Lee Daniels' The Butler

2013 • 132 minutes
4.4
3.08K reviews
72%
Tomatometer
PG-13
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER tells the story of a White House butler (Academy Award®-winner Forest Whitaker) who served eight American presidents over three decades. The film traces the dramatic changes that swept American society during this time, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam and beyond, and how those changes affected this man's life, his wife (Academy Award®-nominated Oprah Winfrey), and the rest of his family. Rounding out this all-star cast is Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, and many more. Academy Award®-nominated Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS) directs the script from Emmy® Award-winning writer Danny Strong (TV's GAME CHANGE).
Rating
PG-13

Ratings and reviews

4.4
3.08K reviews
Affen Junge
January 17, 2014
This a is such a great movie. It hurt to watch just as much as it gave me hope and inspiration. I haven't seen a movie that told the journey from the days of black oppression to today as moving at this film. I hope that it will inspire some enough to take up the struggle for equality that persists to this day, not just for the black people, but all peoples until we have realized the dream of an America of true equality for all races, colors, and creed. There is still yet a war to win to secure freedom and equality for all.
31 people found this review helpful
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Jamia Ray
February 26, 2015
This movie shows commitment, gratitude, love, longevity and respect. To all who believe that this was a flop, especially the Afro-American ppl as myself, if he or others didn't do what they did with dignity and head held high,we should not be able to enjoy the freedom like we do. It's pretty embarrassing that other nationalities can recognize our victories. #YOU ARE RIDICULOUS AND IGNORANT!!!
2 people found this review helpful
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Sizzlin' Shizzle
October 16, 2016
A feel good story about an African-American that overcame evil whites, plugged away and just forged forward successfully to basically being a slave at the highest possible level brought to you by none other than Oprah. If you're going to tell a story please at the very least make it historically accurate which it WAS NOT! To make up his father being murdered in front of his eyes by a slave master kind of tells you what agenda the film has set is pathetic. Horrible.
4 people found this review helpful
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