The Help (2011)
A stirring drama set in 1960s Mississippi where courage, race, and the quiet power of storytelling collide in ways that change lives forever.
The Help - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Help
- Release Year: 2011
- Directed by: Tate Taylor
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): PG-13
- Runtime: 2h 26m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): August 9, 2011 (Canada - PG), August 10, 2011 (United States - PG-13), October 26, 2011 (United Kingdom - 12A), November 16, 2011 (Germany - 0), October 26, 2011 (France - TP), November 25, 2011 (India), September 1, 2011 (Australia - M), February 3, 2012 (Brazil - 12), February 17, 2012 (Mexico), January 4, 2012 (Italy), October 28, 2011 (Spain - APTA), November 3, 2011 (South Korea - All)
- Alternative Titles: La couleur des sentiments (FR), Służące (PL), Niceville (SE), Criadas y señoras (ES), Histórias Cruzadas (BR), Υπηρέτριες (GR), A segítség (HU), Historias cruzadas (AR)
- Production Companies: 1492 Pictures, Harbinger Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Help - Plot
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.
The Help - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the story of courage and change unfold:
Change begins with a whisper.
Where to Watch The Help
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The Help - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Tate Taylor
Main Cast
- Emma Stone
- Viola Davis
- Bryce Dallas Howard
- Octavia Spencer
- Jessica Chastain
- Ahna O'Reilly
- Allison Janney
- Anna Camp
- Eleanor Henry
- Emma Henry
Writers
- Tate Taylor
Producers
- Chris Columbus
- Brunson Green
- Michael Barnathan
The Help - FAQs
Where can you stream The Help online?
The Help is available to stream on Hulu and YouTube TV with a subscription. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. FXNow offers free access as well. Check JustWatch for current regional availability.
Is The Help based on a true story?
The Help is based on Kathryn Stockett's 2009 bestselling novel of the same name. While the characters are fictional, the story draws heavily on the real social climate of 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, and Stockett's own childhood experiences growing up with a Black housekeeper in the segregated South.
Who are the main actors in The Help?
The Help stars Emma Stone as aspiring writer Skeeter Phelan, Viola Davis as maid Aibileen Clark, and Octavia Spencer as the outspoken Minny Jackson. The ensemble cast also includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Cicely Tyson, and Sissy Spacek.
Did Octavia Spencer win an Oscar for The Help?
Yes. Octavia Spencer won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Minny Jackson in The Help. The film received four Oscar nominations in total, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Viola Davis. Spencer also won the SAG, BAFTA, and Golden Globe for the same role.
What is The Help about?
Set in early 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, The Help follows Skeeter Phelan, a young white woman who secretly collaborates with Black maids Aibileen and Minny to write a book exposing the racial injustices they endure. The film examines courage, solidarity, and the human cost of systemic racism in the segregated American South.
What is the age rating for The Help?
The Help is rated PG-13 in the United States, meaning parental guidance is suggested for viewers under 13. The rating reflects the film's mature themes of racial discrimination, emotional abuse, and social injustice, though it contains no graphic violence or explicit content.
How long is The Help?
The Help has a runtime of 2 hours and 26 minutes (146 minutes). Despite its length, the film moves at a steady pace, balancing dramatic tension with moments of warmth and humor across its interconnected storylines set in 1960s Mississippi.
Who directed The Help and wrote the screenplay?
The Help was both directed and written for the screen by Tate Taylor, a childhood friend of novelist Kathryn Stockett. Taylor adapted Stockett's 2009 novel into the screenplay, bringing an intimate familiarity with the Southern setting and the story's emotional core to his direction.
More About The Help
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