Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Paul Bettany ...( see more  see more... ) , Sophie Okonedo , Hilarie Burton , Tristan Wilds

With pieces of her past all jumbled up in her head, young Lily Owens seizes an opportunity to leave behind her father and their South Carolina peach farm. Traveling with her nanny, Rosaleen, Lily enco...( read more  read more... )unters the Boatwrights, a trio of beekeeping sisters, who fold the girl into their strange, secret world.

Flixster Users

80% liked it

105,045 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

134 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Release Date: October 17, 2008

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: February 3, 2009

Get It:

Stats: 3,731 reviews

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (3,731)


  • April 4, 2009
    Everytime I cry when watching a movie, it's because I find something in it that I can relate to: a character, a situation, a choice. I see myself in it and the tears don't wait to start coming down like rain. I like to cry when watching a movie, and it's always a sign that the mo...( read more)vie itself is pretty awesome. But this is the first time, and I don't know if it's going to be the last one, that I've ever cried because of a performance, and not a character. For example, when I was watching The Wrestler, I cried for the character, even if I didn't relate to him (Thank God!) but this time, it was the actual performance of Dakota Fanning that set the tone for a nice crying when her breakdown near the end came along. I was moved to tears without even a warning, and I realized she has become the mature actress we all knew she was going to be someday, sooner or later. She has never been this subtle before, developing depth instead of sass or simple emotion. She has always been terrific (I still think her performance in Uptown Girls is fantastic, as her roles in Man on fire, Hide and Seek and I am Sam) but now she goes far away from her usual gimmicks and finds a new voice in the hands of a beautiful character and an awesome screenplay, which could've gone wrong (Lifetime wrong) but didn't.

    A gorgeous story of hope, anger, guilt and pain, surrounded by a magnificent production design and cinematography, along with a nice, quiet direction from Gina Prince-Bythewood, that puts emphasis in gazes, silence and subtlety, setting the perfect tone for breakdowns and crying, instead of filling the entire movie with grief, which would've become a cheesy chick-flick instead of the Southern masterpiece that it is.

    The entire cast is at the top of their game, from an awesome, almost divine, lovely Queen Latifah to a cute, masterful Sophie Okonedo (great, as usual) and a haunting Paul Bettany in a character I'd have loved to see more developed that it was. The thing is, I have a problem with Alicia Keys. I mean, if Norah Jones was able to make a good debut in My Blueberry Nights (of course, guided by WKW, duh), why couldn't she be at least mildly convincing at all?! She was dull from start to finish. But still, the whole movie made such an impact in me that I kept forgiving the filmmakers for trusting her with this. As for Jennifer Hudson, I'm starting to think she actually has a great future in front of her. I haven't seen Dreamgirls but she blew me away in this film, and I hope that all the haters see her here in order to realize she's a pretty damn good actress besides some cheesy diva musical.

    Awesome high-class drama. Nothing less than that.
  • March 9, 2009
    I love movies that tell a great story and make me cry. The Secret Life of Bees is one of those movies. It's the story of the different relationships people have, love, how we relate to one another, and changing times.
    Everyone in this cast gave a stellar performance. Dakota Fann...( read more)ing, I usually tend to find a bit annoying. But I seemed to love her in this, and even relate to Lily. Sophie Okonedo broke my heart, as May. She carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and the pain in her heart. As someone with soft heart, I can empathize with how difficult that would be. Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Hudson all gave outstanding performances in this film as strong, fearless women.
    The Secret Life of Bees is a must see movie, but you may want to bring a box of Kleenex or two.
  • February 21, 2009
    A brilliant cast! I thought that the chemistry was great between all of the female actresses, and a really inspiring story.
  • February 9, 2009
    Very different is my first thought. I've been wanting to see this for quite some time, finally rented it. Dakota Fanning was great in this. The scenery was very pretty. All the other ladies were great as well. It's just a sweet story.
  • February 8, 2009
    Living under the tight control of her alcoholic father T. Ray (Paul Bettany), young teen Lily (Dakota Fanning) is dealing with her own guilt over her mother's death and the questions left behind. Leaving T. Ray, Lily and fugitive housekeeper Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson) hit the roa...( read more)d, soon stumbling upon the Boatwright family, June (Alicia Keys), May (Sophie Okonedo), and August (Queen Latifah), and their business of honey production. Joining the women under false pretenses, Lily finds a safe haven amongst the family, who allow the girl an opportunity to find herself and seek out answers to the mystery of her mother while tending to the bees. In a truly unprecedented tale for its time which finds the highly-educated, intelligent, compassionate and wealthy Boatwright women owning their own land and business, it's refreshing for a period film to provide fully realized characters for a predominantly African-American female cast as in most 60's. Fanning gives her best performance to date, really starting to come into her own as a remarkable young actress with extraordinary emotional depth. Hudson and Latifah are excellent, infusing the material with a sense of personal pride that helps balance out the occasionally cornball contrivances. The Secret Life of Bees puts something of a high-gloss sheen on times and struggles that were far harsher than the film suggests. But the narrative seems true to the thoughts and perceptions of its teen protagonist, a girl who's become something of a hero to an entire generation.
  • February 4, 2010
    Ain't Dakota Fanning the cutest ting EVER???
  • February 2, 2010
    I was disappointed by Dakota Fanning. I feel her acting ability has decreased since 'Man on Fire'. In the emotionally intense scenes, I felt her belief was missing. Queen Latifah was wonderful. Her mothering and welcoming nature beamed through the wreckage, she called, her home a...( read more)nd life. With a brilliant score and gorgeous scenery, 'The Secret Life of Bees' touches on issues that are regularly avoided.
  • January 27, 2010
    What a lovely film filled with hope, inspiration and above all, love. The cast seem perfect and are all very believable. Fanning is such a good actress and will have so much to offer to cinema for many years to come. Latifah is also very good, playing a very restrained character ...( read more)is roles she should take up more often. I enjoyed this film because not only did it have a sense of 'girl power' about it, but it was inspiring and realistic.
  • January 25, 2010
    I wanted to move in with this inspiring family too!
  • January 17, 2010
    I absolutely loved it!

Critic Reviews


December 5, 2008
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

A god-awful chick flick about black women bonding in a sugary, never-never South. It should be renamed How to Make an American Wilt (and any other viewer). full review

October 18, 2008
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

Buzz should be strong for 'Bees'. A heartfelt and moving adaptation of the beloved novel. full review

October 17, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Those who were moved by the book are likely to find this adaptation affecting and emotionally satisfying. full review

October 17, 2008
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

The Secret Life of Bees insists so strenuously on its themes of redemption, tolerance, love and healing that it winds up defeating itself. full review

October 16, 2008
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Latifah is, as always, pure pleasure to watch. full review

October 16, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

As a realistic portrayal of life in rural South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees is dreaming. As a parable of hope and love, it is enchanting. full review

October 15, 2008
Armond White, The New York Press

Prince-Bythewood, who directed the 1999 romance Love and Basketball, may have intended a showcase for strong black screen actresses, but she neglected to hire more than one. full review

View more The Secret Life of Bees reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • oerigjerogjoierjg
    April 5, 2009
    This is great touching movie that will move you. It also portrays well the racism experienced in 1964.
  • theaterprincess24
    September 13, 2008
    I'm in the middle of reading the book and I think it's kind of a "heavy" plot if you know what I mean. THere's a lot of racism, abuse, and even her mother's murder will be interesting to see on screen. However, it's a heartwarming story and I will probably still go to see it. Dakota Fanning doesn't look anything like how I pictures Lily.
  • mrbicklethepickle
    August 1, 2008
    I loved the book..but I'm still skittish to see it become a movie. They tend to f**k up the story.

    Plus I kinda mad that people don't have original ideas anymore...and have to make a movie based on a book...or they have to remake something ( Cough cough Friday the 13th).

    But anyway..as long as they keep it true to the book... I will probably see it..and like it.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • A Walk to Remember
    A Walk to Remember (55%)
  • The Notebook
    The Notebook (0%)
  • Eleven Minutes
    Eleven Minutes (0%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Secret Life o... : Watch Free on TV


The Secret Life of Bees Trivia


  • Missing word: The secret life of the _____ (08)  Answer »
  • Secret Life of Bees: Who made the "wall of prayers" after her twin sister died?  Answer »
  • Secret Life of Bees: Will Smith was one of the executive producers?  Answer »
  • Which of these actresses was NOT in The Secret Life Of Bees (2008)?  Answer »

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?