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Lee Daniels' The Butler

Original title: The Butler
  • 20132013
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
114K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,648
434
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Forest Whitaker in The Butler (2013)
As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.
Play trailer2:03
7 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and Ameri... Read allAs Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man's life, family, and American society.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
114K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,648
434
  • Director
    • Lee Daniels
  • Writers
    • Danny Strong
    • Wil Haygood(article: "A Butler Well Served by This Election")
  • Stars
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Oprah Winfrey
    • John Cusack
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lee Daniels
  • Writers
    • Danny Strong
    • Wil Haygood(article: "A Butler Well Served by This Election")
  • Stars
    • Forest Whitaker
    • Oprah Winfrey
    • John Cusack
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 380User reviews
    • 308Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 16 wins & 55 nominations total

    Videos7

    Faith Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Faith Trailer
    The Butler
    Trailer 2:32
    The Butler
    We Are Martin Luther King Jr. | Supercut
    Clip 1:12
    We Are Martin Luther King Jr. | Supercut
    "70s Dance Scene"
    Clip 1:09
    "70s Dance Scene"
    "The White House Called Him"
    Clip 0:40
    "The White House Called Him"
    Exclusive Featurette
    Featurette 3:07
    Exclusive Featurette
    There's One Movie David Oyelowo Wishes He Could Refilm
    Video 2:38
    There's One Movie David Oyelowo Wishes He Could Refilm

    Photos104

    Oprah Winfrey in The Butler (2013)
    Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard in The Butler (2013)
    Oprah Winfrey in The Butler (2013)
    Oprah Winfrey in The Butler (2013)
    Oprah Winfrey in The Butler (2013)
    Dana Gourrier and Oprah Winfrey
    Lenny Kravitz and Dana Gourrier
    John Cusack, Alex Manette, and Colin Walker in The Butler (2013)
    Cuba Gooding Jr., Forest Whitaker, Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, Colman Domingo, Minka Kelly, and Chloe Barach in The Butler (2013)
    Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Isaac White, and Michael Rainey Jr. in The Butler (2013)
    The Butler (2013)
    Vanessa Redgrave and Michael Rainey Jr. in The Butler (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Forest Whitaker
    Forest Whitaker
    • Cecil Gainesas Cecil Gaines
    Oprah Winfrey
    Oprah Winfrey
    • Gloria Gainesas Gloria Gaines
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Richard Nixonas Richard Nixon
    Jane Fonda
    Jane Fonda
    • Nancy Reaganas Nancy Reagan
    David Banner
    David Banner
    • Earl Gainesas Earl Gaines
    Michael Rainey Jr.
    Michael Rainey Jr.
    • Cecil Gaines (8)as Cecil Gaines (8)
    LaJessie Smith
    LaJessie Smith
    • Abrahamas Abraham
    Mariah Carey
    Mariah Carey
    • Hattie Pearlas Hattie Pearl
    Alex Pettyfer
    Alex Pettyfer
    • Thomas Westfallas Thomas Westfall
    Vanessa Redgrave
    Vanessa Redgrave
    • Annabeth Westfallas Annabeth Westfall
    Aml Ameen
    Aml Ameen
    • Cecil Gaines (15)as Cecil Gaines (15)
    Clarence Williams III
    Clarence Williams III
    • Maynardas Maynard
    John P. Fertitta
    John P. Fertitta
    • Mr. Jenkinsas Mr. Jenkins
    • (as John Fertitta)
    Jim Gleason
    Jim Gleason
    • R.D. Warneras R.D. Warner
    Isaac White
    Isaac White
    • Charlie Gaines (10)as Charlie Gaines (10)
    David Oyelowo
    David Oyelowo
    • Louis Gainesas Louis Gaines
    Joe Chrest
    Joe Chrest
    • White Usheras White Usher
    Colman Domingo
    Colman Domingo
    • Freddie Fallowsas Freddie Fallows
    • Director
      • Lee Daniels
    • Writers
      • Danny Strong
      • Wil Haygood(article: "A Butler Well Served by This Election")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The character of Cecil Gaines was based on Eugene Allen, who served as White House butler for over 30 years and 8 presidents: Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. Much of the detail is fictionalized for this movie.
    • Goofs
      When Cecil talks to Louis at the bus station, as Louis leaves for college, they walk through a motion-activated bi-part sliding door. The scene is set between 1957 and 1961. The first automatic sliding doors were invented in 1960, and were activated by stepping on a floor mat. Motion sensors were developed in the late 1980s.
    • Quotes

      Cecil Gaines: America has always turned a blind eye to what we done to our own. We look out to the world and judge. We hear about the concentration camps but these camps went on for two hundred years right here in America.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Butler: An American Story (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Piano Concerto in A Minor Op. 54-1
      Written by Robert Schumann

      Performed by The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

      Conducted by Kenneth Klein

      Gerald Robbins, piano

      Courtesy of MSR Classics

      By Arrangement with Fine Gold Music

    User reviews380

    Review
    Top review
    I grew up with the :"Butler's" son Charles.
    I am an educator and the theme in the "Butler" is another piece of history which should be edified and enjoyed by everyone, especially the next generation. Most of the respondents so far seem to have lost sight of the fact that our American history must constantly be told and retold since the contributions and sacrifices of many minorities have previously been distorted or omitted. An appreciation of the cause and affect of historical events is always empowering and it should teach us all to be more tolerant and understanding of others in the future. A good analogy is that as an African American child growing up in the 1950's Charles and I always rooted for the cowboys in the movies to defeat those "savages" known as Indians. In truth, Native Americans were forced from their land, their families separated, many killed and placed on reservations where some remain today living in poverty. Does this sound anything like Nazi Germany? When we see the "Butler" we should all say "wow" I never knew that; I hope our young people understand that becoming and maintaining a great Nation and living in a democracy requires sacrifice and hard work constantly. Remember, "Those who have no knowledge of history, are destined to repeat it." Not my words.
    helpful•42
    38
    • faejme
    • Aug 13, 2013

    FAQ1

    • Why was this movie rated so long by the Oscars. I thought 12 Years a Slave was good but not better than The Butler

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Butler
    • Filming locations
      • Houma, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Follow Through Productions
      • Salamander Pictures
      • Laura Ziskin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $116,632,095
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $24,637,312
      • Aug 18, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $177,313,795
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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