After Watching The Beatles Anthology, There Are 3 Things I Want To See In The Biopics And 1 Thing I Don’t

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Beatles fever is back! With four new biopics planned for 2027, directed by Sam Mendes, and a refreshed version of the classic The Beatles Anthology now streaming on Disney+, it’s clear the Fab Four’s popularity never fades – and that’s something I, like many fans worldwide, happily embrace. Revisiting Anthology recently reminded me of the band’s incredible journey, and it’s got me thinking about what I’d love to see in the upcoming films.

The Hamburg Years

What I’m most excited to see in any Beatles movie is their time playing in the nightclubs of Hamburg. There’s very little film of the band from those early days, but the stories are amazing. Hamburg was a lively port city in post-war Germany, full of struggling artists, and John, Paul, and George – along with their original bandmates Stu Sutcliffe and Pete Best – were right in the middle of it all.

Before the Beatles became known for their suits and iconic ‘mop top’ hairstyles during their 1964 arrival in America, they had a very different look. They favored leather jackets and hairstyles similar to Elvis Presley, essentially styling themselves like a 1950s biker gang. They projected a tough image, fueled by cigarettes, reflecting their working-class roots and upbringing in the port city of Liverpool.

While there are books about the band’s time in Germany, I’d really like to see that period depicted in a movie. Because there aren’t many photos or videos from then, it would be a great way to bring that exciting time to life.

The Triumph Of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

A key moment for The Beatles – and for me personally – was the creation of what many consider to be one of the greatest albums ever made. I still remember being 11 years old and hearing it for the first time. It was a truly transformative experience, especially for my developing musical taste. That’s when I really fell in love with music, and my preferences became much more sophisticated.

The album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was revolutionary for many reasons and represented a turning point for the band, much like their time in Hamburg. With less pressure to create songs for live performances – as they had stopped touring – they discovered a new level of artistic freedom. The success of the album clearly demonstrates the impact of this change.

Most Beatles documentaries show a lot of behind-the-scenes studio footage, but there’s surprisingly little about the making of Pepper. It would be amazing to see how that album came together – the complex recordings, the unusual instruments they used, and the creative choices made by the band and producer George Martin. Plus, it was a really exciting time in London, with the ‘Swinging London’ scene at its peak. I’m hoping a future film will really focus on that period for The Beatles.

The Final Recording Sessions And Breakup

Although The Beatles’ album Let It Be came out in 1970, their last time recording together was actually in 1969 for Abbey Road. Many involved – including Paul, Ringo, George Harrison, and producer George Martin – say these Abbey Road sessions were much more positive than the often-tense recording of Let It Be. Personally, it’s my second favorite Beatles album, right after Pepper.

The Beatles’ final album, Abbey Road, is a huge part of why they remain so iconic. Unlike some of their other later work, very little footage exists of its recording. They were aiming for a simpler approach after the difficult Get Back/Let It Be project, and it succeeded, even if just for a short time. I believe any film about them should end on a positive note, and finishing with the triumph of Abbey Road would be perfect.

I Don’t Want To See The Roof Top Concert Or The Let It Be Sessions

Now, let’s talk about what I’m not focusing on: the “Get Back/Let It Be” recording sessions. While these sessions were hugely important to the band’s story – and you can’t really tell that story without them – we’ve already seen a lot of footage. We first saw it in the 1970 documentary Let It Be, and more recently, in Peter Jackson’s fantastic The Beatles: Get Back docuseries, which was much more comprehensive.

I’ll admit, I often get a little let down by biopics these days. It’s weird seeing a famous actor play someone when we have actual footage of the real person doing the same thing! I first really noticed it with Will Smith’s performance as Muhammad Ali – as good as Smith was, I’d always choose to watch the real Ali in an interview. It feels the same with movies about The Beatles, too. We’ve all seen so much footage of them, I don’t really need to see actors re-enact moments that already exist with the real band members.

I feel the same way about the rooftop concert that concludes those documentaries. I’d rather watch the original footage than see it re-enacted, so while I get why it needs to be included, I don’t want a large portion of any film dedicated to simply showing it again. What fans like me really want is a fresh take – something new to see about those iconic moments.

I have confidence in Mendes, and I believe he’ll deliver four fantastic films with his unique approach.

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2025-12-06 02:09