The Help ( film ) - wikipedia The Help ( film ) The Help Theatrical release poster Directed by Tate Taylor Produced by Chris Columbus Michael Barnathan Brunson Green Written by Tate Taylor Based on The Help by Kathryn Stockett Starring Jessica Chastain Viola Davis Bryce Dallas Howard Allison Janney Octavia Spencer Emma Stone Music by Thomas Newman Cinematography Stephen Goldblatt Edited by Hughes Winborne Production company DreamWorks Pictures Reliance Entertainment Participant Media Image Nation 1492 Pictures Harbinger Pictures Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Release date August 9, 2011 ( 2011 - 08 - 09 ) ( Beverly Hills ) August 10, 2011 ( 2011 - 08 - 10 ) ( United States ) Running time 146 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $25 million Box office $216.6 million The Help is a 2011 American period drama film directed and written by Tate Taylor and adapted from Kathryn Stockett 's 2009 novel of the same name. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone. The film and novel recount the story of young white woman and aspiring journalist Eugenia `` Skeeter '' Phelan. The story focuses on her relationship with two black maids, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, during the Civil Rights Movement in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi. In an attempt to become a legitimate journalist and writer, Skeeter decides to write a book from the point of view of the maids -- referred to as `` the help '' -- exposing the racism they are faced with as they work for white families. DreamWorks Pictures acquired the screen rights to Stockett 's novel in March 2010 and quickly commissioned the film into production with Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, and Brunson Green as producers. The film 's casting began later that month, with principal photography following four months after in Mississippi. Touchstone Pictures released The Help worldwide, with a general theatrical release in North America on August 10, 2011. The film was a critical and commercial success, receiving positive reviews and grossing $216 million in worldwide box office. The Help received four Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Actress for Davis, and Best Supporting Actress for both Chastain and Spencer, with the latter winning the award. The film also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Release 4.1 Home media 5 Reception 5.1 Critical response 5.2 Box office 5.3 Accolades 6 Soundtrack 6.1 Score 7 References 8 External links Plot In 1963, Aibileen Clark is an African - American maid in Jackson, Mississippi, and in intermittent voice overs she tells her `` career '' story to the aspiring writer Eugenia `` Skeeter '' Phelan, a recent graduate of Ole Miss and a friend of Aibileen 's employer and fellow socialite Elizabeth Leefolt. Aibileen cares for the Leefolt 's daughter, whom Elizabeth neglects. Aibileen 's best friend is the plain - spoken Minny Jackson, who works for Mrs. Walters, the mother of Hilly Holbrook, the leader of the women 's socialite group. Skeeter is uncomfortable with the attitudes of her socialite friends towards their maids. She is shocked when Hilly forwards a letter to the Home Sanitation Initiative to install separate bathrooms for the help. Skeeter later learns that her mother Charlotte fired her childhood maid Constantine for unknown reasons. During a terrible storm, Minny refuses to go out to use the help 's toilet and uses the guest 's bathroom, resulting in getting fired by Hilly. Minny finds a job with Celia, wife of Johnny Foote -- Hilly 's former beau. The two become friends through Minny 's cooking lessons. Minny comes upon Skeeter 's visiting Aibileen and joins in the book project effort. Skeeter is advised by her book editor at Harper & Row, Elaine Stein, that the stories of two maids are not enough. Potential retribution from the maid 's employers hinders others from joining the project. Aibileen tells Skeeter about the pain she experiences about her son being fatally crushed while on the job. After his death, Aibileen struggles to find closure and believes the book will help her find closure. Hilly refuses to lend more money to her replacement maid, Yule May who is struggling to send her twin sons to college. One day, she discovers a discarded ring and pawns it. However, Yule May is brutally arrested after Hilly reported the theft. More maids come forward with their stories, believing the book would put an end to the brutality against African - Americans. Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny fear that the maids ' stories will be recognized. Minny reveals her `` terrible awful '' that she did to Hilly. Following her termination, Minny baked her renowned chocolate pie and gave it to Hilly. Minny, however, prevented Mrs. Walters from having a slice and revealed that she baked her excrement into the pie. Its inclusion in the book would prompt Hilly to crusade denial that the book is not about Jackson. Skeeter confronts her mother Charlotte about Constantine 's termination. Charlotte revels that during a lunch with the local chapter of the Daughters of America, Constantine 's daughter Rachel arrived. Rachel disobeyed Charlotte 's orders of entering through the kitchen and embarrassed her. In order to save face, Charlotte fires Constantine and orders them to leave. Shortly afterward, Rachel took Constantine to Chicago where she died later. Charlotte had every intention to bring Constantine back to Jackson. The book is published anonymously, and it is a success. Minny reveals the `` terrible awful '' to Celia, who finally sees Hilly as manipulative and a bully. Celia lets on that she knows about the terrible awful by writing a check to one of Hilly 's charity groups. Hilly attempts to intimidate Skeeter through threat of legal proceedings, but she reminds Hilly that `` that '' is in chapter 12. Charlotte lets on that she knows about the terrible awful and orders Hilly off the property. Charlotte and Skeeter reconcile when Charlotte tells her how proud she is about her courage, the book and the job offer in New York City. Johnny tells Minny that it is not too difficult to know that there has been a change at the house, how appreciative he is about her friendship with Celia, how it saved her life, and that she has job security. This act gives Minny the courage to take her children away from her abusive husband. In an attempt to seek revenge for helping Skeeter, Hilly pressures Elizabeth to terminate Aibileen, with Hilly present and trying to frame Aibileen for theft. But Aibileen stands up to Hilly, calling her a godless woman, always never at ease until she gets what she wants. Elizabeth orders Aibileen to leave. Aibileen bids farewell to Elizabeth 's daughter and pleads with Elizabeth to give her daughter a chance. Aibileen reflects on the ordeal and finds closure. She looks to the future of becoming a writer. Cast The Help cast at 18th Screen Actors Guild Awards ( Octavia Spencer in center, holding the cast 's award ) Viola Davis as Aibileen Clark Emma Stone as Eugenia `` Skeeter '' Phelan Bryce Dallas Howard as Hilly Walters Holbrook Octavia Spencer as Minny Jackson Jessica Chastain as Celia Rae Foote Allison Janney as Charlotte Phelan Ahna O'Reilly as Elizabeth Leefolt Chris Lowell as Stuart Whitworth Sissy Spacek as Mrs. Walters Cicely Tyson as Constantine Bates Mike Vogel as Johnny Foote Anna Camp as Jolene French Brian Kerwin as Robert Phelan Aunjanue Ellis as Yule May Davis Ted Welch as William Holbrook LaChanze as Rachel Bates Mary Steenburgen as Elaine Stein Leslie Jordan as Mr. Blackly Wes Chatham as Carlton Phelan, Skeeter 's brother. David Oyelowo as Preacher Green Dana Ivey as Grace Higginbotham Ashley Johnson as Mary Beth Caldwell Nelsan Ellis as Henry Production In December 2009, Variety reported that Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, and Mark Radcliffe would produce a film adaptation of The Help, under their production company 1492 Pictures. Brunson Green of Harbinger Productions also co-produced. The film was written and directed by Stockett 's childhood friend, Tate Taylor, who optioned film rights to the book before its publication. DreamWorks acquired the film rights to the novel in March 2010. Reliance Entertainment and Participant Media co-produced the film. The first casting news for the production came in March 2010, was reported that Stone was attached to play the role of Eugenia `` Skeeter '' Phelan. Other actors were since cast, including Davis as Aibileen ; Howard as Hilly Holbrook, Jackson 's snooty town ringleader ; Janney as Charlotte Phelan, Skeeter 's mother ; and Lowell as Stuart Whitworth, Skeeter 's boyfriend and a senator 's son. Leslie Jordan appears as the editor of the fictional local newspaper, The Jackson Journal. Mike Vogel plays the character Johnny Foote. Octavia Spencer portrays Minny. A longtime friend of Stockett and Taylor, Spencer inspired the character of Minny in Stockett 's novel and voiced her in the audiobook version. Filming began in July 2010 and extended through October. The town of Greenwood, Mississippi, was chosen to portray 1960s - era Jackson, and producer Green said he had expected to shoot `` 95 percent '' of the film there. Parts of the film were also shot in the real - life Jackson, as well as in nearby Clarksdale and Greenville. One of the few locations that existed in 1963 Jackson, the book and the film is Jackson landmark Brent 's Drugs, which dates to 1946. Other locations that can still be found in Jackson include the New Capitol Building and the Mayflower Cafe downtown. Scenes set at the Jackson Journal office were shot in Clarksdale at the building which formerly housed the Clarksdale Press Register for 40 years until April 2010. The Help was the most significant film production in Mississippi since O Brother, Where Art Thou ? ( 2000 ) `` Honestly, my heart would be broken if it were set anywhere but Mississippi '', Stockett wrote in an e-mail to reporters. In order to convince producers to shoot in Greenwood, Tate Taylor and others had previously come to the town and scouted out locations ; at his first meeting with DreamWorks executives, he presented them with a photo album of potential filming spots in the area. The state 's tax incentive program for filmmakers was also a key enticement in the decision. Release Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed The Help worldwide through the studio 's Touchstone Pictures banner. On October 13, 2010, Disney gave the film a release date of August 12, 2011. On June 30, 2011, the film 's release date was rescheduled two days earlier to August 10, 2011. Home Media The film was released by Touchstone Home Entertainment on Blu - ray Disc, DVD, and digital download on December 6, 2011. The release was produced in three different physical packages : a three - disc combo pack ( Blu - ray, DVD, and Digital Copy ) ; a two - disc combo pack ( Blu - ray and DVD ) ; and a single - disc DVD. It was also released as a digital download option in both standard and high definition. The DVD version includes two deleted scenes and The Living Proof music video by Mary J. Blige. The digital download version includes the same features as the DVD version, plus one additional deleted scene. Both the two - disc and three - disc combo packs include the same features as the DVD version, as well as `` The Making of ' The Help ' : From Friendship to Film '', `` In Their Own Words : A Tribute to the Maids of Mississippi '', and three deleted scenes with introductions by director Taylor. Reception Critical response The Help received mostly positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 75 % of 208 professional critics gave the film a positive review, with an average score of 7.1 out of 10. The site 's consensus states, `` Though arguably guilty of glossing over its racial themes, The Help rises on the strength of its cast -- particularly Viola Davis, whose performance is powerful enough to carry the film on its own. '' Metacritic, a review aggregator which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, gives the film a score of 62 based on 41 reviews. CinemaScore polls reported that the average grade moviegoers gave the film was an `` A + '' on an A+ to F scale. Tom Long from The Detroit News remarked about the film : `` Appealling, entertaining, touching and perhaps even a bit healing, The Help is an old - fashioned grand yarn of a film, the sort we rarely get these days. '' Connie Ogle of The Miami Herald gave the film three out of four stars and said it `` will make you laugh, yes, but it can also break your heart. In the dog days of August moviegoing, that 's a powerful recommendation. '' A more mixed review from Karina Longworth of The Village Voice said : `` We get a fairly typical Hollywood flattening of history, with powerful villains and disenfranchised heroes. '' Rick Groen of The Globe and Mail, giving the film two out of four stars, said : `` Typically, this sort of film is an earnest tear - jerker with moments of levity. Instead, what we have here is a raucous rib - tickler with occasional pauses for a little dramatic relief. '' Referring to the film as a `` big, ole slab of honey - glazed hokum '', The New York Times noted that `` save for Ms. Davis 's, however, the performances are almost all overly broad, sometimes excruciatingly so, characterized by loud laughs, bugging eyes and pumping limbs. '' Some of the negative reviews criticized the film for its inability to match the quality of the book. Chris Hewitt of the St. Paul Pioneer Press said about the film : `` Some adaptations find a fresh, cinematic way to convey a book 's spirit but The Help does n't. '' Many critics praised the performances of Davis and Spencer. Wilson Morales of Blackfilm.com gave the movie three out of four stars and commented, `` With powerful performances given by Viola Davis and scene stealer Octavia Spencer, the film is an emotionally moving drama that remains highly entertaining. '' David Edelstein from New York magazine commented that, `` The Help belongs to Viola Davis. '' Ida E. Jones, the national director of the Association of Black Women Historians, released an open statement criticizing the film, stating `` ( d ) espite efforts to market the book and the film as a progressive story of triumph over racial injustice, The Help distorts, ignores, and trivializes the experiences of black domestic workers. '' The ABWH accused both the book and the film of insensitive portrayals of African - American vernacular, a nearly uniform depiction of black men as cruel or absent, and a failure to acknowledge the sexual harassment that many black women endured in their white employers ' homes. Jones concluded by saying that `` The Association of Black Women Historians finds it unacceptable for either this book or this film to strip black women 's lives of historical accuracy for the sake of entertainment. '' Roxane Gay of literary web magazine The Rumpus argues the film might be offensive to African Americans, saying the film uses racial Hollywood tropes like the Magical Negro character. In 2014, the movie was one of several discussed by Keli Goff in The Daily Beast in an article concerning white savior narratives in film. Box Office The Help earned $169,708,112 in North America and $46,931,000 in other territories for a worldwide total of $216,639,112. In North America, on its opening day ( Wednesday, August 10, 2011 ), it topped the box office with $5.54 million. It then added $4.33 million on Thursday, declining only 21 percent, a two - day total to $9.87 million. On its first weekend, the film grossed $26.0 million, coming in second place behind Rise of the Planet of the Apes. However, during its second weekend, the film jumped to first place with $20.0 million, declining only 23 percent, the smallest drop among films playing nationwide. The film crossed the $100 million mark on its 21st day of release, becoming one of only two titles in August 2011 that achieved this. On its fourth weekend ( Labor Day three - day weekend ), it became the first film since Inception ( 2010 ), to top the box - office charts for three consecutive weekends. Its four - day weekend haul of $19.9 million was the fourth largest for a Labor - day weekend. Notably, The Help topped the box office for 25 days in a row. This was the longest uninterrupted streak since The Sixth Sense ( 35 days ), which was also a late summer release, in 1999. To promote the film, TakePart.com hosted a series of three writing contests. Rebecca Lubin, of Mill Valley, California, who has been a nanny for nearly two decades won the recipe contest. Darcy Pattison 's `` 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph '' won `` The Help '' Children 's Story Contest with her story about a tenacious young girl who refuses to take a good photograph while her father is away `` soldiering ''. After being chosen by guest judge and children 's - book author Lou Berger, the story was professionally illustrated. The final contest was about `` someone who inspired you ''. Genoveva Islas - Hooker charmed guest judge Doc Hendley ( founder of Wine to Water ) with her story, A Heroine Named Confidential. A case manager for patients with HIV, Islas - Hooker was consistently inspired by one special individual who never gave up the fight to live. Accolades Main article : List of accolades received by The Help ( film ) Soundtrack The Help : Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack album by Various artists Released July 26, 2011 Genre Blues, soul, rhythm and blues, rock and roll Label Geffen Singles from The Help `` The Living Proof '' Released : August 16, 2011 The original song is `` The Living Proof '' by Mary J. Blige. The soundtrack was released on July 26, 2011, through Geffen Records. Track listing No. Title Performers Length 1. `` The Living Proof '' Mary J. Blige 5 : 57 2. `` Jackson '' Johnny Cash and June Carter 5 : 28 3. `` Sherry '' Frankie Valli 5 : 35 4. `` I Ai n't Never '' Webb Pierce 1 : 56 5. `` Victory Is Mine '' Dorothy Norwood 3 : 47 6. `` Road Runner '' Bo Diddley 2 : 48 7. `` Hallelujah I Love Her So '' Ray Charles 2 : 35 8. `` The Wah - Watusi '' The Orlons 2 : 32 9. `` Personality '' Lloyd Price 10 : 29 10. `` Do n't Think Twice, It 's All Right '' Bob Dylan 3 : 38 11. `` Let 's Twist Again '' Chubby Checker 2 : 19 12. `` Do n't Knock '' Mavis Staples 2 : 30 Score The Help : Original Motion Picture Score Soundtrack album by Thomas Newman Released September 13, 2011 Length 59 : 34 Label Varese Sarabande The film 's score was composed and conducted by Thomas Newman ; Varese Sarabande released a score album on September 13, 2011. Track listing No. Title Length 1. `` Aibilene '' 3 : 07 2. `` Them Fools '' 2 : 50 3. `` Upside - Down Cake '' 1 : 22 4. `` Mississippi '' 3 : 50 5. `` Heart Palpitations '' 1 : 43 6. `` The Help '' 2 : 19 7. `` Jim Crow '' 1 : 45 8. `` Skeeter '' 1 : 03 9. `` Miss Hilly '' 1 : 14 10. `` Write That Down '' 1 : 38 11. `` Bottom Of The List '' 3 : 23 12. `` Deviled Eggs '' 2 : 03 13. `` First White Baby '' 2 : 00 14. `` Celia Digs '' 2 : 06 15. `` November 22 '' 1 : 12 16. `` Not To Die '' 1 : 28 17. `` My Son '' 2 : 51 18. `` Trash On The Road '' 1 : 37 19. `` The Terrible Awful '' 2 : 57 20. `` Constantine '' 4 : 09 21. `` Gripping Testimonials '' 1 : 32 22. `` Sugar '' 1 : 50 23. `` Amen '' 3 : 06 24. `` Mile High Meringue '' 2 : 00 25. `` Ai n't You Tired ( End Title ) '' 6 : 29 References ^ Jump up to : `` The Help ( 2011 ) -- Box Office Mojo ''. Box Office Mojo. Jump up ^ Fleming, Michael ( December 15, 2009 ). `` Chris Columbus Fast - Tracks ' Help ' -- His 1492 Prods. Readies Adaptation of Stockett Novel ''. Variety. Retrieved July 7, 2012. Jump up ^ Fernandez, Jay A. ( August 17, 2011 ). `` DreamWorks nabs rights to novel ' The Help ' ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 26, 2016. Jump up ^ Bart, Peter ; Patrick, Frater ( May 14, 2014 ). `` India 's Reliance : Still a DreamWorks Backer, But Hollywood Sojourn Has Cost a Fortune ''. Variety. Retrieved April 29, 2016. Jump up ^ Sampson, Mike ( March 23, 2010 ). `` Emma Stone Looks to Dreamworks for ' Help ' ''. JoBlo.com. Retrieved March 23, 2010. Jump up ^ Rich, Katey ( April 15, 2010 ). `` Viola Davis in Talks To Join Emma Stone in the Help ''. Cinema Blend. Retrieved May 26, 2010. Jump up ^ Fleming, Mike ( April 27, 2010 ). `` Bryce Dallas Howard Lands ' The Help ' ''. deadline.com. Retrieved May 26, 2010. Jump up ^ Kit, Zorianna ( May 20, 2010 ). `` Chris Lowell Eyes ' The Help ' ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010. Jump up ^ Pierce, Susan ( July 24, 2010 ). `` ' The Help ' Is Coming ''. Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved July 26, 2010. Jump up ^ Sperling, Nicole ( May 17, 2010 ). `` Octavia Spencer Nabs Key Role in ' The Help ' ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 26, 2010. Jump up ^ Sperling, Nicole ( July 13, 2010 ). `` ' The Help ' Exclusive : Allison Janney Joins the Cast ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 23, 2010. Jump up ^ `` The Help : Press Kit '' ( PDF ). Walt Disney Studios. Retrieved 13 September 2016. Jump up ^ Moser, Christopher ( July 9, 2010 ). `` Lights, Camera, Clarksdale ! ''. Clarksdale Press Register. Retrieved July 23, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Kuykendall, Taylor ( May 13, 2010 ). `` Movie Adaption of Bestseller To Be Filmed Here ''. The Greenwood Commonwealth. Retrieved May 26, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Ayres, Jeff ( May 14, 2010 ). `` Movie To Have $13 M Impact on Delta ''. The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved May 26, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Byrd, Shelia ( May 13, 2010 ). `` ' The Help ' To Start Filming in Miss. This Summer ''. Associated Press ( via Google News ). Archived from the original on May 17, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010. Jump up ^ McClintock, Pamela ( August 17, 2011 ). `` ' The Help ' : Why It Took a Year to Cast the Film ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 26, 2016. Jump up ^ `` ' The Help ' Moves Up Its Release Date to Aug. 10 ''. Entertainment Weekly. Jump up ^ `` The Help Is Coming Home on December 6 ''. ComingSoon.net. October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Help Is Coming to Your House This December ''. Moviehole. October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2011. Jump up ^ Katz, Josh ( October 5, 2011 ). `` The Help Blu - Ray ''. Blu-ray.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Help ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 7, 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Help Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic ''. Metacritic. Retrieved November 1, 2011. Jump up ^ McClintock, Pamela ( August 10, 2011 ). `` Box Office Update : ' The Help ' Earns a Rare A+ CinemaScore from Moviegoers ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 1, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Movies ' 60s Story of Racism Richly Told ''. The Detroit News. August 10, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2011. Jump up ^ Ogle, Connie. `` ' The Help ' ( PG - 13 ) ''. The Miami Herald. Retrieved August 29, 2011. Jump up ^ Longworth, Karina ( August 10, 2011 ). `` Civil Rights Through a Soft Focus Lens in The Help ''. The Village Voice. Retrieved August 29, 2011. Jump up ^ Groen, Rick ( August 10, 2011 ). `` The Help : Civil Rights Lite, Played for Laughs ''. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 29, 2011. Jump up ^ Dargis, Manohla ( August 9, 2011 ). `` ' The Maids ' Now Have Their Say ''. The New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` ' The Help ' Review : Movie Based on Beloved Book Will Be Loved Best If You 've Read the Book ''. St. Paul Pioneer Press. Jump up ^ Morales, Wilson. `` The Help ''. Blackfilm.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012. Jump up ^ Edlestein, David. `` Movie Review : Viola Davis Gives the Too - Soft The Help a Spine ''. www.vulture.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012. Jump up ^ Jones, Ida E. ( August 7, 2011 ). `` An Open Statement to the Fans of The Help ''. Association of Black Women Historians. Retrieved November 1, 2011. Jump up ^ Gay, Roxane ( August 17, 2011 ). `` The Solace of Preparing Fried Foods and Other Quaint Remembrances from 1960s Mississippi : Thoughts on The Help ''. The Rumpus. Retrieved November 1, 2011. Jump up ^ Goff, Keli ( May 4, 2014 ). `` Can ' Belle ' End Hollywood 's Obsession with the White Savior ? ''. The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 14, 2014. Jump up ^ `` ' The Help ' Bags Solid $9.9 M in Two Days ''. Box Office Mojo. Jump up ^ `` Weekend Report : ' Apes ' Cling to Top Spot, ' Help ' Cleans Up ''. Box Office Mojo. Jump up ^ `` Weekend Report : ' The Help ' Reigns Over Gutless ' Conan, ' ' Fright Night ' ''. Box Office Mojo. Jump up ^ Gray, Brandon ( September 2, 2011 ). `` August Box Office Rises and Falls ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 4, 2011. Jump up ^ McClintock, Pamela ( September 4, 2011 ). `` Box Office Report : ' Apollo 18 ' and ' Shark Night ' Still in a Dead Heat ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 4, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Weekend Report : ' The Help ' Works It Over Labor Day ''. Box Office Mojo. Jump up ^ `` September 2 -- 5, 2011 ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 4, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Top 4 - Day Labor Day Weekends ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 4, 2011. Jump up ^ Subers, Ray ( September 9, 2011 ). `` ' Help ' Posts Longest Daily No. 1 Run Since ' Sixth Sense ' ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 4, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Take Part ''. Jump up ^ `` 11 Ways To Ruin a Photograph ''. 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph. Jump up ^ `` Soundtrack Details For `` The Help '' ( Track List Includes Ray Charles, Chubby Checker + Many Others ) ``. indieWire. June 21, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Help ( Music from the Motion Picture ) ''. amazon.com. July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2012. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : The Help ( film ) The Help at AllMovie The Help on IMDb The Help at Box Office Mojo The Help at Rotten Tomatoes civilrightstravel, The Help 's filming locations and associated civil - rights history award Films directed by Tate Taylor Chicken Party ( 2003 ) Pretty Ugly People ( 2008 ) The Help ( 2011 ) Get on Up ( 2014 ) The Girl on the Train ( 2016 ) Critics ' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble ( 2001 -- 2009 ) Gosford Park ( 2001 ) : Eileen Atkins, Bob Balaban, Alan Bates, Charles Dance, Stephen Fry, Michael Gambon, Richard E. Grant, Tom Hollander, Derek Jacobi, Kelly Macdonald, Helen Mirren, Jeremy Northam, Clive Owen, Ryan Phillippe, Maggie Smith, Geraldine Somerville, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sophie Thompson, Emily Watson, James Wilby Chicago ( 2002 ) : Christine Baranski, Ekaterina Shchelkanova, Taye Diggs, Denise Faye, Colm Feore, Richard Gere, Deidre Goodwin, Queen Latifah, Lucy Liu, Susan Misner, Mýa, John C. Reilly, Dominic West, Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta - Jones The Lord of the Rings : The Return of the King ( 2003 ) : Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Noble, Miranda Otto, John Rhys - Davies, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham, Elijah Wood Sideways ( 2004 ) : Thomas Haden Church, Paul Giamatti, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh Crash ( 2005 ) : Christopher `` Ludacris '' Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe, Larenz Tate Little Miss Sunshine ( 2006 ) : Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Greg Kinnear Hairspray ( 2007 ) : Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes, Paul Dooley, Zac Efron, Allison Janney, Elijah Kelley, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, Michelle Pfeiffer, Brittany Snow, Jerry Stiller, John Travolta, Christopher Walken Milk ( 2008 ) : Josh Brolin, Joseph Cross, James Franco, Victor Garber, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Denis O'Hare, Sean Penn, Alison Pill Inglourious Basterds ( 2009 ) : Daniel Brühl, August Diehl, Julie Dreyfus, Michael Fassbender, Sylvester Groth, Jacky Ido, Diane Kruger, Mélanie Laurent, Denis Ménochet, Mike Myers, Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Til Schweiger, Rod Taylor, Christoph Waltz, Martin Wuttke ( 2010 -- present ) The Fighter ( 2010 ) : Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Mark Wahlberg The Help ( 2011 ) : Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O'Reilly, Sissy Spacek, Octavia Spencer, Mary Steenburgen, Emma Stone, Cicely Tyson, Mike Vogel Silver Linings Playbook ( 2012 ) : Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Anupam Kher, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Tucker, Jacki Weaver American Hustle ( 2013 ) : Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Louis C.K., Bradley Cooper, Jack Huston, Jennifer Lawrence, Alessandro Nivola, Michael Peña, Jeremy Renner, Elisabeth Röhm, Shea Whigham Birdman or ( The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance ) ( 2014 ) : Zach Galifianakis, Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts Spotlight ( 2015 ) : Billy Crudup, Brian d'Arcy James, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci Moonlight ( 2016 ) : Mahershala Ali, Patrick Decile, Alex R. Hibbert, Naomie Harris, André Holland, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, Jaden Piner, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders Satellite Award for Best Cast -- Motion Picture Sideways Thomas Haden Church Paul Giamatti Virginia Madsen Sandra Oh 2005 Crash Chris Bridges Sandra Bullock Don Cheadle Matt Dillon Jennifer Esposito William Fichtner Brendan Fraser Terrence Howard Thandie Newton Ryan Phillippe Larenz Tate 2006 The Departed Anthony Anderson Alec Baldwin Matt Damon Leonardo DiCaprio Vera Farmiga Jack Nicholson Martin Sheen Mark Wahlberg Ray Winstone 2007 Before the Devil Knows You 're Dead Albert Finney Rosemary Harris Ethan Hawke Philip Seymour Hoffman Brían F. O'Byrne Amy Ryan Michael Shannon Marisa Tomei 2009 Nine Marion Cotillard Penélope Cruz Daniel Day - Lewis Judi Dench Fergie Kate Hudson Nicole Kidman Sophia Loren 2011 The Help Anna Camp Jessica Chastain Viola Davis Nelsan Ellis Aunjanue Ellis Bryce Dallas Howard Dana Ivey Allison Janney Leslie Jordan Brian Kerwin Chris Lowell Ahna O'Reilly David Oyelowo Sissy Spacek Octavia Spencer Mary Steenburgen Emma Stone Cicely Tyson Mike Vogel 2012 Les Miserábles Samantha Barks Sacha Baron Cohen Helena Bonham Carter Russell Crowe Anne Hathaway Hugh Jackman Eddie Redmayne Amanda Seyfried Aaron Tveit 2013 Nebraska Bruce Dern Missy Doty Will Forte Rance Howard Stacy Keach Angela McEwan Bob Odenkirk Devin Ratray Melinda Simonsen June Squibb Roger Stuckwisch Mary Louise Wilson 2014 Into the Woods Christine Baranski Tammy Blanchard Emily Blunt James Corden Lilla Crawford Frances de la Tour Johnny Depp Daniel Huttlestone Anna Kendrick Billy Magnussen MacKenzie Mauzy Chris Pine Lucy Punch Meryl Streep Tracey Ullman 2015 Spotlight Brian d'Arcy James Michael Keaton Rachel McAdams Mark Ruffalo Liev Schreiber John Slattery Stanley Tucci 2016 Hidden Figures Mahershala Ali Kevin Costner Kirsten Dunst Taraji P. Henson Aldis Hodge Janelle Monáe Jim Parsons Glen Powell Kimberly Quinn Octavia Spencer Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture ( 2011 -- 2020 ) 2011 The Help Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O'Reilly, Sissy Spacek, Octavia Spencer, Mary Steenburgen, Emma Stone, Cicely Tyson, Mike Vogel 2012 Argo Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin, Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler, Rory Cochrane, Bryan Cranston, Christopher Denham, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Victor Garber, John Goodman, Scoot McNairy, Chris Messina 2013 American Hustle Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Louis C.K., Bradley Cooper, Jack Huston, Jennifer Lawrence, Alessandro Nivola, Michael Peña, Jeremy Renner, Elisabeth Röhm, Shea Whigham 2014 Birdman or ( The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance ) Zach Galifianakis, Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts 2015 Spotlight Billy Crudup, Brian d'Arcy James, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci 2016 Hidden Figures Mahershala Ali, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge, Janelle Monáe, Jim Parsons, Glen Powell, Octavia Spencer Complete list ( 1995 -- 2000 ) ( 2001 -- 2010 ) ( 2011 -- 2020 ) NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture 1972 -- 2000 Lady Sings the Blues ( 1972 ) Let 's Do It Again ( 1976 ) The Greatest ( 1978 ) Fame ( 1980 ) Bustin ' Loose ( 1981 ) An Officer and a Gentleman ( 1982 ) A Soldier 's Story ( 1985 ) The Color Purple ( 1986 ) Lethal Weapon ( 1987 ) Coming to America ( 1988 ) Lean on Me ( 1989 ) Glory ( 1990 ) Boyz n the Hood ( 1992 ) Sister Act ( 1993 ) Malcolm X ( 1994 ) Waiting to Exhale ( 1996 ) A Time to Kill ( 1997 ) Soul Food ( 1998 ) How Stella Got Her Groove Back ( 1999 ) The Best Man ( 2000 ) 2001 -- present Remember the Titans ( 2001 ) Ali ( 2002 ) Antwone Fisher ( 2003 ) The Fighting Temptations ( 2004 ) Ray ( 2005 ) Crash ( 2006 ) The Pursuit of Happyness ( 2007 ) The Great Debaters ( 2008 ) The Secret Life of Bees ( 2009 ) Precious ( 2010 ) For Colored Girls ( 2011 ) The Help ( 2012 ) Red Tails ( 2013 ) 12 Years a Slave ( 2014 ) Selma ( 2015 ) Straight Outta Compton ( 2016 ) Hidden Figures ( 2017 ) Black Reel Award for Outstanding Film 2000 - 2009 The Hurricane ( 2000 ) Love & Basketball ( 2001 ) Training Day ( 2002 ) Antwone Fisher ( 2003 ) Out of Time ( 2004 ) Ray ( 2005, drama ) Lightning in a Bottle ( 2005, comedy / musical ) Crash ( 2006 ) Dreamgirls ( 2007 ) Cadillac Records ( 2008 ) no awards in 2009 2010 - present Precious ( 2010 ) Night Catches Us ( 2011 ) The Help ( 2012 ) Beasts of the Southern Wild ( 2013 ) 12 Years a Slave ( 2014 ) Selma ( 2015 ) Creed ( 2016 ) Moonlight ( 2017 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Help_(film)&oldid=809798312 '' Categories : 2011 films English - language films 2010s drama films The Help African - American Civil Rights Movement ( 1954 -- 68 ) in film American drama films DreamWorks Pictures films Participant Media films Touchstone Pictures films Reliance Entertainment films Female buddy films Feminist films Films about race and ethnicity Films based on American novels Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe - winning performance Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award - winning performance Films set in Mississippi Films set in the 1960s Films shot in Mississippi Films set in 1963 Films about writers Film scores by Thomas Newman Films directed by Tate Taylor Jackson, Mississippi American films Films produced by Chris Columbus Films produced by Michael Barnathan 1492 Pictures films Maids in films Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from December 2016 Articles with dead external links from October 2010 Articles with dead external links from July 2012 Use mdy dates from June 2012 Articles with hAudio microformats Album infoboxes lacking a cover Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Talk Contents Help About Wikipedia Wikiquote Azərbaycanca বাংলা Български Català Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית ქართული Кыргызча Latviešu Bahasa Melayu မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 11 November 2017, at 13 : 53. 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Question: what was in the pie in the movie the help
Answer: excrement