Best movies like Lady Sings the Blues
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
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.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 144 min
Plot tags: realistic, retro, intellectual, sentimental, touching, serious, gloomy, sexy, brutal, feel good
Best tv shows and movies like Lady Sings the Blues (1972):
Similar in 79%
Mahogany (1975)
Plot Summary:
Tracy, an aspiring designer from the slums of Chicago puts herself through fashion school in the hopes of becoming one of the world's top designers. Her ambition leads her to Rome spurring a choice between the man she loves or her newfound success.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: retro, hood, sentimental, atmospheric, serious, captivating, realistic, black cinema, campy
Similar in 78%
La Vie en Rose (2007)
Plot Summary:
A swirling, impressionistic portrait of an artist who regretted nothing, writer-director Olivier Dahan's La Vie en Rose stars Marion Cotillard in a blazing performance as the legendary French icon Edith Piaf. From the mean streets of the Belleville district of Paris to the dazzling limelight of New York's most famous concert halls, Piaf's life was a constant battle to sing and survive, to live and love. Raised in her grandmother's brothel, Piaf was discovered in 1935 by nightclub owner Louis Leplee (Gerard Depardieu), who persuaded her to sing despite her extreme nervousness. Piaf became one of France's immortal icons, her voice one of the indelible signatures of the 20th Century.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 90000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: France, UK, Czech Republic
Duration: 140 min
Plot tags: touching, disturbing, atmospheric, gloomy, inspirational, depressing, melancholic, serious, period piece, sincere
Similar in 84%
The Linda McCartney Story (2000)
Plot Summary:
In a dramatization of her life, Linda Eastman, takes a job snapping pictures for Rolling Stone Magazine, despite the objections of her straight-laced father, Lee Eastman. As Linda rubs elbows with music royalty, she bumps into rock star Paul McCartney, and they soon fall in love. Although not only her father but also Paul's band mates disapprove of the romance, Linda and Paul wed while relations between the Beatles begin to disintegrate.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 690
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: touching, realistic, serious, captivating, suspenseful, crying
Similar in 77%
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
Plot Summary:
The Federal Bureau of Narcotics launches an undercover sting operation against jazz singer Billie Holiday.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, captivating, suspense, retro, political, anamorphic, independent film, interesting
Similar in 83%
The Five Heartbeats (1991)
Plot Summary:
In the early 1960's, a quintet of hopeful, young African-American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky start, the group improves, turns pro, and rises to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way, however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: sentimental, hood, touching, humorous, realistic, semi serious, independent film, light, inspirational, road movie
Similar in 83%
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999)
Plot Summary:
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 Jones", becoming the first black woman ever nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. Marriages and affairs would break her heart, but her heart was strong. Seductive and easily seduced, she was born to be a star - with all the glory and all the pain of being loved, abused, cheated, glorified, undermined and undefeated. Here was a woman who wouldn't wait in the wings. Halle Berry stars as Dorothy Dandrige.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: cult classic, sentimental, sincere, thought provoking, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, contemplative, entertaining
Similar in 80%
Walk the Line (2005)
Plot Summary:
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.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 262000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, road movie, captivating, inspirational, feel good, dramatic, romantic, period piece
Similar in 90%
Scott Joplin (1977)
Plot Summary:
Details the life story of Scott Joplin and how he became the greatest ragtime composer of all time.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 316
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, period piece
Similar in 90%
Leadbelly (1976)
Plot Summary:
The life of Blues and folk singer Huddie Leadbetter, nicknamed Leadbelly is recounted. Covering the good times and bad from his 20s to 40s. Much of that time was spent on chain gangs in the south. Even in prison he became well known for the songs he had composed and sung during and before the time he spent there.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 887
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: rough, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 84%
Sid and Nancy (1986)
Plot Summary:
Following their breakout success in England, flagship punk rock band the Sex Pistols venture out on their first U.S. tour. Temperamental bassist Sid Vicious takes his troubled girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, along for the ride. Along the way, the couple's turbulent relationship strains the patience of bandmate Johnny Rotten and manager Malcolm McLaren, while plunging Sid and Nancy into the depths of drug addiction and co-dependency.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: bloody, cult classic, disturbing, independent film, psychedelic, serious, captivating, gloomy, offbeat, intellectual
Similar in 87%
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
Plot Summary:
Biography of Loretta Lynn, a country and western singer that came from poverty to fame.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, emotional, realistic, inspirational, factual, sweet, uplifting, sincere, feel good
Similar in 82%
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
Plot Summary:
A film about the life and career of the early rock and roll star.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, feel good, humorous, serious, captivating, realistic, entertaining, light, clever
Similar in 81%
The Rose (1979)
Plot Summary:
Midler is the rock-and-roll singer Mary Rose Foster (known as the Rose to her legions of fans), whose romantic relationships and mental health are continuously imperiled by the demands of life on the road.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: retro, sincere, touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, gloomy, sentimental, light
Similar in 75%
The Temptations (1998)
Plot Summary:
The true story of The Temptations, the Soul vocal group of the 1960s, as seen from the viewpoint of the last surviving member, Otis Williams. Beginning from their humble origins in the late 50s and continuing through the 90s and the deaths of the other 4 members.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 175 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, black cinema, rockumentary, period drama
Similar in 89%
Miles Ahead (2015)
Plot Summary:
An exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, psychological, tense, captivating, historical drama, rockumentary
Similar in 76%
Nina (2016)
Plot Summary:
The story of the late jazz musician and classical pianist Nina Simone including her rise to fame and relationship with her manager Clifton Henderson.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: captivating, touching, serious, controversial, thought provoking, anamorphic, realistic, black cinema
Similar in 82%
Paris Blues (1961)
Plot Summary:
Ram Bowen and Eddie Cook are two expatriate jazz musicians living in Paris where, unlike America at the time, Jazz musicians are celebrated and racism is a non-issue. When they meet and fall in love with two young American girls, Lillian and Connie, who are vacationing in France, Ram and Eddie must decide whether they should move back to America with them, or stay in Paris for the freedom it allows them. Ram, who wants to be a serious composer, finds Paris more exciting than America and is reluctant to give up his music for a relationship, and Eddie wants to stay for the city's more tolerant racial atmosphere.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: black and white, sincere, serious, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 90%
The Josephine Baker Story (1991)
Plot Summary:
Biography of the African-American who became a major performer in the Paris cabarets of the 1920's and 1930's. The film follows her life beginning as a struggling performer in 1917 St. Louis, her frustrations leading to her move to France, and follows to her death in 1975. Written by John Sacksteder.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Music, Romance
Country: USA, UK, Hungary
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: captivating, realistic, emotional, serious, entertaining, crying, uplifting, black cinema
Similar in 80%
'Round Midnight (1986)
Plot Summary:
Inside the Blue Note nightclub one night in 1959 Paris, an aged, ailing jazzman coaxes an eloquent wail from his tenor sax. Outside, a young Parisian too broke to buy a glass of wine strains to hear those notes. Soon they will form a friendship that sparks a final burst of genius in director Bertrand Tavernier.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Drama, Music
Country: USA, France
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, captivating, realistic, contemplative, gloomy, independent film, light, inspirational
Similar in 79%
Frances (1982)
Plot Summary:
The true story of Frances Farmer's meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood and the tragic turn her life took when she was blacklisted.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 140 min
Plot tags: depressing, disturbing, emotional, factual, compassionate, psychological, melancholic, intense, serious, touching
Similar in 84%
King of Salsa (2006)
Plot Summary:
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.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, disturbing, informative, sentimental, vintage
Similar in 89%
Bessie (2015)
Plot Summary:
The story of legendary blues performer, Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, emotional, factual, historical drama, gloomy, queer cinema, black cinema
Similar in 83%
Purple Rain (1984)
Plot Summary:
A young man with a talent for music meets an aspiring singer, Apollonia, and finds that talent alone isn't all that he needs.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, sentimental, realistic, cult classic, intellectual, entertaining, avant garde, hood, eros
Similar in 86%
Ray (2004)
Plot Summary:
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 musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered couping gospel and country together.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 155000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 152 min
Plot tags: inspirational, touching, sincere, emotional, captivating, sentimental, dramatic, psychological, motivational, romantic
Similar in 82%
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
Plot Summary:
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.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: inspirational, sincere, intense, serious, emotional, touching, intellectual, hood, captivating, realistic
Similar in 77%
Get on Up (2014)
Plot Summary:
A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 26000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: heartbreaking, emotional, talky, captivating, realistic, sentimental, intellectual, feel good, surreal, period piece
Similar in 75%
Bird (1988)
Plot Summary:
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.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 161 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, psychological, factual, stylized, sincere, touching, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic
Similar in 89%
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998)
Plot Summary:
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. Each claims to be the widow of long-dead doo-wop singer-songwriter Frankie Lyman, and each wants years of royalties due to his estate, money Levy has never shared. During an ensuing civil trial, flashbacks tell the story of each one's life with Lyman, a boyish, high-pitched, dynamic performer, lost to heroin. Slowly, the three wives establish their own bond.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: emotional, inspirational, melancholic, touching, sentimental, serious, realistic, cult classic, independent film, entertaining
Similar in 81%
Cadillac Records (2008)
Plot Summary:
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.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: realistic, inspirational, talky, stylized, intense, sincere, sentimental, serious, captivating, social
Similar in 79%
Selena (1997)
Plot Summary:
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 her guitarist, Chris Perez, who draws the ire of her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she would never complete.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 31000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: touching, sad, factual, sincere, emotional, hispanic, sentimental, historical drama, informative, uplifting