Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly writes, "Etta James, a torch rocker and junkie played by Beyoncé Knowles, just about burns a hole in the screen with her sultry torment. As a woman who rocked the house but could get no satisfaction, Beyoncé does a Lady Sings the Blues in miniature. Now will someone give this lady a great lead role?"

John Anderson of Variety writes, "Jeffrey Wright's Waters is unforgettable, Eamonn Walker gives an unnerving performance as rival bluesman Howlin' Wolf, and Beyonce Knowles' Etta James should put bottoms in seats."

Stephen Garrett of Time Out New York says, "As with any movie that re-creates outsize performers, the pleasures of Cadillac Records stem from watching the actors channel their respective icons: Jeffrey Wright delivers a ferocious Muddy Waters, Eamonn Walker is downright chilling as Howlin’ Wolf, Beyoncé Knowles conjures Etta James with sass and verve, and Mos Def is delirious as Chuck Berry."