The Secret Life of Bees (2008): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Secret Life of Bees is a 2008 drama directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Hudson. It is based on The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. It earned $40 million worldwide on a $11 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Young Performer at the Critics' Choice 2009. Critics gave it 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.
- Released
- Director
- Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Fox Searchlight Pictures
- Budget
- $11M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Secret Life of Bees About?
The premise of The Secret Life of Bees without spoilers, adapted from The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1964 South Carolina, fourteen-year-old Lily Owens runs away from her difficult home with Rosaleen, her caregiver and closest friend. Seeking safety and answers, she finds herself on the doorstep of the Boatwright sisters, who are beekeepers. As Lily integrates into their unique world, she begins to learn about her mother’s hidden history and the circumstances surrounding her death. Along the way, she confronts painful truths and discovers the power of female friendship and self-acceptance.
The Secret Life of Bees Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- neglected child
- psychological abuse
- dysfunctional family
- abusive father
- child abuse
- f rated
- cake
- freedom
- sneaking out
- river
- babysitter
- pessimism
+38 more Show fewer
- new home
- human behavior
- single father
- attempted filicide
- friend
- friendship
- angst
- losing one's temper
- house
- stone wall
- rudeness
- ruthlessness
- intergenerational friendship
- strictness
- adoption
- adopted daughter
- anger
- bad temper
- disappointment
- revenge plot
- envy
- new family
- revenge
- ingratitude
- widower
- hatred
- release
- selfishness
- betrayal
- religion
- cruelty
- female protagonist
- family abandonment
- new family at the end of the film
- father seeks revenge
- year 1964
- insect in title
- female director
The Secret Life of Bees Cast
Queen Latifah leads the cast, with Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Hudson. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.
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Director Gina Prince-Bythewood
More from Gina Prince-Bythewood
More films directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, best-rated first: Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights, The Old Guard and The Woman King.
The Secret Life of Bees Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Secret Life of Bees 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.
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IMDb 7.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 60% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 78%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 57 Metascore
User score 6.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 75% User score
See on TMDB
The Secret Life of Bees Plot Summary
What happens in The Secret Life of Bees from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins in 1964, amidst the tumult of the civil rights movement. We meet Lily, a girl on the brink of turning fourteen, grappling with an abusive father and the absence of her mother. The story kicks off with a haunting scene where a woman, Deborah Owens (portrayed by Hilarie Burton), frantically gathers clothing into a suitcase, accompanied by a child enamored with a marble and a mirror. In a fit of rage, a man storms in, confronting her as she desperately reaches for a gun. A struggle ensues, resulting in a tragic accident that leaves the young Lily deeply traumatized. She confesses, > “I killed my mother when I was four years old. That’s what I knew about myself.
Full summary
The whole story of The Secret Life of Bees, scene by scene
The Secret Life of Bees Box Office & Budget
The Secret Life of Bees grossed $40 million worldwide on a $11 million budget, 3.6 times what it cost. $37.8 million came from the US and Canada and $2.2 million (5%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$40M
3.6× its budget
- US & Canada
- $37.8M
- International
- $2.2M
- Budget
- $11M
The Secret Life of Bees Awards & Nominations
The Secret Life of Bees earned 1 award nomination, including Best Young Performer at the Critics' Choice 2009.
1 nomination1 ceremony
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Critics' Choice 2009 1 nomination- Nominated Best Young Performer – Dakota Fanning
The Secret Life of Bees Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Secret Life of Bees.
How Well Do You Know The Secret Life of Bees?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In what year does 'The Secret Life of Bees' take place?
Cars in The Secret Life of Bees
21 cars on screen, including the 1955 Chevrolet Task-Force and the 1958 Ford F-100.
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1955 Chevrolet Task-Force Important role -
1958 Ford F-100 Important role -
1951 Ford F-Series Important role -
1961 Ford Galaxie Important role
The Secret Life of Bees Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “La vida secreta de las abejas” and “Mehiläisten salaisuudet”.
- Also known as
-
- La vida secreta de las abejas
- Mehiläisten salaisuudet
- Bienes Hemmelige Liv
- Die Bienenhüterin
- La vita segreta delle api
- Le Secret de Lily Owens
- Tajný život včel
- Тайная жизнь пчел
- A Vida Secreta das Abelhas
- החיים הסודיים של הדבורים
- A méhek titkos élete
- Таємне життя бджіл
+13 more Show fewer
- Sekretne życie pszczół
- Тайният живот на пчелите
- Sabor a miel
- 蜜蜂的秘密生活
- Viața secretă a albinelor
- 벌들의 비밀 생활
- Η μυστική ζωή των μελισσών
- Hayatın Getirdikleri
- Slaptas bičių gyvenimas
- Biernes hemmelige liv
- リリィ、はちみつ色の秘密
- 蜂蜜罐上的聖瑪利
- สูตรรักรสน้ำผึ้ง
Seen The Secret Life of Bees?
Movies Like The Secret Life of Bees
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Tell It to the Bees, Bee Season and Queen Bees.
The Secret Life of Bees FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of The Secret Life of Bees, each answered in a sentence.
When was The Secret Life of Bees released?
The Secret Life of Bees was released on October 17, 2008.
Who directed The Secret Life of Bees?
The Secret Life of Bees was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.
More films by Gina Prince-Bythewood Who is in the cast of The Secret Life of Bees?
The Secret Life of Bees stars Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Hudson.
How much did The Secret Life of Bees make at the box office?
The Secret Life of Bees grossed $40 million worldwide ($37.8 million domestic, $2.2 million international) on a budget of $11 million.
How is The Secret Life of Bees rated?
The Secret Life of Bees has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.
Is The Secret Life of Bees based on a book?
Yes. The Secret Life of Bees is adapted from The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.
Was The Secret Life of Bees nominated for any awards?
The Secret Life of Bees received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does The Secret Life of Bees have a post-credit scene?
No. The Secret Life of Bees has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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