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Trailer

The Secret Life of Bees

2008Movie1 h 54 minPG-13

Family
65
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.2Letterboxd3.6/5Metacritic576.5Rotten Tomatoes60%78%

A moving, cathartic family movie about family and history.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

Bring Your Girlfriends, Sisters, Mothers and Daughters.

Set in South Carolina in 1964, this is the tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past.

Feels like

  • Southern Gothic Drama
  • Coming-of-Age Story
  • Female Empowerment
  • Racial Tension in 1960s
  • Mother-Daughter Relationship
  • Secrets and Forgiveness
  • Hope and Healing
  • Strong Female Leads

Cast

24 of 32

Crew

Directed by
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Written by
Gina Prince-Bythewood, Sue Monk Kidd
Produced by
Will Smith, Lauren Shuler Donner, James Lassiter
Music by
Mark Isham

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 17, 2008 · 1 h 54 min · PG-13

Released
September 17, 2008
Runtime
1 h 54 min
Age rating
PG-13
Genres
Family, Adventure, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$11 million
Box office
$40 million
Available in
76 countries

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Secret Life of Bees?"

Questions about The Secret Life of Bees

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Secret Life of Bees?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Secret Life of Bees from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 32 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The Secret Life of Bees worth watching?

65
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 65 (IMDb 7.2, Letterboxd 3.6 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 60%, and Metacritic 57). Audiences rate it higher (72 out of 100) than critics (59).

Is The Secret Life of Bees okay for kids?

PG-13

Yes: it's rated PG-13 in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is The Secret Life of Bees plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Secret Life of Bees a box office hit?

Budget$11 million
Box office$40 million

Yes: it cost about $11 million to make and earned $40 million worldwide, 3.6 times its budget.