What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Help
Kathryn Stockett · Book · 2009
If you loved The Help, start with The Help (2011) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Help across media.
What hooked you in The Help was the way historical social upheaval is navigated through the intimate, complex bonds between women.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Help
Film · 2011
Films on the same thread
The Housemaid
Paul Feig · Film · 2025
Explores: Class Conflict, Gaslighting, Identity Theft.
Much like The Help, this story centers on the domestic power dynamics between an employer and a housemaid, escalating the tension found in household service into a high-stakes psychological game.
Hidden Figures
Film · 2016
Shares a thread with The Help: Civil Rights movement.
If you appreciated the focus on systemic racial barriers in The Help, you will admire this true story of brilliant women asserting their agency against prejudice during the civil rights era.
Gone with the Wind
Victor Fleming · Film · 1939
Explores: Survival, Reconstruction Era, Lost Cause.
Fans of The Help who are drawn to the Southern setting and the way personal lives are irrevocably shaped by the turbulent history of the region will appreciate this classic drama.
Little Women
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2019
Explores: Sisterhood, Female ambition, Artistic expression.
If the deep exploration of female friendship and sisterhood in The Help resonated with you, this story of four sisters coming of age offers a similarly moving look at family bonds.
Series on the same thread
Call the Midwife
Heidi Thomas · Series · 2012
Explores: Women's Issues, Community, Social Issues.
Like The Help, this series uses a mid-century historical backdrop to highlight the struggles and community support found among women working to improve their lives in a changing social landscape.
Downton Abbey
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2010
Explores: Class conflict, Social change, Upstairs-Downstairs.
The Help explores the rigid hierarchy between classes, and this series provides a broader look at that same dynamic by examining the complex relationships between the aristocratic family and their servants.
Gossip Girl
Stephanie Savage · Series · 2007
Explores: Privilege, Social Status, Secrets.
While the setting is modern, those who enjoyed the focus on social status and the secrets kept behind closed doors in The Help will find familiar themes in this privileged world.
The Gilded Age
Julian Fellowes · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with The Help: Social Class.
This series mirrors the class conflict and social ambition seen in The Help, focusing on women navigating the strict societal expectations of their time while forging unexpected and important personal alliances.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If The Help sparked your interest in the systemic injustices of American history, this documentary series provides a deeper, factual exploration of the societal foundations that shaped those racial realities.
We Can Do Hard Things
Treat Media and Glennon Doyle · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Vulnerability, Personal growth, Emotional support.
The Help emphasizes the power of finding one's voice, and this podcast offers a modern, raw space for women to share their own truths and support each other through life's challenges.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Help book different from the 2011 movie adaptation?
The 2011 movie is an adaptation of the 2009 book titled The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Both versions follow the story of Skeeter, a young woman in 1962 Mississippi who seeks to understand the experiences of the maids who raised her, including the disappearance of her beloved maid Constantine.
What is the premise of The Help?
The Help centers on three women in 1962 Mississippi who take an extraordinary step together. The story begins with Skeeter returning home from college to a mother who wants her to marry, only to find that Constantine, the maid who raised her, has disappeared from her life.
Should I read The Help before watching the 2011 movie?
Reading the 2009 book The Help before watching the 2011 movie adaptation is a personal preference. Both versions explore the same narrative of Skeeter and her journey in 1962 Mississippi, so consuming either one provides the same foundational story regarding the characters and the disappearance of Constantine.
How does the 1962 setting impact the story of The Help?
The 1962 Mississippi setting is central to The Help as it defines the societal expectations placed upon Skeeter after she graduates from Ole Miss. This historical context frames the challenges faced by the women in the story and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Skeeter's maid, Constantine.