In recent years, bionanocomposites have received growing attention in science and industry due to their renewability, biodegradability and superior mechanical properties. Nanocellulose is another promising material that use as a reinforcement filler for bionanocomposite materials due to its lightweight, high surface area, high mechanical strength, high aspect ratio and low density. Different nanocellulose loading, sources, surface modification/functionalization and properties of nanocellulose are important in the production of bionanocomposites. In general, nanocellulose reinforced PLA bionanocomposite offers enhancement in tensile strength and elastic modulus. However, only minimal nanocellulose loadings are required for optimal results due to the incompatibility between the hydrophilic nanocellulose and hydrophobic PLA. This paper reviews the sources of nanocellulose and the properties of nanocellulose with a focus on the tensile and morphological properties of PLA bionanocomposites. Applications of nanocellulose in various industries are discussed in this article. This review article provides some important information. First, this study reviewed the application of nanostructured cellulose in biodegradable polymers. There are two types of nanostructured cellulose: nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC). Second, the status on articles published on nanocellulose and PLA/nanocellulose over the past 10 years is reported. Third, the authors of this paper implemented a holistic and critical review to provide a comprehensive understanding of the different properties between NCC and NFC, the application of nanocellulose in bionanocomposites, as well as the properties of PLA and PLA bionanocomposites. Moreover, the influence of NCC and NFC on the tensile and morphological properties of bionanocomposites is covered in this article.