Movies like The United States vs. Billie Holiday

If you like "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" you are looking for tense, thought provoking and captivating movies about / with jazz singer, musician, racism, war on drugs, jazz, segregation and civil rights themes of Biography, Drama and Music genre shot in USA.
Find your next favorite and similar movies in two steps: 1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below). 2. Look for them in the presented list.
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
 6.3
 16K
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story: The Federal Bureau of Narcotics launches an undercover sting operation against jazz singer Billie Holiday.
Style: tense, thought provoking, captivating, suspense, political, anamorphic, independent film, retro, interesting
Plot: jazz singer, musician, racism, war on drugs, jazz, segregation, civil rights, substance abuse, fbi, undercover, heroin, addiction, women, black, african american, social problems, musician's life, black history, relationships, music, historical figure, drug traffic, life is a bitch, relationship problems, female singer ...
Time: 1940s, 1950s, 20th century, year 1957, year 1954, year 1949, year 1947 ...
Place: new york, new orleans, washington d.c., philadelphia, baltimore

Movie in categories

Most similar movies to The United States vs. Billie Holiday

The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out serious, realistic, captivating and dramatic films with plots about biopic, music, musician, singer, musician's life, rising to stardom and artists and showbiz mostly in Drama, Music and Biography genres. Some movies like The United States vs. Billie Holiday: Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Bird (1988), Ray (2004), Cadillac Records (2008), Bessie (2015). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 144 min.
Story: Chronicles the rise and fall of legendary blues singer Billie Holiday. Her late childhood, stint as a prostitute, early tours, marriages and drug addiction are featured.
Style: retro, realistic, intellectual, powerful, bleak ...
Plot: jazz, biopic, african american, drug abuse, music, musician, racism, blaxploitation, drug addiction, black, blues, addiction ...
Time: 1930s, year 1972, 1940s, 20th century, 70s
Place: america, harlem, new york city, usa, north america, baltimore ...
Similarity:
95%
 7.1
 14K
Bird (1988)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 161 min.
Story: Saxophone player Charlie Parker comes to New York in 1940. He is quickly noticed for his remarkable way of playing. He becomes a drug addict but his loving wife Chan tries to help him.
Style: atmospheric, psychological, factual, stylized, realistic ...
Plot: jazz, music, biopic, drug abuse, addiction, heroin, drug addict, musician, childhood, character study, musician's life, showbiz ...
Time: 1940s, 1950s, year 1988, 20th century, 50s
Place: usa, brooklyn new york city, africa
Similarity:
81%
 7.7
 164K
Ray (2004)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 152 min.
Story: Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern ...
Style: touching, sincere, emotional, inspirational, dramatic ...
Audience: date night
Plot: jazz, addiction, musician, musician's life, music, african american, blindness, biopic, blind character, heroin, blind boy, disability ...
Time: year 2004, 20th century, 1930s, 50s, 2000s ...
Place: georgia, new york, california, indianapolis indiana, usa ...
Similarity:
79%
Cadillac Records (2008)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story: The story of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, and the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.
Style: inspirational, intense, stylized, talky, sincere ...
Plot: music, musician's life, blues, rock and roll, jazz, biopic, african american, singer, pop music, success, chess, music business ...
Time: 20th century, 60s, 1950s, year 2008, 1940s ...
Place: chicago, usa, indiana, london, mississippi ...
Similarity:
63%
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 6.7
 5K
Bessie (2015)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story: The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Style: realistic, emotional, serious, factual, historical drama ...
Plot: blues, lesbian, black lgbt, african american, lgbt, rise to the top, musician's life, jazz, music, artists and showbiz, ambition, rising to stardom ...
Time: 20th century, 1930s, 1920s
Place: indiana, southern usa, new york, tennessee, pennsylvania ...
Similarity:
62%
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story: A film about the singer Tina Turner and how she rose to stardom with her abusive husband Ike Turner and how she gained the courage to break free.
Style: inspirational, sincere, intense, serious, emotional ...
Audience: chick flick, date night, teens, girls' night
Plot: music, musician, domestic violence, african american, black woman, biopic, singer, violence against women, abusive husband, rape victim, african american woman, female protagonist ...
Time: 20th century, 80s, 70s, 60s, year 1993 ...
Place: usa, tennessee, california, africa, new york ...
Similarity:
61%
 5.4
 3K
Nina (2016)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
Story: The story of the late jazz musician and classical pianist Nina Simone including her rise to fame and relationship with her manager Clifton Henderson.
Style: captivating, serious, touching, controversial, thought provoking ...
Plot: jazz, love affair, music, biopic, musician, musician's life, racism, discrimination, rising to stardom, artists and showbiz, society, love and romance ...
Time: 20th century
Place: usa
Similarity:
60%
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min.
Story: In the mid-80s, three women (each with an attorney) arrive at the office of New York entertainment manager, Morris Levy. One is an L.A. singer, formerly of the Platters; one is a petty thief from Philly; one teaches school in a small Georgia town. ...
Style: emotional, melancholic, touching, realistic, serious ...
Audience: chick flick, teens, girls' night
Plot: music, biopic, showbiz, addiction, greed, music business, dialogue, music band, black, drug addiction, rise and fall, rising to stardom ...
Time: 20th century, year 1998, 50s, 80s, 1950s ...
Place: new york, los angeles, usa, california, new jersey
Similarity:
52%
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 7.3
 259K
Elvis (2022)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA, Australia
Duration: 159 min.
Story: The life story of Elvis Presley as seen through the complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Style: costume drama, touching, historical drama, thought provoking, realistic ...
Plot: rock music, musician, career, based on real people, music, singer, biopic, singing, rock and roll, manager, death of protagonist, king ...
Time: 20th century, 1950s, 2020s, 70s, 60s ...
Place: las vegas, memphis, nevada, germany
Similarity:
51%
 5.9
 26K
All Eyez on Me (2017)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 139 min.
Story: All Eyez on Me chronicles the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip-hop artist, actor, poet and activist, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records. Against ...
Style: hood, factual, enigmatic, thought provoking, captivating ...
Plot: rapper, african american, hip hop, biopic, record company, profanity, black, sex scene, murder, music industry, autobiography, prison ...
Time: 20th century, year 2017
Place: harlem, usa, california, las vegas, baltimore ...
Similarity:
50%
 6.9
 27K
Get on Up (2014)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 139 min.
Story: A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.
Style: emotional, talky, heartbreaking, captivating, realistic ...
Plot: music, biopic, musician, musician's life, friendship, showbiz, black, creativity, rising to stardom, artists and showbiz, ambition, desire for fame ...
Time: 1950s, 50s, 70s, year 2014, 80s ...
Place: usa, south carolina, georgia, north america, boston ...
Similarity:
50%
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story: An acclaimed stage performer, Dorothy still struggled with the challenge of her color, in a time that wouldn't let some stars in by the front door. Yet against the odds she beat out many more famous rivals for the role of "Carmen ...
Style: crying, cult classic, contemplative, captivating, thought provoking ...
Plot: racial discrimination, abuse, racism, swimming pool, desire, white male black female relationship, interracial love, racial prejudice, movie star, rape, filmmaking, biopic ...
Time: 1940s, 1950s, 20th century, 60s, 50s
Place: usa, miami beach, los angeles, las vegas, miami ...
Similarity:
46%
 6.4
 11K
Miles Ahead (2015)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story: An exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis.
Style: touching, psychological, captivating, tense, historical drama ...
Plot: jazz, musician, biopic, trumpet player, historical figure, music, black, nightclub, african american, pursuit, husband wife relationship, party ...
Time: 70s
Place: manhattan new york city, usa, columbus ohio, new york
Similarity:
46%
 6.6
 19K
Respect (2021)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 145 min.
Story: The rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom.
Style: captivating, uplifting, period piece, factual, disturbing ...
Plot: musician, rape, preacher, abusive husband, concert, showbiz, black history, biopic, blues, celebrity, african american, black ...
Time: 60s, 70s, 1950s, year 1960, year 1969 ...
Place: usa, madison square garden manhattan new york city, los angeles, atlanta georgia, detroit ...
Similarity:
46%
A Complete Unknown (2024)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 141 min.
Story: New York, early 1960s. Against the backdrop of a vibrant music scene and tumultuous cultural upheaval, an enigmatic 19-year-old from Minnesota arrives in the West Village with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of ...
Style: period drama
Plot: musician, concert, motorcycle, singer, cuban missile crisis, folk singer, biopic, harmonica, career, disagreement, punched in the face, female singer ...
Time: year 1961, 60s, year 1965, year 1963, year 1962 ...
Place: new york, north america, monterey california
Similarity:
44%
Waltz for Monica (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: Sweden
Duration: 111 min.
Story: "Monica Z" is a biopic about the Swedish singer and actress Monica Zetterlund focusing on her journey from a job as a telephone operator in a small town in Sweden to stardom in the clubs of New York and Stockholm.
Style: realistic, emotional, factual, uplifting, captivating ...
Audience: chick flick
Plot: jazz singer, single mother, jazz, female singer, father daughter relationship, rising to stardom, ambition, nightclub singer, fame, follow your dream, drinking problem, family problems ...
Time: 60s, 20th century
Place: stockholm sweden, new york, europe, usa, eastern europe
Similarity:
42%
What We Do Is Secret (2007)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story: A biopic of punk legend Darby Crash and his band, the Germs.
Style: serious, realistic, tense, suspense, informative ...
Plot: punk rock, punk, music, rock, biopic, lifestyle, musician's life, rising to stardom, artists and showbiz, life is a bitch, ambition, rise and fall ...
Time: 70s
Place: los angeles, usa, california
Similarity:
42%
 6.9
 34K
Selena (1997)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story: In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham, realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues. She finds success and falls for ...
Style: touching, sad, sincere, factual, emotional ...
Audience: chick flick, kids, girls' night, teens
Plot: music, murder, dancing, tragedy, childhood, singer, musician's life, musician, father daughter relationship, mother daughter relationship, marriage, racial segregation ...
Time: 80s, 90s, year 1997, 20th century, year 1981 ...
Place: texas, mexico, usa, los angeles, california
Similarity:
42%
Movie in collections
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min.
Story: Biography of Loretta Lynn, a country and western singer that came from poverty to fame.
Style: sentimental, inspirational, touching, sweet, realistic ...
Plot: country music, music, female protagonist, biopic, poverty, rags to riches, musician, dysfunctional marriage, musician's life, teenage pregnancy, price of fame, mining ...
Time: 1950s, 1940s, 70s, 20th century, 60s ...
Place: kentucky, usa, nashville tennessee, appalachia, washington state
Similarity:
41%
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story: Singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and bass guitarist John Deacon take the music world by storm when they form the rock 'n' roll band Queen in 1970. Hit songs like "Killer Queen", "Bohemian ...
Style: inspirational, touching, rough, sexy, period piece ...
Audience: teens, family friendly, chick flick, adult
Plot: musician, music, lgbt, gay, aids, rock band, singer, rock music, musician's life, friendship between men, music industry, rock concert ...
Time: 80s, 20th century, year 1984, year 1982, year 1975 ...
Place: atlanta georgia, england, britain, edinburgh scotland, munich germany ...
Similarity:
41%
 7.0
 39K
La Bamba (1987)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story: Biographical story of the rise from nowhere of singer Ritchie Valens whose life was cut short by a plane crash.
Style: inspirational, touching, intense, suspense, serious ...
Audience: teens, kids, girls' night
Plot: music, musician's life, biopic, rock and roll, interracial romance, musician, happy ending, love story, rock, rock music, music business, racism ...
Time: 1950s, 50s, 20th century, year 1987, 80s
Place: los angeles, usa, southern california, new york, tijuana mexico ...
Similarity:
40%
 7.2
 106K
The Doors (1991)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: France, USA, Netherlands
Duration: 140 min.
Story: The story of the famous and influential 1960's rock band and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison.
Style: psychedelic, sexy, factual, realistic, serious ...
Plot: rock and roll, music band, musician, drug addiction, addiction, musician's life, life philosophy, music, biopic, drug abuse, rise and fall, hippie ...
Time: 20th century, 70s, 60s, year 1965, year 1969 ...
Place: california, paris france, los angeles, usa, miami ...
Similarity:
40%
 6.7
 48K
Notorious (2009)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story: NOTORIOUS is the story of Christopher Wallace. Through raw talent and sheer determination, Wallace transforms himself from Brooklyn street hustler (once selling crack to pregnant women) to one of the greatest rappers of all time; THE NOTORIOUS ...
Style: hood, sincere, melancholic, factual, serious ...
Audience: teens
Plot: hip hop, african american, urban ghetto life, music, biopic, rising to stardom, musician, fame, success, ghetto, female singer, sacrifice ...
Time: year 2009, 20th century, 80s, year 1983, 90s
Place: new york, usa, los angeles, brooklyn new york city, new jersey
Similarity:
40%
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King of Salsa (2006)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story: The rise and fall of salsa singer, Héctor Lavoe (1946-1993), as told from the perspective of his wife Puchi, who looks back from 2002.
Style: serious, realistic, captivating, disturbing, dramatic ...
Plot: music, artists and showbiz, ambition, musician's life, showbiz, dancing, biopic, lifestyle, rise and fall, life is a bitch, drug abuse, salsa ...
Time: 70s, year 2006, 60s
Place: usa, new york, puerto rico
Similarity:
40%
Jimi: All Is by My Side (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA, Ireland, UK
Duration: 118 min.
Story: A drama based on Jimi Hendrix's life as he left New York City for London, where his career took off.
Style: realistic, captivating, atmospheric, sincere, cult classic ...
Plot: musician, rock star, music, biopic, rock, musician's life, rising to stardom, artists and showbiz, infidelity, drug use, guitarist, rock music ...
Time: 20th century, 60s
Place: england, london, seattle, new york
Similarity:
38%
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Genre: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story: Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson's play.
Style: costume drama, rough, serious, suspense, period piece ...
Plot: african american, musician, blues, black, racism, black american, lgbt, jazz, lesbian, black history, recording studio, bigger dreams ...
Time: 1920s, 2020s
Place: chicago, harlem, atlanta georgia, birmingham alabama, georgia ...
Similarity:
37%
 7.8
 279K
Walk the Line (2005)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 136 min.
Story: A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
Style: sentimental, touching, inspirational, period piece, road movie ...
Audience: date night, girls' night, chick flick
Plot: music, rock and roll, country music, musician's life, musician, marriage, addiction, biopic, accident, prison, drug, concert ...
Time: 70s, 60s, 50s, 1950s, 2000s ...
Place: memphis, tennessee, southern usa, usa, arkansas ...
Similarity:
36%
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 144 min.
Story: The joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, the greatest female R&B pop vocalist of all time. Tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.
Style: captivating, historical drama, spiritual, iconic
Plot: biopic, musician, pop music, african american, female protagonist, record producer, concert, dancing, female singer, celebrity, rising to stardom, musician's life ...
Time: 2000s, 2010s, year 2012, 2020s, year 2009 ...
Place: new jersey, italy, new york
Similarity:
36%
Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story (2013)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story: TLC's humble beginnings in Atlanta quickly led to an unprecedented rise to fame in the 1990's as one of the world's most talented, celebrated and highest-selling female groups of all time. Through very public and high profile success, ...
Style: serious, realistic, sincere, captivating
Audience: girls' night
Plot: music band, rising to stardom, musician's life, hip hop, artists and showbiz, ambition, bankruptcy, music, blaxploitation, black, pop star, girl power ...
Time: 90s, 20th century
Place: usa
Similarity:
36%
 6.5
 52K
The Runaways (2010)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min.
Story: Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, two rebellious teenagers from Southern California, become the frontwomen for the Runaways -- the now-legendary group that paved the way for future generations of female rockers. Under the Svengalilike influence of ...
Style: sexy, teen, stylized, emotional, captivating ...
Audience: girls' night, teens, teen drama, adult
Plot: rock music, lesbian, music band, music, teenage girl, coming of age, lesbian love, sex scene, teenage sexuality, teenager, biopic, revisionist history ...
Time: 70s, 2010s, 20th century
Place: los angeles, california, japan, usa, tokyo
Similarity:
35%