Overview
A powerful tale of resilience and sisterhood in the face of adversity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- harrowing
- poignant
- sincere
- reflective viewing
- literary adaptation night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a worthy, well-acted, emotionally powerful adaptation, while some find Spielberg’s production overly sentimental.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Celie’s story begins at age fourteen and follows roughly thirty years of her life.
Celie and other Black women face sexual abuse, patriarchal control, racism, and restricted autonomy.
The film uses the early twentieth-century American South and expansive period imagery as the backdrop for Celie’s domestic struggle.
Nettie’s separation from Celie and the Africa-related correspondence make written communication central to the story.
Films like The Color Purple, and why
Beloved
shared period drama form, racial oppression themes, and an emotionally devastating woman-centered struggle
The Help
shared historical drama setting, Black female resilience, and themes of abuse, autonomy, and empowerment
The Joy Luck Club
shared epic life-spanning drama, intimate family relationships, and cathartic emotional tone
Precious
shared southern setting, domestic violence themes, and a protagonist seeking dignity and self-determination
Movie Details
- Director
- Steven Spielberg
- Release Date
- 1985-12-18
- Runtime
- 154 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (2040)
Cast
- Danny Glover
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Margaret Avery
- Oprah Winfrey
- Willard E. Pugh
- Akosua Busia
- Desreta Jackson
- Adolph Caesar
- Rae Dawn Chong
- Dana Ivey
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 The Color Purple about?
- A sweeping period drama follows Celie from abused girlhood toward self-worth, sisterhood, and hard-won independence in the American South.
- What is The Color Purple like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Color Purple as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Color Purple violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Color Purple as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Color Purple?
- Critics broadly regard it as a worthy, well-acted, emotionally powerful adaptation, while some find Spielberg’s production overly sentimental.
- Which films are like The Color Purple?
- Films with a similar feel include Beloved, The Help, The Joy Luck Club, and Precious.
- How long is The Color Purple?
- The Color Purple runs 154 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Color Purple?
- In United States, The Color Purple is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
