| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
| 77.1% | 19.5% | 2.5% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
“I rarely cry at the movies and this film made me cry several times. This is a movie that needs to be watched and shown to teenagers and young adults. The importance of education. This movie had me on the edge of my seat in the scene when Monique was holding the baby, and when Precious fell down the stairs. This movie and the characters said what many of us want to say out loud. The use of narration helps the audience get a feel of 1st person experience and story telling. It’s hard to see how someone so innocent as precious can be treated so bad and unfair. We are not invisible.”
“Disturbing, ugly powerful cinema.”
“Thank god we were not on a stereotyped planet! The film is sentimental when sentiment fits, realistic when realism works, comedic and tragic without falling into a bias perspective. There are some memorable sequences blending innovative photographic images with imaginative techniques and masterful acting performances. The Academy needs an Award for ensemble performances. Got the 1980’s in Harlem right! Congrats to director lee Daniels and scriptwriter Fletcher (in fact all production values are great!) This film thunders and rocks like smashing gentle precious rain! Bullseye!”
“Outstanding film. Difficult, demanding, thought provoking, draining and fantastic!”
“’Uncompromising’ is the word for this film. Are those who are helping really as caring as shown here? One hopes so. Very powerful.”
“The lengthy and passionate discussion after the screening was a testament to the power of the themes and story. It was also an excellent (somewhat flawed in continuity) piece of filmmaking. I think it’s very difficult to depict the internal life of a character. The fantasy escapism was very telling about Precious’s internal life. The wonderful scene in the empty classroom where the vertical blinds became screens for the news and historical context of the times. This was a strong marker of how much Precious’ world was enlarging. Strong story. I was grateful for the hopeful ending.”
“Unrelenting! Loved the fantasy scene to break up the seriousness of her life, especially the Italian film segment of the women (hysterical). Why would this woman be watching an Italian film? I find it extraordinary that the principal knew that Precious was pregnant and in need of help or an alternative high school. Most principals are so overwhelmed by their burdens that mostly they are concerned about their numbers and test scores so they can get extra funding.”
“A fantastic film. Heartbreaking, sad, intense, but ultimately triumphant. Perfect performances. Who knew a movie staring Mo’nique and Mariah Carey could ever be so wonderful?”
“Very upsetting subject matter. Overdue look at the mother’s role in sexual and other abuse. I feel that the happy ending is for audience and is unlikely for Precious’ of this world.”
“Precious is very powerful film, but I think the book is even more powerfully written about the horrors of physical and sexual abuse and the necessity of empowering women and men through education, reading and writing.”
“I loved this movie. The school setting was unique. The teacher caring and dedicated. Too bad that NYC schools do not have the luxury of more programs like this.”
“Very powerful, but difficult to watch. All inner city school teachers should see this.”
“Devastating and powerful.”
“The scenes in the classroom were perfect.”
“I have never been so emotionally overcome by a film. I was engrossed from the opening credits. I forgot I was watching a movie. I felt many emotions and used 7 tissues. I am happy to know there are teachers and organizations to help in what seems to be impossible situations. I’d love to know how the actors prepared for their roles. If any film deserves an Oscar it is PRECIOUS. All the women were outstanding. Mariah Carey has proven herself!”
“Extraordinary gripping look at the cycles of abuse. Great casting.”
“A powerful film. We each should practice loving and kindness and reach out to others to help, to show compassion to spread the best of human nature.”
“A horrific real story. Should be shown in schools to have abused children seek help, guidance and avoid shame and neglect and continued abuse and get the help that is out there. Silence and protection of abusers leads to continuance of the horrendous acts.”
“Extraordinary film.”
“Very tough to watch, but well done.”
“PRECIOUS left me speechless. PRECIOUS made me furious. PRECIOUS was courageous. And thank you for making a movie that shows how caring teachers and social workers can help to make someone ambitious.”
“One of the most powerful experiences I’ve ever had! What does it feel like to never be loved, to be abused, sexually and otherwise everywhere except during ‘talk therapy’ to collect welfare? Luckily I’ll never know. The ‘why me?’ in Precious’s journal was where I finally lost it and couldn’t stop crying for this beautiful spirit. I will never look at a poor, obese woman in the same way again. What turns us off the most is usually what we’re most afraid of for ourselves. Thank you John, for this film. The ironically named PRECIOUS will play with me for a very long time. It deserves an Oscar nomination.”
“Truly horrifying and more so because this went on quite often. A powerful movie not for the faint of heart.”
“Outstanding film!”
“This film gives a voice to the voiceless and should be viewed by every adult in the United States. It is a shame of America that we are failing to protect our children. Precious was fortunate that she met someone who cared and helped. How many never have that opportunity? Brutal, gut wrenching and disturbing.”
“I am speechless! Now I understand the Cannes 15 minute standing ovation.”
“Powerful, touching and uplifting.”
“I would like to have seen the characters of the mother and grandmother more developed.”
“As a teacher I know there are many students like Precious, but this movie brought her closer to my heart. I can never look at these students without crying inside and wanting to do more again.”
“Excellent movie.”
“This was an outstanding movie. I’d love to see a sequel to find out what becomes of Precious and her children. Too real!”
“The acting, direction, camera work equal a gut-wrenching film. The use of illusionary image contrasting with the horrid realism smashes my complacency. This is a painting beyond words or images. I’m emotionally speechless!”
“Congrats to the casting director. Perfect! The use of her dreams was also well done and at appropriate times. I teach at an alternative school (for over 25 years) and this should be a must see for all staff and students. Thank you.”
“So many ‘precious’ children sit in our classrooms. Smaller classes might begin to allow more of them to heal sooner. We don’t know the key to reaching every troubled child, but more attention would certainly help.”
“Powerful, uplifting, and touching. Triumph out of ashes.”
“Integration of Precious and out-of-body experiences was a successful and powerful reminder of her reality, particularly in juxtaposition to the visual depiction of same.”
“Great example of the importance of a person, a teacher, social worker, etc. who can get a person to talk, write and express feelings and who can encourage a person to feel love and hope.”
“Such a tragic, sad, horrible story of Precious. But I left the film with hope and a great uplifted feeling of people who do want to help and have love to give.”
“It’s been a long time since I felt such pain for a movie. This is a must-see film for everyone.”
“Powerful! Not since ‘WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE’ has there been such a psychopath displayed so beautifully on screen. Precious’s mother is one sick momma!”
“Incredibly powerful. Fantastic photography.”
“This film is a resounding reminder that a ‘bad’ day for some is a ‘good’ day for others…and that an education is the door that opens the next door and the next.”
“Powerful portrayal of real life. Laymen need to know the ‘baggage’ children come to school with so they can re-evaluate their ‘blame the teacher’ philosophies of what is wrong with education today.”
“One of the toughest and most important films in a long time. Important not so much from an artistic point of view but from content. We think often of the social constraints that have affected students, but we may forget or downplay how a dysfunctional family life might intensify the misery and interfere with intended social supports.”
“THE WIRE showed us the street life. This helped to carry us behind those doors.”
“Very compelling. Acting was excellent. A very difficult film to watch.”
“Mo’nique and Gabourey were both outstanding. Not preachy, not judgmental. Just told the story and it opened me up a whole world just as it did for Precious. Wonderful to see a whole group so involved in this story. Gives me hope that even a little push from those who want to help can encourage and set you in a direction. Would recommend to my sister, a teacher who deals with children this age.”
“Caring teachers and counselors do make a difference in peoples’ lives.”
“Powerful! The untold story that cuts across class and race.”
“Very powerful. A must see! Thank you!”
“Very powerful movie.”
“A powerful film. Almost too powerful to watch that speaks for all the helpless Preciouses out there. What was so sad in this story is that all of the family was involved with social services which one hopes had their interests at heart. Why did Miss Turner, the mother’s social worker make announced visits? Why weren’t questions asked about the paternity of Precious’ first child? Precious told Miss Weiss and the teacher that her father raped her and was the father of her child and her expected child. Why didn’t they do something about removing her from the home? Against all odds, Precious learned that everyone deserves love and should have self worth and the importance of learning.”
“Highly realistic for teachers!”
“The thing that makes this film so precious is its potential to motivate viewers to become part of the solution to the problems it portrays. This film is about so many things. It’s about life and everyone’s responsibility.”
“It was so real and so disturbing and shocking. A must for everyone to see and hopefully help to change things.”
“Wonderful film. One I will remember for a very long time.”
“Powerful subject. Superb acting.”
“Excellent performances. I especially thought the portrayal of the social worker was so real. I also felt that casting the teacher as a lesbian also added so much reality. For precious it gave her a chance for peripheral vision. A chance to learn aside from the formal setting.”
“Amazing in every way. Great to see comedians in dramatic roles, they were outstanding.”
“When I saw the trailer I felt that I did not want to see it, but it certainly seemed to be an honest depiction of what really happens.”
“A disturbing view about the increasing disintegration of our society, as a whole and the individuals born into horrendous circumstances.”
“Questions your own preconceptions about the motivation of those caught in an abusive web.”
“A very powerful film of one of many girls who struggles with a life of obesity and poverty and low self esteem. Terrific job of acting by Precious as well as the rest of the cast. Makes one realize the importance of education in order to overcome such unfortunate circumstances of life.”
“A difficult movie to watch, but important movie to see.”
“This is one of the most powerful films I’ve ever seen. The acting is amazing.”
“It’s all so true, too true. Well told story and well acted.”
“I thought the film was allright. At times I couldn’t understand the girl who played Precious. The way it was filmed was good, the direction was perfect. Some editing mistakes, but overall good. The subject of the movie was well done. It’s relative to things happening today to young girls. It was very shocking at times.”