Billy Preston: That's The Way God Planned It

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Billy Preston: That's The Way God Planned It

Feb 2026

1h 45m

Documentary

LGBTQ+

Music

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Popcornmeter

90%

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10 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance.

Glenn Kenny

New York Times

Feb 19

As tough a life as Preston had, the music that buoys this chronicle is a constant source of joy.

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Owen Gleiberman

Variety

11/22/2024

Why didn’t Billy Preston become a bigger star? Who was he, exactly, as an artist? I went into the documentary fuzzy about all those things and came out feeling like I finally knew him.

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Michael Bonner

Uncut Magazine [UK]

Apr 14

4/5

Barclay’s documentary doesn’t quite resolve the contradictions of Preston’s life — perhaps they were never resolvable. Instead, it honours the grace that ran through his music and personality alike.

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Brian Bromberger

Bay Area Reporter

Mar 16

Determined to reveal in this enlightening but also emotionally devastating and unflinching documentary, how despite all his pain and self-condemnation, Preston was a great musician performing at the highest levels and this is how he should be remembered.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Mar 13

That’s the Way God Planned It is well worth seeing for the incredible range and quality of archival musical performances, which span decades and myriad styles -- Preston could seemingly make himself at home in any genre.

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Don R. Lewis

Hammer to Nail

Mar 4

If you’ve yet to step through the musical doors to the church of Billy Preston, Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It is an ideal entry point.

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keren

Apr 7

Loved everything about this documentary the music, the story, the rare footage! It was emotional and uplifting at the same time. Very well done!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Apr 5

Real music footage in 1.75 hours.

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Greg S.

@greg0239 Mar 24

It will make you cry and will help you to remember his joyful music. Unspoken is the cruelty of the music business leaving many in the ditch next to the highway of life.

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Mike Nadal C

@RT36840995 Mar 6

While I knew this all along about Billy Preston when he was alive, it was really good to see a documentary that finally credited him. He was abused by the music industry and taken advantage of by many in it. If it wasn't for him the Beatles, Mick Jagger, and Eric Clapton wouldn't have had the success they did. Same for many others. The man was a hit maker. It is so sad that White America and many in Black America have held this false doctrine pushed by religion against the LGBTQ community in spite of their uncountable contributions to their music. Preston along with many Black men have saved or made the careers of many we consider icons without the due credit, in news or money. It's time for a change. It's time to correct the record. Most of the members of the Beatles agreed he should be the 5th Beatle, and if John Lennon said so, then that's all I need, because we all know who McCartney reps. It's just time to make it right. This documentary does that without blinking.

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Ronnie T

@Ronnie1 Mar 2

A very cool documentary. billy Preston was one of the great session player. during the late 60's in early 70's. He played from the Beatles, to The Rolling Stones. Eric Clapton. Ray Charles. Many others. He wrote many hits. Such as, You're so Beautiful. Other well known songs. At the end he had many problems that he had to deal with, Which you felt sorry for him. RT.

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Christopher

Feb 22

well. I'm rating it now, BEFORE seeing the show. This is a reflection of the last time that I was blessed and happy to chat with my friend Billy again, forever.

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Paris Barclay

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Eric Clapton

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Synopsis

Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance.

Director: Paris Barclay
Producer: Stephanie Allain, Jeanne Elfant Festa, Nigel Sinclair, Cheo Hodari Coker
Screenwriter: Paris Barclay, Cheo Hodari Coker, Paris Barclay, Cheo Hodari Coker
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: White Horse Pictures, Homegrown Pictures
Genre: Documentary, LGBTQ+, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 20, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 45m