X
  • 1978
  • PG
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 44 m
  • 1978
  • PG
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 44 m
I Wanna Hold Your Hand

Summary In 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, they learn new things about friendship and growing up.

Directed By: Robert Zemeckis

Written By: Bob Gale, Robert Zemeckis

  • 1978
  • PG
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 44 m
  • 1978
  • PG
  • Universal Pictures
  • 1 h 44 m

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 6 Critic Reviews
64
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings
7.5
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Summary In 1964, six teenagers from New Jersey run off to see The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) in the hope of meeting their idols. However, they don't have tickets. Along the way, they learn new things about friendship and growing up.

Directed By: Robert Zemeckis

Written By: Bob Gale, Robert Zemeckis

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 6 Critic Reviews
64
67% Positive
4 Reviews
17% Mixed
1 Review
17% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 6 Critic Reviews
64
67% Positive
4 Reviews
17% Mixed
1 Review
17% Negative
1 Review

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
A rousingly funny slapstick comedy about the day John, Paul, George and Ringo set off a tidal wave of adolescent hysteria in New York City. Surprisingly, nostalgia accounts for very little of the movie's charm. [01 May 1978, p.91]
By David Ansen FULL REVIEW
75
Everything in I Wanna Hold Your Hand is pushed right up to the breaking point of absurdity. The lunacy of pop-culture infatuation is lent the undying fervor of a fever dream.
By Derek Smith FULL REVIEW
75
After slowly introducing the characters, the film accelerates pace. Directer Zemeckis handles comedy well.
FULL REVIEW
70
Inconsistent but zestful, this farce about the fanatic reactions of a group of New Jersey high-school kids to the first appearance of The Beatles on Ed Sullivan's show is, however, an amiable promise of good times to come - a showcase for fresh, young talent, both behind and before the cameras.
By Gary Arnold FULL REVIEW
60
Some routines work a lot better than others, but the whole film sparkles with a boisterous lunacy that's perfectly in keeping with the frenzy of the fans.
By Janet Maslin FULL REVIEW
30
Director Robert Zemeckis has created a hodgepodge of amateurish, pie-in-the-face humor. The six young stars are untalented, unattractive and about as believable as characters from a Laverne and Shirley episode, and for a solid hour and a half they run around bumping into things. [28 Apr 1978, p.19]
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings
7.5
75% Positive
3 Ratings
25% Mixed
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 4 User Ratings
7.5
75% Positive
3 Ratings
25% Mixed
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Amblin Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Release Date Apr 21, 1978
Duration 1 h 44 m
Rating PG
Genres
Tagline ...the Beatles legend begins
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