
Edoardo G @Edog92 Oct 24, 2026 Really touching and I loved the acting. All the casting was really talented. I fully recommend watching it. See more
Colby H @ColbyBHarrell Oct 11, 2026 Finally got around to re-watching this movie as I am now 24 years old. A handful of movies have moved me, but this one, by far, moved me the most. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer carry the emotion throughout the movie while Emma Stone stands out as our eyes and voice through the story. Bryce Dallas Howard plays her role as the "villain" so perfectly that I can not see any other actress in the role. Perfect cast, perfect pacing and an incredible script. Black or white, we bleed the same. God Bless. See more
Robert P @Superbad Sep 20, 2026 The Help = a 4.5 star Movie... See more
Brian D @Brianwd2 Sep 6, 2026 82%. 8/29/26. Started a bit slow but grew to really like this film. Love Emma stones character and her insisting on writing about the experiences of maids in Alabama. Really sad the treatment they receive from white woman like Jessica Chastanes character. Loved seeing the bonds they build with the white kids and the adoration they have for these women who were their true caretakers when their moms did little. Positive story from a sad period. 4/5 rewatch See more
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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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