Bessie(2015)
Survival began with a song
Bessie Synopsis
The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Bessie (2015) is a drama, music and tv movie film directed by Dee Rees, released on May 16, 2015 with a runtime of 1h 47m. It stars Queen Latifah, Mo'Nique, Mike Epps and Tika Sumpter. Viewers rate it 6.4 out of 10 across 132 ratings.
- Director:
- Dee Rees
- Writers:
- Dee Rees, Dee Rees, Horton Foote
- Producers:
- Ron Schmidt
- Cinematographer:
- Jeffrey Jur
- Composer:
- Rachel Portman
- Production:
- The Zanuck Company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, HBO Films
- Status:
- Released
Bessie (2015) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Bessie before you stream it.
Bessie Videos & Clips
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for Bessie.
Bessie: Trailer (HBO Films)
Trailer
Bessie: Trailer (HBO Films)
Trailer
Bessie Cast & Crew
Main cast
Queen Latifah
as Bessie Smith
Mo'Nique
as Ma Rainey
Mike Epps
as Richard
Tika Sumpter
as Lucille
Michael Kenneth Williams
as Jack Gee
Charles S. Dutton
as William 'Pa' Rainey
Bryan Greenberg
as John Hammond
Oliver Platt
as Carl Van Vechten
Khandi Alexander
as Viola
Tory Kittles
as Clarence
- Kamryn Johnson
Kamryn Johnson
as Young Bessie
- Rikki McKinney
Rikki McKinney
as Chorus Guy
Key crew
Directed by Dee Rees, written by Dee Rees, Dee Rees and Horton Foote, produced by Ron Schmidt.
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Bessie Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 6.4/10 from 132 ratings.
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Bessie – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Bessie online?
+
Bessie (2015) is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel and HBO Max, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in Bessie?
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The main cast of Bessie (2015) includes Queen Latifah, Mo'Nique, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter and Michael Kenneth Williams. The film was directed by Dee Rees. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was Bessie released?
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Bessie was released on May 16, 2015 and runs for 1h 47m.
Is Bessie worth watching?
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Bessie (2015) holds an average rating of 6.4 out of 10 from 132 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama, music and tv movie films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for Bessie?
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Yes. The official Bessie trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.