The Butler (2013)
Kernel Score: 83% · 2,993 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama
Released: 2013-08-16
Runtime: 132 minutes
Is The Butler worth watching?
Worth watching. A drama following a White House butler through decades of American change. It covers a lot and sometimes simplifies, but the lead performance and the history it dramatises make it a solid, moving watch.
Watch it if you
- like history told through one family
- enjoy performance-led dramas
- want something thoughtful and accessible
Skip it if you
- dislike sentimental biopics
- want a deep historical account
Best for: Thoughtful night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Butler
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
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.
The Butler parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Butler is a historical drama following a White House butler across decades of the Civil Rights Movement, including scenes of racism and violence.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — A review describes an early scene of brutality including rape and murder tied to slavery-era racism.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — The plot notes a character's struggle with alcoholism.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Butler
If you liked The Butler, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Selma (2014) — 82%: Drama about the civil rights struggle
- Hidden Figures (2016) — 90%: Uplifting true story of overlooked Black professionals
- 42 (2013) — 82%: Biopic about breaking a sports colour barrier
- BlacKkKlansman (2018) — 87%: Sharper, angrier look at racism in America
- Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) — 81%: Drama about the Black Panthers
- 13th (2016) — 90%: Documentary on the roots of mass incarceration
Director
Cast
- Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines
- Oprah Winfrey as Gloria Gaines
- David Oyelowo as Louis Gaines
- John Cusack as Richard Nixon
- Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan
- Cuba Gooding Jr. as Carter Wilson
- Mariah Carey as Hattie Pearl
- Terrence Howard as Howard
- Lenny Kravitz as James Holloway
- Aml Ameen as Cecil Gaines (15)
The Butler FAQ
Is The Butler worth watching?
Worth watching. A drama following a White House butler through decades of American change. It covers a lot and sometimes simplifies, but the lead performance and the history it dramatises make it a solid, moving watch.
Where can I watch The Butler?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Butler OK for kids?
The Butler is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Butler is a historical drama following a White House butler across decades of the Civil Rights Movement, including scenes of racism and violence.
What movies are like The Butler?
If you liked The Butler, try Selma, Hidden Figures, 42 and BlacKkKlansman.