The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Paramount Pictures | Release Date (Streaming): February 26, 2021
5.2
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 52 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
15
Mixed:
24
Negative:
13
Watch Now
Stream On
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
Brent_MarchantFeb 26, 2021
Despite fine performances by Andra Day and Trevante Rhodes, director Lee Daniels's attempt at depicting the troubled life of jazz singer Billie Holiday becomes bogged down by a repetitive narrative and an unfocused screenplay that never quiteDespite fine performances by Andra Day and Trevante Rhodes, director Lee Daniels's attempt at depicting the troubled life of jazz singer Billie Holiday becomes bogged down by a repetitive narrative and an unfocused screenplay that never quite finds its footing in a sea of competing story threads. The film's period piece production values (especially the sets and costumes) are top shelf, as are the superb musical numbers, but the best that they and the excellent performances can do is to attempt to cover for the scattered screenplay, redundant story elements, sloppy editing and inept direction. It's unfortunate, too, given the nature of the subject matter and empathy such material should seek to generate. An icon like Billie Holiday truly deserves better than this.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
10
CupidetteFeb 28, 2021
Andra Day gave an Oscar worthy performance. The movie had issues, but it's nowhere near a disaster.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
3
MetacriticOnurJul 14, 2021
bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
6
ganonymousOct 6, 2021
I feel Andra Day did an amazing job as Billie Holiday she really embodied her. But i just wish she had i better script to make it a better movie. We know Billie Holiday had her hardships but she was also a amazing singer and she was loved byI feel Andra Day did an amazing job as Billie Holiday she really embodied her. But i just wish she had i better script to make it a better movie. We know Billie Holiday had her hardships but she was also a amazing singer and she was loved by many i feel they could did a better job showcasing this in the movie as well instead of just showing her hardships it could have been balanced showing both sides of her. I know Lee Daniels said he wanted to make raw and honest but at times to me it felt like he was exploiting the singer Audra in a way in her first major movie role. I feel some of the graphic scenes weren't need to tell the story. If the script was better this could have been a great film because Audra can sing and act.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
All this user's reviews
5
mrmonsterFeb 26, 2021
Unfortunately, a great performance from Andra Day does not save this poorly written, poorly executed movie from mediocrity.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
DogwarMar 5, 2021
They say the film is a chaotic mess like it’s a bad thing. How else would you describe the life and times of Billie Holiday?(or any superstar’s life) This film drops you right into the pre civil rights era where racism and abuses were theThey say the film is a chaotic mess like it’s a bad thing. How else would you describe the life and times of Billie Holiday?(or any superstar’s life) This film drops you right into the pre civil rights era where racism and abuses were the norm and right into the tragic life of Holiday. The film/camera techniques utilized make you feel the pain, tension and horror of the era. It also serves as a reminder that our openly racist past is so recent and palpable that it is no wonder we are still struggling with racism and racial inequities today. This is a must see film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
3
SYdCFeb 27, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The United States vs Billie Holiday literally left me drained. Andra Day nails her portrayal of Billie Holiday. She is sensational. But this film showcases what happens when a great performance ends up in an absolutely awful film. The only time The United States vs Billie Holiday comes to life is when Andra Day is on-screen. She took trite dialogue and made it magic. And her version of Billie Holiday's songs were powerful, but when she sang "Strange Fruit", it gave me chills. This biopic about the last years in Holiday's life, and how the authorities pursued and harassed her just because she refused to stop singing "Strange Fruit", is as average as it is lethargic. There is no real direction and Lee Daniels got lost and never found his way out of the weeds. There was no tension, no reason to be invested in any of these characters except Billie Holiday, and that was fully due to Andra Day. Then you had a way over-the-top dog's funeral, Roy Cohn ( Senator Joseph McCarthy's chief counsel) and an insinuated lesbian relationship between Holiday and actress Tallulah Bankhead. Who knows if they had a thing....this film was splintering off in every direction imaginable, and it never found its center.

This was an ambitious film that never fulfilled its potential. Though Daniels has found his his niche in some areas, but this is not that niche. A truly skilled director and writer could have made a masterpiece, but Daniels and Suzan-Lori Parks, who wrote this schlock, never made the story and vision they had in their heads come to life, and that's a pity because the subject matter was there. I sincerely hope that Day wins an award for her performance, because she deserves it for making sweet tasting lemonade out of a hot mess of a film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
JLuis_001Mar 11, 2021
The brand new winner of the Golden Globe; Andra Day unfortunately comes to prove a burdened rule about biopics that don't rise beyond the ordinary.

Especially since her work reminds me of another recent winner. I'm talking about of whatThe brand new winner of the Golden Globe; Andra Day unfortunately comes to prove a burdened rule about biopics that don't rise beyond the ordinary.

Especially since her work reminds me of another recent winner.
I'm talking about of what Renée Zellweger did in Judy; A tremendous performance that fully sustains an ultimately inconsequential movie.

And on the other hand, Lee Daniels still hasn't recovered what he achieved in Precious.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
Mauro_LanariAug 29, 2022
(Mauro Lanari)
It took the screenplay by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks to confine Holiday's life within the pokey double track of genius and recklessness.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
Stream2BigScreeFeb 28, 2021
Right back at ya, Streamers, and Black History Month is closing out with a bang. This weekend The United States vs. Billie Holiday premiered on Hulu. It is a sweet fruit that has ripened for viewing pleasure. Let's see what this film has forRight back at ya, Streamers, and Black History Month is closing out with a bang. This weekend The United States vs. Billie Holiday premiered on Hulu. It is a sweet fruit that has ripened for viewing pleasure. Let's see what this film has for you.

This prospective awards season darling follows Holiday, played by Andra Day, during her career as she is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by a black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, Trevante Rhodes, with whom she has a tumultuous affair. (If you want the full facts of this historical depiction, please check the link below the rating.) Nevertheless, how may times can we say in a review your skinfolk ain't always your kinfolk, but your skinfolk just trying to survive and thrive, too! More than that though, the film depicts struggle, love, addiction, talent, the power of words and the damage of drugs and unhealthy relationships. Many of us know the name Billie Holiday but have no clue who she was as a person. This movie brings some insight into what may have plagued her, but I can't say it does her quite justice. A beautiful person can really be such a damaged piece of artwork and, boy, does Andra Day gives us all of that. Her performance is probably the sole reason to really turn this flick on. Nominated for a Golden Globe award and I presume an Academy Award nomination is in her future as well, Day gives us everything. Can I say this is how Billie was? I have no clue, but now I can't go back. Some might say this is too much but without Day's performance this movie would be nothing. The rest of the cast is forgettable, but I will say they did have me cracking up here and there. I don't know whether that was intentional or unintentional, but who cares.

What I think the movie misses is the real in-depth or historical facts about the actual case. Lee Daniels is such a strong director of acting, but somewhere in the mystic of Andra's performance he forgot to make the film cohesive. The title of this film is really taken for granted. In fact, the title isn't even necessary because the case really takes a backseat to all of what's really going on with Billie Holiday. The title is powerful and will pull people in to watch, but the execution of plot and storyline was the pits. You know what wasn't the pits, the wardrobe in this movie. When I say top notch, I mean top notch. A few scenes had me saying singers and celebs could never look this good today, forgetting this movie was literally filmed in current times. Hint: you celebs need to get whoever this wardrobe team is and hire them ASAP. I mean I don't want to harp on this point but dang Billie and cast were out here slaying it in every dang screen. EXCEPT ONE DANG-ON WIG ON THIS DUDE'S HEAD!!! You'll see it and it can't be unseen, but I digress.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday feels like a missed opportunity to really do justice to "the voice of the century". Andra Day's performance is one for the decades, but the film as a whole is one that can be forgotten. I'd be remiss to say the film itself is just a handful of popcorn without noting that Andra Day as Billie Holiday is the biggest box of popcorn. Check it out for her performance alone but be prepared to be underwhelmed by the rest.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
7
KennyLee0128Feb 26, 2021
A film that can be enjoyed (and perhaps even admired) despite its various flaws. It can also be a frustrating and chaotic experience, but never completely disastrous. It works on the emotional impact of its subject matter, a knockout thatA film that can be enjoyed (and perhaps even admired) despite its various flaws. It can also be a frustrating and chaotic experience, but never completely disastrous. It works on the emotional impact of its subject matter, a knockout that will take you days to recover from. And when everything seems about to fall apart, Andra Day is there to gracefully sustain and elevate the film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
Jesus2464873Feb 27, 2021
Andra Day gives the performance of the year! Of a lifetime! It’s her debut performance!
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
TessozMar 6, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This got average reviews so I was hesitant as I wasn’t super aware of Billie Holiday —- this was the singular most infuriating, heartbreaking and inspiring movie I’ve seen in years. Long story short... I’m now obsessed with Billie Holiday.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
ChanekeCholoDec 13, 2021
The script is unimportant with which is lengthened, but Andra Day deserves her Academy Awards nomination.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
sanctuarydecineDec 25, 2021
brilliant performance by Andra Day, but it feels like Lee Daniels watched Ray, What's Love Got to do with It and other music biopics and made a carbon copy of them. I don't know the entire Billie Holiday story but this movie is formulaic andbrilliant performance by Andra Day, but it feels like Lee Daniels watched Ray, What's Love Got to do with It and other music biopics and made a carbon copy of them. I don't know the entire Billie Holiday story but this movie is formulaic and cliche, with good social commentary but bad story telling and lack of depth.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

52 Critic Reviews

5.2 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 72 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL