Billie (2020): cast, story & where to watch
2020 · Film · ★ 7
Released in 2020, Billie is a music and documentary film directed by James Erskine, running about 96 minutes. “She sang the truth, she paid the price” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. ‘Lady Day’ was one of the greatest jazz vocalists the world ever heard. In 1971, journalist Linda Lipnack Kuehl set out to write the definitive biography of Billie Holiday. Before her mysterious death in 1978, Lipnack Kuehl had taped over 200 hours of interviews. The tapes have never been heard. Now they form the basis of an atmospheric, multi-layered documentary that captures the many complex facets of a proud black woman, violent drug addict, loyal friend, vindictive lover and unforgettable singer of ‘God Bless The Child’, ‘Saddest Tale’ and the haunting ‘Strange Fruit’.
Who’s in it. Billie stars Billie Holiday as self, Tony Bennett as self, Count Basie as self and Charles Mingus as self.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, Billie has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Billie page.
If you liked it. Fans of Billie tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Billie (2020)?
- In US, Billie is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Billie worth watching?
- Billie holds an audience score of 7.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy music and documentary. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Billie?
- Billie stars Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Count Basie and Charles Mingus.
- When was Billie released?
- Billie was released in 2020, with a runtime of about 96 minutes.