Buy new:
Save with Used - Good
Image Unavailable
Color:
-
-
-
- Sorry, this item is not available in
- Image not available
- To view this video download Flash Player
The Secret Life of Bees [Blu-ray]
Return this item for free
We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select your preferred free shipping option
- Drop off and leave!
Learn more
Return this item for free
We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select your preferred free shipping option
- Drop off and leave!
Additional Multi-Format options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
Watch Instantly with ![]() | Rent | Buy |
Purchase options and add-ons
Genre | Drama, Book To Film |
Format | Color, AC-3, Dubbed, Dolby, NTSC, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen, Multiple Formats, Blu-ray See more |
Contributor | Nate Parker, Rene Clark, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Sharon Morris, Shondrella Avery, Sue Monk Kidd, Sophie Okonedo, Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Alicia Keys, Hilarie Burton, Jennifer Hudson, Paul Bettany, Tristan Wilds See more |
Language | English |
Runtime | 1 hour and 50 minutes |
Frequently bought together
![The Secret Life of Bees [Blu-ray]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71xR+wXSaGL._AC_UL116_SR116,116_.jpg)
Customers who bought this item also bought
Product Description
Product Description
THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, based on the New York Times best selling novel and set in South Carolina in 1964, is the moving tale of Lily Owens (Fanning) a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother (Burton). To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father (Bettany), Lily flees with Rosaleen (Hudson), her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother's past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters (Latifah, Okonedo and Keys), Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping, honey and the Black Madonna.
Amazon.com
Headed by an all-star cast of women, The Secret Life of Bees is the heartwarming and well-told story of a young girl who finds love and acceptance from a trio of independent sisters. The Secret Life of Bees is based on the bestselling book of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd and centers around the plight of 14-year-old Lily (Dakota Fanning). Assuming the burden for her mother's premature death, she has a precarious relationship with her abusive father T. Ray (Paul Bettany). Lily's only friend is her caregiver Rosaleen (Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson). Set in South Carolina in 1964, when civil rights wasn't a given, Rosaleen's life is threatened by racists who'd just as soon see her dead than exercise her right to vote. Lily runs away with her to a town she believes may hold the secrets of her mother's life. There the pair meet the Boatwright sisters August (Queen Latifah), June (Alicia Keys) and May (Sophie Okonedo)--who produce the area's famous Black Madonna honey. They eventually provide Lily with the unconditional love she never felt she had and also show Rosaleen that being a black woman in the South doesn't mean she can't have a sense of worth. The Secret Life of Bees doesn't try to pass itself off as a historical documentation of race relations in the 1960s. But the fictional slice of life still resonates because of the feelings of injustice that it stirs up. Though the film is written to show the disparity between blacks and whites, there is always a strong sense of hope, thanks to the lead actresses who bring empathy and dignity to their roles. Hudson exhibits some of the same quiet grace that Regina Taylor brought to her role as the family housekeeper in the superb TV series I'll Fly Away. Latifah has the part of wise matriarch down pat, even when she's playing a sister rather than a mother. And it's clear that Fanning is making a seamless transition from kid to young adult roles. Whether she's giving an impassioned monologue or listening thoughtfully, Fanning brings nuance and intelligence to her role. --Jae-Ha Kim
Beyond The Secret Life of Bees
Australia
The Ultimate Gift
Amazing Grace
Stills from The Secret Life of Bees (Click for larger image)
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 2.35:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
- Product Dimensions : 7.5 x 0.7 x 5.4 inches; 2.08 ounces
- Director : Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Media Format : Color, AC-3, Dubbed, Dolby, NTSC, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen, Multiple Formats, Blu-ray
- Run time : 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Release date : January 21, 2014
- Actors : Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo
- Dubbed: : Spanish
- Subtitles: : English, French, Spanish
- Language : English (DTS 5.1), French (Dolby Surround), Spanish (Dolby Surround)
- Studio : Fox Searchlight
- ASIN : B001NLJ3N0
- Writers : Gina Prince-Bythewood, Sue Monk Kidd
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #23,219 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #2,715 in Drama Blu-ray Discs
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this movie to be a well-crafted film with a heartwarming story that moves viewers to both laughter and tears. The cast receives praise for their splendid performances, and customers appreciate its educational value about bees and beekeeping. While many customers consider it worth the purchase, some express disappointment.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers praise the movie's quality, describing it as amazing and worth watching, with one customer noting it follows the book quite well.
"Great movie" Read more
"Good movie and watched it on Amazon" Read more
"...A great movie for learning about not giving up...." Read more
"Love this movie !" Read more
Customers praise the cast of the movie, highlighting its A-list actors and actresses, with one customer noting the strength of the main characters.
"...movies I would love to watch ever so often through out my life, great cast." Read more
"...Great cast too." Read more
"Well done, great acting, but not as good as the book. Still definitely worth watching, but I would suggest you read it first...." Read more
"...Watching the movie brought back all the reasons I loved the book. Great acting, very enjoyable movie!" Read more
Customers find this movie heartwarming, describing it as an emotionally filled experience that moves them to both laughter and tears.
"...Nothing was over-done but points were made. Quirky, inspiring and beautiful. Don’t miss the bonus material...." Read more
"Wonderful and riveting. Brought me to tears both happy and sad. Being a beekeeper gives me a unique perspective on this movie. Highly recommend it." Read more
"...The beautiful cast, strong and outspoken, gentle and poignant, was a pleasure to watch. All the women were very fine...." Read more
"...Helps you to laugh, cry, feel invigorated and gives you a positive outlook on life. August 30, 2015 - I've never viewed this work...." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the movie, describing it as beautifully crafted and well done.
"...to be one of the finest actresses around, not to mention, she's just beautiful. She lights up the movie...." Read more
"This is a movie that’s so well done I can never get tired watching it Great cast Queen Latifia everyone one does awesome job I just love it..." Read more
"Well done, great acting, but not as good as the book. Still definitely worth watching, but I would suggest you read it first...." Read more
"Great American literature carefully and purposefully brought to screen. Great acting all around...." Read more
Customers find the movie very entertaining and enjoyable, noting that it will make you laugh and is worth watching with others.
"...cast are wonderful as well, and the story line is very unique and rewarding. I would love to have lived in this movie." Read more
"Very entertaining." Read more
"thought provoking, funny and sad..." Read more
"...beautiful cast, strong and outspoken, gentle and poignant, was a pleasure to watch. All the women were very fine...." Read more
Customers find the movie to be a great value and well worth the purchase.
"Great movie, The Secret Life of Bees. Great price too." Read more
"Super product" Read more
"...Highly, highly recommend. Sue Munk Kidd is a remarkable author. Read the book, too!!" Read more
"...I will watch it again, so it's worth owning. Another plus, despite it being only a single disc edition, it has pretty good extras on it!..." Read more
Customers appreciate the movie's educational value about bees and beekeeping, with one customer noting how it reminds them of their childhood surrounded by these insects.
"Secret life of bees..." Read more
"Great movie, The Secret Life of Bees. Great price too." Read more
"the secret life of bees..." Read more
"...who give up life to be together and make the most of it, was inspiring with the bees and also the sister who had depression, showed the love of a..." Read more
Customers have mixed reactions to the movie's emotional content, with several noting tearful moments and describing it as a great tear-jerker, while others express disappointment.
"...Sometimes, the film goes over-the-top in pulling at heart strings and can be a bit over sentimental...." Read more
"...There are several tearful moments in the film and those were still tearful (ok, for the guys who won't cry, let's say "heart wenching") the second..." Read more
"...movie had a great cast and the movie was well presented, but too abridged for me. I should have waited longer after reading the book...." Read more
"...I would definitely recommend it to anyone who's look for a good drama" Read more
Reviews with images

The Secret Life of Bees
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2025Remarkable movie. We watched it as a family light movie (kids are 8, 12, and 14) and they all enjoyed it. We try very hard to talk about race and equality in our home and this helped with great discussion. Highly, highly recommend. Sue Munk Kidd is a remarkable author. Read the book, too!!
- Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2025This movie was awesome. I had not seen nor heard of this movie until a reel online. Taking the chance, I ordered it and I am so glad I did. This one was tough to watch, but so good.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2025Good movie and watched it on Amazon
- Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2025Great movie
- Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2025Read the book about twenty years and loved it. Not sure why it took me so long to watch the movie. I thought the plot was strong and not too much violence. It's heartwarming with strong cast, tugged at my heartstrings and I identified with so many of the strong and also emotional traits of the ladies portrayed in this movie.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2025What a beautiful story line🥰🥰
- Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2010When I saw this film advertised, I wanted to see it because I like all the actresses. However, I didn't think it was a "theatre" movie. So I waited for DVD thinking the film would not be improved by seeing it on the big screen, which was the case. In fact, I think I enjoyed it more for being able to curl up on my sofa with it like I would with a good book. I will watch it again, so it's worth owning. Another plus, despite it being only a single disc edition, it has pretty good extras on it! There are featurettes on: behind the scenes, character studies, a tour of the set with the book author and more. They are all worth watching, unlike so many extras that are thrown on so they can say there are extras (trailers!? please.)
I have not read the book. But, after seeing the movie I now want to read it - which says a lot about how good it was. I love Queen Latifah, and she is known for good comedy roles, but I was struck by just how strong an actress she is. This role required subtle acting and she delivered. Often films set in this time period are mired in sadness and violence. This film shows the ugly part of racism, but doesn't dwell on it. The emphasis is more heartwarming. That's not to say it won't have you in tears at certain moments, for tragic reasons and for happy. Sometimes, the film goes over-the-top in pulling at heart strings and can be a bit over sentimental. However, I can forgive that since this isn't a popcorn movie. It's the story of one girl, and the women who come to shape her life. I considered giving it five stars, but realized that even though I liked it, it just wasn't up to the standard of films like The Color Purple. As an adaptation, TCP was stunning and the scale was nearly epic in the telling.
It's almost ironic that all three of the main actresses are first and foremost known as singers, yet each delivered an excellent performance that made me believe they were the character. Jennifer Hudson should consider dropping the music and concentrating on film - I'd certainly like to see more of her. Overall, I found the movie to be very good (but not outstanding) and the acting to be truly stellar. Recommended.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2025Great movie
Top reviews from other countries
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2010
5.0 out of 5 stars A special story
This is the first review I've ever written, but a few minutes ago I finished watching The Secret Life of Bees. The book by Sue Monk Kidd was brilliant, and gripping from start to finish and you knew exactly what was going to happen to those two young people at the end. The DVD was just as good, and the actors seemed to just step out of the book, they were so well matched to the parts. There were a couple of moments where one saw how very intolerant and bigoted some white people were in America, around the time when things were slowly changing for the black American, and it wasn't comfortable to be watching that in a white skin.
I wouldn't put any labels on this film - it's a good, heart-warming and, sometimes, sad story - which you are bound to enjoy.
- J. P.Reviewed in Canada on February 12, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Story, truly a classic!
I first saw this movie on television. I was so moved by the story, I purchased the DVD immediately afterwards. This is a quality film with a phenomenal cast and carefully crafted script. The story takes place in South Carolina in 1964. The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of a fourteen year old girl, Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning), whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. Based on the critically acclaimed novel by author Sue Monk Kidd, this movie is sure to please. Order with confidence!
-
YukariReviewed in Japan on April 24, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars 見ることはできなかったのですが
映画をみたくて買いましたが、日本のプレイヤーでは映らないようです。次から日本製を買いたいと思います。
- sydneyReviewed in Canada on November 17, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Great movie! Got here quick.
Bought this movie for my grandmother as it’s her favourite and she doesn’t use Netflix or any other streaming services! Was a great price and got here quick
-
Client d'AmazonReviewed in France on December 10, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Très bien
J'adore ce film, je le cherchais depuis longtemps en dvd
Bonne qualité d'images et de sons