Top 35 Best Beatles Movies To Watch

Directed by Richard Lester, this acclaimed musical comedy-drama follows the Beatles on their journey from Liverpool to London as they prepare for several performances.

When the band suddenly realizes that their beloved drummer, Ringo Starr, has gone missing, the story takes an unexpected and dramatic twist.

Filmed at the peak of Beatlemania and starring all four Beatles, "A Hard Day's Night" is celebrated as a timeless classic that continues to delight audiences today.

It’s an ideal musical for any music enthusiast, perfectly capturing the youthful spirit and innocence of a generation raised on the Beatles’ iconic tunes.

Not only is this film historically significant, but it also delivers a lively and entertaining experience that’s sure to keep viewers smiling throughout.

Directed by animation producer George Dunning, "Yellow Submarine" is an imaginative animated jukebox musical adventure inspired by the legendary music of the Beatles.

The film's whimsical plot follows the band as they join Captain Fred on a journey in his yellow submarine, heading to Pepperland to save it from the music-hating Blue Meanies.

Notably, the real Beatles make a cameo appearance in the film's final scene, adding a special touch to a movie that won widespread praise from critics and audiences upon its release.

Hailed as a groundbreaking achievement in animation, "Yellow Submarine" continues to captivate audiences with its vivid, creative visuals and its iconic collection of Beatles songs.

Director Ron Howard deserves our admiration for his deep dive into the formative years of The Beatles. In this thoughtful documentary, he traces their early club days in Liverpool and follows the band's groundbreaking, sold-out tours across Europe and worldwide.

Devoted Beatles fans will recognize that the band famously stopped touring in 1966. This pivotal moment led the Fab Four to shift their focus entirely to innovative studio recordings, and the documentary excels at explaining the reasons behind this major decision.

Howard also explores the personal journeys of each band member as they rise to superstardom, offering insights into their relationships and struggles. While the film touches only briefly on the group’s eventual breakup, it adds depth to our understanding of their story.

The documentary was widely praised, earning Best Documentary at the 70th British Academy Film Awards and Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the 69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

When it comes to documentaries and films, renowned director Martin Scorsese consistently honors his subjects with depth and sensitivity, regardless of the genre.

With George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Scorsese skillfully brings the extraordinary life and musical journey of George Harrison to center stage, offering an intimate and profound look at the artist.

This documentary stands out for its rich compilation of rare interview clips, concert footage, and photographs. More importantly, Scorsese's empathetic direction breathes new life into Harrison, capturing the complexity of his character.

By engaging modern audiences and unveiling previously unseen aspects of Harrison, Scorsese ultimately delivers a heartfelt and fitting tribute to the legendary musician.

Surprisingly, few mainstream films have captured the spirit of Beatlemania as effectively as this directorial debut from Tom Hanks.

Set against the lively backdrop of the 1960s, the story follows a pop-rock band that adds jazz enthusiast Guy to its lineup, whose dynamic drumming quickly brings the group to stardom.

While The Oneders—this film’s fictional band—clearly echoes the early career of The Beatles, the screenplay avoids featuring actual Beatles songs or directly referencing the Fab Four, instead drawing subtle parallels through the band’s rise and style.

Notably, the movie's energetic title track received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Song.

Directed and co-written by Robert Zemeckis in his feature film debut, this historical comedy captures the exciting atmosphere of the early 1960s, when The Beatles dominated popular culture across the Western world.

The film is set in 1964 and follows six enthusiastic teenagers from New Jersey who embark on an adventurous journey to see The Beatles perform on the famous "Toast of the Town" television show.

Though none of them has tickets, their determination to meet their musical heroes drives them into a whirlwind of events, testing their resolve and friendship.

As their escapade unfolds against the frenzy of The Beatles' debut visit to America, the teens experience memorable lessons about growing up and the power of camaraderie.

Blending humor with nostalgia, this heartwarming comedy offers a delightful glimpse into the Beatlemania era, making it easy for audiences to experience the cultural phenomenon that captivated a generation.

"Let It Be" stands as one of the most celebrated documentaries about The Beatles, offering a captivating look at the band’s effort to rekindle their legendary camaraderie.

Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the film chronicles The Beatles’ journey as they work on creating a raw, back-to-basics album. Ironically, the process exposes deep rifts, ultimately pushing the members further apart.

This beautifully shot documentary honestly captures the complexity of the band, taking viewers inside their creative process and artistic challenges. It strives to reflect the true stature of The Beatles.

Rock scholars and Beatles enthusiasts will find this documentary especially compelling, as it features the group’s famous impromptu rooftop concert—the final public performance by all four members together.

Directed by Ryan White, this compelling documentary delves into one of the most overlooked stories within the Beatles' history. Viewers meet Freda Kelly, a shy teenager from Liverpool who finds herself working for a rising local band—the Beatles—hoping to seize her own slice of success.

As the Beatles skyrocket to international stardom, Freda witnesses music and cultural revolutions firsthand, all while maintaining humility and refusing to take advantage of her privileged insider role.

Good Ol’ Freda stands out as an exceptional documentary, offering devoted Beatles fans a unique perspective on the girl who spearheaded their fan club. In doing so, she became the object of envy for countless teenage girls around the world.

"Help!" is the Beatles' second feature film, following the success of "A Hard Day's Night." In this comedic adventure, Ringo Starr unexpectedly becomes the target of a cult determined to use him as a human sacrifice.

The other Beatles band together in a bid to defend Ringo from an eccentric Eastern cult, as well as a couple of unhinged scientists, leading to plenty of madcap escapades throughout the movie.

While this film is often described as more chaotic and less tightly executed than its predecessor, it still offers plenty of entertainment and witty charm, ensuring a fun experience for viewers.

The movie’s whimsical plot centers around a mysterious ring and culminated in a Royal World Premiere at London’s Pavilion Theatre, attended by Princess Margaret, the Countess of Snowdon, and the Earl of Snowdon.

"Nowhere Boy" is a British biographical drama based on Julia Baird's biography of her half-brother, iconic musician John Lennon. Directed by Sam Taylor-Wood in her debut, the film draws viewers into the formative years of the legendary Beatle.

The movie skillfully explores John Lennon's turbulent adolescence, focusing particularly on his complex and often strained relationship with his mother. This personal perspective adds emotional depth to the well-known story.

Additionally, the film offers insights into the formation of Lennon’s first band, The Quarrymen, capturing the origins of what would ultimately become The Beatles. Music enthusiasts will appreciate this journey through pivotal moments in Lennon’s early musical life.

Fans of The Beatles should not miss "Nowhere Boy," as it presents the group's beginnings through a young Lennon's viewpoint. Aaron Taylor-Johnson delivers a standout performance, both in appearance and character, brilliantly embodying John Lennon on screen.

"Two of Us" unfolds in the hours after a 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live. Set several years after the Beatles' breakup, the film centers on Paul McCartney's unexpected visit to John Lennon in New York City.

This dramatized retelling is inspired by real events, focusing on Lorne Michaels's famous offer of $3,000 for The Beatles to reunite on SNL.

According to Lennon and McCartney, they were together watching the episode and even joked about accepting Michaels's invitation.

"Two of Us" does an admirable job delving into the unique relationship between the two legendary musicians, offering a thoughtful look inside their minds.

The film is directed by Mark Stanfield, who also helmed the acclaimed Beatles documentary "Let It Be."

Under the direction of Adrian Wills, All Together Now delves into the fascinating story of George Harrison's unique friendship with Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté, a connection many Beatles fans may not know about.

Their relationship blossomed into a groundbreaking collaboration, blending the iconic music of the 20th century with the spectacle of world-renowned circus artistry. Few could have imagined such an innovative artistic partnership was possible at the time.

All Together Now skillfully documents the creation of Love, the extraordinary project that brought together The Beatles' timeless sound and Cirque du Soleil's astonishing performances.

Featuring the iconic music of The Beatles and starring Himesh Patel alongside Lily James, Yesterday follows the story of Jack, a struggling musician. After a bizarre accident during a worldwide blackout, Jack wakes up to discover that he is the only person who remembers The Beatles.

He soon starts performing the band's legendary songs, using their timeless hits to build his own fame and career. Directed by Danny Boyle, Yesterday takes a lighter, more whimsical turn compared to Boyle's typically intense dramas, daring to imagine a world devoid of The Beatles' influence.

While the film employs familiar tropes about the rise and fall of an artist, it succeeds as a charming romantic comedy. The film shines due to its original premise, the charismatic performances from its leads, and, of course, the unforgettable music at its core.

Directed by legendary Broadway visionary Julie Taymor, Across the Universe may not have received the widespread acclaim it deserved upon release, yet it offers a compelling story and striking visuals that leave a lasting impression.

Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, the film follows the journey of an upper-class American girl who falls for a struggling artist from Liverpool, all while the world is transformed by the Beatles' meteoric rise and the turbulence of the Vietnam War.

The movie stands out thanks to impressive performances by Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood, who bring heart and authenticity to their roles, even as the screenplay navigates uneven terrain.

With memorable cameo appearances by Bono and iconic Beatles cover artist Joe Cocker, the film delivers creative reimaginings of beloved Beatles classics that add to its unique charm.

Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, this jukebox musical romantic drama may have underperformed at the box office, but it earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design, underscoring its artistic achievements.

Directed by Andrew Solt, "Imagine: John Lennon" invites viewers to gain a deeper understanding of the iconic British singer-songwriter and former Beatles member, John Lennon. This documentary offers rare insight into his life and legacy.

The filmmakers skillfully combine archival footage of The Beatles with interviews from prominent figures such as David Bowie, George Martin, and Julian Lennon. This blend enriches the narrative and brings Lennon's story vividly to life.

The documentary thoroughly explores the highs and lows of John Lennon's personal and professional journey, focusing particularly on his influential post-Beatles era.

"Imagine: John Lennon" was released just two days before what would have been his 48th birthday, and nearly eight years after his untimely passing, serving as a poignant tribute to his enduring impact.

The Beatles' visit to India not only captured global attention but also inspired many influential figures to explore the country's renowned meditation retreats.

Paul Saltzman, the director of this documentary, revisits his personal experiences with the legendary band during their transformative stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in 1968.

Throughout the film, Saltzman guides viewers through his memories of India while highlighting the profound impact of meditation, viewed through a lens of innocence and wonder.

Devoted Beatles fans will be fascinated to discover that, during their time in India, the band members were at their most relaxed and creatively inspired.

"Living is Easy With Eyes Closed," written and directed by David Trueba and starring Javier Cámara, centers on a passionate Beatles-loving schoolteacher. The film takes its title from a lyric in the iconic Beatles song "Strawberry Fields Forever."

Set in 1966 and inspired by true events, the story follows a devoted middle-aged fan on his journey across Spain, hoping to meet John Lennon in person.

This delightful seriocomedy won six Goya Awards, including Best Film, Director, Original Screenplay, and Actor. Although it was selected as Spain’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, it ultimately did not receive a nomination.

"Beatles Stories" (2011), directed by Seth Swirsky, offers a unique perspective by showcasing the filmmaker’s own admiration for the legendary band. Swirsky realized he was irresistibly drawn to the personal memories and anecdotes that people shared about The Beatles.

Driven by his passion, he picked up a video camera and embarked on an ambitious 8-year journey to document intimate stories from fans and friends connected to the band.

This documentary stands as a heartfelt tribute to The Beatles, skillfully curated by Swirsky to highlight a diverse range of "Beatles Stories." For diehard fans, this engaging film promises a treasure trove of insights and touching fan experiences.

Directed by Christopher Münch and starring David Angus alongside Ian Hart, The Hours and Times offers a fictional exploration of the famous 1963 holiday taken by John Lennon and his manager Brian Epstein in Spain.

Though the film draws inspiration from their actual trip to Barcelona, critics have frequently debated its historical authenticity, questioning how closely it follows real events.

Regardless of its factual accuracy, this compelling and thoughtful entry into Beatles-inspired cinema is a must-watch for devoted fans eager to experience a unique interpretation of the band's history.

You might wonder how this heartfelt drama film connects to the legendary Beatles. Rest assured, under Jessie Nelson's direction, I Am Sam weaves the spirit of the Beatles directly into its story.

The plot centers on Sam, a compassionate man with special needs who fiercely fights for custody of his daughter after her mother leaves them. His determination shines as he strives to prove himself a worthy parent, aided by an unconventional lawyer.

Though the film’s storyline isn’t directly tied to the Beatles, it features a pivotal character named Lucy—named after the beloved Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."

Sam's deep admiration and encyclopedic knowledge of the Beatles punctuate the film, filling it with memorable references to the band’s music and history that delight audiences throughout.

Adding to its charm, Sam often shares Beatles stories whenever words fail him, endearing himself to viewers while underscoring his passion for the iconic band.

This on-screen dramatization of the Hamburg, Germany phase of The Beatles' early history prompted George Harrison to reportedly walk out of the screening five minutes into the movie.

While even Paul McCartney didn't seem to care much for it either, the feature film opened to mostly positive reviews from critics upon its theatrical release.

However, while McCartney may not have had a ton of great things to say about the movie, he couldn't withhold praise for Stephen Dorff, who delivers an astonishing performance as Stu Sutcliffe.

So far, not a lot has been discovered about why the aforementioned men didn't think too highly of the feature at the time of its release.

Helmed for the screen by Richard Marquand, Birth of the Beatles tries to dramatize the band's Hamburg years. It also covers their signing with Brian Epstein and their phenomenal rise during the early sixties for the big screen audience.

Since it was the only Beatles biopic produced during John Lennon's lifetime, it's only fitting that it focused not only on the band's early history but also on the termination of drummer Pete Best and the death of bassist Stu Sutcliffe.

Best also served as a technical advisor on the movie which aimed to bring to light the events that led up to one of the most electrifying watershed moments in 20th-century pop culture.

In this musical documentary directed by Susan Winslow, we get to see Beatles songs being covered by a variety of musicians against a montage of World War II film clips.

A relatively tough feature to chance upon today, it does a decent job of merging the horrors of the catastrophic war to the peaceful tunes of The Beatles; an idea, which, whether for the good or bad, makes it stand out.

Needless to mention, All This and World War II turned out to be contentious for a nation that was still reeling from the repercussions of the dreadful Vietnam War.

Even though the motion picture ceased to be released officially following its forgetful run in theaters, bootleg copies of the same have been readily available ever since.

Ringo Starr features as both a fictionalized version of himself and his fictional half-brother "Ognir Rrats" in this made-for-television comedy film that has been helmed by Jeff Margolis.

We catch the titular character being stressed out by fame and, thus, deciding to trade places with a nincompoop who looks exactly like him.

However, the problems kick in sooner than expected. While this movie may not have gone too mainstream, it does a fair job of trying to demonstrate the possibility of the most famous rock drummer in the world getting bored with his life as an iconic pop star.

I mean, can we blame the guy? It must have felt like a regular job to him after a point.

Based on the novel of the same name by Norwegian author Lars Saabye Christensen, this Peter Flinth directorial venture traces the journey of four friends who grew up in Oslo in the sixties.

They were so taken by the aura and music of the Fab Four that they started to think of themselves as members of the band. The plot sounds familiar, doesn't it?

This decent coming-of-age tale chronicles the life of four enthusiastic teenagers who decide to come up with a band of their own during a time of great political upheaval.

Beatles, the movie, can be seen for the charming character projections of the chosen boy performers.

If you thought that you were the biggest fan of The Beatles, you probably hadn't met the teenagers who featured in this Michael Pattinson directorial venture.

The story follows five over-enthusiastic and sneaky teens who get stuck in the basement while trying to catch the Beatles in a local hotel.

As they continue to wait to be rescued, a lot of their well-kept secrets start coming to the fore, one person at a time.

The motion picture primarily takes place in a basement underneath a Melbourne concert venue where the band is set to make its much-awaited Australian debut.

While we get to see how obsessed the teenagers are with the band, what makes this otherwise mediocre movie worth seeing is that each of their identities revolves around the Beatles.

Yep, this movie pretty much went on to showcase the impact the band had on most youngsters at the time.

Written and directed by Tom O'Dell, this is yet another documentary that allows several interviews and rare archival footage to trace the fascinating journey of The Beatles. We get to see how their mammoth success led to a cultural, social, and musical revolution in the bygone century.

Props to the makers for not tracking the triumph of the band chronologically and, instead, tracing the undeniable impact that the four band members had on popular culture at the time.

While we do not get to see the Fab Four talking a lot in this feature, enough inputs have been provided by their friends and associates to put things into perspective.

This rather unique documentary feature attempts to chronicle the enduring love affair between The Beatles and India that started more than half a century ago.

A ton of rare archival footage, photographs, and eyewitness accounts have been used to showcase how the band impacted a certain section of people within the country, while at the same time getting influenced by India's rich history and hospitality.

Fans of the Fab Four get to see them abandoning their high-octane celebrity lives in the West to live a remote life for a few days in a Himalayan ashram; all in search of spiritual bliss.

The Beatles and India need to be seen purely because it is the first serious exploration of how India may have helped shape the evolution of the iconic band.

Add to that the fact that their visit also led to the bridging of two vastly different cultures. Therefore, it'd be safe to say that a ton of Indians who were not so familiar with the band's work got to learn of them while they happened to have toured the country for personal reasons.

This documentary from filmmaker Alan G. Parker tries its best to provide a fascinating insight into the creation of one of the most ground-breaking and influential albums in music history.

The seminal album, which was described by Rolling Stone magazine as "the most important rock & roll album ever made" at the time, not only changed the course of music but also went on to become one of the best-selling records of all time.

It is not surprising then that this project includes interviews from fellow musicians, family members, and journalists, who go on to track the impact of the album, as well as how it came into being.

Also, there's a ton of original and exclusive never-seen-before footage to look forward to in this one.

Helmed by Eric Idle and Gary Weis, this hilarious mockumentary is the most unique project to make it to our story.

The project, which is equal parts parody and tribute, features an astounding cast of talented performers such as Bill Murray, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Mick Jagger, Paul Simon, and George Harrison.

It attempts to chronicle the journey of The Rutles by dedicating a series of short sections meant to cast a light on the rise and fall of The Beatles.

Better still, it does so in the wittiest ways possible. Needless to mention, its eccentric subject matter ensured that the movie found an audience among The Beatles and comedy fans alike.

Only the third film to have featured the band, Magical Mystery Tour has also been directed by members of the Fab Four themselves.

Not only does this surreal classic project blends sketches, ideas, and visual concepts with some of the much-loved tunes of the band but it also rides on its largely improvised script to strike a chord with the audience.

Paul McCartney was credited with conceptualizing and leading the title, which opened to rather underwhelming reviews by critics and audiences alike.

Magical Mystery Tour was released in select theatres in both the United States of America and the world over.