Precious
A brutally intimate Harlem coming-of-age drama follows an abused teenager who discovers that literacy, care, and self-belief can open a path beyond inherited violence.
Overview
A powerful story of resilience and hope against overwhelming odds in a harsh reality.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- harrowing
- unflinching
- melancholic
- reflective viewing
- social issue film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an uncompromising yet ultimately hopeful social drama driven by remarkable performances, especially those of Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Precious begins to build independence through Miss Rain's alternative school and the process of learning to read and write.
Precious daydreams about glamorous situations as brief psychological escapes from abuse, poverty, and social humiliation.
Precious is raped by her father and physically and emotionally abused by her mother, whose welfare dependence also binds the household together.
1987 Harlem, welfare fraud, illiteracy, school exclusion, and limited social support shape Precious's obstacles and possible escape.
Films like Precious, and why
The Florida Project
Shared social realism, coming of age focus, systemic hardship, and emotionally powerful central performance.
Room
Shared intimate family dysfunction, poverty drama, child perspective, and resilient survival themes.
Antwone Fisher
Shared African American social drama, trauma recovery, educational opportunity, and cathartic emotional intensity.
The Color Purple
Shared harrowing domestic abuse, marginalized protagonists, female resilience, and hard won hope.
Movie Details
- Director
- Lee Daniels
- Release Date
- 2009-11-06
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (1826)
Cast
- Gabourey Sidibe
- Mo'Nique
- Paula Patton
- Mariah Carey
- Sherri Shepherd
- Lenny Kravitz
- Stephanie Andujar
- Chyna Layne
- Amina Robinson
- Xosha Roquemore
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Precious about?
- A brutally intimate Harlem coming-of-age drama follows an abused teenager who discovers that literacy, care, and self-belief can open a path beyond inherited violence.
- What is Precious like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Precious as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Precious violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Precious as moderate.
- What did critics think of Precious?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an uncompromising yet ultimately hopeful social drama driven by remarkable performances, especially those of Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique.
- Which films are like Precious?
- Films with a similar feel include The Florida Project, Room, Antwone Fisher, and The Color Purple.
- How long is Precious?
- Precious runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch Precious?
- In United States, Precious streams on MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel.
