With Sam Mendes’ upcoming Beatles biopics generating buzz after the recent announcement of the castings for the Fab Four, now is the perfect time to revisit (or watch for the first time) classic films starring or about the iconic band. Luckily, there has been an enormous about of content created about The Beatles, meaning there’s something for everyone to enjoy, even if you’re not a hardcore fan.
Note: All films (excluding the bonus) available through the AU Library Media Collection!
1) A Hard Day’s Night
A Hard Day’s Night captures the Beatles at the height of Beatlemania. Production began soon after their U.S. boom, aimed at capitalizing on their newfound fame. Despite the financial motives for its creation, the film is genuinely enjoyable, and actually revolutionized several aspects of culture. Not only did it basically birth the music video, but it also introduced experimental filmography technique into the mainstream. By pairing those techniques with a popular subject, it was familiar enough for audiences to get comfortable with and accept in future films. The story is also quite entertaining, following two days in the life of The Beatles, and all of the mischievous antics that ensue. The film was nominated for two Academy awards, further cementing it was a worthwhile watch.
2) The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
For Beatles fans that enjoy clever satire, The Rutles shouldn’t be missed. Featuring cameos from early Saturday Night Live cast members, rock legends like Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon of Simon & Garfunkel, the film parodies the rise and fall of the band, even including witty spoofs of their most popular songs (“Ouch” instead of “Help” and “Doubleback Alley” instead of “Penny Lane”). George Harrison himself even makes an appearance in one part of the film! To this day, The Rutles remains a favorite of comedy lovers and Beatles fans alike.
3) Help!
Help! is another classic Beatles film. A bizarre cult begins to chase down the Beatles after Ringo accidentally acquires a valuable gem. To escape the group, the band embarks on a wild journey across various countries in Europe and tropical islands. Like its predecessor, the soundtrack also doubles as the Beatles’ fifth studio album of the same name as the film. The film shares the same playful energy as A Hard Day’s Night, but leans more into surrealism and adventure, while also having a more solid plotline. Some aspects haven’t aged well—particularly its depictions of South Asian cultures. However, Help! shows a key moment in The Beatles’ evolution as artists, shifting from a boy band to experimental artists.
4) Yesterday
Yesterday, directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire), follows a struggling musician who wakes up in a world where The Beatles never existed, and becomes famous by piecing together and performing all The Beatles songs he can remember. As he starts achieving more success, however, he starts to question if it’s right to profit off of others’ creativity. There’s also some cameos from Ed Sheeran and James Corden, including a funny moment when Ed Sheeran tries to change “Hey Jude” to “Hey Dude” – which really puts into perspective the difference between the time in which The Beatles came to fame and now.
5) Magical Mystery Tour
Magical Mystery Tour is the last of The Beatles’ live action films. Written, directed, and starring the band, the script was largely improvised, based only off of a couple loose ideas for situations in the film. John, Paul, George, and Ringo, play magicians that set off a series of strange events during a British mystery tour. The result of the band’s experimental approach to the film reflects their growing interest in psychedelia and surreal content. If you’re a big fan of the albums they made during their psychedelic era (about 1966 to 1968), this is the film for you!
6) Across the Universe
Across the Universe is a jukebox movie musical weaving over 30 Beatles songs into a love story taking place in the 1960s. Jude, a young man from Liverpool (The Beatles’ hometown!) travels to America in search of his father, but ends up in a whirlwind romance with Lucy, an American anti-war protester. There is one sequence in particular which is especially powerful, in which a character is drafted to serve in the Vietnam War (“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”). Although it is definitely one of the harder watches on this list due to its longer run time and its explorations of the emotional toll of war, it is incredibly moving.
7) Yellow Submarine
Although Yellow Submarine was The Beatles’ final film, the band actually did not star in it – not even as the voices of their characters! They do have one appearance near the end of the film, in a short live-action segment. Similar to others on this list, it also has an accompanying album of the same name featuring music from the film. Although it’s animated, it shouldn’t necessarily be classified as a children’s movie. Like their last film, it’s a little trippy, and has a bit of commentary on 1960s culture, making it a great watch not just for fans, but for any of those interested in American pop culture.
BONUS: The Beatles Live in Washington D.C.
Did you know that The Beatles held their very first U.S. concert here in D.C.? In 1964, during a harsh snow storm, the band played to a crowd of 8,000 at the now-defunct Washington Coliseum. Although it’s not technically an actual concert movie (which is why it’s a bonus), there is a video of the performance available to watch for free on YouTube!