

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.
TMDB
7.3/10
3,095 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
View on IMDb
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $25M
- Box office
- $177.3M
- Language
- English
- 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
Top billed cast


















Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
Rent
Buy
Gallery












Videos
Release dates
IndiaIN
- PremiereMumbai International Film Festival17 Oct 2013
United StatesUS
- PremiereNew York City, New York5 Aug 2013
- TheatricalPG-1316 Aug 2013
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical12A15 Nov 2013
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalM30 Aug 2014
CanadaCA
- Theatrical14A16 Aug 2013
ArgentinaAR
- Theatrical14 Nov 2013
BelgiumBE
- Theatrical4 Dec 2013
BrazilBR
- PremiereRio de Janeiro International Film Festival26 Sept 2013
- Theatrical121 Nov 2013
ChileCL
- Theatrical23 Jan 2014
ChinaCN
- PremiereShanghai International Film Festival1 Jun 2014
ColombiaCO
- Theatrical15 Nov 2013
CroatiaHR
- Theatrical13 Dec 2013
Frequently asked questions
The Butler was released on 16 August 2013.
Audience reviews
2- C7/10
CinemaSerf
4/15/2022
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 …
- V10/10
v4lapq4m
5/20/2023
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 bo…
Member reviews
Sign in to rate and review. Browsing stays free and open.
Sign inMember comments
0Sign in to post a comment. Browsing stays free and open.
Sign in











