# Precious (2009) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-2009/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-24

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 79% |
| Critic Score | 91% |
| Audience Score | 82% |
| Metascore | 79/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.6/5 |
| IMDb | 7.3/10 |
| Director | Lee Daniels |
| Genres | Drama |
| Runtime | 110 min |
| Festival premiere | Sundance 2009 (Grand Jury Prize) |

## Quick answer

Precious (2009) earns a 79% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire — Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2009. A landmark festival winner on Cellu Metascore 79/100. Directed by Lee Daniels.

## Critics consensus

Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire — Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2009. A landmark festival winner on Celluloid.

## Synopsis

In Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father, and at home she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret – she can't read.

## Cast

Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz, Stephanie Andujar, Chyna Layne, Amina Robinson, Xosha Roquemore

## Accolades

Premiered at Sundance 2009, where it won the Grand Jury Prize.

## Where to watch

Global: YouTube TV
the United States: YouTube TV
the United Kingdom: Prime Video, ITVX
South Korea: not currently streaming

## Common questions

**Is Precious worth watching?**
Precious holds a 79% Celluloid Score. Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire — Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2009. A landmark festival winner on Celluloid.

**What is Precious about?**
In Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father, and at home she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret – she can't read.

**Who directed Precious?**
Precious (2009) was directed by Lee Daniels.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Precious?**
79% — the average of five public sources: critics 91%, audience 82%, Metascore 79/100, Letterboxd 3.6/5, and IMDb 7.3/10.

**Where can I watch Precious?**
Precious is streaming on YouTube TV; on YouTube TV in the United States; on Prime Video, ITVX in the United Kingdom. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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