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The Help

2011·Movie
2h 26min·PG-13
IMDb8.1Metacritic627.9Rotten Tomatoes75%89%

Where to watch

fuboTVYouTube TVFXNowTubi TV

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Help fingerprint

Strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

  • Tension7
  • Violence4
  • Fast Pace3

Heart

Deeply moving and cathartic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos9
  • Catharsis8
  • Family Dynamics8

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay5
  • Dark Humor4
  • Cringe Humor3

World

History, society, and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing6
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchThought-Provoking

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Change begins with a whisper.

Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family's struggles with money and her desperate need for jobs; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan is a young white woman who has recently moved back home after graduating college to find out her childhood maid has mysteriously disappeared. These three stories intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help"; yet they are always kept at a certain distance because of racial lines.
Historical DramaCivil Rights EraFemale FriendshipEmotional CatharsisSocial Justice NarrativeCharacter-DrivenPeriod PieceHeartbreaking yet HopefulPowerful Performances

Crew

Directed by:
Tate Taylor, Donald Sparks, Cate Hardman
Written by:
Tate Taylor, Kathryn Stockett, Damon Thomas
Produced by:
Chris Columbus, Tate Taylor, Jeff Skoll
Composed by:
Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Thomas Newman

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Help

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Help legally?

fuboTVYouTube TVFXNowTubi TV

The Help is included with a subscription to fuboTV, YouTube TV, and FXNow in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on FXNow and Tubi TV. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Help worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76/100 (IMDb 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes 75%, and Metacritic 62). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Help rated?

PG-13ViolenceStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated PG-13 in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, and disturbing imagery.

How long is The Help?

2 h 26 min

The Help runs 2 h 26 min.

Is The Help based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Help?

Critics69
Audiences83

Not quite. Audiences rate The Help higher (83) than critics (69). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Help a box office hit?

Budget$25 million
Box office$217 million

Yes, a big one. It cost about $25 million to make and earned $217 million worldwide, 8.7 times its budget.

What language is The Help in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Help?

82ADAEALARATAUBABEBGBOBRBZCACH+68

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Help in 82 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Help use?

Cool Old LadyBroken Dialect, Impactful SpeechRage Breaking Point"The Reason You Suck" SpeechOscar BaitSupreme ChefAdaptation DistillationBut for Me, It Was TuesdayPragmatic AdaptationHow We Got HereI Ate WHAT?!Armor-Piercing Responseand 18 more

TV Tropes lists 30 storytelling tropes for The Help, including Cool Old Lady, Broken Dialect, Impactful Speech, Rage Breaking Point.