Directed by:
Lee DanielsCinematography:
Andrew DunnComposer:
Rodrigo LeãoCast:
Forest Whitaker, David Banner, Michael Rainey Jr., LaJessie Smith, Mariah Carey, Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Redgrave, Aml Ameen, Clarence Williams III (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
The Butler is set against the tumultuous political backdrop of 20th century America. Director Lee Daniels’ epic drama tells the story of White House butler Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), who serves during seven presidential administrations between 1957 and 1986. The film is inspired by Wil Haygood’s 2008 Washington Post article “A Butler Well Served by This Election” which chronicled the real life of former White House butler Eugene Allen. Through the eyes and emotions of the Gaines family, Daniels’ film follows the changing tides of American politics and race relations; from the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, to the Freedom Riders and Black Panther movements, to the war in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal, Cecil experiences the effects of these events as both an insider and a family man. (Entertainment in Video)
(more)Cast
![James DuMont](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/877/161877734_8a46c9.jpg)
James DuMont
Best movies:
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Seabiscuit (2003)
![Robin Williams](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/996/163996828_09b209.png)
Robin Williams
USA
Best movies:
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Awakenings (1990)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
![John Cusack](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267446_915377.jpg)
John Cusack
USA
Best movies:
Stand by Me (1986)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen (2012) - a.f.
![Yaya DaCosta](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/334/334337_e5c94a.jpg)
Yaya DaCosta
USA
Best movies:
In Time (2011)
The Nice Guys (2016)
TRON: Legacy (2010)
![Jesse Williams](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/181/163181245_0154dc.png)
Jesse Williams
USA
Best movies:
The Butler (2013)
Brooklyn's Finest (2009)
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
![James Marsden](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/160/164160226_c49a9f.jpg)
James Marsden
USA
Best movies:
Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road (2002)
The Notebook (2004)
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
![Minka Kelly](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/877/162877139_75483b.png)
Minka Kelly
USA
Best movies:
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Kingdom (2007)
The Butler (2013)
Stephen Rider
Best movies:
Harley and the Davidsons (2016) (series)
The Great Debaters (2007)
The Butler (2013)
![Danny Strong](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/278/278623_e760ce.jpg)
Danny Strong
USA
Best movies:
Seabiscuit (2003)
Pleasantville (1998)
Dangerous Minds (1995)
![Elijah Kelley](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/278/278200_4684aa.jpg)
Elijah Kelley
USA
Best movies:
The Butler (2013)
Take the Lead (2006)
A Lesson Before Dying (1999) (TV movie)
![Liev Schreiber](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/409/162409864_eeff8d.jpg)
Liev Schreiber
USA
Best movies:
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Spotlight (2015)
Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003) (TV movie)
Dana Gourrier
Best movies:
Django Unchained (2012)
The Hateful Eight (2015)
The Butler (2013)
![Nelsan Ellis](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/279/279731_8f2662.jpg)
Nelsan Ellis
USA
Best movies:
The Help (2011)
The Express (2008)
Secretariat (2010)
Pernell Walker
Best movies:
The Night Of (2016) (series)
Vinyl (2016) (series)
The Butler (2013)
Alex Manette
USA
Best movies:
Disconnect (2012)
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Never Forever (2007)
![Mo McRae](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/756/162756548_5b1aa2.png)
Mo McRae
USA
Best movies:
Den of Thieves (2018)
Wild (2014)
The Butler (2013)
![Alan Rickman](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/679/163679115_83fed8.png)
Alan Rickman
UK
Best movies:
Die Hard (1988)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Love Actually (2003)
![Jane Fonda](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/390/164390332_c83cf3.jpg)
Jane Fonda
USA
Best movies:
On Golden Pond (1981)
Coming Home (1978)
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
John L. Armijo
USA
Best movies:
Deepwater Horizon (2016)
Now You See Me (2013)
21 Jump Street (2012)
Jon Arthur
USA
Best movies:
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Escape Plan (2013)