Yesterday (2019)

A struggling musician realizes he's the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate timeline where they never existed.

Director:

Danny Boyle

Writers:

Jack Barth (story by), Richard Curtis (screenplay)

Stars:

Himesh Patel, Lily James, Sophia Di Martino

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Himesh Patel	...	Jack Malik
Lily James	...	Ellie Appleton
Sophia Di Martino	...	Carol
Ellise Chappell	...	Lucy
Meera Syal	...	Sheila Malik
Harry Michell	...	Nick
Vincent Franklin	...	Brian
Joel Fry	...	Rocky
Michael Kiwanuka	...	Micheal Kiwanuka
Karma Sood	...	Young Jack
Gus Brown	...	Marcus The Dentist
Sanjeev Bhaskar	...	Jed Malik
Karl Theobald	...	Terry
Alexander Arnold	...	Gavin
Dominic Coleman	...	Ipswich TV Host

Storyline

In Lowestoft UK, Jack Malik is a frustrated musician whose musical career is going nowhere despite the faith that his friend/manager Ellie Appleton has in him. However, on the night Jack decides to give up, the whole world is momentarily hit with a massive blackout during which Jack is hit by a bus. Upon regaining consciousness, Jack learns to his astonishment that he is apparently now the only one who knows the music of the Beatles. Realizing this improbable opportunity, Jack begins playing the music of the greatest of the rock bands, claiming it as his own. It pays off quickly and Jack becomes a worldwide musical sensation. However, Jack finds himself drifting away from Ellie, only realizing his love for her when she has become intimidated by his success, which depends on a blatant plagiarization that no one could find out. Now, Jack must make a fundamental moral decision about his music to satisfy his conscience as he decides what he truly needs.

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Plot Keywords:

the beatles | musician | plagiarism | alternative reality | rock star | 

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Taglines:

Everyone in the World Has Forgotten the Beatles. Everyone Except Jack....

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Music | Musical | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for suggestive content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

UK Russia China

Language:

English Italian Japanese

Release Date:

28 June 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Yesterday

Filming Locations:

Cantley, Norfolk, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,010,050, 30 June 2019

Gross USA:

$73,286,650

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$138,886,650

Company Credits

Production Co:

Decibel Films, Etalon Film, Perfect World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1 (Dolby Surround 5.1) (downmixed) Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Legally, the filmmakers had needed only Sony ATV's permission to use the Beatles' songs, Sony being the holder of the publishing rights. On principle, they also sought the blessings of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and Olivia Harrison for the film.

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Goofs

The bus which hits Jack should never have hit him. It clearly drives over a road marked GIVE WAY triangle the driver would have seen before the lights went out. Also, if the driver knew the route, he know there was a give way sign there already, lights or not. He should have been slowing down to stop at the junction.

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Quotes

[Jack finishes playing 'Yesterday' by The Beatles]
Ellie Appleton: When did you write that?
Jack Malik: I didn't write it. Paul McCartney wrote it, The Beatles wrote it.

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Crazy Credits

During the closing credits, massive, colored words pan horizontally across the screen in connection with the department that is currently scrolling up the screen. For example: EDITING, COLOUR, MUSIC, L.A., MOSCOW (for the L.A. and Moscow units), 2ND UNIT, etc.

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Connections

References The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014)

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Soundtracks

Love & Hate
Written by Danger Mouse (as Brian Burton), Dean Josiah Cover & Michael Kiwanuka
Performed by Michael Kiwanuka
Michael Kiwanuka appears courtesy of Polydor Record

User Reviews

Could have been great

The original premise of the movie was fantastic - only one man knows that The Beatles ever existed and brings their music to the world.

It could have been really really great. Unfortunately the idea was under developed, it felt as if the film's makers weren't quite sure what to do with it.

It ended up being "nice" and "sweet" when it could have been brilliant.