Yesterday

Name: Yesterday
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Music
Released: June 28, 2019
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Alexander Arnold, Ana de Armas, Camilla Rutherford, Camille Chen, Ed Sheeran

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 45 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 221 Ratings

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 221 Ratings

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Yesterday (US Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: June 28, 2019 | PG-13

Starring: Alexander Arnold, Ana de Armas, Camilla Rutherford, Camille Chen, Ed Sheeran, Ellise Chappell, Harry Michell, Himesh Patel, James Corden, Joel Fry, Karma Sood, Kate McKinnon, Lamorne Morris, Lily James, Meera Syal, Michael Kiwanuka, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Sophia Di Martino, Vincent Franklin

Summary: Yesterday, everyone knew The Beatles. Today, only Jack remembers their songs. Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling singer-songwriter in a tiny English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (Lily James). Then, after a freak bus accident during aYesterday, everyone knew The Beatles. Today, only Jack remembers their songs. Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling singer-songwriter in a tiny English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (Lily James). Then, after a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover that The Beatles have never existed … and he finds himself with a very complicated problem, indeed. Performing songs by the greatest band in history to a world that has never heard them, and with a little help from his steel-hearted American agent, Debra (Kate McKinnon), Jack’s fame explodes. But as his star rises, he risks losing Ellie — the one person who always believed in him. With the door between his old life and his new closing, Jack will need to get back to where he once belonged and prove that all you need is love. … Expand

Director: Danny Boyle

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Music, Musical

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

Helen O'Hara

May 7, 2019

A glowing tribute to The Beatles and their music, this is both a toe-tapping pleasure to watch and a smart, occasionally scathing look at how we get things wrong. Read full review

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

May 4, 2019

The film has lots of fun with its premise – until America beckons, then suddenly it seems to lose its head of steam. ... Yet it rallies in style for a beautifully judged and surprisingly moving finale. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Jun 26, 2019

One thing Yesterday does is rather miraculous. It forces us to hear these Beatles songs as if for the first time. Read full review

K. Austin Collins

Aug 6, 2019

Yesterday isn’t nearly as fantastical, sweet, or light on its feet as it could be—and maybe that’s because of that darn premise. It’s somehow both too basic and too rich. There’s too much one could do with it, but too little vision in what Boyle and Curtis ultimately put forward—even as real tensions, real sticks in music history’s craw, populate the margins. Read full review

John Anderson

Jun 27, 2019

It’s not as if the people never existed, only the band, and the logical conclusion of all this speculation is exactly where the movie takes itself. I don’t want to spoil the party, but it feels like exploitation. Read full review

Fionnuala Halligan

May 4, 2019

Yesterday is a film we’re all familiar with, for better or worse. Read full review

Vince Mancini

Jan 2, 2020

Yesterday isn’t really about the Beatles. It isn’t about art, or career, or cultural context, or the music business, and it’s only about “love” inasmuch as Hallmark cards and McMansion word art are about love. It isn’t really about anything. Read full review

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User Reviews

ElaineP

Jul 3, 2019

I LOVE this movie. It is whimsical, charming, fun, and humorous. Patel does a fabulous job of singing the Beatles songs, and the back-up musicians are great also.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Deiradinn

Jan 26, 2020

I really enjoyed this movie, I don't honestly see why anyone would have any distances for the movie. It speaks about being happy, love of good music, and everything. Loved it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MasterRiley

Aug 1, 2019

Yesterday is a nice love letter to the Beatles. Himesh Patel gives a good performance as the lead character, Jack, and sings all the Beatles songs very nicely with his own unique spin. The premise of the this movie is super unique and funny and would be a great watch for any Beatles fan.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Jes1310

Mar 10, 2021

One of Danny Boyles least interesting films. The everlasting classic Beatles songs are very well used, and I really like the Jack Malick versions. The story is very straightforward and after 5 minutes I knew exactly what was going to happen. Yesterday is enjoyable but forgotten soon after.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Voodoo123

Mar 5, 2020

An of course ridiculous premise, tv grade cinematography and medicore screenplay are bolstered by the talented cast. Yesterday is watchable and entertaining enough but ultimately lacks the movie magic to be truly memorable....

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GreatMartin

Jul 2, 2019

The best part of "Yesterday" are the Beatles's song catalogue, though it isn't a 'jukebox musical', and the leading man, Himesh Patel, does a good job of singing them. The main problem with the movie is the screenplay by Richard Curtis. It starts off with the interesting premise of JackThe best part of "Yesterday" are the Beatles's song catalogue, though it isn't a 'jukebox musical', and the leading man, Himesh Patel, does a good job of singing them. The main problem with the movie is the screenplay by Richard Curtis. It starts off with the interesting premise of Jack Malik (Patel), who gets knocked out by a combination of a bus hitting him and a worldwide blackout, waking up missing a few teeth but, obviously, nothing life threatening. It seems he is the only person in the world who has heard of the Beatles and their music or Coca Cola but the screenwriter sort of drops the why of this or what the consequences would be except a man can become rich by claiming to have written all of the Beatles's songs, playing a guitar and singing them without anyone questioning him from his friends to his family to the music company that signs him.

One of the first lessons a movie fan learns is that you have to check logic at the movie entrance but there are too many illogical things in this film to ignore them plus a lot takes away your enjoyment of the film. There is very little chemistry between Himesh Patel and his leading lady Lily James though the love story is a given and in spite of trouble with accents and sound that story line is easy enough to follow. In a switch it is the male who goes through a makeover.

Both Patel and James are fine in their roles while Kate McKinnon is handed the role (for the old-timers reading this think Eve Arden) of the smart cracking music agent played with each utterance being too shrill. I am not familiar with Joel Fry and his role is a little--heck, a lot--inexplainable, but he is a funny guy. Neither am I familiar with Ed Sheeran and looked him up on Wikipedia being surprised to learn how successful the man is in England. There is a 'mystery' regarding a couple, unknown to each other, and a yellow submarine. There is also a surprise cameo near the end that explains nothing and falls flat.

Danny Boyle, successful director and producer of many films including "Slumdog Millionaire" and this film, has to take some of the fault for the screenplay and, consequently, this movie.

"Yesterday" is a disappointing film that doesn't tackle the major premise but does show off the talent of Himesh Patel.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Logithegreat

Apr 29, 2020

One of the worst resolutions in all forms of media of all time. So bad in fact I made a Metacritic account just to rate how bad it was. Up until the climax the movie was a solid 7+ but how they summed everything up to basically to be a horrid selfish forced awkward love triangle reallyOne of the worst resolutions in all forms of media of all time. So bad in fact I made a Metacritic account just to rate how bad it was. Up until the climax the movie was a solid 7+ but how they summed everything up to basically to be a horrid selfish forced awkward love triangle really killed everything good about the movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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55	#55 Most Discussed Movie of 2019
31	#31 Most Shared Movie of 2019