The Beatles are widely heralded as one of the greatest, and quite possibly the most influential, bands in history. They wonderfully encapsulated the spirit of the 1960s, transitioning from goodie boy band singing about holding hands to transcendental hippies singing about spiritual freedom and experimenting with advanced studio effects.
Even to this day, their music remains a revelation. Movie producers certainly know this, and The Beatles' music has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows throughout the years. Their incorporation may also prove particularly inspired, benefitting the excellent music on display.
Mad Men (2007-15)
It's fitting that "Tomorrow Never Knows" appeared in Mad Men, as that show also encapsulates the growing trends and changing times of the 1960s. Season five's Lady Lazarus concerns Don Draper feeling particularly out of tune with the youth and counterculture. His wife, Megan, buys Revolver and tells Don to put on "Tomorrow Never Knows". He does so and sits down with a drink to listen to, but he only makes it a minute into the song before standing and turning it off. "The '60s" have arrived, and Don isn't ready for it.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off contains one of the most famous sequences involving Beatles music. After taking his friends on the town, Ferris decides to participate in a parade (which is running in the afternoon on a workday, for some reason...). He begins by lip-synching Wayne Newton's "Danke Schoen" before launching into The Beatles' "Twist and Shout". It proves a huge hit, and everyone in attendance begins to dance - including his father, who is watching the parade from his office window.
The Social Network (2010)
The Social Network follows the rise of Facebook and the moral fall of its founder, Mark Zuckerberg. By the end of the movie, Mark is a very rich man, but he remains incredibly lonely due to his abrasive personality and penchant for driving others away. Cue the very suitable and fitting "Baby, You're a Rich Man", who proceeds to play over Mark's constant refreshing of Facebook. "Baby, You're a Rich Man" was originally released as the B-side to "All You Need Is Love" before it was released on Magical Mystery Tour.
Love Actually (2003)
Speaking of "All You Need Is Love", that song (or at least a version of it) appears in the 2003 Christmas classic Love Actually. "All You Need Is Love" was originally played on the live TV special Our World before it was released as a single on July 7, 1967.
In Love Actually, it plays during Peter and Juliet's wedding. As they leave the church, a chorus begins to sing the "love, love, love" portion before being accompanied by various musicians who were blending in with the crowd.
The Boss Baby (2017)
"Blackbird" is easily one of The Beatles' most popular songs - even though it's entirely by Paul McCartney. Released on The Beatles (or The White Album), "Blackbird" was written at a time when the band was going through intense internal bickering. The song was written and entirely performed by McCartney, who provided the vocals, guitar, tape loops, and foot tapping. The song appears in The Boss Baby as a goodnight song.
Scrubs (2001-10)
Scrubs contained a fantastic soundtrack filled with many notable bands and artists, and The Beatles stands proudly among them. Or maybe they stand proudly among The Beatles? Ted's acapella band makes numerous appearances throughout the show, including season three's "My Best Friend's Wedding". Here, they perform a version of "Eight Days a Week: during Turk and Carla's wedding. That is after they started with Tupac...
The Parent Trap (1998)
Released in 1998, The Parent Trap stars Lindsay Lohan as twins Hallie and Annie, and it serves as a remake of the 1961 original. The original just missed Abbey Road, which was released on September 26, 1969.
The remake plays one of that album's most popular tunes - George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun". Not only that but Hallie and her mother "run down to the studio" while the song plays, recreating the iconic album cover in the process.
Friends (1994-2004)
Another iconic sitcom, another Beatles tune, another wedding. Season ten's "The One With Phoebe's Wedding" sees "Here, There and Everywhere" being played on steel drums as Phoebe walks down the aisle. It's quite a beautiful rendition of an already beautiful song, and it helped make the sequence perfect. "Here, There and Everywhere" was released on Revolver (the same album as the psychedelic "Tomorrow Never Knows") and was written by Paul McCartney. Unlike "Blackbird", the other Beatles also play on the song.
Minions (2015)
What better way to end a movie than with some Beatles? Minions ends in spectacular fashion with "Revolution". "Revolution" was written during the recording sessions for The White Album, and a different arrangement of the song can be found on the album. But the version that everyone knows (and the version that appears in the post-credits of the movie) was released as the B-side to "Hey Jude". It makes for a very cute and very rockin' ending - provided one can stomach the Minion lyrics.
Arrested Development (2003-19)
Arrested Development lays claim to the funniest use of a Beatles song. Primarily because of the way it's used, but also for the song itself. In season one's "Public Relations", Gob opens his Aztec Tomb illusion with "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill". The complete randomness of the song makes the scene truly hilarious - not to mention Gob's antics. "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" is a real Beatles deep cut, found on side one of The White Album. Despite being a deep cut, the song is notable for being the only one in the Beatles canon to present vocals from a non-Beatle, as it contains co-lead vocals from Yoko Ono.