The Color Purple

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.

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Where to Watch

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent The Color Purple on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

The Color Purple

What to Know

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (126) Critics Reviews

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

Full Review

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

Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

Afraz H This movie is a sweet innocent story. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/25/24 Full Review 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 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/14/24 Full Review annette Z Alice walker ! Thank you for sharing this story with us. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/06/24 Full Review Leofredo M Exelente historia mucho mejor que la nueva Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/05/24 Full Review Alec B It has some incredible performances and despite Spielberg's more sentimental leanings the movie has several successful emotional arcs.. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/04/24 Full Review BRENDEN J The Color Purple was a great classic film. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The Color Purple

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Steven Spielberg Director Whoopi Goldberg Celie Danny Glover Albert Margaret Avery Shug Avery Oprah Winfrey Sofia Willard E. Pugh Harpo

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home

39% 75% The Legend of Billie Jean 20% 79% Stealing Home 84% 75% Gorillas in the Mist 80% 85% 'Night, Mother 82% 64% Crimes of the Heart Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News

10 Films and TV Shows to Watch on Juneteenth Know Your Critic: Kay-B, Entertainment Journalist, Critic, and Podcast Producer 87 Fearless Women Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us

Videos

View All videos

The Color Purple

David Oyelowo's Five Favorite Films

1:06

View more videos

Photos

View All The Color Purple photos

The Color Purple

A scene from the film "The Color Purple."

The Color Purple (1985)

Poster Art

The Color Purple (1985)

View more photos

Movie Info

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: Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Quincy Jones
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