The Butler
“One quiet voice can ignite a revolution.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Butler Official Trailer #2 (2013) - Forest Whitaker, Robin Williams Movie HD
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-06-15
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Forest Whitaker
Cecil Gaines
Oprah Winfrey
Gloria Gaines
David Oyelowo
Louis Gaines
John Cusack
Richard Nixon
Jane Fonda
Nancy Reagan
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Carter Wilson
Mariah Carey
Hattie Pearl
Terrence Howard
Howard
Lenny Kravitz
James Holloway
Aml Ameen
Cecil Gaines (15)
Michael Rainey Jr.
Cecil Gaines (8)
James Marsden
John F. Kennedy
Alex Pettyfer
Thomas Westfall
Vanessa Redgrave
Annabeth Westfall
Alan Rickman
Ronald Reagan
Liev Schreiber
Lyndon B. Johnson
Robin Williams
Dwight H. Eisenhower
Yaya DaCosta
Carol Hammie
Release History & Theatrical Window
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
August 16, 2013
Wide Cinema Exhibition
April 14, 2021
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$25M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$177.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
7.09x
+$152.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lee Daniels
- Screenplay & Story
- Danny Strong
- Original Score
- Rodrigo Leão
- Original Title
- The Butler
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 12m
- Production Budget
- $25M
- Worldwide Gross
- $177.3M
- Production Studios
- Follow Through Productions, Salamander Pictures, Laura Ziskin Productions, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Pam Williams Productions, Windy Hill Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lee Daniels
Danny Strong
Rodrigo Leão
Andrew Dunn, Francis James, Hans Bjerno
Joe Klotz
Buddy Patrick, Lee Daniels, Cassian Elwes, Laura Ziskin, Harvey Weinstein
Department Leadership Roster
Buddy Patrick
Producer
Lee Daniels
Director
Lee Daniels
Producer
Cassian Elwes
Producer
Laura Ziskin
Producer
Danny Strong
Writer
Joe Klotz
Editor
Rodrigo Leão
Original Music Composer
Andrew Dunn
Director of Photography
Tim Galvin
Production Design
Ruth E. Carter
Costume Design
Jeff Galpin
Stunt Coordinator
Luke DiTommaso
Visual Effects Supervisor
Ray McIntyre Jr.
Visual Effects Supervisor
Ari Daniel Pinchot
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Butler.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Butler.
סרטים מתעדכן
List created by QlickPlay for Kodi.
My Movies
Master List In Progress
Limelight Not Seen
***Dramă***
2772
1
Similar Titles to The Butler
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.4
7.2
3.0
7.5
5.0
6.5
6.3
6.1
7.4
7.4
7.0
6.6
7.1
7.4
6.7
7.2
More Like The Butler
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Butler
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Butler about?
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.
Who directed The Butler?
The Butler was directed by Lee Daniels.
Who stars in The Butler?
The principal cast of The Butler includes Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, John Cusack, Jane Fonda.
When was The Butler released and how long is it?
The Butler was released in 2013 with a total runtime of 2h 12m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Butler?
The Butler had a reported production budget of $25M and grossed $177.3M at the worldwide box office (7.09 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for The Butler?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Butler was composed by Rodrigo Leão.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Butler?
The Butler holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: 14A; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 12A (12 Accompanied — Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).