Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Tate Taylor

Tate Taylor (born June 3, 1969) is an American filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and actor based in Jackson, Mississippi.^[1] Best known for directing the period drama The Help (2011), an adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel depicting African American domestic workers in 1960s Mississippi, Taylor's feature debut earned over $216 million at the box office and garnered critical acclaim for its ensemble performances, including Academy Award wins for Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain in supporting roles.^[2] Taylor's subsequent films include the James Brown biopic Get on Up (2014), starring Chadwick Boseman, and the thriller The Girl on the Train (2016), adapted from Paula Hawkins's bestseller, which emphasized psychological suspense amid commercial underperformance relative to its budget.^[1] His work has spanned genres, from horror in Ma (2019) to action in Ava (2020), often featuring strong female leads and drawing on Southern settings reflective of his upbringing.^[3] In 2025, Taylor received recognition from Mississippi's Governor's Arts Awards for his contributions to film, highlighting his role in elevating regional stories to national audiences.^[4] Despite the success of The Help, which spotlighted civil rights-era injustices through personal narratives, the film has drawn ongoing criticism for allegedly softening historical racial violence and centering a white protagonist's perspective, with lead actress Viola Davis later describing it in 2020 as a product of "systemic racism" that limited deeper exploration of Black experiences.^[5]^[6] Such retrospective assessments, frequently advanced in academic and media outlets predisposed to viewing cultural depictions through lenses of structural inequity, contrast with the film's contemporaneous reception as a box-office phenomenon that humanized overlooked voices without resorting to overt didacticism.^[7]

Early life

Childhood in Jackson

Tate Taylor was born on June 3, 1969, in Jackson, Mississippi.^[8] He grew up in the city, immersed in its Southern cultural milieu during a period when Mississippi was navigating the aftermath of the civil rights movement.^[8] Taylor was raised primarily by his single mother, described in accounts as financially strained, alongside his sisters, with substantial influence from Carol Lee, an African American domestic worker who provided care and whom Taylor later recalled with deep affection.^[9]^[10] This family dynamic reflected broader patterns of household structures in mid-20th-century Southern households, where extended caregiving roles often bridged racial and economic divides.^[10] His early years included attendance at kindergarten at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Jackson, where he formed a lasting friendship with future author Kathryn Stockett, beginning a connection rooted in shared local experiences.^[11] A notable childhood incident occurred at age five on a Jackson playground, when Taylor threw rocks at a classmate wearing unusual glasses, an event he later recounted as emblematic of youthful impulsivity in his environment.^[12] Jackson's setting, as the state capital with historic sites tied to 1960s social upheavals such as the Woolworth's sit-ins, provided a backdrop of tangible racial and class tensions that permeated daily life, though Taylor's direct exposures were through family and community interactions rather than personal participation in era-defining events.^[8]

Education and early influences

Taylor attended local schools in Jackson, Mississippi, during his childhood, where he was raised by his single mother alongside his sisters and under the significant care of Carol Lee, an African American domestic worker whom he later described as a profound influence.^[9]^[10] After completing high school in Jackson, he enrolled at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, earning a degree there before entering the workforce briefly in a corporate role with a Fortune 500 company, which he found unfulfilling.^[9]^[10] Following his university graduation around the early 1990s, Taylor relocated to New York City and later Los Angeles to pursue acting and filmmaking, spending approximately 15 years honing his skills through self-directed immersion in the industry rather than formal training programs. This period emphasized practical development over structured education, drawing on his Southern roots for creative inspiration. Key personal influences included his childhood friendship with author Kathryn Stockett, forged in Jackson, which exposed him to narratives rooted in Mississippi's social dynamics and shaped his affinity for character-driven stories reflective of regional culture.^[13]^[14] Taylor's early worldview was also molded by independent cinema's emphasis on authentic storytelling and the interpersonal dynamics of his upbringing, including close bonds across racial lines like that with Carol Lee, fostering a grounded approach to human relationships that informed his foundational creative perspective.^[9] These elements—family caregiving, regional literary sensibilities via friendships, and hands-on urban apprenticeship—laid the groundwork for his narrative sensibilities without reliance on elite academic pedigrees.^[14]

Career

Acting and early Hollywood pursuits

Taylor initially entered the entertainment industry in New York City after moving there following high school, securing his first job as a production assistant on the Nickelodeon children's series The Adventures of Pete & Pete in the early 1990s, where he earned $200 per week.^[9] He gained further entry-level experience as an office production assistant on the feature film A Time to Kill (1996), filmed in Mississippi, with responsibilities including hand-delivering call sheets to department heads, a role that provided practical insight into set operations and logistics.^[15]^[16] During this production, Taylor met actress Octavia Spencer, who was assisting in local casting, marking the start of a professional relationship built amid the low-paid, high-volume tasks common to production assistants.^[17]^[18] Relocating to Los Angeles to focus on acting, Taylor spent the late 1990s and early 2000s auditioning persistently amid widespread rejection, a standard challenge in the competitive Hollywood environment where most aspiring performers supplement income through odd jobs or assistant work.^[11] He landed minor on-screen roles, including that of Casey Deegan, a high school classmate, in the comedy Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997).^[19] Additional television appearances followed, such as portraying Applicant #3 in the Charmed episode "The Painted World" (season 2, 1999), and bit parts in films like Planet of the Apes (2001) as a friend at a party and I Spy (2002).^[20]^[10] Over more than 15 years between New York and Los Angeles, Taylor balanced these sporadic acting gigs with behind-the-scenes production roles, navigating financial precarity typical of the industry, where entry-level pay and infrequent bookings demanded resilience and multiple income streams to sustain pursuits without guaranteed breakthroughs.^[11]^[21] This period underscored the incremental experience-building required in Hollywood, from set errands to on-camera extras, before transitioning to creative endeavors.^[9]

Independent filmmaking debut

Taylor's initial foray into independent filmmaking was the short film Chicken Party (2003), which he wrote and directed as a comedic exploration of crime, love, tolerance, and fried chicken infused with unpolished Southern sensibilities.^[22] Featuring performers such as Octavia Spencer in the lead role, Allison Janney, Melissa McCarthy, and Taylor himself, the project involved collaborations with emerging actors from his personal network.^[22] Produced on a modest scale by Brunson Green, it garnered festival acclaim, including a Best Short Film award in 2004.^[23] Transitioning to features, Taylor made his directorial debut with Pretty Ugly People (2008), a black comedy-drama he also wrote and in which he acted.^[24] The film centers on a woman who, after significant weight loss, reunites with her former obese high school friends on a wilderness trip, delving into themes of self-image and friendship through raw, irreverent humor. Starring Missi Pyle as the protagonist alongside Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, and other acquaintances from prior collaborations, it exemplified bootstrapped production reliant on friends rather than institutional backing.^[25] These early works underscored Taylor's hands-on approach to filmmaking, prioritizing self-driven creative control and interpersonal alliances to navigate resource constraints and build directing proficiency independent of Hollywood infrastructure.^[26]

Breakthrough with The Help

Tate Taylor's involvement with The Help began through his longstanding friendship with author Kathryn Stockett, a fellow Mississippian, who entrusted him with the film rights to her unpublished novel in 2008, prior to its release by Penguin Books in 2009.^[27]^[28] Taylor, leveraging this personal connection, adapted Stockett's manuscript into a screenplay and secured DreamWorks Pictures to finance and distribute the project after initial independent efforts stalled.^[29] He took on multiple roles, including director, screenwriter, and co-producer alongside Brunson Green, marking a departure from his prior independent work toward a higher-profile adaptation rooted in regional authenticity.^[12] Principal photography commenced in July 2010 and spanned two months across Mississippi locations such as Greenwood (doubling as 1960s Jackson), Clarksdale, and Jackson itself, where Taylor prioritized filming on-site over incentives from states like Louisiana to capture the story's Delta setting and hired local crews for logistical support.^[30]^[31] The production operated on a modest budget of $25 million, enabling a focused shoot that emphasized practical period recreation over expansive effects.^[32] Released on August 10, 2011, The Help achieved substantial commercial success, earning $169.7 million in North America and $211.6 million worldwide, demonstrating strong audience reception and return on investment exceeding eightfold.^[32] The film's performance led to four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, underscoring its immediate industry validation through empirical metrics of viewership and peer recognition.^[33]

Subsequent feature films

Taylor's next directorial effort was the 2014 biographical musical film Get On Up, which chronicles the life of singer James Brown from poverty to stardom, starring Chadwick Boseman in the lead role.^[34] The film featured notable musical sequences recreating Brown's performances, earning praise from reviewers for Boseman's energetic portrayal and the dynamic depiction of Brown's rise, though it achieved only modest box office returns with $30.7 million domestically against a reported $30 million budget.^[35] In 2016, Taylor directed The Girl on the Train, a psychological thriller adapted from Paula Hawkins' bestselling novel, centering on an alcoholic woman's obsession with a couple she observes from her daily commute, played by Emily Blunt.^[36] The production emphasized suspense through unreliable narration and themes of memory and deception, but received mixed critical response, with a 44% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, citing uneven pacing despite strong performances.^[36] Taylor shifted toward horror-thriller territory with Ma (2019), a film about a middle-aged woman (Octavia Spencer) who befriends teenagers and hosts parties in her home, revealing darker impulses rooted in past trauma.^[37] Produced by Blumhouse, it marked a genre pivot with elements of psychological horror, garnering a 55% Rotten Tomatoes score for Spencer's committed performance amid criticisms of formulaic plotting.^[38] The 2020 action thriller Ava starred Jessica Chastain as a black ops assassin grappling with personal demons and organizational betrayal, incorporating high-stakes combat and family drama.^[39] Directed amid production controversies involving the original writer, the film experimented with revenge tropes but earned a low 18% critical approval, faulted for generic execution despite Chastain's intensity.^[40] In 2021, Taylor helmed the black comedy thriller Breaking News in Yuba County, following a woman's opportunistic exploitation of her husband's disappearance amid a web of local crimes, led by Allison Janney.^[41] Drawing on ensemble chaos and media sensationalism, it represented further genre blending but met with poor reception, scoring 11% on Rotten Tomatoes for underdeveloped characters and tonal inconsistencies.^[42] These projects illustrate Taylor's exploration beyond drama into suspense, horror, and action, often prioritizing star-driven narratives over critical acclaim.

Television directing and production

Taylor transitioned to television following his feature film successes, creating and executive producing the series Filthy Rich for Fox, which premiered on September 21, 2020. The Southern Gothic comedy-drama, adapted from a New Zealand series, explored themes of wealth, family secrets, and evangelical Christianity in the American South, with Taylor directing the pilot episode and contributing to its writing.^[43] Starring Kim Cattrall as a family matriarch, the show ran for 10 episodes before cancellation in October 2020 due to low ratings, marking Taylor's initial foray into serialized storytelling with a focus on ensemble dynamics and regional authenticity. In 2024, Taylor served as executive producer and director for multiple episodes of Palm Royale on Apple TV+, including the pilot, blending period comedy with social satire set in 1969 Palm Beach high society.^[44] The series, starring Kristen Wiig as an ambitious social climber, highlighted Taylor's versatility in adapting to episodic formats that mix humor, drama, and historical detail, drawing on his experience with character-driven narratives.^[45] Palm Royale premiered on March 20, 2024, and was renewed for a second season, underscoring Taylor's growing presence in prestige television production. These projects demonstrate his shift toward collaborative, multi-episode structures while maintaining a emphasis on Southern and upscale American milieus informed by his Mississippi roots.^[46]

Personal life

Relationships and family

Tate Taylor is openly gay.^[47] He has been in a long-term relationship with film producer John Norris, with whom he has lived since at least the early 2010s.^[48] ^[49] Their partnership dates to Taylor's rising career in independent filmmaking, predating the success of The Help in 2011.^[50] Taylor and Norris have no children together. Taylor has not publicly discussed biological family or interest in parenthood, instead prioritizing professional collaborations as extensions of his personal network, such as his enduring friendship with actress Octavia Spencer, whom he has described as a foundational influence since their pre-Hollywood days in Mississippi.^[51] This aligns with Taylor's independent lifestyle, focused on creative partnerships over conventional familial structures.^[52]

Residences and lifestyle

Tate Taylor owns and primarily resides at Wyolah Plantation, a historic 1830s Greek Revival mansion and surrounding complex in Church Hill, Jefferson County, Mississippi, located just north of Natchez.^[53]^[49] The 100-acre property, featuring the main dwelling and eight original outbuildings, underwent extensive restoration beginning around 2015, preserving its antebellum architecture while adapting it for modern living.^[54]^[52] Taylor has described the home as fulfilling a childhood aspiration to inhabit and rehabilitate such a structure, emphasizing its role in his daily life amid Mississippi's rural landscape.^[55] Taylor maintains a relatively low-profile lifestyle, dividing time between Wyolah—where he spends the majority of his days—and professional obligations in Los Angeles and other film production sites.^[49] This arrangement allows him to sustain deep ties to his Southern heritage, including hands-on involvement in local historic preservation efforts that indirectly bolster the regional economy through property rehabilitation and adaptive reuse.^[56] His routine at the plantation incorporates elements of seclusion, such as coexisting with natural features like beehives in outbuildings, reflecting a deliberate choice for grounded, non-urban living despite his Hollywood career.^[11]

Reception and controversies

Commercial and critical success

Taylor's directorial debut with The Help (2011), an adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's bestselling novel, achieved substantial commercial success, grossing $169.7 million domestically and $46.9 million internationally for a worldwide total of $216.6 million against a $25 million production budget.^[57] The film received critical recognition, including Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress (Viola Davis), and Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer, who won, and Jessica Chastain), alongside 79 total awards and 121 nominations across various ceremonies.^[33] On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 76% critics' score based on 240 reviews, contrasted with an 86% audience score from over 50,000 verified ratings, indicating stronger popular appeal.^[58] In 2014, Taylor directed Get On Up, the James Brown biopic produced with input from Mick Jagger, which earned $30.7 million domestically and approximately $33.4 million worldwide.^[35] ^[59] Despite modest box office returns relative to marketing expectations, the film garnered an 80% critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 167 reviews, with acclaim centered on Chadwick Boseman's lead performance as capturing Brown's charisma and intensity.^[60] Audience reception aligned closely, scoring 81% on the platform, underscoring praise for its musical sequences and biographical depth over commercial scale.^[60] Taylor's horror thriller Ma (2019), starring Octavia Spencer, demonstrated profitability in a lower-budget genre, generating over $60 million worldwide from a reported $5 million budget, with $45.4 million from the U.S. market alone.^[61] ^[62] It received mixed critical response at 55% on Rotten Tomatoes from 214 reviews, yet achieved audience scores of 37%—though profitability metrics highlight its commercial viability for Blumhouse Productions' model of high returns on modest investments.^[38] Across Taylor's feature films, adaptations of popular source material have consistently outperformed expectations in audience engagement, with aggregate worldwide box office exceeding $485 million from nine directing credits, reflecting a pattern where viewer metrics frequently surpass critic aggregates.^[63]

Criticisms of racial portrayals in The Help

Critics have accused The Help of perpetuating a white savior trope by centering the white protagonist Skeeter, portrayed by Emma Stone, as the heroic figure who amplifies the Black maids' stories and drives narrative change, thereby marginalizing the agency of Black characters like Aibileen and Minny.^[6]^[64]^[65] The film has been described as a "condescending fable for white liberals" that reassures white audiences of their moral superiority while focusing on the impact of racism on white characters rather than fully exploring Black experiences.^[66] Additional critiques contend that the film sanitizes depictions of 1960s racism in Mississippi by minimizing systemic cruelty through comedic elements and portraying a simplified resolution where apologies suffice for absolution, omitting broader historical realities such as widespread harassment, poverty, sexual violence, and state surveillance faced by Black individuals.^[64] It has also been faulted for evoking the "mammy" stereotype, depicting Black women as subservient domestic workers devoted to white families with limited personal agency or interior lives beyond service roles.^[6]^[65] Concerns over authenticity arose due to the film's adaptation from a novel by white author Kathryn Stockett and direction by white filmmaker Tate Taylor, which some argued constrained genuine representation of Black maids' perspectives, as evidenced by actress Viola Davis's later reflection that "it wasn’t the voices of the maids that were heard."^[6]^[65]^[64] These elements fueled debates on whether non-Black creators could adequately depict historical Black domestic experiences without distortion.^[6] In June 2020, amid Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd's death, The Help surged in popularity on Netflix, prompting renewed criticism for framing racism as a historical, individualized issue rather than an ongoing systemic one, thus deemed unhelpful for contemporary understanding of racial injustices.^[6]^[64] Sociologist Darnell Hunt noted that the film's focus lets present-day society "off the hook" by suggesting progress through personal gestures alone.^[6]

Defenses and alternative perspectives

Tate Taylor has argued that much of the backlash against The Help arises not from substantive artistic or historical shortcomings, but from the fact that he, as a white director, and Kathryn Stockett, as a white author, tackled a story centered on Black experiences.^[67] In a 2011 interview, Taylor stated, "All of the criticism we've been facing is based on the fact that I'm not an African-American director and that Kathryn is not an African-American writer," suggesting that objections often prioritize identity-based gatekeeping over evaluations of narrative fidelity or emotional impact.^[68] He further contended in later reflections that the film's production could not occur in the contemporary environment due to heightened sensitivities around representational authenticity, underscoring a defense rooted in artistic liberty unbound by demographic quotas.^[69] Cast members provided contemporaneous support countering claims of inauthenticity. Octavia Spencer, who portrayed Minny Jackson and received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, dismissed some critiques as excessive political correctness, emphasizing the film's evocation of genuine discomfort reflective of historical realities: "If you are uncomfortable watching The Help, that's appropriate... People lived this discomfort."^[70] In discussions addressing racial portrayals, Spencer and Viola Davis defended the project against charges of oversimplification, arguing it highlighted Black women's agency amid oppression rather than solely a white savior dynamic.^[71] This initial endorsement from Black performers involved contrasts with retrospective reevaluations, yet illustrates how participants viewed the work as a valid exploration of individual resilience over enforced identity hierarchies. Market evidence bolsters arguments for the film's resonance beyond elite critiques. The Help grossed $169.7 million domestically and $216 million worldwide, achieving No. 1 box office status for five weeks and drawing a broad demographic uncommon for period dramas.^[72] Audience data revealed significant African-American viewership, expanding from initial female-heavy crowds to include more Black patrons, akin to the crossover appeal of films like The Blind Side, thereby empirically refuting assertions of alienation or inauthenticity through voluntary engagement.^[72] Such commercial dominance, driven by word-of-mouth across racial lines, prioritizes causal outcomes—widespread viewership fostering dialogue on Jim Crow-era dynamics—over prescriptive representational norms.^[73]

References

[1]
Tate Taylor - IMDb
Tate Taylor was born on 3 June 1969 in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Get on Up (2014), The Help (2011) and The Girl on the ...
[2]
Tate Taylor - Awards - IMDb
13 wins & 20 nominations. BAFTA Awards. Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone in The Help (2011).
[3]
Tate Taylor Movies & TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes
Filmography ; Rumble Through the Dark · 70% · 96% ; Breaking News in Yuba County · 11% · 46% ; Ava · 18% · 29% ; Ma · 55% · 64% ; The Girl on the Train · 44% · 49%.Missing: notable achievements
[4]
Tate Taylor | 2025 Governor's Arts Awards - YouTube
Feb 11, 2025 · ... Best Motion Picture of the Year. He has continued to follow his passion for creating films ... Tate Taylor | 2025 Governor's Arts Awards. 125 ...Missing: notable achievements<|separator|>
[5]
Viola Davis Betrayed by 'The Help': 'Created in Systemic Racism'
Jul 14, 2020 · Viola Davis made headlines in September 2018 after admitting she regretted starring in “The Help,” Tate Taylor's 2011 drama that earned Davis an ...
[6]
'The Help' isn't a helpful resource on racism. Here's why - USA Today
Jun 8, 2020 · "The Help" is also accused of playing into the white savior narrative, a trope where white characters come to the rescue of minorities in a feel ...
[7]
[PDF] FILM REVIEW THE HELP. - UAB Digital Commons
The movie has been criticized for “whitewashing” history. In other words, some believe that the movie plays to a stereotype of a white savior rescuing ...
[8]
Tate Taylor - Biography - IMDb
Tate Taylor was born on June 3, 1969 in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Get on Up (2014), The Help (2011) and The Girl on the ...Missing: filmmaker | Show results with:filmmaker
[9]
Meet Tate Taylor - Director of 'Get On Up' | Cinema Series | PBS SoCal
Aug 5, 2014 · Born and raised in Jackson Mississippi by his "broke single mother" and an African American domestic Carol Lee who he adored, a career in the ...Missing: background | Show results with:background<|separator|>
[10]
Tate Taylor | Research Starters - EBSCO
Tate Taylor was born on June 3, 1969, in Jackson, Mississippi. He and his sisters were raised by a single mother and Carol Lee, an African American domestic ...Background · CareerMissing: siblings | Show results with:siblings
[11]
The Man Behind "The Help" - Garden & Gun Magazine
Stockett and Taylor have been friends since they were kindergartners at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Jackson. As teenagers, they “borrowed” Taylor's ...Missing: family | Show results with:family
[12]
WRITERS ON WRITING: Tate Taylor's Story Behind Adapting The Help
Sep 28, 2017 · When I was five years old on a playground in Jackson, Mississippi, I threw rocks at a classmate who was wearing funny-looking glasses. Her name ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
[13]
Tate Taylor (filmmaker) - Wikipedia
Tate Taylor (born June 3, 1969) is an American filmmaker and actor. Taylor is best known for directing The Help (2011), Get On Up (2014), and The Girl on the ...Missing: notable achievements
[14]
Kathryn Stockett gives Tate Taylor some 'Help' - Los Angeles Times
Mar 30, 2011 · The director of this summer's 'The Help' grew up in Jackson, Miss., where he was best friends with a woman named Kathryn Stockett. Stockett ...Missing: influences Southern
[15]
Childhood friends collaborated to bring bestselling 'The Help' to film
Aug 9, 2011 · After graduating from the University of Mississippi, Taylor eventually moved to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a filmmaker. Meanwhile, ...Missing: education influences
[16]
Tate Taylor and Octavia Spencer - Mississippi Tour Guide
Tate Taylor, who grew up in Jackson not far from the set, was an office production assistant on the film.Missing: background | Show results with:background
[17]
Tate Taylor & Octavia Spencer—The Help—7/11 ... - Groucho Reviews
Taylor Tate: Since '95. We met as production assistants on A Time to Kill in Mississippi. I delivered call sheets to her office. Octavia Spencer: (Laughs ...
[18]
'Ma,' Octavia Spencer's true crime obsession and the best friendship ...
May 30, 2019 · Alabama native Spencer and Mississippian Taylor first met as production assistants on the set of 1996's “A Time to Kill” before moving out to ...
[19]
Director Tate Taylor Interview: Ma - Screen Rant
Aug 19, 2019 · I was walking around delivering call sheets. Octavia was an assistant in the casting office, in local casting. And we just hit it off. At ...
[20]
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) - Full cast & crew
Tate Taylor · Casey · Linda Clements · Linda Clements · Beverly Hills Lady. Rest of ... character makeup designer / character makeup supervisor. Richard Marin.
[21]
Tate Taylor - TV Guide
Charmed as Applicant #3. Charmed · Romy and Michele's High School Reunion as Casey. Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. executive producer. 5 Credits.Missing: roles | Show results with:roles
[22]
Tate Taylor - Ole Miss - Phi Delta Theta
Aug 29, 2014 · Taylor worked for 15 years in New York and Los Angeles and now lives in Mississippi. He debuted as a feature film director in Pretty Ugly People ...
[23]
Chicken Party (Short 2003) - IMDb
Rating 6.4/10 (89) Chicken Party: Directed by Tate Taylor. With Octavia Spencer, Allison Janney, Tate Taylor, Melissa McCarthy. A comedic look at crime, love, tolerance and ...
[24]
Chicken Party (2003) - MUBI
A comedic look at crime, love, tolerance and fried chicken. Chicken PartyDirected by Tate Taylor ... 2004 | Winner: Best Short Film.
[25]
Pretty Ugly People (2008) - IMDb
Rating 4.9/10 (2,338) Pretty Ugly People: Directed by Tate Taylor. With Missi Pyle, Melissa McCarthy, Larry Sullivan, Phill Lewis. Lucy has always used food to escape life's ...
[26]
Full cast & crew - Pretty Ugly People (2008) - IMDb
Pretty Ugly People (2008) - Cast and crew credits, including actors ... Tate Taylor. producer. Composer. Edit · Lucian Piane · Lucian Piane. Cinematographer.
[27]
Short Circuit: $200 Million Dollar Filmmaking Advice from Tate Taylor
Aug 16, 2013 · His first independent feature was followed by a studio-backed worldwide release that grossed over $200 million. I asked writer-director-actor ...Missing: early | Show results with:early
[28]
DreamWorks finds 'Help' - Variety
Mar 4, 2010 · Tate Taylor, a childhood friend of the author, will direct from his adapted script. He had acquired the film rights to the novel from Stockett.
[29]
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dreamworks-nabs-rights-novel-help-21325/
[30]
DreamWorks nabs rights to novel 'The Help' - The Hollywood Reporter
Mar 4, 2010 · Tate Taylor, who is a childhood friend of Stockett's, adapted the novel into a screenplay after acquiring the rights. He also will direct the ...
[31]
Mississippi: The Filming Locations of The Help
Sep 14, 2011 · The movie was shot in two months in Greenwood, Clarksdale, and Jackson, Mississippi. The popularity of the film has already brought a host of visitors and ...
[32]
Making of 'The Help' - The Hollywood Reporter
could handle a $25 million period piece; convincing the Mississippi legislature to throw in almost $3 million; and ...
[34]
The Help (2011) - Awards - IMDb
Film by the Sea International Film Festival · Tate Taylor. 2011 Nominee Film and Literature Award · Tate Taylor · Tate Taylor. 2011 Winner Audience Award. Best ...
[35]
Get on Up (2014) - IMDb
Rating 6.9/10 (26,918) Get on Up: Directed by Tate Taylor. With Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis. A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to ...Full cast & crew · Parents guide · Chadwick Boseman as James... · User reviewsMissing: reception | Show results with:reception
[36]
Get on Up (2014) - Box Office and Financial Information
Opening Weekend: $13,585,915 (44.4% of total gross) ; Legs: 2.25 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) ; Domestic Share: 91.7% (domestic box office/worldwide).Missing: reception | Show results with:reception
[37]
The Girl on the Train (2016) | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 44% (308) Commuter Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) catches daily glimpses of a seemingly perfect couple, Scott and Megan, from the window of her train.308 Reviews · Audience Reviews · Cast and Crew · Trailers & Videos
[38]
Ma (2019) - IMDb
Rating 5.6/10 (69,415) Ma: Directed by Tate Taylor. With Octavia Spencer, Diana Silvers, Juliette Lewis, McKaley Miller. A lonely woman befriends a group of teenagers and decides ...Tate Taylor · Ma · Parents guide · Plot
[39]
Ma (2019) | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 55% (214) A lonely middle-aged woman befriends some teenagers and decides to let them party in the basement of her home.
[40]
Ava (2020) - IMDb
Rating 5.5/10 (66,932) Ava: Directed by Tate Taylor. With Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common, Geena Davis. Ava is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, ...Ava (IV) (2020) · Ava · Code Ava · Official Trailer
[41]
Ava (2020) | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 18% (38) Synopsis An assassin becomes marked for death by her own black ops organization after questioning orders and breaking protocol. Director: Tate Taylor.
[42]
Breaking News in Yuba County (2021) - IMDb
Rating 5.8/10 (8,179) Breaking News in Yuba County: Directed by Tate Taylor. With Allison Janney, Mila Kunis, Regina Hall, Awkwafina. A woman takes advantage of her growing ...News · Official Trailer · Parents guide · Full cast & crew
[43]
Breaking News in Yuba County | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 11% (38) Tate Taylor's film aims for the kind of quirky characters and spiralling crime story that was perfected in Fargo, but the result is pedestrian. Content ...
[44]
'Filthy Rich' Team on 'Fun, Humorous Reality Check' of New Fox ...
Jan 7, 2020 · “Filthy Rich” creator and showrunner Tate Taylor grew up in the Presbyterian church, but his new Fox drama is not designed to convince the ...
[45]
'Palm Royale' Director Got Kicked Out of Palm Beach Club Like ...
May 1, 2024 · Tate Taylor might be the male version of Palm Royale's Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons. The executive producer and director behind the Kristen ...
[46]
"Palm Royale" Pilot (TV Episode 2024) - IMDb
Rating 7/10 (645) Pilot: Directed by Tate Taylor. With Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb. Maxine is ready to start a new life in Palm Beach.
[47]
http://gayinfluence.blogspot.com/2012/02/tate-taylor.html
[48]
Tate Taylor - Gay Influence
Feb 7, 2012 · 42-year-old Tate Taylor is the openly gay director/writer of the Academy Award nominated film, The Help, based on Kathryn Stockett's civil rights-era novel of ...Missing: education schools
[49]
John Norris - Biography - IMDb
He lives with his partner, producer/director/actor Tate Taylor. · Studied jazz at the University of North Texas.
[50]
Director Tate Taylor uses love of preservation to lift up Mississippi
Apr 18, 2020 · Taylor, a Mississippi native who'd pursued his acting and film directing career in New York City and Los Angeles, returned to home stomping grounds to direct ...Missing: childhood background
[51]
John Norris Q&A | University of North Texas
May 29, 2012 · Stacy Snider, a principal partner/co-chairwoman/CEO of DreamWorks Studios, took a chance on Taylor because his script was so good, Norris says.
[52]
Interview: Director Tate Taylor on His Longstanding Friendship with ...
May 27, 2019 · Director Tate Taylor on his longstanding friendship with Octavia Spencer and casting against type for MA.
[53]
This small Southern town isn't the new Hollywood, director says. It's ...
Jun 1, 2022 · There's a strange symbiosis growing between Hollywood and a small town in the Mississippi Delta, and director Tate Taylor is one of the engineers behind it.
[54]
Tate Taylor, The Help Director, Renovates an 1830s Mississippi ...
Feb 2, 2016 · Designer Shawn Henderson and restoration consultant Thomas E. Goodman renovated Wyolah, the 1830s Mississippi plantation home of The Help director Tate Taylor.
[55]
Tate Taylor, The Help Director, Renovates an 1830s Mississippi ...
Jan 29, 2016 · Goodman renovated Wyolah, the 1830s Mississippi plantation home of The Help director Tate Taylor and film producer John Norris, shown in ...<|separator|>
[56]
Tour "The Help" Director Tate Taylor's Mississippi Mansion - YouTube
Feb 1, 2016 · Goodman renovated Wyolah, the 1830s Mississippi plantation home of The Help director Tate Taylor and film producer John Norris. A ...
[57]
Director Tate Taylor uses love of preservation to lift up Mississippi
Wyolah, a Church Hill plantation complex dating to the 1830s, is historically significant, for its mansion house and surviving original outbuildings ...
[58]
The Help (2011) - Box Office and Financial Information - The Numbers
Financial analysis of The Help (2011) including production budget, domestic and international box office gross, DVD and Blu-ray sales reports.
[59]
The Help | Rotten Tomatoes
Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for The Help on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today ... Tate Taylor thumbnail image.
[60]
Highest-Grossing Musician Biopics at Box Office - Billboard
May 12, 2025 · Trending on Billboard. Worldwide gross: $33.4 million. Director: Tate Taylor. Music: Thomas Newman. Notes: The late, great Chadwick Boseman ...
[61]
Get On Up | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 80% (167) Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Get On Up on Rotten Tomatoes ... Box Office (Gross USA): $30.5M. Runtime: 2h 18m. Sound Mix: Datasat , Dolby ...
[62]
MA (2019) - Box Office and Financial Information - The Numbers
However, it is falling a little short of expectations with an estimated opening weekend of $49.03 million. The film earned a B plus from CinemaScore, which is ...
[63]
Octavia Spencer Returning For Blumhouse's 'Ma' Sequel - Deadline
Jun 4, 2025 · The first movie, directed by The Help's Tate Taylor, grossed more than $60 million at the worldwide box office off a reported $5M production ...<|separator|>
[64]
Tate Taylor - Box Office - The Numbers
Tate Taylor. Best known as a Director based on credits in that role in 9 films, with $485,803,895 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #406). Best-known ...
[65]
Amid George Floyd Protests, 'The Help' Can Do Real Damage | TIME
Jun 12, 2020 · And still worse, The Help creates a simplified world where merely saying sorry is enough to be absolved of racism. Among some viewers, the ...
[66]
From True Believer to The Help, How the White Gaze Has ... - PBS
May 25, 2023 · Both films depicted women of color as stereotypes: subservient domestic help with no agency, a typical view in cinema of BIPOC women who are of ...
[67]
What we talk about when we talk about "The Help" - Salon.com
Aug 17, 2011 · "The Help" is a condescending fable for white liberals, or at least a story that congratulates white viewers "for not being horrible racists."Missing: authenticity | Show results with:authenticity
[68]
Director: People are too critical of 'The Help' - TheGrio
bringing in $25.5 ...
[69]
Director of The Help claims all criticism is because “I'm not an ...
Oct 20, 2011 · A Critical Review of the novel The Help · Director of The Help claims all criticism is because “I'm not an African American director”.
[70]
Director Tate Taylor Explains Why He Couldn't Make His ... - YouTube
Sep 21, 2018 · Director Tate Taylor explains to host Bruce Bozzi why he couldn't make his award-winning film 'The Help' in today's political climate.Missing: independent risks<|control11|><|separator|>
[71]
Octavia Spencer: You Can't 'Help' But Feel This Film - NPR
Aug 12, 2011 · If you are uncomfortable watching The Help, that's appropriate, says actress Octavia Spencer: "People lived this discomfort.
[72]
Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer Discuss Criticism of The Help - Video
Feb 14, 2012 · Oscar nominees Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, stars of The Help, discuss the portrayal of African-American issues in the film and address ...
[73]
'The Help' Audience: Just Who Exactly is Going to See It?
Aug 26, 2011 · With a rare cross-section of audiences, the Tate Taylor directed period pic is becoming one of the most atypical blockbusters since The Blind Side.
[74]
Why did The Help clean up at the US box office? - BBC News
Oct 26, 2011 · The director and stars of The Help give their theories as to why their heart-tugging drama has been such a success in the US and Canada.Missing: attendance | Show results with:attendance