Movies Like Bessie

Ranked by shared directors, cast, themes, genre, and era — not just generic recommendations.

Pariah

2011·1h 26m·★ 7.2·Dee Rees

Themes: black lgbt, lesbianDir. Dee Rees

Tethered Wings

2024·1h 29m·★ 6.7·Thierry Binisti

TMDB recommendsDrama & TV Movie

Living with the Dead

2002·2h 46m·★ 7.1·Stephen Gyllenhaal

DP: Jeffrey JurStarring Queen Latifah

Dirty Dancing

1987·1h 40m·★ 7.1·Emile Ardolino

DP: Jeffrey JurDrama & Music

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

2021·1h 57m·★ 8.0·Questlove

TMDB recommends

Bad Education

2004·1h 45m·★ 7.4·Pedro Almodóvar

TMDB recommends

Crossroads

1986·1h 39m·★ 7.1·Walter Hill

Fans also likedDrama & Music

Cadillac Records

2008·1h 49m·★ 7.0·Darnell Martin

Fans also likedDrama & Music

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

2022·2h 24m·★ 6.6·Kasi Lemmons

Fans also likedMusic & Drama

Walk on Water

2004·1h 43m·★ 7.3·Eytan Fox

TMDB recommends

Antonia's Line

1995·1h 42m·★ 7.4·Marleen Gorris

TMDB recommends

Iron Jawed Angels

2004·2h 5m·★ 7.3·Katja von Garnier

Fans also likedDrama & TV Movie

Step Up All In

2014·1h 52m·★ 5.9·Trish Sie

Fans also likedDrama & Music

Holiday Harmony

2022·1h 51m·★ 6.2·Shaun Paul Piccinino

Fans also likedMusic & TV Movie

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

2020·1h 33m·★ 6.9·George C. Wolfe

Fans also likedDrama & Music

Hounddog

2008·1h 42m·★ 6.2·Deborah Kampmeier

Fans also likedDrama & Music

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

1999·1h 55m·★ 7.0·Martha Coolidge

Fans also likedDrama & TV Movie

Together Together

2021·1h 30m·★ 6.4·Nikole Beckwith

TMDB recommends

I Am Woman

2020·1h 56m·★ 6.6·Unjoo Moon

Fans also likedDrama & Music

My Life Without Me

2003·1h 46m·★ 7.4·Isabel Coixet

TMDB recommends

How Good Is Bessie?

Ratings across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and TMDB, plus our verdict.