Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Seen it?2009 | 110 min | Drama
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 2 Oscars, it made about 6 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 50 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father, and at home she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret – she can't read.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.3 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress, Academy Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture. Won 1 SAG Award: Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Supporting Actress. Won 1 Critics' Choice Award: Critics' Choice Awards: Best Supporting Actress. Won 5 Independent Spirit Awards: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Feature, Independent Spirit Awards: Best Director, Independent Spirit Awards: Best Female Lead, Independent Spirit Awards: Best Supporting Female and 1 more. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars, 2 more Golden Globes and 2 more SAG Awards. Plus 11 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$63 million worldwide on a $10 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 616K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Lee Daniels
- Gabourey SidibePrecious
- Mo'NiqueMary
- Paula PattonMs. Rain
- Mariah CareyMs. Weiss
- Sherri ShepherdCornrows
- Lenny KravitzNurse John
- Stephanie AndujarRita
- Chyna LayneRhonda
- Amina RobinsonJermaine
- Xosha RoquemoreJoann