The Color Purple poster

The Color Purple

It's about life. It's about love. It's about us.

7.7(2,047)19852h 34m10

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing 'Mister' Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa.

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Status
Released
Budget
$15M
Box office
$146.3M
Language
English
  • prison
  • rape
  • sibling relationship
  • jazz
  • southern usa
  • africa
  • empowerment
  • adoption
  • abusive father
  • violent husband
  • jazz singer or musician
  • letter

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • IndiaIN

    • TheatricalU14 Dec 1986
  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereNew York City, New York16 Dec 1985
    • Theatrical (limited)PG-1318 Dec 1985
    • TheatricalPG-137 Feb 1986
    • TheatricalPG-13Re-release16 Jan 1987
  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical1511 Jul 1986
  • AustraliaAU

    • TheatricalPG26 Jun 1986
  • ArgentinaAR

    • Theatrical3 Jul 1986
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatrical1428 Mar 1986
  • ColombiaCO

    • Theatrical21 Aug 1986
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical115 Sept 1986
  • FinlandFI

    • TheatricalK-1619 Sept 1986
  • FranceFR

    • PremiereCannes Film Festival1 May 1986
    • TheatricalU20 Aug 1986
    • TVParis Première26 Dec 2025
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical12West Germany20 Aug 1986
    • TheatricalEast Germany19 Aug 1988
  • GreeceGR

    • Theatrical12 Sept 1986

Frequently asked questions

The Color Purple was released on 18 December 1985.

Audience reviews

2
  • G

    GenerationofSwine

    1/12/2023

    10/10

    Well, this is one of those movies that hinges on a singular performance. In this case it's Danny Glover who is absolutely amazing in his role, probably the best performance of his career, and one of the best that came out of the 80s. But Goldberg and Oprah really stink. I don't know what was going on there but they were all over the place. However, despite them, Glover does carry the role, and Spielberg realize…

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    7/2/2026

    7/10

    I think that rarely can a better cast have been assembled to tell a story than here. Telling the often quite harrowing lifestory of "Celie" (Whoopi Goldberg), we take a poignant look at a life in the American south where racism certainly prevailed, but where the African-American community saw it's own women frequently brutalised by their own menfolk. She frequently finds herself on the wrong end of the wrath of her h…

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