At the heart of Danny Boyle’s 2019 film Yesterday lies a simple but irresistible idea: what if the world forgot the Beatles, but one struggling musician remembered? That premise wouldn’t fly without the songs themselves, and that’s exactly what makes the film work. The Beatles’ music isn’t just a soundtrack in Yesterday—it’s the soul of the story.
When Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) wakes up in a world where the Beatles never existed, he begins reintroducing their music one song at a time. But these aren’t just performances—they’re emotional beats in the story. Each song he plays marks a moment of change, reflection, or connection. Whether it’s the quiet intimacy of Yesterday, the raw plea of Help!, or the rousing joy of All You Need Is Love, the tracks don’t just fill scenes—they drive them.
Press the top left play button on the feature image above to watch and listen to the clip of Help!
What’s more, the film doesn’t try to replicate the Beatles’ sound. Instead, it strips the songs down and lets them be reborn through Jack’s voice and acoustic guitar. This personal reinterpretation gives the music new emotional weight, highlighting just how timeless—and timely—their lyrics still are.
Even the audience’s reaction to the songs becomes part of the narrative. In one scene, a music executive shrugs off Let It Be as “a bit passable.” In another, Jack tears up performing In My Life to his childhood sweetheart. The songs mirror his journey—from doubt and dishonesty to clarity and love.
Behind the scenes, securing the rights to use the Beatles’ catalog was no small feat. Licensing reportedly cost close to $10 million, almost half of the film’s $26 million production budget.
But the investment paid off.
In the above video clip, Jack performs a furious, urgent version of the Beatles’ classic Help! The scene is set on the shores of Gorleston Beach in Norfolk, UK. Filmed in the summer of 2018, the performance features a real crowd of about 6,000 extras.
The scene comes as Jack—now a global star thanks to his “rediscovery” of the Beatles’ music—delivers one of the film’s most striking musical moments. But this version of Help! is far from the breezy 1965 original. Jack’s delivery is fast, ragged, and emotionally raw.
Also starring in Yesterday is Lily James as Ellie Appleton, Ed Sheeran as himself, and Robert Carlyle (uncredited) as John Lennon. The movie’s screenplay was by Richard Curtis.
Apparently, all of the living Beatles saw the film and loved it!
