The Secret Life of Bees
Seen it?2008 | 114 min | Family, Adventure, Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Audiences rate it highly (7.5 out of 10) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for adventure fans and families. If you loved True Grit or It's a Wonderful Life, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Feel-good.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 54 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
Set in South Carolina in 1964, this is the tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
59% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$40 million worldwide on a $11 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 264K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing
Trailer
More like this
True Grit
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
The Shack
Sunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
It's a Wonderful Life Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
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Weeknight WatchAnother family film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Twitches Too Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Dakota FanningLily Owens
- Queen LatifahAugust Boatwright
- Jennifer HudsonRosaleen Daise
- Alicia KeysJune Boatwright
- Sophie OkonedoMay Boatwright
- Paul BettanyT. Ray Owens
- Hilarie Burton MorganDeborah Owens
- Tristan Mack WildsZach Taylor
- Nate ParkerNeil
- Shondrella AveryGreta