Mildred Pierce

Mildred Pierce depicts an overprotective, self-sacrificing mother during the Great Depression who finds herself separated from her husband, opening a restaurant of her own and falling in love with a man, all the while trying to earn her spoiled, narcissistic daughter's love and respect.

Mildred Pierce (2011) is an American HBO period drama miniseries created by John Wells, adapted from the novel by James M. Cain and presented as a five-episode limited series. Kate Winslet plays Mildred, an overprotective, self-sacrificing mother in Depression-era Southern California who separates from her husband Bert Pierce (Brían F. O'Byrne) and opens a restaurant of her own. Her daughter Veda (Evan Rachel Wood) is spoiled and narcissistic, and Mildred's struggle to earn her love and respect drives the story. Guy Pearce plays Monte Beragon, the man who complicates her new life with romance and business entanglements. Each episode builds on money, ambition, and resentment, as Mildred's rise through the food business costs her emotionally at every step. The mood is melancholic and tense, with a sumptuous, carefully observed look at 1930s California. Fans of Boardwalk Empire, Gone with the Wind, and Dynasty will find resonance in its blend of prestige period drama and family melodrama. Its tone stays grounded in the textures of everyday struggle, making it an absorbing limited series for viewers who enjoy character-driven stories of ambition and maternal devotion.

Audiences and critics broadly regard the miniseries as a positive, well-acted period drama, with Kate Winslet's lead performance central to its appeal.

• Boardwalk Empireshared prestige period drama tone, Depression-era family melodrama, self-sacrificing female lead
• Gone with the Windshared rags to riches ambition and tense mother daughter conflict in a lush period setting
• Dynastyshared melodramatic family drama, romantic entanglements, and a determined woman building a business

Release Date

2011-03-27

Episode runtime

66 min

Rating

7.6 / 10 (276)

What is Mildred Pierce about?

A Depression-era mother sacrifices everything to build a restaurant empire while chasing the love of her spoiled, narcissistic daughter.

What is Mildred Pierce like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mildred Pierce as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is Mildred Pierce violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Mildred Pierce as mild.

What did critics think of Mildred Pierce?

Audiences and critics broadly regard the miniseries as a positive, well-acted period drama, with Kate Winslet's lead performance central to its appeal.

Which shows are like Mildred Pierce?

Shows with a similar feel include Boardwalk Empire, Gone with the Wind, and Dynasty.

How long is Mildred Pierce?

Mildred Pierce: 1 season, 5 episodes.

Is Mildred Pierce still running?

No, Mildred Pierce has ended.

Where can I watch Mildred Pierce?

In United States, Mildred Pierce streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.