The 2002 reissue of the album was reviewed by Ken Dryden at Allmusic who critiqued the marketing of the album as a jazz album. Dryden described the music as "very listenable, with a solid performance throughout by Eckstine" though the arrangements he felt were "very predictable, lacking any significant improvising or solos, awash in strings with a rhythm section that seems on autopilot....Billy Eckstine's vocal abilities are never in question, but jazz fans need to know what to expect prior to purchasing this reissue."[2]Now Singing in 12 Great Movies was chosen as a "Four Star Album" at the time of its release from Billboard magazine in February 1964.[4]