If You're Looking Forward To Sam Mendes' The Beatles Movies, Watch This Disney+ Documentary With 95% On Rotten Tomatoes First

Sam Mendes’ The Beatles movies promise to be a cinematic event, and if you’re already excited about it, there’s a Beatles documentary on Disney+ that is worth checking out. Sam Mendes has done a bit of everything in his career as a filmmaker, beginning in 1999 with the critically acclaimed psychological drama American Beauty. Since then, Mendes has explored the genres of war movies with Jarhead and 1917, crime with Road to Perdition, and was even part of the James Bond franchise with Skyfall and Spectre.

Mendes’ next project is a big and ambitious one, not just because of the topic itself, but because of the release plan for it. Mendes is now working on four separate movies about each member of the Beatles, which he will produce and direct. The plan is to release all four Beatles movies in the same month (April 2028), as the idea is for it to be the “first binge-able theatrical experience.” The wait is still long, but if you’re already excited about Mendes’ Beatles movies, there’s a Beatles documentary that is a must-watch first.

You Should Watch Beatles '64 Before Sam Mendes' Upcoming Movie About The Band

Beatles ‘64 Takes The Audience Back To The Peak Of Beatlemania

In 2024, Disney+ released the documentary film Beatles ‘64. Directed by David Tedeschi and produced by Martin Scorsese and Margaret Bodde, Beatles ‘64 documents the cultural impact of the Beatles’ arrival in the United States, which happened shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Beatles ‘64 shows the fans’ intense welcome, their efforts to get as close to the band as possible, the band’s feelings and reactions to their warm welcome to the US, and their historic performance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Beatles ‘64 uses footage shot by Albert and David Maysles for the 1964 documentary What’s Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A., and shot new interviews with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. The documentary also features interviews with long-time fans, photographers, and other artists, who shared their experiences with the arrival of Beatlemania to the US and their personal perspective on how the Beatles changed not just music but pop culture in general.

Among the special guests in Beatles ‘64 are Martin Scorsese, Jamie Bernstein (Leonard Bernstein’s daughter), and David Lynch.

Of course, Beatles ‘64 also features many of the band’s most popular and beloved songs, some of them directly from their performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Beatles ‘64 was very well-received by critics and general audiences, and it currently holds a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, giving it a “fresh” label, and an 80% popcornmeter.

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Beatles '64 Soundtrack Guide: Every Song In The Disney+ Documentary

The Disney+ documentary Beatles '64 highlights the arrival of The Beatles to the United States and features a robust classic soundtrack of early hits.

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Beatles '64 Isn't A Perfect Documentary, But It's A Fascinating Snapshot Nonetheless

Beatles ‘64 Is A Nostalgia-Full Ride

Beatles ‘64 isn’t a typical documentary in the sense of leading the audience into a chosen narrative or making big revelations about its subjects. Instead, Beatles ‘64 is more of a journey to the past, though a personal one, as the audience gets to see the Beatles in more relaxed environments along with them doing what they did best. While this is a strength, it can also be a weakness, as it doesn’t do much to stand out nor does it offer many new things, but it’s still an interesting and even heartwarming watch for fans of The Beatles.

imagery from the documentary Beatles '64

Disney+'s Beatles Documentary Has A Scene That Might Be Way More Important To The Band's History Than We Thought

Beatles '64 shows the band in their early days, at the height of Beatlemania, but one extraordinary moment gives us a glimpse of The Beatles' future.

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Beatles ‘64 makes for a good watch before Sam Mendes’ movies as it gives the audience an idea of what the band members were really like when they were not on the stage. Of course, Mendes’ movies will be more personal portrayals of each band member, but the group dynamic shown in Beatles ‘64 is as important to their stories and legacies as their individual ones.