The Beatles need no introduction. The British band went on to spawn a successful legacy for its four members while revolutionizing music genres like pop and rock. Their music aside, The Beatles had a strong celebrity fan following that is unparalleled, and some of their on-the-road films and tour documentaries bear testimony to this.
At the same time, each of the band members has been the subject of more insightful documentaries that seek to explore a behind-the-scenes look at their life. As the so-called 'Beatlemania' never really faded away, the group's discography continues to be used in cinema and their history continues to amuse filmmakers.
Lennon Or McCartney (2014)- 5.3
A strange experiment, Lennon or McCartney is a 30-minute-long documentary that streams for free on director Matt Schichter's YouTube channel. For this project, Schichter rounded up nearly 550 artists to ask them the eternal question, 'Lennon or McCartney?'.
Even though each of the four members went on to have acclaimed solo careers, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were undoubtedly the most popular faces of the band. Both served as songwriters and lead vocalists on most of the tracks, while also providing help with the guitar or piano. The documentary includes a wide variety of stars, from Aaron Paul to Rita Ora to Gary Oldman, to settle the debate. Spoiler alert: John Lennon results as the popular choice.
Good Ol' Freda (2013)- 7.3
Good Ol' Freda was released with the tagline, 'Behind a great band, there was a great woman'. And that pretty much sums it up as this biographical documentary offers a glimpse at the life of Freda Kelly who served as a secretary to The Beatles as well as their manager Brian Epstein.
The film reveals how Kelly went against her Liverpool family's wishes to join the band at the age of seventeen. Her association with them was quite evident as Good Ol' Freda reveals how she was a regular fan attending hundreds of their live shows.
The U.S. Vs. John Lennon (2006)- 7.3
After The Beatles broke up, John Lennon retained his popularity but not just as a musician but also as a prevalent anti-war activist. In the '60s and the '70s, when the Vietnam War was heavily being criticized by figures like Muhammad Ali, Lennon through his music and rallies preached about peace prompting the US Government (under then-President Richard Nixon) to quell his efforts.
The U.S. vs. John Lennon utilizes archival footage and press interviews to recount this chapter of Lennon's life and his polarizing personality.
All Together Now (2008)- 7.5
The Cirque de Soleil and The Beatles once joined forces for the theatrical production Love. This project reimagined some of the band's greatest hits, combining their musical legacy with acrobatic and athletic sequences. All Together Now documents the making of this project that debuted in 2006.
Even before the production of Love commenced (with input from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Yoko Ono), All Together Now reveals how the seeds of the idea were generated way back out of the friendship between guitarist George Harrison and Cirque de Soleil founder Guy Laliberte.
TIE: The Beatles: Eight Days A Week (2016)- 7.8
Directed by Academy Award-winner Ron Howard, Eight Days A Week is the quintessential Beatles film if one needs to know more about their touring years and the ensuing fallout.
Spanning from 1962 to 1966, Howard's documentary seeks to recover footage and gain perspectives on all their concerts and the height of Beatlemania, covering performances like their initial shows at Liverpool as well as their final San Francisco concert. Distributed by Hulu, it won the Grammy for Best Music Film.
TIE: Let It Be (1969)- 7.8
As the title suggests, Let It Be covers the making of the album of the same name that would go down as the last-ever Beatles album. The band prepares for a series of final concerts before parting ways and even though the documentary largely paints a happy picture, there are a few moments that seem to present the internal tensions that the members began having with each other.
In the end, it's a tragically beautiful part of music history capturing The Beatles at their most vulnerable. Unfortunately, after a theatrical run, Let It Be was rarely available on home video. The upcoming 2021 Peter Jackson documentary Get Back seeks to recover some of the footage along with Disney planning a remastered re-release.
Imagine: John Lennon (1988)- 7.9
Showcasing a slew of previously unseen John Lennon's personal video essays, Imagine: John Lennon recounts the Beatle's impact on music, his political activism, along with his personal shortcomings. Interviews feature personalities like David Bowie, Yoko Ono, his first wife Cynthia Lennon as well as his sons Sean and Julian Lennon.
Many parts seem to make use of Lennon's voice as narration adding a more personal touch in this progress. The chart-topping 36-song soundtrack is another bonus feature.
The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit (1991)- 8.1
The British band had a massive American and global presence. The First U.S. Visit perfectly shows the Beatlemania wave during their first series of American concerts. The film includes musical performances as well as candid interviews and musings by the members as they laze in their hotel rooms.
The 1991 version was a re-released update on the original 1964 documentary that was recorded on a 16mm film. The updated documentary's biggest change was the inclusion of the group's iconic performance at The Ed Sullivan Show that increased their fanbase.
TIE: George Harrison: Living In The Material World (2011)- 8.2
Martin Scorcese is no stranger to music documentaries having extensively covered Bob Dylan and The Band in award-winning documentaries. His portrait of George Harrison was filmed right about the time when Scorsese was also working on Shutter Island.
George Harrison: Living In The Material World seeks to elaborate on Harrison's claim to fame as well as his other interests like spirituality and filmmaking.
TIE: The Compleat Beatles (1982)- 8.2
The Compleat Beatles, much like the series The Beatles Anthology, is often considered as the quintessential Beatles films not just for delving into their music and off-stage life but also for capturing Beatlemania through passionate and hysterical fans.
Narrated by Malcolm McDowell, the documentary incorporates a musical, cultural, and even an academic take on their career involving a diverse bunch of interviewees.