critics consensus

A rich and engaging portrait of the famed musician, Billie puts a spotlight on a story that goes beyond the conventional artist profile. Read critic reviews

Show all services

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Billie Videos

View All Videos (1)

Billie Photos

View All Photos (19)

Movie Info

In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Over 8 years, she tracked down and tape-recorded over 200 hours of interviews with the extraordinary characters that populated the iconic singer's short, tumultuous life. However, Linda's book was never finished and the tapes never heard -- until now.

Genre:

documentary, music
Original Language:

English
Director:

James Erskine
Producer:

Victoria Gregory, James Erskine, Laure Vaysse, Barry Clark-Ewers
Release Date (Theaters):

Dec 4, 2020 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Dec 4, 2020
Runtime:

1h 36m
Production Co:

Polygram Entertainment, Altitude Film Entertainment, New Black Films, Concord Films, Reliance Entertainment Productions 8

Cast & Crew

James Erskine
Director

Victoria Gregory
Producer

James Erskine
Producer

Laure Vaysse
Producer

Barry Clark-Ewers
Producer

Will Clarke
Executive Producer

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Billie

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (1)

The thrill of the documentary is in hearing the voices of key players in Holiday's story and their competing versions of events.

March 2, 2021 | Full Review…

Lidija Haas
The New Republic
"Billie" isn't just about the stories we tell about great artists. It's also about why we tell them - and whether we can ever really get them right.

December 4, 2020 | Full Review…

Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times
Erskine's Billie is an honest memorial to the rich talent, and the arresting traumas that made the voice of a generation.

December 4, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Robert Daniels
RogerEbert.com
A unique remembrance of a remarkable but ill-fated chanteuse who sang the truth.

December 3, 2020 | Full Review…

Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
If "Billie" gives short shrift to its subject's artistry while underscoring her life's squalor, it still offers pockets of valuable insight.

December 3, 2020 | Full Review…

Glenn Kenny
New York Times
Despite some dubious editing (including the colorization of images), Erskine aptly anchors the movie in Holiday's art, with well-chosen clips of her startlingly intense performances.

November 30, 2020 | Full Review…

Richard Brody
New Yorker
[It's] a highly unusual non-fiction film because most of it is based on previously unreleased audio interviews that were conducted in the 1970s ... of numerous people who knew [Billie Holiday] best and who wouldn't be able to be interviewed today.

February 26, 2021 | Full Review…

Carla Hay
Culture Mix
... spends more time on Holiday's notorious behind-the-scenes struggles than her throaty vocal brilliance. However, it compiles a thorough if unfocused portrait.

December 30, 2020 | Full Review…

Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue
Doesn't quite do justice to either of [its] fascinating subjects.

December 29, 2020 | Rating: 55/100 | Full Review…

Pat Padua
Spectrum Culture
James Erskine's documentary celebrates Lady Day's hugely influential success as a jazz and blues singer despite the limitations of her sharply segregated societal era.

December 12, 2020 | Full Review…

Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
A mixed documentary -- I would have preferred it without the framing device -- but I thought there were some redeeming qualities.

December 8, 2020 | Full Review…

Lael Loewenstein
FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)
It's kind of a mess as a movie, but a must-see for jazz fans.

December 4, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Tim Appelo
AARP Movies for Grownups