The Color Purple

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The Color Purple

PG-13

1985

2h 33m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

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128 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.

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Critics Consensus

It might have been better served by a filmmaker with a deeper connection to the source material, but The Color Purple remains a worthy, well-acted adaptation of Alice Walker's classic novel.

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Nadira Goffe

Slate

Jun 11, 2026

If a director’s job is to elicit great performances and create a unified, harmonious piece of work that makes you feel something, I simply can’t say that Spielberg failed.

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Dorothy Gilliam

Washington Post

May 31, 2023

I anxiously awaited the coming of this movie. Last week I saw it, and I was not disappointed. Indeed, when it concluded, I stood up and cheered.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

May 31, 2023

4/4

It is a great, warm, hard, unforgiving, triumphant movie, and there is not a scene that does not shine with the love of the people who made it.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Mar 20, 2026

6/10

Despite featuring committed performances from Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover, it's a Spielberg rural drama that tends to become redundant in exploring its themes of racism, misogyny, and systemic abuse. [Full review in Spanish]

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Sue Heal

Radio Times

Apr 4, 2024

4/5

Whoopi Goldberg is wonderful in the lead, Danny Glover and Margaret Avery are sublime, and watch out for a pre-TV-fame Oprah Winfrey playing very out of character.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Jan 1, 2024

7/10

Celie’s journey, though wrought with hardships, is thought-provoking, educational, nerve-wracking and, finally, wholesome and triumphant.

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Deb B

@DebBeast Oct 13, 2026

One of my all time favorites! Everyone should see this movie!

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 2, 2026

It's a Shame that Out of Africa beat this movie out for an Academy Award for best movie. I laughed, a cried, I felt exuberant at the ending, thus my *5* star rating!

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Michael H

@PoisonClan73 Jun 28, 2026

This movie belongs in the top ten of any greatest movie lists. I had no interest in seeing it the first time I watched it 30 years ago. Now if it's on TV and I see it while flipping through channels, I'm going no further. If this movie doesn't bring you to tears at least once per viewing, ESPECIALLY if you have kids, then you are not human. Heartbreaking and uplifting. The perfect movie.

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Molly R

@Mollygirl007 Jun 19, 2026

Wonderful movie, I watch it at least once a year. It's a classic

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Isabella H

@MrsHamilton Jun 2, 2026

This is truly one of the best films I have ever seen. This is the oldest movie that I have watched, so I was a tad bit unsure of what it would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised. After finishing the novel, I watched this and thought it was a brilliant adaptation. Whoopi Goldberg was the perfect choice to play Celie. She captured her nervous energy perfectly. I was blown away by Oprah Winfrey's performance as Sofia. They couldn't have found somebody better to play her. Especially in the scene where she gets assaulted. My heart broke for her. It was horrifying and incredibly confronting. Margaret Avery was brilliant as Shug. Also just realized that she shares the same last name as the character she plays! A sign that it was meant to be! The actress that played young Nettie was absolutely brilliant. The best child actor I've seen. My heart broke when she had to leave Celie. Absolutely heart wrenching. This is a must watch for everyone! 5 stars. If you loved this movie read the book.

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Adam K

@SunsetLonerCinema May 31, 2026

Great performances and a quality in filmmaking are certainly not abandoned, even if Spielberg may not have been the best filmmaker to take it its sensitive and important thematic material.

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Steven Spielberg

Director

Whoopi Goldberg

Celie

Danny Glover

Albert

Margaret Avery

Shug Avery

Oprah Winfrey

Sofia

Willard E. Pugh

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Synopsis

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. After Celie's abusive father marries her off to the equally debasing "Mister" Albert Johnson, things go from bad to worse, leaving Celie to find companionship anywhere she can. She perseveres, holding on to her dream of one day being reunited with her sister in Africa. Based on the novel by Alice Walker.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy
Screenwriter: Alice Walker, Menno Meyjes
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Guber-Peters Company, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $93.4M
Runtime: 2h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround

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