Yesterday is a 2019 romantic comedy film directed by Danny Boyle and screenplay by Richard Curtis, based on a story by Jack Barth and Curtis. Himesh Patel stars as struggling musician Jack Malik, who, after an accident, finds himself the only person who remembers the Beatles and becomes famous after taking credit for their songs. The film also stars Lily James as the protagonist’s childhood friend and love interest, Kate McKinnon as his manager, and Ed Sheeran as himself.
Yesterday was announced in March 2018. Filming began the following month around England, particularly Norfolk and Halesworth in Suffolk. Photography also took place at Wembley Stadium, Principality Stadium and in Los Angeles. The filmmakers paid $10 million for the rights to use the Beatles’ music; although none of the band members were involved, Boyle received approval for the project from them and their families.
Yesterday had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on 4 May 2019, and was released in the United Kingdom and the United States on 28 June 2019, by Universal Pictures. The film grossed $152 million worldwide against a production budget of $26 million. It received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the premise, performances, and musical sequences, but criticism of the familiarity and not taking the concept further.
Plot
Jack Malik is a struggling singer-songwriter from Lowestoft who plays gigs to tiny crowds. His manager and childhood friend Ellie Appleton encourages him not to give up on his dreams. During a global blackout, Jack is hit by a bus. After recovering, he sings the Beatles song “Yesterday” for his friends, and discovers they have never heard of the Beatles. After realising no one in the world remembers them, Jack begins performing Beatles songs, passing them off as his own.
Ellie has Jack record a demo with Gavin, a local music producer. Following a performance on local television, Jack is invited by pop star Ed Sheeran to play as his opening act in Moscow. Ellie declines to join him, saying she must work at her day job as a schoolteacher, so Jack’s roadie friend Rocky travels with him instead. After the gig, Sheeran challenges Jack to a songwriting duel, after Jack plays “The Long and Winding Road”, he graciously accepts defeat. In Los Angeles, Sheeran’s ruthless manager Debra Hammer signs Jack to her label and engineers his rise to global fame.
At Jack’s going-away party before his permanent move to L.A., Ellie confesses that she has always been in love with him. Jack starts recording an album at EastWest Studios, but cannot remember the lyrics for “Eleanor Rigby.” Hoping to trigger memories, Jack goes to the Beatles’ hometown of Liverpool, visiting landmarks such as Strawberry Field, Penny Lane, and the grave of Eleanor Rigby. Ellie joins him in Liverpool, and they spend a drunken evening and kiss, but Ellie tells Jack she is not interested in a one-night stand. The next morning, Jack and Rocky pursue Ellie to the train station, where she congratulates Jack but tells him she cannot be a part of his celebrity life. Jack returns to Los Angeles heartbroken and desperate to have a normal life again, while Ellie begins dating Gavin.
The record label prepares to launch Jack’s debut album but reject his title ideas named from Beatle albums and name it One Man Only, pushing his talent. Jack persuades them to launch the album with a rooftop concert in Gorleston-on-Sea. Two fans approach him backstage and tell him they know he didn’t write the songs, but thank him, having feared the Beatles’ music was gone forever. They give him the address of John Lennon, who has survived into old age out of the public spotlight. John, who has lived a happy life with his wife, advises Jack to pursue the one he loves and always tell the truth.
Jack calls in a favour with Sheeran, who arranges for him to perform at Wembley Stadium. Jack confesses to the crowd that he plagiarised the music and that he loves Ellie, and has Rocky upload the songs free to the internet, sabotaging the record release and enraging Debra. Jack and Ellie marry and start a family, and Jack gives up stardom to become a music teacher.
Cast
Himesh Patel as Jack Malik
Lily James as Ellie Appleton
Joel Fry as Rocky
Ed Sheeran as himself
Kate McKinnon as Debra Hammer
Sanjeev Bhaskar as Jed Malik
Meera Syal as Shelia Malik
Harry Michell as Nick
Sophia Di Martino as Carol
Sarah Lancashire as Liz, a Liverpool woman who also remembers the Beatles
Justin Edwards as Leo, a Russian man who remembers the Beatles
Alexander Arnold as Gavin
Lamorne Morris as Head of Marketing
In addition, James Corden and Michael Kiwanuka appear as themselves, and Robert Carlyle makes an uncredited appearance as John Lennon.
Reviews
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