The HERSHEY Movie

The HERSHEY movie tells the story of Milton Hershey and Catherine “Kitty” Sweeney Hershey. It follows Milton Hershey’s work as a confectioner and the growth of his chocolate business. The film also shows the Hersheys’ decision to create a home and school for children seeking greater opportunity and the events that led them to place their fortune in its care.

The film stars Finn Wittrock as Milton Hershey and Alexandra Daddario as Catherine “Kitty” Hershey. The cast also includes Alan Ruck, Richard Kind, David Costabile, and Heléne Yorke.

Yes. The HERSHEY movie is based on historically documented events from the lives of Milton S. Hershey and Catherine “Kitty” Hershey and accurately portrays the major milestones that shaped their lives, businesses, and philanthropic legacy. The movie was reviewed for both Hershey-specific history and broader historical accuracy, from major plot points to period-authentic details.

The movie follows many of the most important chapters of Milton Hershey’s life, including:

• His childhood in rural Pennsylvania and the challenges faced by his family
• The influence of his mother, aunt, and uncle
• His early career as a printer’s apprentice and confectioner
• His business failures before achieving success
• The founding and growth of the Lancaster Caramel Company
• His visit to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and his decision to pursue chocolate manufacturing
• The development of milk chocolate production in the United States
• His marriage to Catherine “Kitty” Hershey
• The founding of the school that would become Milton Hershey School
• His commitment to community building and philanthropy
• The decision to devote his fortune to the school’s future

Collectively, these events tell the story of how Milton Hershey overcame repeated setbacks, built one of America’s most successful confectionery businesses, and ultimately devoted his fortune to creating opportunity for others.

Historical records confirm Milton and Catherine’s courtship, marriage, shared philanthropic vision, creation of Milton Hershey School, and Catherine’s role in shaping decisions that continue to influence Hershey institutions today. Both Milton and Catherine signed the original Deed of Trust establishing the Hershey Industrial School, now known as Milton Hershey School, and Milton frequently credited Catherine with inspiring the idea.

Yes. Historians, archivists, curators, and subject matter experts from The Hershey Story Museum and Hershey Community Archives were deeply involved throughout the filmmaking process. The production team consulted with experts that preserve and interpret Hershey history, including:

• Amy Zeigler, Senior Director, The Hershey Story Museum and Hershey Community Archives
• Valerie Seiber, Senior Manager, Historical Collections & Exhibitions, The Hershey Story Museum
• Jennifer Henderson, Senior Archivist, Hershey Community Archives
• Tesa Burns, Archivist, Hershey Community Archives
• Alicia Parks Schlossberg, Manager of School History, Milton Hershey School

Experts reviewed the script, shared historical records, provided access to collections, conducted tours of important locations, and advised on historical details ranging from major plot points to period-appropriate objects and settings. Historians were also on set during filming to help ensure the movie’s authenticity. This collaboration helped ground the movie in historical evidence while preserving the storytelling elements expected from a feature film.

The movie was informed by a wide range of historical records and materials, including:

Primary sources

• The 1909 Deed of Trust signed by Milton and Catherine Hershey
• Archival photographs and correspondence
• Speeches and recorded statements
• Contemporary newspaper accounts
• Business and institutional records

Institutional collections

• Historical records maintained by Hershey Community Archives
• Collections and exhibits from The Hershey Story Museum
• Historical materials from Milton Hershey School

The filmmakers also examined physical artifacts, reviewed historical locations, and used period research to inform costumes, props, and set design.

The movie accurately captures the core themes that defined Milton Hershey’s life:

• His perseverance in the face of repeated business failures
• His pursuit of affordable milk chocolate for a broad consumer audience
• His commitment to people and community development
• His belief that business success should benefit others
• His partnership with Catherine Hershey
• His decision to devote his fortune to helping children through education

Perhaps most importantly, the movie reflects how Milton Hershey believed in hard work, perseverance, and personal responsibility. For Hershey, success carried responsibility. It was meant to create opportunity for future generations—a philosophy that continues to shape the organizations he founded today.

HERSHEY filmmakers used several common historical drama techniques. To tell a story spanning more than 50 years, some timelines were condensed, certain characters were combined or created to represent broader historical realities, and a limited number of private conversations were dramatized where no historical record exists. These choices were made to help audiences understand broader historical truths rather than alter the major facts of the story, which remain consistent with the historical record.

The movie does not change the major documented events in Milton and Catherine Hershey’s story but is selective in what it covers. It portrays the school’s early student population consistent with the historical period, although it does not directly discuss every provision of the original 1909 Deed of Trust or examine every aspect of race, labor, and society in early twentieth-century America.

The movie’s major events, relationships, and historical settings were reviewed by historians and archivists, while additional context is available through Hershey’s historical collections and educational resources.

The movie presents Milton Hershey as an influential historical figure whose accomplishments emerged through persistence, spirit, compassion, and purpose. It highlights both the successes and setbacks he experienced before building a lasting business and philanthropic legacy.

The movie does not portray Milton Hershey as a flawless individual. Rather, it focuses on documented decisions, challenges, and relationships that shaped his life. The result is a portrait of a complex entrepreneur and philanthropist whose impact continues to be felt more than a century later.

The movie is intended to introduce audiences to Milton and Catherine Hershey’s lives through a historically grounded narrative, not serve as a comprehensive biography. Like any feature film, HERSHEY selectively focuses on the events most essential to its story. It does not attempt to cover every aspect of Milton Hershey’s life, business career, philanthropic work, or historical context. Some topics receive limited attention, while others are omitted entirely due to the constraints of a feature-length film.

Viewers interested in learning more about Milton Hershey’s legacy can explore the extensive collections of Hershey Community Archives and The Hershey Story Museum, the Milton Hershey School’s history resources, and other educational materials available through HersheyLegacy.org.