The Help_
OSCAR WINNER
"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.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Disney+
24 countries
Rakuten TV
9 countries
Mercado Play
FREE
2 countries
Hotstar
2 countries
YouTube TV
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
The Help earned $216.6M worldwide on a $25.0M budget — a 766% return on investment.
Tate Taylor →
Year context
The Help was released 15 years ago in 2011.
CAST (20)
Emma Stone
Skeeter Phelan
Viola Davis
Aibileen Clark
Bryce Dallas Howard
Hilly Holbrook
Octavia Spencer
Minny Jackson
Jessica Chastain
Celia Foote
Ahna O'Reilly
Elizabeth Leefolt
Allison Janney
Charlotte Phelan
Anna Camp
Jolene French
EH
Eleanor Henry
Mae Mobley
EH
Emma Henry
Mae Mobley
Chris Lowell
Stuart Whitworth
Cicely Tyson
Constantine Jefferson
Mike Vogel
Johnny Foote
Sissy Spacek
Missus Walters
Brian Kerwin
Robert Phelan
Wes Chatham
Carlton Phelan
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Yule Mae Davis
Ted Welch
William Holbrook
Shane McRae
Raleigh Leefolt
Roslyn Ruff
Pascagoula
CREW
Director
Writer
BOX OFFICE
$25.0M
Budget
$216.6M
Revenue
+766%
ROI
MASSIVE HIT
Verdict
STUDIOS (5)
AWARDS (1)
G
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
2012
WON
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
146 min (2h 26m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
8.2/10 (8,864 votes)
Popularity
9
Budget
$25,000,000
Box Office
$216,600,000
Profit
+$191,600,000
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Help about?
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.
How long is The Help?
The Help has a runtime of 146 minutes (2h 26m).
Who directed The Help?
The Help was directed by Tate Taylor.
Who stars in The Help?
The cast of The Help includes Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain.
How much did The Help make at the box office?
The Help earned $216,600,000 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $25,000,000.
What is the rating of The Help?
The Help has a rating of 8.2 out of 10 based on 8,864 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama
KEYWORDS (16)
based on novel or book
mississippi river
exploitation
racial segregation
racism
writer
maid
moral courage
ressentiment
southern belle
racial issues
1960s
newspaper columnist
desperate
cautionary
authoritarian