The Color Purple | Rotten Tomatoes

The Color Purple

PG-13

Released Dec 18, 1985

2h 32m

Drama

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73%

Tomatometer

126 Reviews

94%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), 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 (Danny Glover), 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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Dorothy Gilliam

Washington Post

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.

May 31, 2023

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

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.

Rated: 4/4

May 31, 2023

Full Review

Anne Marie Biondo

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

The Color Purple is easily the best movie of the year.

Rated: 4/4

May 31, 2023

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Sue Heal

Radio Times

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.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 4, 2024

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

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

Rated: 7/10

Jan 1, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The movie gains in strength the longer it plays out.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 26, 2023

Full Review

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Sam B

One of my all time favorite movies. Whoopi gives a stunning performance, very emotional & powerful. The ending gets me every time I watch it, just beautiful!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

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annette Z

Alice walker ! Thank you for sharing this story with us.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/06/24

Full Review

Leofredo M

Exelente historia mucho mejor que la nueva

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

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Alec B

It has some incredible performances and despite Spielberg's more sentimental leanings the movie has several successful emotional arcs..

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/04/24

Full Review

BRENDEN J

The Color Purple was a great classic film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

Blu B

All Time Classic. The only minor issue is the editing is really well done but it can seem like certain scenes don't necessarily link together at first and feel like there just events that happen like with Harpo, Sofia, and Sugh that are only tied by Celie which i does remain squarely focused on her for most of the time in some shape or form. However, it all comes beautifully together in the second half. This is masterfully directed and is absolutely a tearjerker but it never feels like its tugging on the heartstrings to make up for a lack of character or substance far from it. The characters are riveting even the dispicable ones. Glover is amazing, Goldberg is a natural talent, and Sofia and Shug are riveting. the score is super memorable and moving and masterfully shot. It's a heartwarming ending after dealing with 2 hours of perilous melodrama and a celebration of family and hope. Everyone should give this a try once.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

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Steven Spielberg

Director

Whoopi Goldberg

Celie

Danny Glover

Albert

Margaret Avery

Shug Avery

Oprah Winfrey

Sofia

Willard E. Pugh

Harpo

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Synopsis

An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), 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 (Danny Glover), 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: Peter Guber, Jon Peters
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 32m
Sound Mix: Surround

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