Bessie (2015): cast, story & where to watch
2015 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 2015, Bessie is a drama, music and tv movie film directed by Dee Rees, running about 107 minutes. “Survival began with a song” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Who’s in it. Bessie stars Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith, Mo'Nique as Ma Rainey, Mike Epps as Richard and Tika Sumpter as Lucille, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Bessie has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel and HBO Max and 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 Bessie page.
If you liked it. Fans of Bessie tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Bessie (2015)?
- In US, Bessie is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel and HBO Max, and 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 Bessie worth watching?
- Bessie holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, music and tv movie. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Bessie?
- Bessie stars Queen Latifah, Mo'Nique, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter and Michael Kenneth Williams.
- When was Bessie released?
- Bessie was released in 2015, with a runtime of about 107 minutes.