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The Butler

"One quiet voice can ignite a revolution."

2013-08-16 Drama 2hr 12m

A look at the life of Cecil Gaines, who served eight presidents as the White House's head butler from 1952 to 1986, and had a unique front-row seat as political and racial history was made.

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The Butler
Amazon Prime Video

Watch on Amazon Prime Video

Storyline

A look at the life of Cecil Gaines, who served eight presidents as the White House's head butler from 1952 to 1986, and had a unique front-row seat as political and racial history was made.

  • Released
    2013-08-16
  • Revenue
    $177,313,795
  • Budget
    $25,000,000
  • Runtime
    2hr 12m
  • Genre
    Drama
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    English
  • imdb-logo
    7.2
  • Production
    Follow Through Productions, Salamander Pictures, Laura Ziskin Productions, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Pam Williams Productions, Windy Hill Pictures

Crew

Lee Daniels
Director
Danny Strong
Writer
Lee Daniels
Producer
Keywords:
usa president 1970s butler slavery civil rights john f. kennedy biography based on true story ronald reagan richard nixon historical drama slave owner 1940s 1980s 1950s 1960s 1930s african american history jacqueline kennedy jimmy carter eisenhower based on real person

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Cast

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker
Cecil Gaines
Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey
Gloria Gaines
David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo
Louis Gaines
John Cusack

John Cusack
Richard Nixon
Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda
Nancy Reagan
Cuba Gooding Jr.

Cuba Gooding Jr.
Carter Wilson
Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey
Hattie Pearl
Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard
Howard
Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz
James Holloway
Aml Ameen

Aml Ameen
Cecil Gaines (15)
Michael Rainey Jr.

Michael Rainey Jr.
Cecil Gaines (8)
James Marsden

James Marsden
John F. Kennedy
Alex Pettyfer

Alex Pettyfer
Thomas Westfall
Vanessa Redgrave

Vanessa Redgrave
Annabeth Westfall
Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman
Ronald Reagan
Liev Schreiber

Liev Schreiber
Lyndon B. Johnson
Robin Williams

Robin Williams
Dwight Eisenhower
Yaya DaCosta

Yaya DaCosta
Carol Hammie
David Banner

David Banner
Earl Gaines
Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo
Freddie Fallows
Nelsan Ellis

Nelsan Ellis
Martin Luther King Jr.
Nealla Gordon

Nealla Gordon
Senator Kassebaum
Elijah Kelley

Elijah Kelley
Charlie Gaines (15-18)
Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly
Jackie Kennedy
Adriane Lenox

Adriane Lenox
Gina
Mo McRae

Mo McRae
Eldridge Huggins
Pernell Walker

Pernell Walker
Lorraine
Jesse Williams

Jesse Williams
Rev. James Lawson
Clarence Williams III

Clarence Williams III
Maynard
LaJessie Smith

LaJessie Smith
Abraham
John P. Fertitta

John P. Fertitta
Mr. Jenkins
Jim Gleason

Jim Gleason
R.D. Warner
Isaac White

Isaac White
Charlie Gaines (10)
Joe Chrest

Joe Chrest
White Usher
Tyson Ford

Tyson Ford
Elroy
James DuMont

James DuMont
Sherman Adams
Robert Aberdeen

Robert Aberdeen
Herbert Brownell
Olivia Washington

Olivia Washington
Olivia
Margaret M. Owens

Margaret M. Owens
Woolworth Diner Patron #1
Eric Ducote

Eric Ducote
Woolworth Diner Patron #2
Chloe Barach

Chloe Barach
Caroline Kennedy
Danny Strong

Danny Strong
Freedom Bus Journalist
Clara Hopkins Daniels

Clara Hopkins Daniels
Freedom Bus Rider
Dana Gourrier

Dana Gourrier
Helen Holloway
Shirley Pugh

Shirley Pugh
Malcolm X Goer
Bill Newman

Bill Newman
Pastor
Colin Walker

Colin Walker
John Ehrlichman
Alex Manette

Alex Manette
Bob Haldeman
Rusty Robertson

Rusty Robertson
Senator Robertson
Stephen Rider

Stephen Rider
Admiral Rochon
Tarra Riggs

Tarra Riggs
Sophie Wilson (uncredited)
Xosha Roquemore

Xosha Roquemore
Foxy (uncredited)

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Butler
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-04-15

We begin with some brutality at the hands of a character (Alex Pettyfer) who believes that the negroes on their cotton plantation are, quite... read more

We begin with some brutality at the hands of a character (Alex Pettyfer) who believes that the negroes on their cotton plantation are, quite literally, worthless. He rapes a woman then murders her husband when he raises a very mild objection! His mother (Vanessa Redgrave) takes a liking to their now orphaned boy and promotes him from the fields to be their houseboy. Learning how to keep his head down and to play the game, he quickly succeeds and ends up working in the White House. His period there (ending in the Reagan administration) allows for an interesting conduit to depict the evolution of the American civil rights movement, of changing (and not) attitudes and it gives a little insight into how the Oval Office and it's occupants might work. The supporting cast list is impressive, but with the exception of Oprah Winfrey (his wife "Gloria") most have but fleeting appearances as the story moves along. Their own life is not without heartache and troubles - one of their sons is determined to do what he can to fight for their freedom from oppression, an activity done at considerable peril to him and those around him. The narrative also, gently, exposes discrimination across the board - from salaries and promotion opportunities, to segregated seating at a milk bar, as well as nodding, tragically, to the war in Vietnam. Perhaps it is the gentle way in which it illustrates the prevalent racism that is most potent. It allows us to evolve with him, sometimes slowly, sometimes shockingly and that is to the credit of Whitaker who exudes a decency that is hard not to admire. The production is well paced with a complimentary soundtrack that is well worth a look.

reviewer avatar

A Review by v4lapq4m 10

Written by v4lapq4m on 2023-05-20

I was in a mood for a Robin Williams movie. I hadn't heard of this one and it was streaming free. While Williams had only a small role as Ei... read more

I was in a mood for a Robin Williams movie. I hadn't heard of this one and it was streaming free. While Williams had only a small role as Eisenhower this movie was amazimg: thought provoking and tear jerking. Probably not the best for a 5:30 a.m. Saturday, bu this is going on my DVD to purchase list. Following a man(Whittaker) from his childhood on a plantation, to running away from home, getting a job as a house boy in a fancy DC hotel, to butlering for seven different presidents, though Carter and Ford don't make an appearance. It's a family tale, falling in love witn a maid from the hotel(Whimphry), raising two boys, onein politics, from MLK to the BPP to congress, all against daddy's wishes, and one "good boy" who joins the army for what he believes in. I only heard of Whitaker from Young Rock, but he was great.Makeup was wonderful keeping up with aging. Oprah was a great mama, loving her boys, pleasing her man, and a lonely house wife while he worked long hours at the Whitehouse contributing to struggles with alcohol and adultury. One of the best dramad I have seen in years.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by CinemaSerf

We begin with some brutality at the hands of a character (Alex Pettyfer) who believes that the negroes on their cotton plantation are, quite literally, worthless. He rapes a woman then murders her husband when he raises a very mild objectio...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2022-04-15

We begin with some brutality at the hands of a character (Alex Pettyfer) who believes that the negroes on their cotton plantation are, quite literally, worthless. He rapes a woman then murders her hus...

read more
reviewer avatar

A Review by v4lapq4m 10

Written by v4lapq4m on 2023-05-20

I was in a mood for a Robin Williams movie. I hadn't heard of this one and it was streaming free. While Williams had only a small role as Eisenhower this movie was amazimg: thought provoking and tear ...

read more