The Butler_
"One quiet voice can ignite a revolution."
Cecil Gaines was a sharecropper's son who grew up in the 1920s as a domestic servant for the white family who casually destroyed his. Eventually striking out on his own, Cecil becomes a hotel valet of such efficiency and discreteness in the 1950s that he becomes a butler in the White House itself. There, Cecil would serve numerous US Presidents over the decades as a passive witness of history with the American Civil Rights Movement gaining momentum even as his family has troubles of its own. As his wife, Gloria, struggles with alcoholism and his defiant eldest son, Louis, strives for a just world, Cecil must decide whether he should take action in his own way.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Rakuten TV
5 countries
Diamond Films Amazon Channel
4 countries
Prime Video
3 countries
C
Cineasterna
FREE
3 countries
A
Amazon Arthaus Channel
2 countries
YouTube TV
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
The Butler earned $177.3M worldwide on a $25.0M budget — a 609% return on investment.
Lee Daniels →
Year context
The Butler was released 13 years ago in 2013.
CAST (20)
Forest Whitaker
Cecil Gaines
Oprah Winfrey
Gloria Gaines
David Oyelowo
Louis Gaines
John Cusack
Richard Nixon
Jane Fonda
Nancy Reagan
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Carter Wilson
Mariah Carey
Hattie Pearl
Terrence Howard
Howard
Lenny Kravitz
James Holloway
Aml Ameen
Cecil Gaines (15)
Michael Rainey Jr.
Cecil Gaines (8)
James Marsden
John F. Kennedy
Alex Pettyfer
Thomas Westfall
Vanessa Redgrave
Annabeth Westfall
Alan Rickman
Ronald Reagan
Liev Schreiber
Lyndon B. Johnson
Robin Williams
Dwight Eisenhower
Yaya DaCosta
Carol Hammie
David Banner
Earl Gaines
Colman Domingo
Freddie Fallows
CREW
Director
Writer
BOX OFFICE
$25.0M
Budget
$177.3M
Revenue
+609%
ROI
MASSIVE HIT
Verdict
STUDIOS (6)
Follow Through Productions
Salamander Pictures
Laura Ziskin Productions
Lee Daniels Entertainment
Pam Williams Productions
Windy Hill Pictures
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
132 min (2h 12m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
7.3/10 (2,984 votes)
Popularity
6
Budget
$25,000,000
Box Office
$177,313,795
Profit
+$152,313,795
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Butler about?
Cecil Gaines was a sharecropper's son who grew up in the 1920s as a domestic servant for the white family who casually destroyed his. Eventually striking out on his own, Cecil becomes a hotel valet of such efficiency and discreteness in the 1950s that he becomes a butler in the White House itself. There, Cecil would serve numerous US Presidents over the decades as a passive witness of history with the American Civil Rights Movement gaining momentum even as his family has troubles of its own. As his wife, Gloria, struggles with alcoholism and his defiant eldest son, Louis, strives for a just world, Cecil must decide whether he should take action in his own way.
How long is The Butler?
The Butler has a runtime of 132 minutes (2h 12m).
Who directed The Butler?
The Butler was directed by Lee Daniels.
Who stars in The Butler?
The cast of The Butler includes Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, John Cusack, Jane Fonda.
How much did The Butler make at the box office?
The Butler earned $177,313,795 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $25,000,000.
What is the rating of The Butler?
The Butler has a rating of 7.3 out of 10 based on 2,984 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama
KEYWORDS (30)
usa president
the white house
1970s
butler
slavery
john f. kennedy
black panther party
racial segregation
martin luther king
based on true story
ronald reagan
richard nixon
racism
racial tension
historical drama
1980s
1950s
1960s
1930s
father son conflict
african american history
jacqueline kennedy
jimmy carter
civil rights movement
news footage
based on real person
u.s. history
the freedom riders
biographical drama
dwight d eisenhower