Metacritic Movie Ratings
The Secret Life of Bees Reviews

3.0

out of 100

Metascore^®
Mixed or average reviews
Based on a weighted average of all critic review scores.

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

88

out of 100

Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Above all, it contains characters I care for, played by actors I admire.

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88

out of 100

ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
The other actress to stand out is, unsurprisingly, Queen Latifa, whose intense screen presence makes her a force to be reckoned with even when she's simply standing in the background, not saying anything.

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70

out of 100

The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
An affecting ensemble piece that's destined to generate a fair share of awards-season buzz.

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63

out of 100

USA TodayClaudia Puig
Hampered by over-earnestness and tugs too intently at the heartstrings.

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50

out of 100

The New York TimesA.O. Scott
The film insists so strenuously on its themes of redemption, tolerance, love and healing that it winds up defeating itself, and robbing Ms. Kidd's already maudlin tale of its melodramatic heat.

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50

out of 100

Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
The Secret Life of Bees is a lesson -- or, rather, a whole series of them -- we no longer need to learn. Of course, it's also a divine-sisterhood-defeats-all chick flick, and on that score there's no denying that its clichs are rousingly up to date.

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50

out of 100

Variety
Like a mouthful of honey, The Secret Life of Bees is cloyingly sweet and gooey, and you're not quite sure you can swallow it undiluted.

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50

out of 100

Los Angeles TimesCarina Chocano
What's being sold here is the movie equivalent of the honey-drenched sweet potato biscuits that are forever being passed around on-screen. Their nutritional value may be nil, but they sure look comforting.

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